Santa Fe is a town in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. Situated at the base of two mountain passes, it is the main point of entry leading to the Cagayan Valley region from Metro Manila by road.
Understand
[edit]For much of its history, Santa Fe, formerly known as Imugan, was a small village along the headwater of the Magat River at the foot of the Caraballo mountains separating the Cagayan Valley from the Central Luzon plains. It gained prominence for its strategic location at the terminus of the Balete (Dalton) and Malico Passes, which led to its inclusion into the Philippine highway network and a bloody battle in the closing days of World War II in 1945 that saw American and Filipino forces engage in months of protracted uphill fighting against Japanese holdouts in the said passes.
Tucked into the meeting point of the Caraballo and Cordillera mountain ranges, Santa Fe is an ethnically mixed town inhabited by Ilocano migrants, Igorot tribespeople and indigenous Kalanguya. While not exactly a tourist town, its main attractions are from a natural and logistical perspective, being a midway point in the journey between Metro Manila and Cagayan Valley with loads of roadside restaurants and gas stations serving tired motorists who are also pondering the mountain views.
Get in
[edit]Santa Fe lies along the Maharlika Highway, formally known as the Pan-Philippine or Asian Highway (AH 26). The main entrance to the town and the rest of Cagayan Valley, it is a two-lane thoroughfare that is vulnerable to traffic jams caused by landslides, vehicular accidents and vehicles sustaining mechanical breakdowns, particularly in the mountainous section leading from Balete (Dalton) Pass at the boundary with Carranglan in Nueva Ecija.
The Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road (Malico Road), an alternate route to decongest the Maharlika Highway, connects Santa Fe with San Nicolas in Pangasinan via Salacsac Pass, but its usage is limited only to light vehicles and is more dangerous to navigate for the less experienced motorist.
By bus
[edit]Santa Fe is a midway point and major stopover for buses travelling between Metro Manila and Cagayan Valley.
By jeep
[edit]The intermunicipal jeepney service that runs through the main towns of Nueva Vizcaya has its southern terminus at Santa Fe.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the most common transport between barangays, but due to uneven terrain, an SUV or any 4WD is recommended, particularly when driving along Dalton Pass or Malico Road.
See
[edit]- 1 Dalton Pass (Balete Pass). It is a rugged piece of terrain where a part of the Caraballo Sur reaches south and joins the Sierra Madre. Because of its strategic importance as the only access between Nueva Ecija and Cagayan Valley, the pass became the scene of much bloody fighting during the final stages of World War II. Japanese Shobu soldiers headed by General Tomoyuki Yamashita tried to hold their positions while Filipino and American soldiers under the leadership of Colonel Robert Lapham, were determined to dislodge them from February to March 1945. By the close of hostilities, the blood of almost seventeen thousand Japanese fighting units and the US-Filipino allied forces mingled with the soil. Markers that commemorate their sacrifice stand by the road’s highest point, with good view into the highlands. The shrine is a reminder for Gen. James L. Dalton who was killed by a sniper’s bullet during the end of World War II. At 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level, Dalton Pass is the gateway to Cagayan Valley.
- 2 Salacsac Pass (Malico Road, Villaverde Trail), Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road, Barangay Malico. The site of a World-War II battle fought in conjunction with the Battle of Dalton Pass. Unlike Dalton, the site sits on a higher altitude and is a newly-developed site that was opened following the concreting of the Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road in the early 2020s. There are stalls selling coffee and agricultural goods and a war memorial. However, the area is claimed by both the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan, which views the area as part of the municipality of San Nicolas.
- 3 Imugan Falls, Imugan. A two-level falls with a shallow catch basin. Trek over streams/rivers emanating from the falls. Enjoy trekking, exploration, swimming, fishing and cultural immersion. Also within the area is the Imugan Mountain Fresh Factory which utilizes wild berries and other fruits to produce spreads and jams while visitors can watch the production process and shop for preserved fruit spreads. .
- 4 Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Church, Maharlika Highway, Poblacion. The main Roman Catholic church in Santa Fe, situated on the side of a mountain.
Do
[edit]- 1 Forest Park, Maharlika Highway, Baliling. An ecotourism site featuring groves of trees native to the Caraballo and Cordillera mountain ranges.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Santa Fe Public Market, Maharlika Highway, Poblacion.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Erel's Ihaw - Ihaw and Native Foods (Fontanilla's), Maharlika Highway, Poblacion. A decades-old cafeteria mostly serving motorists. ₱100–200.
- 2 Mrs G., Maharlika Highway, Baliling. A cafe-style restaurant with bakeshop, grocery and decent restrooms.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Stay safe
[edit]Accidents and landslides are common along the mountain roads, with the danger compounded by low or nonexistent guard rails and fog. Ensure that your vehicle is in good condition, and bring enough supplies to outlast a traffic jam, which can range from an hour at best to 18 and longer in the event of a major vehicular pileup or landslip.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Santa Fe |
| Bayombong ← Aritao ← | N  S
|
→ Carranglan → San Jose |
