Cagayan Valley

Cagayan Valley (Ilokano: Tanap ti Cagayan; Ibanag: Tana' na Cagayan; Itawit: Tanap yo Cagayan; Gaddang:
Tanap na Cagayan; Tagalog: Lambak ng Cagayan) (designated as Region II) is an administrative region in
the Philippines located in the northeastern portion of Luzon. It is composed of five provinces: Batanes,
Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The region has four cities: Cauayan, Ilagan, Santiago, and
Tuguegarao.

Cagayan Valley is the large mass of land in the northeastern region of Luzon, comprising the provinces of
Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the Batanes group of islands. It is bordered to the west by
the Cordillera mountain range, to the east by the Sierra Madre, to the south by the Caraballo Mountains,
and to the north by the Luzon Strait.

Regional center

Tuguegarao City

Area

• Total

28,228.83 km2 (10,899.21 sq mi)

Population (2015 census)[1]

• Total

3,451,410

• Density

120/km2 (320/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+8 (PST)

ISO 3166 code

PH-02
Provinces

Batanes

Cagayan

Isabela

Nueva Vizcaya

Quirino

Cities

Cauayan

Ilagan

Santiago

Tuguegarao

Municipalities

89

Barangays

2,311

Cong. districts

12[2]

Languages

IlocanoIbanagIvatanItawisGaddangYogadIsinayIlongotTagalogEnglish

The region contains two landlocked provinces, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, which are ruggedly
mountainous and heavily forested. Nueva Vizcaya is the remnant of the southern province created when
Cagayan Province was divided in two in 1839. They are ethnically and linguistically diverse, with a
substrate of Agtas, Negritos who are food-gatherers with no fixed abodes, overlaid by Ilongots and
others in a number of tribes, some of whom were fierce head-hunters (they have given up the practice),
with the latest but largest element of the population being the Ilocanos, closely followed by the Ibanags.

Most of the region lies in a large valley in northeastern Luzon, between the Cordilleras and the Sierra
Madre mountain ranges. The eponymous Cagayan River, the country's largest and second longest, runs
through its center and flows out from its source in the Caraballo Mountains in the south to the Luzon
Strait in the north, in the town of Aparri, Cagayan. The region encompasses the outlying islands of the
Babuyan and Batanes to the north.

Cagayan Valley is the second largest region of the Philippines in terms of land area, second only to
MIMAROPA.[3]

HISTORY

Archaeology indicates that Cagayan has been inhabited for half a million years, though no human
remains of any such antiquity have yet appeared. The earliest inhabitants are the Agta, or Atta, food-
gatherers who roam the forests without fixed abodes. A large tract of land has lately been returned to
them.[citation needed] The bulk of the population are of Malay origin. For centuries before the coming
of the Spanish, the inhabitants traded with Indians, Malays, Chinese, and Japanese. In the nineteenth
century the prosperity found in tobacco cultivation caused many Ilokano to settle here. Tobacco is still a
major factor in the economy of Cagayan, though a special economic zone and free port has been created
to strengthen and diversify the provincial economy.

Administrative divisions

Edit

Cagayan Valley comprises five provinces, one independent city, three component cities, 89
municipalities, and 2,311 barangays

tourist spot

#1 - Palaui Island: Hot on spot number 10 of CNN’s "World’s 100 Best Beaches", Palaui Island’s raw
beauty will mesmerize anybody who is tourism savvy. It is situated on the northeastern tip of Luzon,
specifically in the municipality of Santa Ana, in Cagayan; and, it was where Survivor: Blood versus Water
and Survivor: Cagayan, were filmed in 2013. Hence, it is altogether fitting and proper to call Santa Ana as
the “Untouched Paradise” or “Luzon’s Last Frontier”. The most interesting thing to see In Palaui Island is
the Cape Engano Lighthouse which is an exciting trek away from Engano Cove.
#2 - Basco Lighthouse (Basco): Basco Lighthouse is located in Naidi Hills, Barangay San Antonio, in Basco
town, Batanes. It is a 6-floor building with a viewing deck, where you can gaze at captivating Batan
Island, Mount Iraya, Sabtang Island and Itbayat Island. Historically, this area was where the telegraph
facilities during the American period used to be, which allowed them to communicate with the central
government. Unfortunately, it was bombed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
Nonetheless, the few still useful buildings that remained after the war, have been converted into
businesses, for instance into a café, since the lighthouse has become a popular tourist attraction.

#3 - Marlboro Hills (Mahatao): Marlboro Hills is smokingly amazing! Also known as Racuh Apayaman or
Marlbory Country, it is where you will encounter water buffalos or carabaos, horses and cattle that
wander freely as they feed on the common pasture. A truly perfect site to spend a sunny day, taking
photos, breathing in all the calm and beauty of the bright sunlight touching the lush meadows, as you sip
a refreshing drink – Marlboro Hills is indeed a heavenly place, where the sky, sea water and hilly land
connive to altogether bring forth what seems as a painting come alive, with you and your companions in
it--totally enjoying nature, basking in its breathtaking glory.

#4 - Anguib Beach (Santa Ana): Anguib Beach, which can be found on the eastern portion of San Vicente,
in Santa Ana, Cagayan, lets the sky and ocean be blue, but definitely not you! It is another “Boracay of
the North” for its white sand and crystal clear waters where marine life abounds. So expect loads of fun
and relaxation as you station yourselves at Anguib Beach for your nature-craving fix. This sublime beach,
although still undergoing development, once fully operational for business, is excellent for scuba diving,
jet skiing, boating and snorkeling.

#5 - Yaru Nu Artes Ivatan (Basco): Are you a budding or aspiring artist, who would love to get some
training for painting, drawing or photography? Then hop into the Yaru Gallery and Art shop, the one and
only art gallery in Batanes – which can be found in Barangay Kaychanarianan, Basco, Batanes. Run by no
less than the local artist and owner, Ms. Victoria Abad – Kerblat, Yaru Gallery and Art shop also has
paintings for sale – some of its prominent buyers include restaurateur Ricky Gutierrez, and Bishop
Camillo Gregorio, to name a few.

the northern tip of the Philippines and is composed of five provinces: Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya,
Quirino, and Batanes. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern part of the of
Luzon. Cagayan, not to be mistaken from the city in Mindanao named Cagayan de Oro, also includes the
Babuyan Islands to the north.

Among its many features, Region II is also known to be the country's tilapia capital (species of cichlid
fishes from the tilapine cichlid tribe), as well as the country's rice and corn granary because of its fertile
lands.
People say that although the Cagayan might lack commercial sources, its people, known as the Ibanag,
Ybanag, Ybanak ,Ibanak or simply the Cagayanos, will be able to survive through tough times not only
because of the region's abundant resources, but because of the flair of its people for making delicious
delicacies.

Delicacies mostly served in the Cagayan region include rice cakes, Pinakbet, Pansit Cabagan, Tapang
Baka, Ginisa Nga Agurong, Tuguegarao Longganisa, Pancit Batil Patung, and the Guinataang Alimasag
(crabs in coconut milk) of Batanes.

Ivatans (people of Batanes) and tourists alike enjoy having the Guinataang Alimasag mainly because the
usual size of the crab plated here is the largest living arthropod in the world and is a type of hermit crab
that is known to have large pincers strong enough to crack coconuts and eat its contents. These crabs
from Batanes are not only known for its unusually large size, but are also known for its creamy crab meat
which has the aftertaste of a coconut when its sac is squeezed.

Palaui Island

There are a lot of activities to enjoy once you get to Palaui Island in Santa Ana, Cagayan Valley. They have
water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and game fishing. If you want to stay dry, you can opt
for mountain-related activities like forest exploration and mountain climbing. The island is rich with
marine resources and provides a home for many different kinds of animals like monkeys, wild pigs, deer,
birds and sea turtles.

Palaui Island

Anguib Beach

Be brave and head to Anguib Beach. You will not be disappointed once you reach its famous white sand
beach and crystal clear water. The scenic views of this beach can be found in the eastern part of San
Vicente in Santa Ana, Cagayan Valley.

Anguib Beach

Anguib Beach | Bigstock Photos

Callao Cave
Located in the town of Peñablanca, Callao Cave is one of the top tourist spots in Cagayan that you must
visit. The cave has seven chambers of enormous limestone formations. Like many caves, there are a lot
of bats that you can watch as they leave the cave during dusk. You can also find and observe red-billed
Philippine Hornbill (Kalaw) in the area. One of the cave chambers gives off a bizarre atmosphere because
of a stone altar that is naturally illuminated when the sun is up.

Callao Cave

Callao Cave

Cape Engaño Lighthouse

Built during the Spanish Colonial period, the lighthouse served as a guide for any incoming ship. Once
you reach the top, the spectacular view of Babuyan Island and the Pacific Ocean will amaze you. The
Cape Engaño Lighthouse is located on top of a summit hill in the beautiful island of Palaui.

Tuguegarao Cathedral

The Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral, commonly known as the Tuguegarao Cathedral, is a Roman
Catholic Church that was originally constructed by Dominican friars during the 18th century. It stands
along Rizal Street, Barangay Centro 10 in Tuguegarao and it was built with the Baroque-style in mind.

Sto. Domingo de Guzman Church in Nueva Segovia

This is a colossal church built with red bricks was built back in the late 1500s. Among the three churches
that were built in Lal-lo during that time, the Santo Domingo de Guzman Church is the last one. The
church really stands out from the national highway, making it really easy for tourists to spot it.

How to get to Cagayan Valley

To get to the province of Cagayan Valley, you can ride a plane from Manila heading to Tuguegarao, the
capital city. It can be a challenging trip but the places you will visit are definitely worth the hardship.
Alternatively, you can also take a 12-hour bus ride from Manila to Tuguegarao. Plan accordingly and have
fun in your visit to these tourist spots in Cagayan Valley!