shynee

[groupshynee]

Isabela province is wonderfully unique. It has a signature noodle dish –Pansit Cabagan. It’s home to the world’s largest butaka (chair with long arm rests). Red bricks make up Tumauini Church.  Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park is the largest preserved jungle in the country. This is a place made for exploring..

-It is the second largest province of the Philippines, and the largest in the island of Luzon. Its capital is the city of Ilagan. Situated within the Cagayan Valley region, it is bordered by the provinces of Aurora on the southeast, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya on the southwest, Ifugao and Mountain Province on the west, Kalinga on the northwest, and Cagayan on the north.

This primarily agricultural is the rice and corn granary of Luzon due to its plain and rolling terrain. In 2012, the province was declared as country's top producer of corn with 1,209,524 metric tons.

It is the 10th richest province in the Philippines in 2011, the only province of Northern Luzon to be included in the list. The province has four trade centers in the cities of Ilagan, Cauayan, Santiago and the municipality of Roxas.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

How to go to Isabela?

MANILA to ISABELA

It depends upon what transportation you will use. If you use Bus, you will travel 6 to 8 hours with 403 km, it depends upon the speed of bus and if there is traffic especially in the Santa Fe part of San Jose. You expend 400-700 fare, depends on the type of bus. The stop over is at Nueva Vizcaya, for eating with a time limit of 20 minutes. But if you use Airlines-Cebu Pacific Airlines, Manila-Cauayan flights are sold at ‘Go Lite’ fare of P988 all-in with 55 minutes travel from Manila to Cauayan, isabela.

Note: When you see the Welcome to Isabela, It means you are near to your destination.

Personal service; You will travel up to 8-10 hrs. It depends upon the speed.

*Manila---San Edefonso---San Rafael---Bulacan---Nueva Ecija---San Jose---Nueva Vizcaya---Bayombong---solano---bangbang---Jadi---Cordon---Santiago---Echague---Alicia---Cauayan

By: Ronaleen Ramos

[groupshynee]

Ilagan is a 1st-class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. It is the capital municipality and the largest town of Isabela (for land area and total population). According to the latest census, it has a population of 131,243 people in 24,085 households. The conversion of Ilagan, Isabela on February 2, 1998 (RA 8474) for cityhood would have made it the largest city in the province. But the plebiscite held on March 14, 1999 turned down its bid for cityhood under the Administration of former Mayor Mercedes P. Uy. The majority of the people voted "NO" in that historic event. It has 72,365 voters according to the 2007 elections. After 13 years, the municipal leaders of Ilagan, lead by Isabela first district Rep. Rodolfo Albano, has renewed the bid for its cityhood. Vice Gov. Rodito Albano said that the provincial government fully supports Ilagan's renewed cityhood bid, considering that such goal is already long overdue. And former Department of Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III expressed support to the renewed move of the local officials of Ilagan, Isabela, headed by Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz, for the town's conversion to a city. Emboldened by the International rave received by the Province of Isabela as the " Province of Honor at the China-ASEAN Exposition last year, the province celebrates Bambanti Festival with the theme "The Golden Isabela" ( Ang Ginintuang Isabela ) on January 26-31, 2015. The staging of the Bambanti ( Scarecrow ) Festival marks another milestone in the province's love of pomp pageantry as it showcases world class agri-tourism trade and tourism destinations. The festival has become the most visited and most awaited event in the Cagayan Valley Region.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

Our Lady of the Visitation Shrine Guibang- Gamu Isabela -GUIBANG CHURCH houses the Miraculous Lady of the Visitacion, a national shrine. Guibang Church is located along the national highway of Gamu, Isabela and frequently visited by travelers passing along Maharlika Highway. Also famous for their antique Spanish architectural designs.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

The two-story, relatively new structure has a sense of space and scale. The first level is a wide open area for exhibits; at the time of our visit it was filled with higantes (giant effigies) being prepared for Pattaradday Festival.In the upper levels you find a period dining hall, rooms with four-poster beds, tribal implements, Ming Dynasty plates and jars; and a replica of a bahay-kubo (nipa hut), which is not lowly but genuine Filipino architecture.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MATHIAS IN TUMAUINI was built in 1753 under Dominican Supervision and was completed in 1805. It is an ultra-baroque church unique for its extensive use of baked clay both for wall finishing and ornamentation. Clay bricks come to life in concentric circles on the facade, spiral curves on the finial serpentine reliefs and many finely molded details flowers, foliage, surfaces, cherubs and saints. Its architecture bears Chinese ancestry. This church of stone features a unique cylindrical bell tower that is the only one of its kind in the Philippines. TUMAUINI Church, “the most artistic brick structure in the Philippines”. It has been faithfully restored after being damaged during World War II and is acknowledged as the most artistic brick structure in the Philippines. 

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

HONEYMOON ISLAND, DIVILACAN, ISABELA

A perfect place for couple!.

Located in the town of Divilacan, Isabela, Honeymoon Island is the perfect destination for couples to experience a total wonderful escapade. Honeymoon Island served as a sacred ground for the Agta tribe matrimonial rites where it got its name.

The island is surrounded by white-sand beaches and faces the Pacific Ocean. It also has a natural forest and a surrounding coral reef which is appropriate for diving. With its romantic sceneries, Honeymoon Island is perfect for lovers and travelers who wanted to seek a quiet paradise.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

At Bonifacio Park (or Freedom Park) is prominently displayed on a rotunda the Giant Butaka, to signify the city’s renown as the furniture center of Cagayan Valley. This is the world’s largest armchair, 11.6 ft high and 20.8 ft long and and 9.8 feet wide, weighing nearly 2,500 kg, of solid narra planks and rattan strips, constructed by 25 workers in one month in 2003, costing P175,000. 

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

Isabela is the second largest province of the Philippines next to Palawan. It is located in the Cagayan Valley Region in Luzon. The province has 35 municipalities and 1,055 barangays and is divided into four congressional districts. Its capital is Ilagan, City. Major languages in Isabela are Ilocano, Ibanag, Yogad, and Gaddang. People especially in the capital and commercial centers speak and understand English and Tagalog/Filipino. This primarily agricultural province is the rice and corn granary of Luzon. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED! :)

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

The SM City Cauayan, the 49th SM Supermall, is the first in Cagayan Valley region. Left:  SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans T. Sy (left) receives a copy of the Resolution of appreciation from Cauayan Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy  for SM’s investment in the city. Located on a 41,000-sqm property along Maharlika Highway, the 66,300-sqm mall will serve shoppers in Isabela as well as nearby provinces in the Cagayan Valley – Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. As the second largest province in the Philippines, Isabela – which is home to Magat Dam, a major source of power and water supply in Northern Luzon – is an ideal point in building SM’s presence in the region. Largely agricultural, it is known as the hybrid corn and rice champion in the Philippines, and home to the biggest corn processing facility in Southeast Asia.  Strategically located between the Cagayan Economic Zone and Metro Manila, it also has a lot of potentials in tourism.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

Sta. VICTORIA CAVES Environmental School at Fuyo National Park features naturally formed lattices and sparkling rock formations. Visitors will be given lectures, allowed to plant their own seedlings and will be enrolled to the Environmental School and given certificates. Within the area is the Pinzal Falls conducive for swimming. The park is 15 kilometers from Ilagan town proper.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

It was September 8, 1739 when a group of Dominican missionaries landed in Turayong, a barangay of this town which was later named Cauayan. From the very start of their mission work, the missionaries managed to convert to the Christian Faith some 140 Gaddangs, the pioneer inhabitants of this city. It was in the year 1741 when the Dominican authorities, meeting in a general chapter in Manila, declared this mission of Cauayan a full-fledged parish. It was dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar commonly known as the NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PILLAR in the old days. The first vicar of this parish was Fray Antonio Del Ocampo who was at the same time Superior of all the missions from Cauayan to Bayombong. The first parish church was constructed by Fray Juan Prieto with the first class materials with galvanized roofing and a ceiling of bricks. It has a beautiful tower which was later destroyed by a violent earthquake. Through the years, the faith of the Gaddangs and other migrants who made Cauayan their home kept growing. As an indication of said growth, we can see our churches and barangay chapels filled to capacity on Sundays and Fiestas. Baptisms, marriages and other sacramental rites have become a serious concern not only of the parish priests but also by parents themselves. Catechetical instruction in public schools has intensified with the increasing number of volunteer catechists. In 1956, a Catholic School was founded by Fr. Roque Fidel. Starting from modest beginnings, it has grown into a big institution offering college and high school courses now on its way to become the premier university of the region. The fist parish priest was Fray Pedro Sierra. Until 1912, all parish priests were Spaniards. In 1912, the first Filipino was named parish priest in the person of Fr. Proceso Cortes. He was followed by Fr. Alvaro Jaramillo, Fr. Rafael Quimpo, Fr. Angel Ranjo, F. Manuel Apostol, Fr. Teleseforo Cordova, Fr. Federico Pagallaman, Fr. Jesus Gaffud, Fr. Roque fidel, Msgr. Marino Gatan, Fr. Francisco Uanan, Msgr. Daniel Guiyab, Fr. Dante Mazo, Rev. Fr. Angel Luga and the rest of the Diocesan Priest have came and left to serve our beloved Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church.

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

CHURCH OF ALICIA (Our Lady of Atocha Parish)is famous for their antique Spanish architectural designs. These churches are along the national highway and are very accessible by land transport. The church and convent as seen today in the town of Alicia, beautiful and solid, was built by Fr. Tomas Calderon, OP and inaugurated in 1849, with Fr. Francisco Gainza, OP, then vicar of Carig (now Santiago City).

By: Evangeline Lao

[groupshynee]

It is locally known for its pancit Cabagan. Its people are called Ybanags. 

By: Stesyan Sasing

[groupshynee]

Siffu River

Siffu River is next to Basilio and is located in Province of Isabela, Cagayan Valley, Philippines. Siffu River has a length of 12.41kilometres.

By: Stesyan Sasing

[groupshynee]

Santa Victoria Falls in Ilagan City, IsabelaPart of the 819-hectare Fuyot Springs National Park  bordering the town of Tumauini, Ilagan Sanctuary is a protected area located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Brgy. Santa Victoria, Ilagan City, Isabela.

By: Stesyan Sasing

[groupshynee]

The beautiful Abuan River is situated in Ilagan, Isabela Province. It is part of the Northern Sierra Madre National Park. It has an average elevation of 82 meters above sea level. This great Abuan river is offering whitewater rafting and endorsing ecotourism in the province to save the Sierra Madre. Some activities can be done in Abuan River such as hiking, scaling cliffs and falls, swimming, rappelling, and rafting or kayaking.

By: Stesyan Sasing