Isabela is the second largest province in the Philippines in land area. It is in the Cagayan Valley.
Cities
[edit]
- 1 Ilagan — The provincial capital, with plenty of visitor attractions, most notably the Japanese Tunnel.
- 2 Cauayan — Provincial economic center
- 3 Santiago City — Regional commercial center.
- 4 Roxas — Commercial hub of western Isabela and the Mallig Plains and gateway to eastern Mountain Province.
- 5 Echague — Commercial hub of southern Isabela and gateway to Quirino.
Other destinations
[edit]- 6 Palanan — The last capital of the First Philippine Republic and the site of President Emilio Aguinaldo's capture by the Americans in 1901. Accessible only by boat or plane, it is the main hub for the isolated Pacific coast of Isabela and a base for exploring the wilderness of the Sierra Madre.
- 7 San Mariano — On the opposite side of Palanan, it is one of the bases for exploring the western slopes of the Sierra Madre and also contains unexplored wildernesses, nomadic Agta tribes and sanctuaries for endemic flora and fauna such as the Philippine Crocodile.
Understand
[edit]Isabela is considered among the richest and most progressive provinces in the Philippines.
The province has three geographic areas. The eastern area, straddled by the Sierra Madre mountain range, is rugged and thickly forested. A substantial portion is uncharted. These unexplored hinterlands are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, and some are under government reservations. It is home to one of the world's largest remaining low-altitude rainforests, with numerous unknown endemic species of flora and fauna and biological diversity in the protected area known as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park.
This primarily agricultural province is the rice and corn granary of Luzon due to its plain and rolling terrain.
Major languages spoken are Ilocano followed by Ibanag, Yogad, and Gaddang.
History
[edit]Isabela was colonized by the Spanish in the late 16th century. But due to indigenous resistance, only the towns along the Cagayan River basin and the route leading to Nueva Vizcaya were occupied by the Spanish, leaving a string of heritage churches in their wake. Nevertheless, Ilocano migration has upended the ethnic balance and turned indigenous peoples into minorities. The province was established in 1856 from the southernmost towns of Cagayan and what used to be the northern and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya. It was named after Queen Isabella II of Spain. Like the rest of Cagayan Valley, Isabela was turned into the main production hub of tobacco during this time.
Isabela, particularly Palanan, was the site of the last capital of the First Philippine Republic, which ceased to exist after President Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan in a daring American raid in 1901.
The province was one of the first epicenters of the New People’s Army rebellion in the 1970s but gradually subsided by the 21st century.
Get in
[edit]By road
[edit]Almost 180 km (110 mi) of the Asian Highway 26 pass through the different towns and cities of the province. Several bus companies offer daily trips to different routes like Manila, Dagupan, Baguio, Ilocos, and vice versa. Public utility vans and small-time bus operators ply daily trips from Tuguegarao in Cagayan to Santiago City vice versa, while jeepneys and tricycles are commonly used as the basic mode of transportation within the province's jurisdiction.
Dinapigue is accessible only through Aurora province.
By plane
[edit]There are three airports in the province. Cauayan Airport (CYZ IATA) is the primary airport in the province serving a trip to Manila, Palanan, and Maconacon. The other two are Palanan Airport in Palanan and Maconacon Airport in Maconacon. The country's leading passenger airlines Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines service the Cauayan-Manila-Cauayan Route. Light planes operated by Cyclone Airways and WCC Aviation's Sky Pasada have flights from Cauayan Domestic Airport to the community airports in Palanan and Maconacon.
The northernmost parts of Isabela, including Cabagan, Tumauini, San Pablo, Delfin Albano, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, and Quezon, are serviced by Tuguegarao Airport in Cagayan, which is nearer.
By boat
[edit]The Pacific coastal towns of Divilacan, Maconacon and Palanan are also accessed from Santa Ana in Cagayan or from Dinapigue using irregular ferry boats that involve a 9-hour journey across choppy waters.
Get around
[edit]The main backbones of road travel in the province are the AH-26, which services the main cities of Isabela, and the parallel Santiago-Roxas-Tuguegarao Road, which services the Mallig Plains. Capillary roads connect the two thoroughfares.
Vans and buses are the main forms of transportation between towns. A jeepney service operates between Cauayan and Ilagan. For travel within towns, a tricycle is the best option. Calesas (horse-drawn carriages) exist in Cabagan.
In the rainy seasons, some bridges over the Cagayan River may be submerged. You may need to take a ferry, basically a small motor banca or a barge consisting of at least two motorized bancas tied together with a plank installed to accommodate vehicles.
Since 2019, construction is ongoing on a road to connect the coastal towns of Divilacan, Maconacon and Palanan.
See
[edit]- 1 Tumauini Church (St. Matias Parish Church), Barangay 4, Tumauini. One of the oldest churches in Isabela and a designated national treasure. It contains the only cylindrical bell tower in the Philippines. Its striking red brick facade has intricate carvings and symbols, including an inscription of its construction date of 1784.
- 2 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.
- 3 Alicia Church (Our Lady of Atocha Parish Church), Maharlika Highway, Barangay Magsaysay, Alicia. An 18th century heritage church.
- 4 Cauayan Church (Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church), Rizal Avenue, Barangay District III, Cauayan. An 18th century heritage church.
- 5 Gamu Church (St Rose of Lima Parish Church), Real Street, Barangay District III, Gamu. An 18th century heritage church.
- 6 National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang (Guibang Shrine), Maharlika Highway, Barangay Guibang, Gamu. A shrine dedicated to the most venerated Roman Catholic symbol in Isabela, a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary. Its feast day is on July 2.
- 7 Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP). An extensive protected area covering a large swathe of the Sierra Madre Mountains from the boundary with Cagayan to San Mariano town. Home to the indigenous Agta/Dumagat tribes, endemic species such as the Philippine crocodile, the Philippine eagle, the Isabela oriole, pitcher plants and virgin forests, in addition to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) peaks that have never been named or climbed by humans.
- 8 Ilagan Sanctuary (Fuyot Springs National Park), Barangay Santa Victoria, Ilagan. Part of the larger Fuyot Springs National Park, it is a resort/nature reserve containing a minizoo, swimming pools fed by natural springs, a series of small caves, and Pinsal Falls, accessible via a 30-minute hike through interchanging forests and cornfields.
- 9 Dunoy Lake, Barangay Dibuluan, San Mariano. An isolated lake reachable only by a four-hour hike or by motorcycling on a single-lane trail, it is home to the endemic Philippine crocodile, which was rediscovered in the area in 1999. An observation tower provides sightseeing opportunities for the reptile as well as endemic birds.
- 10 Magat Dam, Burgos-General Aguinaldo Road, Barangay General Aguinaldo, Ramon. Opened in 1983, it was deemed the largest dam in Southeast Asia at the time and created a reservoir that displaced numerous communities in neighboring Ifugao. Since then it is one of the main sources of irrigation and electricity in the Cagayan Valley Region. The complex and its surroundings have become a favorite recreation spot for residents as well as day-trippers from Santiago. Fishing activities are also available at the reservoir.
- 11 Giant Butaka, Maharlika Highway, Barangay Baligatan, Ilagan. An symbol of Ilagan, it is an massive 11.6 feet (3.5 m) high specimen of a traditional Filipino armchair made from narra that enjoys heirloom status among the rich and elderly and whose structure enables it to induce birth among laboring mothers.
Do
[edit]Eat
[edit]Rice and corn-based delicacies and sweets are a staple here, including inatata, tupig and binalay. During corn harvest season, expect to see roadside vendors selling boiled or roasted corn cobs.
Pancit Cabagan is a local noodle dish named after the town.
Ilocano dishes such as pinakbet and igado, derived from liver, are common.
Drink
[edit]Stay safe
[edit]There are a few NPA guerrillas in the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Take the weather warnings seriously. The Cagayan River and its tributaries can generate extensive flooding during the rainy season and when the Magat Dam opens its gates. When a typhoon approaches Isabela, an liquor ban automatic comes into effect.
Crocodiles are known to inhabit waterways along the Sierra Madre, particularly in San Mariano, which is a sanctuary of the endangered Philippine crocodile. In the coastal regions, the more dangerous and larger saltwater crocodile can be seen in the beaches.