BATANES
The islands of Batanes were settled by the Ivatans, an
indigenous ethnic group that was Christianized in 1685
by the Dominican friars. Despite efforts to promote the
economy of the islands through the growing of tobacco
during the regime of Gov. Gen. Jose Basco, the
provincial population did not significantly increase in
proportion to the rest of the archipelago.
This province is still completely rural. The severe
climate during the typhoon months and the area’s virtual
isolation are the factors that have contributed to the
slow development of Batanes.
Former Name: Concepcion
Land Area: 209.3 square kilometers
Capital: Basco
Population: 12, 091 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Ilocano
Income Classification: Sixth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 6 (Basco, Itbayat, Ivana,
Mahatao, Sabtang, and Uyugan)
No. of Municipal Districts: 1(Uyugan)
Topography: Because of its geographical
situation, the province is exposed to yearly typhoons
that visit the archipelago. The severity of climate is a
major factor in the relative backwardness of the
province compared to the rest of the country.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 5
Climate: Typhoon season from July to October;
heaviest rainfall is from August to November.
Average Annual Rainfall: 90.46 inches
Principal products/crops: Yams, carrots, garlic
and onions
Industries: Cattle-raising
Mineral Resources: Copper, manganese, sulphur,
lead, and limestone
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: White Beach Resort in Basco
Governor: Telesforo F. Castillejos
Congressman: Florencio B. Abad
CAGAYAN
Cagayan boasts of many artistic Spanish-built churches
which are relics of the Spanish colonization of the
country. Many of these churches have historical markers.
A series of eight revolts, all of which were
suppressed from 1589 to 1762, rocked the province.
To the lover of nature, Cagayan province beckons
with its Caraballo mountains, its lovely hills and
mystic forests, its extensive valleys and its enchanting
seas.
Former Name: Catagayan
Land Area: 9,002.7 square kilometers
Capital: Tuguegarao
Population: 711,476 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Ibanag, Gaddang and Ilocano
Income Classification: First Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 29 (Abulug, Alcala,
Allacapan, Amulung, Aparri, Baggao, Ballesteros, Buguey,
Calayan, Camaliniugan, Claveria, Enrile, Gattaran,
Gonzaga, Iguig, Lal-lo, Lasam, Pamplona, Pena-Blanca,
Piat, Rizal, Sanchez- Mira, Santa Ana, Santa Praxedes,
Sto. Niño- Faire, Santa Teresita, Solano, Tuao and
Tuguegarao)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The province’s seashores are lined
with coconut trees and nipa swamps are on the delta of
the Cagayan, Abulog, and other rivers. The eastern
coasts are rugged and mountainous, and there are vast
expanses of Babuyan islands consisting of Camiguin,
Calayan, Babuyan, Fuga and Dalupiri.
No. of Principal Rivers: 4 (prominent are Chico
and Pamplona)
No. of Mountains: 19
Climate: A dry season from November to April
characterizes the western and central portions. The
eastern part has no dry season, but also lacks a heavy
rainy period. The coldest month is January; the warmest
month is May.
Average Annual Rainfall: 82inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, corn and tobacco
Industries: Logging (major industry), fishing and
small-scale industries
Mineral Resources: Iron ore, phosphate rocks,
china clay, and manganese
Forest Resources: Timber, almaciga, rattan, buho
and nipa
Tourist Attractions: Punta Lakay-Lakay (Old Man)
and Baket-Baket (Old Woman), Callao Cave, Dos Hermanas
Islands, Aparri Beach, and the Sta. Maria Bell in
Camaliniugan (reputedly the oldest church bell in the
Philippines.)
Governor: Rodolfo Aguinaldo
Congressman: Domingo A. Tuzon, Leoncio M. Puzon,
Tito M. Dupaya (deceased)
IFUGAO
The Ifugao, a sub-tribal grouping of the Igorots, are
native to the province. The Ifugaos are famous for their
daring skills. The mountain terraces which they
fashioned from mountain slopes stand as engineering
marvels and are the most famous in the mountain region.
Internationally renowned as the eighth wonder of the
world, the Banaue rice terraces constitute the leading
tourist destination in the Philippines. The Banaue of
the Ifugao rice terraces cover an area of nearly 400
square kilometers, and if the terraces were placed end
to end, they would reach more than half-way around the
earth.
Those of Banaue, Hapao, and Hungduan are among the
oldest in Luzon. Archaeological studies indicate that it
took the Ifugaos more than 2,000 years to build them.
The stone-walled terraces of Ifugao are the highest,
best built, and most extensive in the world.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 2,517.8 square kilometers
Capital: Lagawe
Population: 111,368(1980)
Principal Dialect: Ifugao (Igorot)
Income Classification: Fifth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 10 (Aguinaldo, Banaue,
Hingyon, Hungduan, Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut, Mayaoyao,
Potia, and Tinoc)
Topography: Ifugao is extremely rugged with
mountain ranges breaking the horizon. It has a high
elevation.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 5 (Tabayoc, Amuyao, Pulog,
Kapilingan, and Sabangan)
Climate: The province has a cool climate, dry
season from November to April and rainy during the rest
of the year.
Average Annual Rainfall: 73.40 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice and corn
Industries: Logging, agriculture and tourism
Mineral Resources: Gold, silver, copper, zinc, cadium,
and iron ore
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: The famous Banaue Rice
Terraces, and the tribal villages
Governor: Benjamin B. Cappleman
Congressman: Gualberto B. Lumawig
ISABELA
Isabela is acknowledged as one of the rice granaries of
the Philippines and its cigar-filler tobacco is said to
be one of the world’s best.
The province of Isabela originally consisted of the area
known as Irraya (from Cagan to Ilagan), Diffun (from
Gamu to Cauyan), and Paniqui (from Cauyan to Nueva
Vizcaya). Two of the original groups settlers of Isabela
were the Negritos and the Ibanags.
During the second phase of the Philippines Revolution,
Isabela feel under the control of the revolutionary
forces, commanded by Col. Simeon Villa who established
his headquarters in Carag. On March 23, 1901, General
Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans in the
historic town of Palanan.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 10,664.6 square kilometers
Capital: Ilagan
Population: 870,604 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Ilocano, Ilongot, and Negrito
Income Classifications: First Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 37 (Alicia, Angadanan,
Aurora, Benito, Soliven, Burgos, Cabagan, Cabatuan,
Cauyan, Cordon, Dinapiqui, Divilican, Echague, Gamu,
Ilagan, Jones, Luna, Delfin Albano, Maconacon, Malig,
Naguilian, Palanan, Quezon, Quirino, Ramon, Reina,
Mercedes, Roxas, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Isidro,
San Manuel, San Mariano, San Mateo, San Pablo, Santa
Maria, Santiago, Santo Tomas, and Tumauini)
No. of Municipal Districts: 2 (Divilican and
Maconacon)
Topography: Although the province lies along the
typhoon belt, it is vulnerable only
on the north because two mountain ranges shield the
province. Along its eastern portion extending close to
the coast is the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and on the
west is the Cordillera Central. Between these two
mountain ranges is a vast plain drained by the Cagayan
River.
No. of Principal Rivers: 5(prominent are Cagayan
and Magat)
No. of Mountains: 8
Climate: The western portion of the province is
usually dry for one to three months. The eastern part
has a climate characterized by continuous rainy weather.
In this part of the province, rainfall is more or less
evenly distributed throughout the year.
Average Annual Rainfall: 73.04 inches
Principal products/crops: Tobacco and rice
Industries: Logging (major industry), fishing and
home industries such as pottery, hat weaving, salt
making, broom making, and wine and vinegar
manufacturing.
Mineral Resources: Copper ore and manganese
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Palpallatoc Resort, Tumauini
Church, Magat River Irrigation Dam, Siffu Irrigation
System, San Pablo Spanish Church, and the Naguilian
Bridge.
Governor: Faustino N. Dy
Congressman: Rodolfo Albano, Simplicio B.
Domingo Jr., Santiago B. Respicio, Antonio M. Abaya.
KALINGA-APAYAO
Kalinga-Apayao is one of the country’s least explored
and developed area’s. Of the four Mountain Province’s,
Kalinga-Apayao, which barely touches the northern
coastline of Luzon, is the northern-most territory. (The
three other provinces are Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain
Province.)
Agriculture is the principal source of income of the
people of Kalinga-Apayao. The tribes of the province are
gradually adopting Christianity due to the missionary
work of both the Catholic and the Protestant churches of
the highlands.
Kalinga-Apayao became a province when the sub-provinces
of Kalinga and Apayao were combined on March 11, 1966 by
virtue of Republic Act No. 4695.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 7, 047.6 square kilometers
Capital: Tabuk
Population: 185,063 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Kalinga and Apayao
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 15 ( Balbalan, Calanasan,
Conner, Flora, Kabugao, Lubuagan, Luna, Pasil, Pinukpok,
Pudtol, Rizal, Santa Marcela, Tabuk, Tanudan, and
Tinglayan)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Rugged terrain characterized by high
mountain peaks and thick forests. Its highest mountains
are Mt. Alchanar (2,576 meters), Mt. Cauitan (2, 569
meters), Mt. Bangbanglang (2,464 meters), and Mt.
Sapocoy (2, 456 meters).
No. of Principal Rivers: 2 (Sultan and Pasil)
No. of Mountains: 5 (Alchanar, Cauitan,
Bangbanglang, Sapocoy, and Kabunian)
Climate: There are no pRonounced seasons in the
province. It is one of the coolest provinces in the
country because of its high elevation, which ranges from
3,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level. Peak rainfall
period is from July to November.
Average Annual Rainfall: 73.40 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, sweet potato, orange,
pineapple, banana, coconut and coffee
Industries: Logging (major industry), handloom
weaving and woodcarving
Mineral Resources: Gold, zinc, copper and sulphur
Forest Resources: Narra, lauan, tanguile, mayapis.
Benguet pine, rattan and almaciga
Tourist Attractions: “Sleeping Beauty Mountain”,
Kabunian Mountain, natural caves of Luna, Balbalan and
Lubuagan, and the legendary spring of Galdang in Pasil
town.
Governor: Lawrence B. Wacnang
Congressman: William F. Claver
NUEVA VIZCAYA
The history of Nueva Vizcaya dates back to the 1600s
when the Spanish Expeditionary Forces moved toward the
north to convert the Filipinos to Christianity. There
were many attempts made by the Spaniards to advance
north but because of the difficulty of going through the
rugged terrain, it took them some years to reach this
province.
A number of Spanish missions were established in the
region. The Dominicans in 1632 were followed by the
Augustinians in 1717.
Bayombong, the capital of Nueva Vizcaya, was founded in
1737. In 1896, Nueva Vizcaya was greatly affected when
Isabela and Cagayan fell into the hands of the
revolutionary forces. The Spanish forces in the province
surrendered to Col. Jose Layba on September 15, 1898.
The Igorots of the province, however, refused to
cooperate with the revolutionary forces and fled to the
mountains.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 3,903.9 square kilometers
Capital: Bayombong
Population: 241, 690 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Ilocano
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 15 (Alfonso Castañeda,
Ambaguio, Aritao, Bagabag, Bambang, Bayombong, Diadi,
Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Kasibu, Kayapa, Quezon,
Santa Fe, Solano, and Villa Verde)
No. of Municipal Districts: 2 (Ambaguio and Diadi)
Topography: Generally mountainous with elevations rising
as high as 1,500 meters. The eastern portion near the
Quezon boundary are vast virgin forest watered by
several rivers. The Cagayan River flows from the
southern part of the province.
No. of Principal Rivers: 2 (Cagayan is the
longest)
No. of Mountains: 21
Climate: No pronounced maximum rainy period and a
relatively short dry season. The province is exposed to
the southwest monsoon and is frequently visited by
cyclonic typhoons.
Average Annual Rainfall: 60 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, coffee, and cacao
Industries: Logging (major industry)
Mineral Resources: Manganese, gold, silver,
copper, lead, pyrite, iron, feldspar and white clay.
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Dalton Pass, the Santa Fe
mountain road, and the Salinas Salt Spring
Governor: Patricio G. Dumlao
Congressman: Carlos M. Padilla
QUIRINO
One of the youngest provinces in the country, Quirino is
bigger than provinces of Bulacan, Laguna or Cavite. The
boundaries of the province extend to the Sierra Madre
Mountain Range and as far as Isabela. Quirino is rich in
natural resources and its soil fertile enough for
cultivation. It also has thick forests and its streams
and rivers give the province a primeval setting.
With 3,000 square kilometers and six municipalities,
Quirino has a relatively small population at
approximately 83,000. Compared with Tarlac, Ilocos Norte
and Lanao del Sur whose areas are close to that of
Quirino, the province is one of the most sparsely
populated in the country.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 3,057.2 square kilometers
Population: 83,230 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Ilocano
Income Classification: Fifth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 6 ( Aglipay, Cabarroguis,
Diffun, Maddela, Nagtipunana, and Saguday)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Quirino is made up of undulating
hills and mountains laced with small valleys and
farmlands. There are caves in Diffun and Saguday which
regularly attract visitors.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 1
Climate: No pronounced rainy period. There is
also a short dry season between December and May. The
province is exposed to the southwest monsoon and is
frequently visited by cyclonic storms.
Average Annual Rainfall: 54 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, mango, pomelo,
jackfruit, potato, and vegetables
Industries: Logging and furniture making
Mineral Resources: Manganese, iron, and white
clay
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: The caves in Diffun and
Saguday
Governor: Mariano J. Pimentel
Congressman: Jun Evangelista Cua
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