A province in the northeastern corner part of Luzon facing the Pacific Ocean,  Cagayan Province is home and the regional center of the Cagayan Valley Region. Derived from the word “tagay” a kind of plant that abundantly grows in the province it was subsequently named “Catagayan” which means where the plant comes from. ( Don’t mistake the word for its street traditional term “Tagay” which means “Your turn for the shot of drink” in a drinking session.) Cagayan Province is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east, on the southside Which is Isabela Province, on the west is the Cordillera Mountains, and on the north by the Balintang Channel and the Babuyan Group of Islands. About a few kilometers from the northeastern tip of the province is the Palaui Island, and to the west is Fuga Island. The Babuyan Group of Islands, which includes Calayan, Dalupiri, Camiguin, and Babuyan Claro, is about 60 nautical miles north of Luzon mainland.

Cagayan Provincial Capitol

The Province of Cagayan speaks quite a few dialects besides English and Tagalog and literacy is high as modern facilities and ways of teaching are implemented. Some of the dialects that are spoken in this province are Ilocano, Ybanag, Itawit and Malaweg with Ilocano as the most widely used by the general population of the province. The last time I was in Cagayan was when I was in my first year high school. That was a long time ago and a lot of changes has occurred. I went to Tuguegarao City, the capital of Cagayan but mostly stayed in Claveria, since my friend belongs to the Salvatera clan and is the son of Judge Honorio Salvatera. I ate the widely known delicacy of the province known as the Tuguegarao Pancit or the Batil Patung to just try it and experience the great flavor.

Cagayan Cave

The province has bountiful mountainous treks of unspoiled mountains and forests which are well recommended for outdoor activities like trekking, mountain climbing and exploration, camping, among others. These activities are also good sources of livelihood for the rural communities as locals are the best guides. Aside from the beautiful mountains clean rivers and seas make the province ideal for water sports activities like swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, and white river rafting. The lower basin of the Cagayan River is found in Aparri, Cagayan where a fluvial parade attended by more than a hundred fishing boats is being conducted every May 10. Also, the Cagayan River is the longest and widest river in the country. It starts from the Province of Nueva Vizcaya and goes along down to Cagayan.

Cagayan Beach

Since Cagayan faces the Pacific Ocean an extensive shoreline sprawls along the coastal towns of Sanchez Mira, Sta. Praxedes, Claveria, Buguey, Buguey, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, and the Islands of Palaui, Fuga, and Island Municipality of Calayan. Sanchez Mira, Claveria, and Sta. Praxedes have facilities for excursion stays while Fuga Island is being developed as a world class recreation and tourism center. Whale watching at the Calayan Islands are the most sought after and scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing are the most famous in Palaui Island in Sta. Ana. The airstrip at Claveria could be used as a jump-off point to Fuga Island.

There are a lot of recreation and things to do in Cagayan for tourist and locals alike with its famous Sambali Festival celebrated throughout and in commemoration of its founding. Activities in the province are unlimited with its green sorroundings, floras and faunas, caves and historical churches. Also there are lots of nice places to stay such as the Governors Garden Hotel, Hotel Candice, Hotel Roma and Hotel Kimikarlai all in Tuguegarao City.

During the 70’s, almost all my family constantly visit Marikina. For one, my aunt and uncle lives there and secondly we have to visit the grave of my grandmother and sister at the Loyola Memorial Park. It used to be a quiet town on the outskirts of Metro Manila. I remember it as when I pass the main road from Cubao we have to pass the U-tex factory. (Remember U-tex back then even though a small town as Marikina it was represented in the PBA with imports of the famous Otto Moore and the sweet shooting, 3 dribble foul throw hoopster Larry Pounds.) My aunt and uncle also has a shoe factory at their home making fashioned mens and ladies shoes with their famous mocassin shoewear. They were one of the pioneer shoe makers of Marikina and also one of the first exporters to the Middle East. Their store in Cubao at the Marikina Shoe Expo keeps most of my aunt and uncle’s family employed. As I went overseas more frequently in the 80’s after high school it took me less and less time to visit the place as I got more pre-occupied.

Loyola Memorial Park

After more than a decade, on December 8 1996 the town of Marikina became a chartered city and this town that used to be a part of the Province of Rizal has flourished and became a highly urbanized city. Thanks also to the husband and wife mayor tandem of Bayani and Marides Fernando, who has led the transformation of this quiet town to one of the most respected and awarded city in the country. The “Shoe Capital of the Philippines” which is the heart and soul economy of Marikina City, became more succesful than ever. The shoe industry has led to be one of the finest in Asia and the world as of today. Mayor Marides Fernando has indeed led the way for the city to be one of the National Capital Regions succesful business district. She was also one of the finalist in the 2008 World Mayor Awards and the only one in the Asia - Pacific Region who belongs to the list. The year 2008 served as a blessed year for Marikina City as the River Banks Center has been declared as one of the fast developing business and financial district of the NCR. Also the year celebrated the grand opening of SM City Marikina, which is situated along Marcos Highway and near the River Banks Center.

SM Marikina City

Marikina City also boasts with many interesting activities such as the Fashionista, Experience Marikina and a tour of its shoe industry. While these daily activities for travel and tourism awaits its visitors, its annual festities such as the Rehiyon - Rehiyon Festival celebrated during the 9th of December, participated by the baranggay’s and choses any particular region in the country for which they would represent dressed in ethnic attire with street dancing and most of all cultural presentations. The Sapatos Festival highlights the celebration of its shoe industry.

World's Biggest Shoes

For more information on the City of Marikina visit their website at www.marikina.gov.ph

Victory Liner Caloocan Terminal

Caloocan City is one of the highly urbanized cities in Luzon, where it is subdivided into two congressional districts, the Caloocan City North and South. This city is situated at the northern part of Metro Manila. Based on the latest National Census it placed the 4th largest city of the country, in terms of population, where there are approximately 1.4 million residents, and based on the land area, it ranked 2nd as the largest city in Metro Manila. Tricycles are the main mode of transportation in the area, though these vehicles are small yet it is very affordable. On the other hand, jeepneys also ply the city based on their respective routes. The City is also well known for drop off points for buses coming off from the northern provinces with Victory Liner and other coaches have their major terminals. Former Mayors who have contributed to the growth of the city such as Mayor Asistio and Rey Malonzo should also be credited and mentioned worthwhile.

Caloocan City Hall

The famous landmark of Caloocan City is the Bonifacio Monument which is located at the intersection of EDSA and Rizal Avenue . This monument is famous as it carries with it the work of a nationalist, Guillermo Tolentino, not to forget that the monument honors the first encounter of the revolutionary group, the Katipunan, lead by Andres Bonifacio, one of the country’s hero. Also a famous landamrk is MCU, a university which the name is embedded on all jeepneys plying the routes.
In the city, you can also find the Gubat as Ciudad Resort where several swimming pools and other water facilities for the whole family are offered. Tala Leprosarium can also be found here, which is deemed as the oldest leprosarium in Asia founded in 1940. There are also other tourist attractions for Caloocan City. Some of which are the Bamboo Organ, a unique bamboo organ only found inside the St. Joseph Church; the salt beds, the city is noted for its salt-making industry; and The Filipinas Heritage Library, described as an electronic library because it engages in digitization projects, CD-ROM publishing, development of web pages and electronic database.

Caloocan City Monumento

There are still a lot of tourist attractions and historical places that the City of Caloocan houses. In order to see and experience an exceptional tour of the place, go and see for yourself. By the way, I have to mention some few friends and acquaintences in the city such as Tonton Asistio, Bing Nazareno and former councilor who have past away a decade ago Cesar Zagala.