Region 2, Philippines (PDF)

# Region 11: Cagayan Valley Region ## History * Cagayan was one of the early provinces that existed during the Spanish Colonial Period. Called La Provincia de Cagayan, its borders essentially covered the entire Cagayan Valley, which included the present provinces of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya...

# Region 11: Cagayan Valley Region ## History * Cagayan was one of the early provinces that existed during the Spanish Colonial Period. Called La Provincia de Cagayan, its borders essentially covered the entire Cagayan Valley, which included the present provinces of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Batanes and portions of Kalinga and Apayao. * The former capital was Nueva Segovia, which also served as the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia. Today, only 9,295.75 square kilometers (3,589.11 sq mi) remain of the former vastness of the province. The entire region, however, is still referred to as Cagayan Valley. * Present-day chroniclers hold that the name was originally derived from the tagay, a plant that grows abundantly in the northern part of the province. The term Catagayan, "the place where the tagay grows" was shortened to Cagayan. Perhaps more conventionally, etymological scholars hold that cagayan comes from an ancient word that means "river". Variations of this word-karayan, kayan, kayayan, and kalayan-all mean river. ## Region 2 * Region 2 or Cagayan Valley Region is composed of five provinces: * Batanes * Cagayan * Isabela * Quirino * Nueva Vizcaya * Located in the northeastern portion of the main island of Luzon and includes the scattered Island of Batanes-Babuyan Groups, which occupy the Northern most tip of the archipelago. * It has ten (10) congressional districts with three (4) cities: * Cauayan City * Santiago City * Tuguegarao City * Ilagan city * Consists of 90 municipalities ## People * The earliest inhabitants are the Agta, or Atta, food gatherers who roam the forests without fixed abodes. * 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. ## Industries and Livelihood * Region 2 is abundant in agricultural products such as: rice, corn, peanut, beans, and fruits and livestock products include cattle, hogs, curacaos, and poultry. * The Region has a rich and immense natural and development potentials. * It is the third largest region with an area of 2,687,517 hectares representing 9% of the country's total land area ## Batanes * The Home of the Winds. * Capital: Basco * Total Area: 219.01 km²(84.56 sq mi) * Population: 17,246 as of 2015 * Religion: Roman Catholic- 94%. The remaining faiths are other Christian Churches. * The name Batanes derives from the words Batan, the local word for the Ivatan tribe and Nes, from the Greek word nesos meaning "Islands". Thus the literal meaning is Islands of the Ivatans. * The people of Batanes are called Ivatan and share prehistoric cultural and linguistic commonalities with the Babuyan on Babuyan Island and the Tao people of Orchid Island. * **Economy** * Ivatans are farmers and fishermen. * Others are in the government and services sector. * Ivatans also plant camote (sweet potato), cassava, gabi or tuber and a unique variety of white uvi ## Cagayan * Smiling Land of Beauty. * The second largest province in the region. * Has 28 municipalities and one city divided into three congressional districts. It has 820 barangays. * Capital: Tuguegarao- provincial capital, regional seat, center of business, trade and education. * **People of Cagayan** * Ilocano- The majority of people living in Cagayan, mostly from migrants coming from the Ilocos Region * Ibanags- who were first sighted by the Spanish explorers and converted to Christianity by missionaries. * Malauegs, Itawits, Gaddangs, groups of nomadic Aetas, and families of Ibatans ## Isabela * Rice Bowl of the North. * Second largest province in the Philippines in terms of area. * Most populated province in Cagayan Valley. * Capital: Ilagan. * Population: 1,593,566 as of 2015 * Religion: Christians with Roman Catholic- 5% as religion followed by Iglesia ni Cristo and other religious sects are present in Isabela. * One of the provinces which is often hit by typhoons due to its location. * **People in Isabela** * Ilokano- are the most prominent group in Isabela. * The next two prominent groups(ethnic) Ibanag and Tagalog * Gaddang, Paranan, Yogad ## Nueva Vizcaya * Citrus Capital of the Philippines. * The gateway to vast Cagayan Valley region. * Has a total land area of 4,378.80 square kilometers. * Composed of 15 municipalities. * Capital: Bayombong. * Population: 452, 287 as of 2015 * **People of Nueva Vizcaya** * **Wild Tribes** * Igorot, Ifugaos, Isinaits Ilongots, and Aetas * **Semi- wild tribe** * the Gaddangs and Malaats * **Migrants** * Ilokano, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Kapampangans, and others ## Quirino * Forest Heartland of Cagayan Valley. * Land-locked province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. * Named after Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines. * Capital: Cabarroguis. * Population: 188,991 as of 2015. ## Festivals * The Sarakat Festival is held every May 14th in the town of Sta. Paxedes to promote wares, art pieces, and other products made from sarakat leaves. * Every May 26 to May 30 of the year, the town plays host to the Viray Festival, organized by the local government with the support of the regional tourism office and the private sector. * The yearly August 1-4 Cabibi Festival is held in the town of Lal-lo. It features a lot of merrymaking including street dancing, trade fair, Balikbayan tribute, and many others. This is to offer thanksgiving in honor of their town's patron saint * Pav-vurulun Festival is a week-long celebration that usually ends on August 16 annually. "Pav-vurulun" is an Ibanag word which means get-together or a sense of belonging. * The Panagyaman Rice Festival was the first national celebration dedicated to the successes of small farmers who have been the backbone in the campaign for a Hungry-Free Philippines. "Panagyaman" is an Ilocano term for thanksgiving of pasasalamat. Celebrated every 18th to 22nd of december. * Grand Ammungan Festival. May 22 to 24. "Ammungan" (Gathering) Festival primarily focuses on the rich history and culture of Nueva Vizcaya. It also highlights an array of activities where Novo Vizcayanos from all walks of life come together in commemoration of the province's founding anniversary on May 24, a non-working holiday within the province. ## Delicacies * Kakanin * Carabao milk candy * Pancit Cabagan * Pancit Batil Patong * Chicharabo * Ybanag Longganisa ## Cultures and Traditions * Childbirth among the Ilongots is simple. The pregnant mother goes to a spot near a tree a bed of ashes has been prepared. When the time to deliver comes, the pregnant woman holds on to the tree trunk allowing the baby to fall on the bed of ashes. She cuts the umbilical cord with a sharp objects washes herself in a nearby river, and gives the baby to the father. Having done these, she returns to the field to continue working. * In the Ilongot society, the man is an absolute king. The women cook and farm. The men fish and hunt, bring firewood, build fences and take care of the kaingin. They can have as many as six wives as long as they treat each one fairly and build a house for each wife. ## Tourists Spots * Callao Caves Resort * Palaui Island * Baggao Cave * Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat * Iguig Calvary Hills * Portabaga Falls