Region II: Cagayan Valley

Facts:

• 5 Provinces, 4 Cities, 89 Municipalities and 2,311 Barangays
• Based on the Year 2010 Census, Region II (Cagayan Valley)'s population reached to 3, 229, 163.
• Dubbed as "Tilapia Capital of the Philippine"s.
• Cagayan River, also known as Rio Grande de Cagayan, located in this region is the longest and widest river in the country.
• Cagayan Valley is the second largest region of the Philippines in terms of land area.

Provinces

1. Batanes "Land of the True Insulars"
2. Cagayan "Spelunker's Paradise"
3. Isabela "Rice Granary of the North"
4. Nueva Vizcaya "Watershed Haven of the Valley"
5. Quirino "Forest Heartland of Cagayan"


Cities

1. Cauayan City (Isabela Province)
2. Ilagan City (Isabela Province)
3. Tuguegarao City (Cagayan Province, Regional Center)
4. Santiago City (Isabela Province)


Products

Main crops are rice, corn, and tobacco. Fishing is prevalent in the coastal areas. The region is also involved in livestock production and furniture making. Other products include:

Vacul (Headgear)

Ube Chips

Banana Chips

Bamboo Lampshade

Earthen Products

Pineapple Vinegar

Fossilized Flowers/ Dried Grasses

Antique Furniture

Waterlily Bags

Peanut Products

Places of Interest

What to do?
Cagayan has a lot to offer which include beaches,  swimming, snorkeling, skin-diving, fishing in the river and the sea, hiking in the primeval forest, mountain-climbing and visiting archaeological sites as well as the provincial museum, and churches.

Where to go?
There are countless of places here in Cagayan Valley that is worth-visiting.  To name a few, here are some places:

Ruins of Songsong

A "ghost barangay" which is really a cluster of roofless shells of old stone houses abandoned after a tidal wave that hit the island of Bataan in the 1950s. The area has a long stretch of beach.

Mt. Iraya

A dormant volcano standing at 1,517 meters whose last eruption was recorded 505 AD. Ideal for mountaineering, trekking and trailblazing. It can be climbed to the top in about 3 hours.

Callao Cave Tourist Zone

The seven-chambered Callao Caves boast of massive limestone and other rock formations, skylights and a chapel.

Buntun Bridge

Its length of 1,124 kilometers makes it the longest river bridge in the country. It offers an unobstructed view of Cagayan River.

Governor Rapids

Famous for gigantic perpendicular walls of limestone as well as swift turbulent deep blue waters perfect for white river rafting, swimming and fishing.

Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park

This 1,000 hectare forest park has numerous endemic species of flora and fauna. Within the park are picnic groves, a lagoon with fish cages, coconut plantations, firing range and a campsite.

Calvary Hills

This is a favorite pilgrimage site during the Lenten Season since it has larger than life concrete statues of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

House of Dakay

This traditional Batanes house is one of the only five remaining structures that withstand the 1918 earthquake which leveled the town of Ivana to the ground. The house is made of limestone walls and cogon roof.

Other must-see places are:
Sabtang Island

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat

Native Delicacies

Rice Cakes
Ginisa nga Agurong
Pancit Batil Patung
Ginataang Alimasag
Sinabalo (Suman) *wrapped in fresh Bamboo tubes


Languages Spoken
Ilokano, Ibanag, Irraya, Ivatan, Itawis, Gaddang, Yagad, Isinay, Ilongot, Tagalog, English




References
http://philippinesthebeautywithin.blogspot.com/2011/07/region-2-cagayan-valley.html