History

Archaeological findings dating back to the Paleolithic Age indicate that the ancestors of modern humans had settled in Cagayan as early as 500,000 years ago. Man may have followed large mammals into the valley in search of game. The Agtas were probably the first modern humans to populate the vast Cagayan Valley region, followed by various Malayo-Polynesian groups who settled in the Cagayan plains and established culturally similar but ethnically distinct communities.

Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo explored the coast of Cagayan in 1572 and found the people conducting trade with Chinese and Japanese merchants. In 1581, after driving away Japanese pirates who had settled along the Cagayan coast, the Spaniards decided to settle in Lallo, which they renamed Nueva Segovia. In 1594, Nueva Segovia became the seat of a diocese, which covered the entire northern Luzon.

The pacification and settlement of the Cagayan proceeded slowly because of the hostility of the natives who were indisposed to colonization. Christian evangelization began in 1595 with the arrival of Dominican missionaries in Cagayan. Revolts continued to rock the province and threatened to supplant the Spanish colonial government in the area. These revolts found a continuing reservoir of support from the unconverted highland peoples who continually harassed the Christian settlements of the valley.

In the late 18^th century, Cagayan felt the full impact of the tobacco monopoly. Cultivation of tobacco, which was an important article of trade and consumption, was initially prohibited. Anti-monopoly revolts broke out in 1787 and many settlements near the highlands were abandoned by natives who wanted to continue cultivating tobacco. Ten years later, tobacco cultivation was allowed in the valley and Cagayan soon became the single largest source of the cash crop in the archipelago. Ilocano migration into the valley facilitated the expansion of agriculture in the region. By the middle of the 19^th century, the great number of Ilocano settlers allowed the Ilocano language to supplant Ibanag as the regional lingua franca.

Under the Spaniards, the whole northeastern part of the island of Luzon, plus some small islands in the Balintang Channel, constituted a single province of Cagayan. In 1839, the southern half of the valley was formed into a politico-military district of Nueva Vizcaya. In 1856, parts of Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya were formed into the province of Isabela. Cagayan lost more territory with the formation of the partido of Itaves in 1889 and the comandancia of Apayao in 1890. The Americans delineated the present day limits of Cagayan in 1908.

During the Second World War, Japanese units landed in Aparri town a few days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The valley again figured prominently in the plans of Japanese forces to defend it as a secure line of retreat to Taiwan in 1945. Filipino guerrillas and American forces from Ilocos finally drove the Japanese to the Cordilleras.

People, Culture and the Arts

Due to the influx of Ilocano migrants in the last century, majority of the people of Cagayan speak Ilocano as their primary tongue. Aside from the Ilocanos, there are several smaller ethnic groups that live in the province. The Ibanags are the dominant ethnic group in the vicinity of the provincial capital of Cagayan. The closely related Itawit inhabit the Pinacanauan River valley as well as areas of Amulung and Tuao. The Malaweg are found mainly in the municipality of Rizal. In the foothills and the mountains of the Sierra Madre Range, several Negrito groups called the Agtas forage and hunt for food. The established lingua franca of the province is Ilocano.

The Ibanags, Itawits and Malawegs are mainly lowland farmers whose agricultural practices are similar to those of the Ilocanos. The Ibanags used to inhabit the area along the Cagayan coast but migrated further inland. They conducted trade with neighboring areas using distinctive seacrafts, and their commercial interests made their language the medium of commerce throughout the region before the influx of Ilocano migrants. They are also excellent blacksmiths and continue to make good bolos. The Ibanags are reputed to be the tallest of all the ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines.

The Itawits are almost indistinguishable from the Ibanags but are less acculturated. They continue to practice slash and burn agriculture in the Sierra Madre foothills. They build their houses with separate kitchens, connected by a narrow walkway that is used as a washing area for hands and feet. The Itawits are noted for their pottery and basket weaving traditions.

The culture of Cagayan is showcased in museums, historical buildings and archeological sites spread across the province. In Solana, the Neolithic archeological sites in Lanna have yielded stone tools used as early as 20,000 years back. The Cabarruan Jar Burial site also in the town, features ancient Filipino traditions of taking care of their dead. The Cagayan Museum is a repository of the province’s cultural heritage. Iron Age pottery, Ming, and Sung dynasty porcelain pieces as well as Church paraphernalia are on display together with Paleolithic fossils. The oldest bell in the country, cast in 1595, still peals from the tower of the church in Camalaniugan. The old brickworks in Tuguegarao lie outside the town and speak of a time when bricks were extensively used to build the beautiful churches of the Cagayan Valley.

Trade and Investments

The province of Cagayan lies in a strategic location at the northernmost tip of the island of Luzon. It is relative closer and easily more accessible to the markets of Taiwan, Hongkong and Japan than other point in the Philippines. The province of Cagayan sprawls over 9,005 square kilometers that is blessed with vast expanses of agricultural land and valuable hardwood forests. The winding Cagayan River irrigates the alluvial plains and enriches it with sediments. Rich fishing grounds exist off the northern and eastern coasts while mineral resources, such as titaneferons, manganese, sulphur, limestone, clay and perlite exist in large quantities. Cagayan’s labor force is more than adequate to meet the need for highly-skilled workers.

The province is easily accessed via a network of good roads linked to the Maharlika Highway system. Land travel is the main means of moving people, commodities and supplies in and out of Cagayan. There are commercial airlines that service Tuguegarao from Manila and Laoag City, while Aparri and Port Irene in Sta. Ana currently serve as important seaports linking Cagayan to other points of northern Luzon. Two electric cooperatives bring power to industries and residences in the province. The completion of a 40 megawatt geothermal plant will supply additional power for the needs of industry in the province. Potable water is available in Tuguegarao, while deep wells and pumping facilities support the needs of other towns. Direct dialing telephone and telegraph services are provided by eight telecommunications companies.

In February 24, 1995, under Republic Act No. 7922, the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP) was created. Covering the municipality of Sta. Ana and several nearby islands and municipalities in Cagayan, CSEZFP is envisioned to become a "self-sustaining industrial, commercial, financial investment, and tourism/recreational center and freeport". The special economic zone is well located and makes it an ideal center for processing agricultural produce from Cagayan and nearby provinces. CSEZFP plays a very significant role in realizing the vision of establishing the entire Cagayan Valley as the agricultural center of the Philippines.

At present, Cagayan is upgrading its infrastructure to meet the demands of increased economic activity. Several projects, such as the development of the Port Irene international container port, the construction of access roads, the improvement of water and power facilities, the construction of the Gonzaga airport, and several housing and agro-industrial parks, are geared towards transforming the province into the gateway of trade with East Asia.

There are existing opportunities in agriculture, fishing, livestock and poultry raising, fruit and tree farming in Cagayan to meet the growing market for foodstuffs in the East Asian region. Adding value to these raw materials open other investment possibilities in food-related manufacturing, wood processing, handicrafts, housewares, gift and toy making.

Tourism has also been viewed as a potentially rewarding venture. The province abounds in interesting natural wonders, such as the cave system of Peñablanca, challenging peaks, unspoilt forests and rarely visited beaches that appeal to eco-tourists and adventure seekers. The rich fishing grounds of northern Cagayan can be developed into a sports angler’s paradise. Hotels and lodging houses, transportation facilities, and food establishments are necessary to support this tourism potential.

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