Tumauini Church in Tumauini, Isabela

Isabela is divided into three physiographic areas. The eastern area, straddled by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, is rugged and thickly forested. Substantial portion is uncharted and unexplored hinterlands and home to a rich variety of flora and fauna while some are government reservations.

The western area is a sprawling fertile valley hemmed by the Central Cordillera and is criss-crossed by the mighty Cagayan, Siffu and Magat Rivers.

Its mountains rise to a peak of about 6,000 feet and is home to one of the world largest remaining low-altitude rainforests with numerous unknown endemic species of flora and fauna and exceptional biological diversity. The area is popularly known as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP).

Isabela Photos

Ilocos Sur is where the Ilocos Region’s myriad of cultures and histories converge to become a living museum of a spirited past. The historic city of Vigan, inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1999, was established in the 16th century. Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.

Calle Crisolo located in the Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Centuries-old Sta. Maria Church, was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as an excellent example of Baroque Churches in the Philippines.

The ubiquitous old and ancestral houses and churches have made the local tourism industry a major contributor to the province’s economy.

Ilocos Sur Photos

Paoay Church, inscribed in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

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The 400 year-old Naga Metropolitan Cathderal in Naga City, known as “Nueva Caceres” during the Spanish-colonial era of the Philippines

Camarines Sur is known in elementary school textbooks for Lake Buhi where the world’s smallest edible fish, locally known as tabios (scientific name Mistichttys) abound in its serene and scenic waters. Today, the Province has become one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations because of the CamSur Watersports Complex, a world class cable park designed for wakeboarding and wakeskating, and the Islands of Caramoan, a favorite site for international franchises of the popular reality show “Survivor” in Serbia, Israel, France, Bulgaria, and Sweden.

Matukad Island in Caramoan town, one of the rising tourist destinations in the Philippines

Thirty-five municipalities and two cities classified into four districts compose the province of Camarines Sur. Naga City, the former capital of Camarines Sur, was founded in 1573 as “Nueva Caceres” namesake of the Province in Spain and among the original five royal cities of the Philippines during its Spanish-colonial era. Naga City was designated as the Province’s Capital from March 10, 1917 until June 6, 1955, when Pili, the adjoining town was declared as the new Provincial Capital.

Naga City’s Peñafrancia Festival, the largest Marian devotion in the Philippines

Camarines Sur Photos

Cagayan Provincial Capitol in Tuguegarao City

Cagayan province is distinct from the city in Mindanao named Cagayan de Oro, and is far away from Cagayancillo of Palawan or Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island in the Sulu Sea.

Present day chroniclers say that the name was derived from the word “tagay,” a kind of plant that grows abundantly in the northern part of the province. Thus, “Catagayan” which means a place where the tagay grows abundantly was shortened to “Cagayan,” the present name of the province.

Cagayan Province Photos

Benguet is home to several native tribes that are collectively known as the Igorot. The three major tribes are the Ibaloi in the Southwest, the kankana-ey in the northwest and Kalanguya in the east. Many of this tribes are believed by Filipino anthropologist to be of Malay decent. Before the arrival of Spanish colonizers, these tribes have a flourishing trade with the lowlanders.

Benguet Provincial Capitol

Agriculture, mining, and tourism are the major industries in Benguet. Because of its temperate climate and high altitude, Benguet is an ideal place for producing vegetables. Benguet is often called the Salad Bowl of the Philippines. Mining is another major industry of Benguet, which is one of the country’s leading gold producers. The presence of Baguio City in Benguet draws a large number of tourists from the lowlands. Often, people who go to Baguio also explore the province, especially the strawberry and vegetable plantations in La Trinidad.

Benguet Photos

The landlocked province is a melting pot of the lowland people of dominant Spanish ancestry and the unique ethnicity of the upland Tingguian tribe.

The province of Abra is envisioned to be developed as the North Gateway to the Cordilleras highlighting its rich cultural (both upland and lowland ) and historical heritage.

View of Abra River from Santa, Ilocos Sur

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Pancit Batil Patong is a cherished local delicacy in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Province. One satisfying serving is very affordable, priced at less than P50. Batil patong is not commonly known outside of Tuguegarao in the province of Cagayan in Northern Luzon, Philippines. It is an unusual sautéed noodle dish served with dark non-soy-based sauce and with two piquant side dishes: a cup of pork broth and a dish of chopped onions, vinegar or calamansi, chili peppers, and soy sauce. The noodles are wheat-based and are served moist and chewy, topped with crushed pork-rind cracklings, and whipped egg from whence the name bati’l patong literally ‘scrambled and placed on top’ is derived.

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Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Province, Cagayan Valley, Philippines

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