PHILIPPINE CULTURE AND TOURISM GEOGRAPHY

LESSON 8: REGION 2 – CAGAYAN VALLEY REGION

• Cagayan Valley (Lambak ng Cagayan ) is a region of the Philippines, also designated

as Region II. It is composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva
Vizcaya and Quirino. Its regional center is Tuguegarao City.
• Most of the region lies in a large valley in northeastern Luzon, between the Cordilleras and
the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. Cagayan River, the country's longest river runs through its
center and flows out to Luzon Strait in the north, in the town of Aparri, Cagayan. The Babuyan
and Batanes island groups that lie in the Luzon Strait also belong to the region.

CAGAYAN

• Capital: Tuguegarao City (regional center)

• Nickname: “The Smiling Land of Beauty”
• Cagayan is part of one of the largest valleys in the Philippines formed by the majestic Sierra
Madre and Cordillera mountain ranges. It is traversed by the mighty 330-km long Cagayan River
and its various tributaries.
• Getting There:
• By Air: Tuguegarao City, the capital of Cagayan may be reached by plane from Manila via the
following:By Land: Tuguegarao City can easily be reached by various air conditioned buses with
very comfortable seating capacity in 9-11 hours from Manila. For independent motorists, take the
North Diversion Road and exit at Santa Rita. Cagayan may also be reached via Ilocos Norte.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. CALLAO CAVE
o The Callao Caves (declared under Republic Act 7357 as a National Park) is a 7-
chambered cave with massive limestone formations running through a great length of the
Pinacanauan River. One of its chambers features a stone altar illuminated by natural
skylight, producing an eerie catacomb-like atmosphere.
o Also a treat is the spectacle of red-billed kalaw birds and daily charge of bats at dusk
when millions pour out of the Bat's Cave.

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 2. THE BASILICA MINORE OF OUR LADY OF PIAT
o It houses the more than 365 year-old miraculous image of Our Lady of Piat. The image
which comes from Macao was originally enshrined in Lallo but the Dominicans brought it
later to Piat to win the Itawes region to Christianity. Its feastday is every July 2nd of the
year.

3. CAMALANIUGAN BELL
o One of the oldest bell in the Philippines, forged in the year 1595, it was brought to Manila
in February 1987 as one of the attractions during the 33rd International Eucharistic
Congress.

4. CALVARY HILL
o This duplicate of the Fourteen Stations of the Cross set up amidst Spanish era ruins. It is
situated atop an 11 hectare rolling terrain overlooking the Cagayan River. The images
are more than lifesize concrete monuments standing on a hillside.

5. MAGAPIT SUSPENSION BRIDGE

o This is the first suspension bridge in Asia linking the first and second districts of Cagayan
leading to the Ilocos region.

6. PALAUI ISLAND: PARADISE OF THE NORTH 

o A paradise for the water sports and mountaineering activities. This untouched paradise
has an approximate area of 3,850 hectares with a shoreline of 20.6 kilometers. Abundant
in marine resources and home of different monkeys, wild pigs, deer, sea turtles and
various endemic and migratory birds.

BATANES

• Capital: Basco

• Nickname: “The New Zealand of the Philippines”

• Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippines, both in terms of

population and land area.

• It is separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province by the Balintang Channel and

from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel. 

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 • The three largest islands, which are the only inhabited ones are Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang. The
northernmost is Mavudis Island.

• The province is home to the famous Ivatans who are nationally acclaimed as the “True
Insulares.” "Vakul“ is the traditional headdress of the Ivatan

• Getting There: You are compelled to take the plane when you visit Batanes from mainland Luzon.
Daily flights from Manila Domestic Airport to Batanes are available. One can likewise fly or ride a
bus from Manila to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province and, from there, take a 19-seater plane
or a chartered eight-seater plane to Basco. 

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. MARLBORO HILLS
o Also known as Racuh Apayaman or Marlboro Country, it is where you will encounter
water buffalos or carabaos, horses and cattle that wander freely as they feed on the
common pasture

2. BASCO LIGHTHOUSE
o Located in Naidi Hills, 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.

3. HOUSE OF DAKAY
o The oldest house in Batanes was built in 1887. It remains standing in Ivana, where Lola
Florestida Estrella lives. Built by her grandfather Jose Dacay, the house is a maytuab,
meaning it has a four-sloped roof. Like other traditional Ivatan houses, its walls are made
of stone and limestone. 

4. FUNDACION PACITA
o Once the home studio of artist Pacita Abad, the lodge has since been refurbished by her
brother, Budget Secretary Butch Abad. Now a boutique hotel with rooms that resemble
galleries, Fundacion Pacita is the most luxurious accommodation on the island. It's also
the most expensive, with rooms costing from around five thousand pesos. But part of the
proceeds is used to support young Ivatan artists and heritage conservation projects in
Batanes.

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 5. DIPNAYSUPUAN JAPANESE TUNNEL
o The tunnel was built during the Japanese occupation as a shelter for soldiers. Now
unoccupied, tourists can go through the series of chambers. There are five doors to the
tunnel, a "difficult" route for the adventurous, and an easy one for those who are afraid of
the dark. 

6. MT. CARMEL CHAPEL

o The chapel in Tukon looks like it popped right out of a storybook. Modeled after the
traditional Ivatan houses, the chapel has stone walls but instead of cogon, the roof is
made of red bricks. On the ceiling, different municipal saints of Batanes are painted by
Ivatan artists trained at the Pacita Abad Center for the Arts. 

ISABELA

• Capital: Ilagan

• Nickname: “Queen Province of the Philippines”

• Named after Queen Isabella II of Spain, it is the largest province in the region and in Luzon and
the second largest province in the Philippines.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. GIANT BUTAKA
o Dubbed as the furniture capital of the province, Ilagan houses the world’s largest Butaka,
towering at 11 feet, 4 inches high; 20 feet 8 inches long; and 9 feet 7 inches wide,
weighing at a massive 2,368 kilos.

2. MAGAT DAM
o Nested as the first multi-purpose dam in Southeast Asia, Magat Dam is located in the
largest tributary of Cagayan River, the Magat River, just at the boundary of Ifugao and
Isabela.

3. PALANAN RAINFOREST
o The Philippine’s largest low altitude rainforest with numerous unknown endemic species
of flora and fauna and exceptional biological diversity.

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 4. DIBULO FALLS
o Dibulo falls is one of the most notable throughout the Sierra Madre mountain range. It is
one of the attractions of Sierra Madre Nature Park.

5. DICOTCOTAN BEACH
o A three-kilometer long beach with coral reefs, sea grass beds and sandy shoreline that is
fringed with a coastal forest and a village.

NUEVA VIZCAYA

• Capital: Bayombong

• Nickname: “Citrus Capital of the Philippines”

• The name Nueva Vizcaya is derived from the name of the province of Biscay (called Vizcaya in
Spanish, Bizkaia in Basque) in the Spanish rule period.  

• It is the major producer of citrus crops in the country, principally pomelo, ponkan and oranges. 

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. CHURCH OF SAN VICENTE FERRER

o It was built during the second half of the 18th century under the Dominicans. It was
declared as a National Cultural Treasure. For that reason alone, this church is well worth
the visit.

2. CAPISAAN CAVE SYSTEM

o This is the fifth longest cave system in the Philippines. Measuring 4.2 kilometers long,
this is a cave where you’ll see some rare calcite formations, as well as pristine stalactite
and stalagmite formations. The cave also has a subterranean river that also doubles as a
passageway.

3. IMUGAN FALLS 
o Measuring thirty five feet, this waterfall is located high up in the Caraballo Mountain
Range. Raging water pours itself onto a shallow basin-like pool which leads all the way to
the Imugan River.

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 4. ST. DOMINIC CATHEDRAL
o This church was built around the 17th century and was razed by fire twice and rebuilt on
the same ground. The facade remains the same as it was years ago and is a treasured
gem from a time long passed.

5. DALTON PASS 
o  Dalton Pass, also called Balete Pass, is a zigzag road and mountain pass that joins the
provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, in central Luzon island of the Philippines. It
is part of Cagayan Valley Road segment of Pan-Philippine Highway

QUIRINO

• Capital: Cabarroguis

• It is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in and named

after Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. AGLIPAY CAVES
o A series of 38 caves, 
seven of which have been developed as tourist spots. Located in the midst of rolling hills
and verdant forest. 
the caves boast of peculiar characteristics of their own such as an underground spring
and well - preserved stalagmites and stalactites. 

2. GOVERNOR RAPIDS
o Famous for its gigantic perpendicular walls of limestone jutting out from one side of the
Cagayan River framing the Sierra Madre Mountain perfect for wall climbing activities.
It swift turbulent deep blue waters is perfect venue for kayaking. swimming and fishing.

3. MADDELA FALLS
o Its crystal pools are favorite swimming and
picnic area for tourists. 

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WHAT TO EAT IN CAGAYAN VALLEY?

o Pansit batil patung of cagayan

o Ginataang alimasag of batanes
o Ginisa nga agurong
o Alcala milk candy