Biyernes, Pebrero 24, 2012

my isabela

Isabela is the second largest province of the Philippines next to Palawan. It is located in the Cagayan Valley Region in Luzon. Its capital is Ilagan and borders, clockwise from the south, AuroraQuirinoNueva VizcayaIfugaoMountain ProvinceKalinga, and Cagayan. This primarily agricultural provinceis the rice and corn granary of Luzon due to its plain and rolling terrain. 


HISTORY

Prior to 1856, there were only two provinces in the Cagayan Valley RegionCagayan and Nueva Vizcaya. The Province of Cagayan at that time consisted of all towns from Tumauini to the north in Aparri and all other towns from IlaganRoxas southward to Aritao comprised the Province of old Nueva Vizcaya. In order to facilitate the work of the Catholic missionaries in the evangelization in the Cagayan Valley, a royal decree was issued on May 1, 1856 that created the Province of Isabela consisting of the towns of GamuOld Angadanan (now Alicia), Bindang (now Roxas) and Camarag (now Echague), Carig (now Santiago City) and Palanan, all detached from Nueva Vizcaya; while Cabagan and Tumauini were taken from the Cagayan province. The province was put under the jurisdiction of a governor with the capital seat at Ilagan, where it remains at the present. It was initially called Isabela de Luzon to differentiate from other places in the Philippines bearing the name of Isabela. The new province was named in honor of Queen Isabela II of Spain.[1]
Isabela was reorganized as a province under the American regime through Act No. 210, passed August 24, 1901.[2] Its first provincial governor was Rafael Maramag, a former Municipal President (then a term for Municipal Mayor) of the capital town Ilagan. Rafael Maramag was also the first Municipal President of Ilagan and was succeeded by his brother Gabriel. Isabela was ruled by the Dy family for 34 years, from 1969 to 2004. The dynasty started with the patriarch of the family, Faustino Dy, Sr. who served as the Cauayan Mayor from 1965-1969 and as a Governor of Isabela for 22 years (1969-1992). He was replaced by his son, Benjamin G. Dy in the gubernatorial seat from 1992 to 2001. Another Dy took the gubernatorial seat in 2001 when Faustino Dy Jr. won the 2001 elections after having served first as a Representative of the 2nd district of the province from 1992 to 2001. It was only in the 2004 elections that the Dys' ruling over the gubernatorial seat was taken away from the family when Grace Padaca won.
The Americans built schools and other buildings and instituted changes in the overall political system. The province’s economy, however, remained particularly agricultural with rice replacing corn and tobacco as the dominant crop. World War II stagnated the province’s economic growth but it recovered dramatically after the war. In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces occupied Isabela. In 1945, liberation of Isabela commenced with the arrival of the Philippine Commonwealth Troops and guerrillas attacked by the Japanese Imperial forces in World War II. Isabela today is the premier province of the north, one of the most progressive in the country and Cauayan,the agro industrial center and the commercial center of region 2 is a component city whileSantiago, the Commercial Center of Region 02, was declared an independent city on July 7, 1994.
In 1995, Republic Act Number 7891 was passed legislating that Isabela be divided into two new provinces: Isabela del Norte and Isabela del Sur.[3][4] A referendum was held on the same year with a strong majority voting not to separate the province.[5]

you can visit http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/travel_isabela.html for more details...








People and culture

Ilocanos are the most prominent group in Isabela. Of the total household population, 68.71 percent classified themselves as Ilocanos. The next two prominent groups(ethnic) are Ibanag (14.05 percent) and Tagalog (10.02 percent). The remaining 7.22 percent are either Gaddang, Paranan, Yogad, or are from other ethnic groups.

Economy and tourism

There are two (2) airports in the province - Cauayan Airport which serves as the primary airport for the province with service to Manila and vice versa. The other one is in Palanan, which is inaccessible by land.

Geography
Isabela comprises an aggregate land area of 10,665 square kilometers, representing almost 40 percent of the regional territory. It is the largest province in the island of Luzon and the second largestprovince in the Philippines in terms of land area. It is located on the right-most part of the Northern Luzon facing the Pacific Ocean and comprising parts of the Sierra Madre. Isabela is one of the provinces which is often hit by typhoons due to its location.

Physical

The province is divided into three physiographic 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, while others are government reservations. The western area is a sprawling fertile valley hemmed by the Central Cordillera. It is criss-crossed by the mighty Cagayan River, Siffu river, and Magat River. Its mountains rise to a peak of about 8,000 feet, and are home to one of the world’s 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. Isabela has 600,000 hectares ofCagayan Valley’s 900,000 hectares of forest cover.[6][7]
Isabela is subdivided into 35 municipalities and 2 cities.



Cities

CityIncome ClassDistrictPopulation (2007)Area (km²)
Cauayan City1st class component city3rd110,235336.40
Santiago City1st class, independent component4th125,980275.0

Municipalities

Population Census of Isabela
CensusPop.Rate
19951,160,721
20001,287,5752.25%
20071,401,4951.18%
MunicipalityIncome ClassDistrictPopulation (2007)Area (km²)
Alicia1st Class[8]3rd61,447154.10
Angadanan3rd Class3rd39,743204.40
Aurora1st Class2nd31,547300.56
Benito Soliven4th Class2nd25,151184.40
Burgos5th Class2nd21,89873.10
Cabagan2nd Class1st43,562430.40
Cabatuan4th Class3rd34,07980.77
Cordon3rd Class4th38,139144.00
Delfin Albano (Magsaysay)4th Class4th24,899189.00
Dinapigue3rd Class1st4,807873.69
Divilican1st Class4th4,602889.49
Echague1st Class2nd67,553680.80
Gamu4th Class2nd27,479129.40
Ilagan1st Class1st131,2431,166.26
Jones1st Class4th41,237670.14
Luna4th Class3rd15,88445.70
Maconacon4th Class1st3,991538.66
Mallig4th Class2nd27,245133.40
Naguilian4th Class2nd27,977169.81
Palanan2nd Class1st16,254880.24
Quezon4th Class2nd22,050268.26
Quirino4th Class2nd21,192126.20
Ramon3rd Class4th45,258135.17
Reina Mercedes5th Class3rd21,87457.14
Roxas1st Class2nd53,461184.80
San Agustin4th Class4th20,681278.40
San Guillermo4th Class3rd16,865325.49
San Isidro5th Class4th21,38771.90
San Manuel4th Class2nd28,420112.77
San Mariano1st Class2nd44,7181,469.50
San Mateo2nd Class3rd57,885120.60
San Pablo3rd Class1st20,561637.90
Santa Maria4th Class1st20,695140.00
Santo Tomas4th Class1st22,172150.00
Tumauini1st Class1st55,041467.30
The municipalities of Ilagan and Roxas are candidates for cityhood and is scheduled for assessment on 2012.[9] Ilagan, which failed to become a city after 13 years of proposal would be the country’s second biggest city after Davao City in terms of the land area if its stalled cityhood dream will be eventually realized.[9] While Roxas, files its economic and financial profile however it would not be converted immediately into city until 2015.[9]


Language


Major languages in Isabela are Ilocano followed by IbanagYogadGaddang. People especially in the capital and commercial centers speak and understand English and Tagalog/Pilipino.


Tourists Attractions

  • Sierra Madre Natural Forest Park (Eastern Coast of Isabela)
  • Maconacon Falls (Maconacon, Isabela)
  • Hanging Bridge (Maconacon, Isabela)
  • White Sand Beaches (Dinapigue, Palanan, Divilacan) - Typical of coastal areas along the Sierra Madre Mountains of Cagayan Valley.
  • Dibulo Falls (Dinapigue, Isabela)
  • Dinapigue Sea Wall (Dinapigue, Isabela)
  • Bonsai Park (Dinapigue, Isabela)
  • Waterworld Grand Resort (Ramon, Isabela)
  • Magat High Rise Dam (Ramon, Isabela) - Asia’s biggest dam project at the time of its construction. It serves the primary function of power generation and irrigation. Its reservoir area of 4,450 hectares has a great potential for water-based recreation like fishing, boating and water skiing, among others.
  • Camp Vizcarra (Ramon, Isabela)
  • Pinzal Falls (Ilagan, Isabela)
  • Abuan River (Ilagan, Isabela)
  • Ilagan Sanctuary (Ilagan, Isabela)
  • Sta. Victoria Caves (Ilagan, Isabela)
  • Worlds Largest Butaka (Ilagan, Isabela) - It is 11 feet 4 inches high, 20 feet 8 inches long, and 9 feet 7 inches wide. It weighs 2,368 kilos and was constructed by 25 workers in 29 days.
  • Desert Island (Divilacan, Isabela)
  • Water Impounding Dam (Roxas, Isabela)
  • Borubor Falls (Roxas, Isabela)
  • Honeymoon Island (Divilacan, Isabela)
  • La Salette Shrine (Santiago City) - located in Balintocatoc Hills, contains life-sized statues of religious icons.
  • Obelisk (Jones, Isabela)
  • Dimanek Falls (San Mariano, Isabela) - Located near boundary ridge between Palanan and San Mariano, Isabela.
  • Crocodile Watching (Crocodylus Mindorensis) - at San Mariano at night.
  • Aguinaldo Shrine (Palanan, Isabela) - Historic Capture and Heroism of General Emilio Aguinaldo.
  • Dilaknadanum (Palanan, Isabela) - is the home Agta people, another minorities on the coast of Isabela. Such a beautiful place, with forest, beaches, rivers and small farmsteads uprivers.
  • Dicotcotan Beach (Palanan, Isabela)
  • Sta. Maria Triangular Park (Sta. Maria, Isabela)

Palanan








Maconacon



Dinapique



Abuan River



ISABELA SEAL

ILOCANO FOODS







Churches
  • Parish of St. Mathias (Tumauini, Isabela) - Work on the church started in 1783. It has been faithfully restored after being damaged during World War II and is acknowledged as the most artistic brick structure in the Philippines. The cyclindrical bell tower is the only one of its kind in the country.
  • Our Lady of the Pillar Church (Cauayan City)
  • San Pablo Church (San Pablo, Isabela)
  • Our Lady of Atocha (Alicia, Isabela)- The church and convent as seen today in the town of Alicia, beautiful and solid, was built by Fr. Tomas Calderon, OP and inaugurated in 1849, with Fr. Francisco Gainza, OP, then vicar of Carig (now Santiago City). Famous for their antique Spanish architectural designs, these churches are found along the national highway and are accessible by land transport.
  • St. James Parish Church (Santiago City)
Festivals
  • Bambanti Festival (Isabela Day)
  • Pagay Festival (Alicia)
  • Binnadangan Festival (Roxas)
  • Nateng Festival (Mallig)
  • Gakit Festival (Angadanan)
  • Pattaradday Festival (Santiago City)
  • Nuang Festival (San Agustin) - Carabao Race
  • Gawagaway-yan Festival (Cauayan City)