I’d never expected that I can go to this places with nicest people who are not just academically inclined but an explorer by heart. To travel with these people is just like we’re escaping in stressful atmosphere to unwind with one another.

Hell-o! It’s me, Chinie Noriega. Currently taking BS Legal Management at Cagayan State University (Andrews Campus) This content is made as a compilation of tourist spots in the Corn Capital of the Philippines, Ilagan City, Isabela. Plus a travels around Cagayan, where the place I am currently studying.

I would like to give credits to the owner of the photos and descriptions of all the tourist spot at City of Ilagan, namely:

Ilagan Sanctuary: A Rising Tourist Spot in the Philippines https://goldenisabela.weebly.com/adventures/ilagan-sanctuary-a-rising-tourist-spot-in-the-philippines

Ilagan Japanese Tunnel: A Mark of History in Isabela https://thejerny.com/travel/ilagan-japanese-tunnel-isabela/

Abuan River: Mother Nature’s Washing Machine https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Abuan-River-Mother-Natures-Washing-Machines

World’s Largest “Butaka” : https://www.choosephilippines.com/do/history-and-culture/924/worlds-largest-butaka

The beautiful Abuan River is situated in Ilagan, Isabela Province. It is part of the Northern Sierra Madre National Park. It has an average elevation of 82 meters above sea level. This great Abuan river is offering whitewater rafting and endorsing ecotourism in the province to save the Sierra Madre.

Many years ago, the Sierra Madre Forest and Watershed was a victim of illegal logging and charcoal production. The forest was drastically destroyed but the water from the stream remained clean, clear, and pure.

The WWF-Philippines or World Wide Fund for Nature conducted a study on the illegal activities in the forest; based on the research, the uncontrolled logging can destroy the forest and displace almost 130,000 families living near the river.

WWF-Philippines, with the partnership of Coca-Cola Company in Philippines and the support of the Local government of Ilagan, conducted a project called the “Umbrella Project”. The project aims to help the government to clean, conserve and save the river in Ilagan, and to make it as a sustainable whitewater rafting spot in the country. They want to redeem the Sierra Madre Forest from deforestation.

Based on the manager of the project no other than Luis Caraan, they already started working on an ecotourism project in the area and once the project succeeds, it will provide an alternative livelihood for the local people. It will also help the province’s environment and community. Livelihood programs are very important to the area to lessen and stop altogether the illegal activities in the forest.

Isabela’s forest is the oldest and richest forest in the Philippines. It is also a home of different kinds of flora and fauna like crocodiles and eagles. The water from the stream is used in water irrigation for the crops and rice fields in the province. Some activities can be done in Abuan River such as hiking, scaling cliffs and falls, swimming, rappelling, and rafting or kayaking.

They call it the Ilagan Japanese Tunnel which apparently has been used by the Japanese soldiers as base/prison during the World War II.

People have confused it for a cave although it’s actually a man-made tunnel crafted in distress with the sweat and blood of the detained Ilagueños. It served a lot of purposes such as a jail to the Filipino guerrillas during the war and a storehouse of guns, treasures, and hidden wealth.

Feel like you are traveling back in time through the Ilagan Japanese Tunnel as the government has set-up a sound system to create sound effects feels in the area. There also were replicas of Japanese soldiers and Filipino prisoners (imagine that with sound effects).

Those who have first found the cave stated that there had been relics or pieces of gold bars laying on the ground. Also, a Golden Buddha was inside the cave when it was first found but it has now been replaced by a replica. There were also other replicated memorabilia like bombshells, some guns, a golden fan, a few weapons, and some uniforms in that era.

The Japanese Tunnel in Ilagan City in the province of Isabela has been unfolded to the public since February 16, 2016, through Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz. Regarded as one of the historical and cultural heritage of the town, the tunnel was restored, reconditioned, and conserved by the city government to give everyone a slice of the Japanese traditional culture and a slab of knowledge on how the Filipinos suffered in the hands of these conquerors.

The Binallay is Isabela’s own version of the suman (rice cake). It originated from the City of Ilagan. The Binallay dough is made with glutinous rice, which is ground into rice flour, and afterwards is mixed with water. The dough is then portioned, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed. The delicacy is served with a sweet caramel sauce made from coconut milk and panutsa (whole raw sugar) called Laro.

During the Holy Week, devout Christians in Ilagan City would practice penitence and sacrifice by eating just the Binallay because Ilagueños regard the food as a representation of the body and blood of Christ; the rice cake being the body and the sauce as the blood.

The Binallay, aside from during the Holy Week, takes the spotlight twice more; during the city’s famous Binallay Festival and some time in May during the lively founding anniversary of the province of Isabela.

References : http://provinceofisabela.ph/index.php/tourism/festivalsfilipinostylerecipe.com/2013/11/binallay/

Isabela Province — the 2nd largest province in the Philippines and the home of the famous pancit dish… Pancit Cabangan.

But a few of us know that Isabela is also the place where one can find the biggest “butaka” in the world.

“Butaka” means a chair with long arm rest or we know it as the rocking chair of our grandparents. In Ilagan, Isabela one can find the biggest “butaka” and it was awarded by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest arm chair in the world, it measures 11.6 feet high, 20.8 feet long, and 9.8 feet wide.

It was created by Ilangueños in a span of one month. This enormous chair is one of the must see tourist attractions in Ilagan Isabela

The province of Isabela in Cagayan Valley appears to be a very laid back place. Despite its size as the second-largest province in the country, after Palawan and status as one of the Top 10 richest provinces, the only one in Northern Luzon on the list, it doesn’t seem to provoke strong reactions or opinions from people on hearing the name.

Isabela is called the “rice and corn granary of Luzon,” and considered the trade and industrial center of Northeastern Luzon. It has exceptionally well-maintained roads and highways. There are so many beauties that Isabela really possesses, and it is very competitive. Isabela has arisen from much devastation that had hit us such as natural calamities like typhoons. It has really the potential to compete with other provinces in our country.

When it comes to tourism, Isabela is blessed with many attractions that may boost the tourism and may attract many tourists. One of the many attractions that Isabela has is the Ilagan Sanctuary, a very beautiful place we can all relax together with our friends, relatives and our families. 

Ilagan Sanctuary is the most visited tourist spot in Ilagan City today. It is a protected area located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Brgy. Santa Victoria, Ilagan City, Isabela.  This Nature Discovery that Isabelinos take pride of is 15 kilometers away from the City proper of Ilagan. Ilagan sanctuary is a nature discovery where everyone can enjoy nature’s finest beauty and experience ventures that this place can offer.

​There are many different activities that we can enjoy while we are on the sanctuary. Attractions inside the park include Bird viewing, Mini zoo, Natural spring pool, Pinzal falls, Butterfly park and the caves. Some activities in the sanctuary will require you to ride on an ATV.

First, for those who love walking, they can go on a trek to reach the Pinzal waterfalls to fully enjoy the natural beauty of the sanctuary. The trek will only take 700 meters of walk. You will be conquering the muddy and rocky trek in order for you to reach the majestic waterfalls. After some trekking, you can dip into the basin of the Pinzan waterfalls. The falls is a very good place to relax after the long walk and to unwind for a while and forget the problems of life. 

The sanctuary features natural lattices and rock formations inside the 400 meters cave length. The cave includes the Main cave, Altar cave and Adventure cave. For those who are willing to discover the beauty of the caves, they are required to have their own tourist guide. It is for their own security and also for the preservation of the natural elements inside the caves like the stalagmites and the stalactites so that it will remain beautiful and virgin.

Several species of wildlife animals are also taken care of in the sanctuary like tiger, ostrich, crocodile, eagle, monkey, deer and wild pig. The animals are kept and taken care in their Animal Kingdom.

People can also enjoy some culminating activities while they are in the sanctuary. They can try to climb walls. They guarantee in the management that these are safe and enjoyable.

They can also try the cable cars.
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Families and friends can also try the boating area inside the sanctuary. Everyone can enjoy this activity, very relaxing.

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Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton