Cabagan is a municipality of Isabela.
Understand
[edit]Cabagan is the oldest surviving municipality in Isabela, having been established by the Spanish in 1646 at a site now occupied by the neighboring town of San Pablo. In 1877, the town was moved to its present site, on the south side of the Pinacanauan de Cabagan River. In 1879, the town of Santa Maria, on the west bank of the Cagayan River, was split from Cabagan.
When the original settlement in San Pablo was reestablished in 1888, the Spanish renamed the site Cabagan Viejo (Old Cabagan) and called the 1877 town Cabagan Nuevo (New Cabagan). During the American period, the Nuevo was dropped while Cabagan Viejo was renamed San Pablo. In 1949, several barangays on the west bank of the Cagayan River were again separated to form the new municipality of Santo Tomas.
Cabagan is the economic center of the northernmost parts of Isabela and forms a minor conurbation with Santa Maria, San Pablo and Santo Tomas. Hence this guide will also cover the said municipalities.
Talk
[edit]Unlike the rest of Isabela, Cabagan is a bastion of the Ibanag language, although most residents will understand Ilocano and Tagalog.
Get in
[edit]The nearest airport is in Tuguegarao.
Cabagan is along the Maharlika Highway to Tuguegarao, and there are buses passing here generally every hour all day. The main bus stops are at the XentroMall junction to the nearby town of Santa Maria to the west, and in front of Milagros District Hospital. Both stops are shared with tricycles. Another bus stop in Barangay Cansan leads to Santo Tomas and has a tricycle stop. An alternate route is a secondary road from Delfin Albano.
Santa Maria is also traversed by the Tuguegarao-Roxas-Santiago Road, which is parallel to the Maharlika Highway, and is served by buses to Tuguegarao passing via Roxas. However, the town’s bus stop, located in a secluded junction marked by a claypot-shaped monument, is some way off from the town center and may not be the safest to linger at night, although there are waiting tricycles.
Cabagan is also serviced by passenger vans plying the Tuguegarao-Santiago route. The main van stops are at XentroMall and the Petron Gas Station in Barangay Ugad.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the main form of transport. Fares start at P20. To reach the barangays west of the Cagayan River, make a detour through Cansan and Santo Tomas or catch a banca in the town center.
See
[edit]- 1 Cabagan Square Park, Cabagan-Santa Maria Road, Barangay Centro. Houses the largest carousel in the Philippines
- 2 Tulap Falls, Barangay Masipi East (From Maharlika Highway, enter the junction at Barangay Balasig leading to Masipi East. From Masipi East, a trail leads to the falls). Newly discovered waterfall, but access is still hard.
- 3 Biwag Shrine, Barangay Tallag. A makeshift shrine featuring a tacky statue of Biwag, a folklorical giant. Offerings of gin and cigarettes are commonly left at the shrine, while a celebration is also held to commemorate Biwag on the feast day of Barangay Tallag, also known alternately as Biwag, every May 6.
- 4 Malasi Lake Sanctuary, Barangay San Antonio. A sanctuary for the endangered Philippine Duck.
- 5 Horno, Saint Ferdinand College, Barangay Catabayungan (Enter the school compound and walk towards the back section. The structure is obscured by trees). The ruins of a towering structure that used be an oven (horno) for making bricks during construction of the parish church during the Spanish era, which was not completed due to the Philippine Revolution. The present church is of a later 20th century construct.
- 6 Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge, Cabagan-Santa Maria Road, Barangay Casibarag Norte. A multi-arched bridge that took nearly 10 years to build, only to collapse a month after its opening in 2025. After repairs, it reopened a year later to light vehicles. Despite this, the structure retains its imposing look and provides great views over the Cagayan River.
- 7 San Pablo Church (St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church, San Pablo Church Ruins), Barangay Poblacion, San Pablo. The oldest church in Isabela, built in the 17th century.
- 8 Cabagan Triangle Park, Cabagan-Santa Maria Road, Barangay Ugad (in front of Iglesia ni Cristo). A small park in the middle of a road junction. It features a clock tower using LED screens and a statue of a horse-drawn cart (calesa), a monument to Cabagan being one of the few places in the country to retain this mode of transport.
- 9 Tupa, Barangay San Vicente, San Pablo. A stretch of rapids at the point where the Pinacanauan River leaves the Sierra Madre that is a favorite swimming spot for locals.
Do
[edit]Cabagan celebrates its patronal fiesta on January 25. Starting January 15, a variety of events are held to celebrate the town's culture, including its pancit and kalesas.
San Pablo's patronal fiesta is held on January 15 and celebrate's the town's agrarian tradition, particularly the raising of cows.
- 1 Balay Rosalinda Resort, Mabini Avenue, Barangay Catabayungan. A recreational venue with swimming pool and karaoke in the town center.
- 2 Round Rock Resort, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Cansan (at the back of the CENRO building). A recreational venue with swimming pool and karaoke near Cansan junction. For those who are not squeamish, a cockfighting arena opened a few meters away in 2026.
- 3 Josefina T.Albano Sports and Cultural Complex (Cabagan Gymnasium), Cabagan-Santa Maria Road, Barangay Centro. Said to be the largest municipal arena in Cagayan Valley at the time of inauguration, this hosted travelling matches of the Philippine Basketball Association in the 2000s. It now hosts barangay level leagues and pageants, while during vacant times, residents just play basketball in the court. ₱20 during basketball league matches.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Xentro Mall, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Ugad (beside the public market). 9AM-8PM. Has a Savemore grocery and a BDO bank branch with ATM.
- 2 Cabagan Public Market, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Ugad. Has a gift shop run selling local delicacies.
Eat
[edit]Cabagan is known nationally for its eponymous noodles (pansi) that features soy sauce, chopped fried pork belly, and shallots. There are multiple panciterias selling the dish in town. While there are imitation restaurants nationwide, residents say that authentic pancit Cabagan is made using Mor, a brand of soy sauce that is difficult to find outside Cabagan.
- 1 GM'S Food House, Cabagan-Santa Maria Road, Barangay Centro, ☏ +63 927 350 9725, [email protected]. 8AM-8PM. A restaurant serving Chinese-Filipino dishes. Also does bulk orders. ₱200-500.
- 2 Aling Kikay's Panciteria, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Anao (in front of Milagros District Hospital). The oldest surviving panciteria in Cabagan, founded by a descendant of a Chinese immigrant who invented pancit Cabagan during the American period. Aling Kikay's children also run adjacent panciterias. ₱100-200.
- 3 Mariloi's, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Cubag. Panciteria serving pancit Cabagan. Due to its popularity, an extension with more seating and menu items, along with a gift shop selling foodstuffs was opened a few meters down the highway. ₱100-200.
- 4 American Ribs & Wings, Antonio Luna Street, Barangay Centro (beside the municipal hall). 10AM–8PM. A chicken wings and pork ribs restaurant offering meals paired with rice as well as pancit Cabagan. Group-sized platters are also available. ₱95-200.
- 5 Alfresco Pizzeria and Bistro, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Ugad. A rooftop Italian restobar serving pizza and pasta. Has live music on weekends. ₱200-400.
- 6 El Bistro, Barangay Centro. A restaurant serving Filipino and some Western cuisine. ₱200-500.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Apayao Brew, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Cubag (beside Clean Fuel gasoline station). A coffeeshop that also serves a favorite hanging-out spot for residents. P80-200.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Four J's Hotel and Inn, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Cubag (near the junction leading to Barangay Angancasilian). Each room has a carport, but the place may be infested with flies due to a nearby chicken farm.
Stay safe
[edit]Low-lying areas such as Barangays Pilig Abajo, Pilig Alto, and the barangays west of the Cagayan River are frequently inundated during the rainy season.
Violence frequently flares up in San Pablo during election season.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Cabagan |
| Tuguegarao ← San Pablo ← | N  S
|
→ Tumauini → Ilagan |