THE LAND OF SMILING BEAUTY

CAGAYAN PROVINCE - TRIVIA
Cagayan is the northernmost part of Luzon mainland. Predominantly Ilocano, Itawes, Ybanag and Agtas (traditional tribesmen, yes still here they are!) thrive on its vast plains bounded by the mighty ranges of Sierra Madre  and Cordilleras to the east and west respectively. On the central of the plain snakes the enormous Cagayan river. It is where its namesake was derived. "Carayan", which means river in Ilocano dialect was later transformed to Cagayan, the land of smiling beauty. Topographically and economically, it does not lag behind other provinces in the country. The province is thus unique. (Below, the unspoiled coast of Claveria).

Listed below are just some of the spectacular and rarely or never-heard facts about Cagayan.

• The first and oldest humans in the country (Homo erectus) lived in Cagayan caves and plains, far older than the Tabon cavemen in Palawan.
• Fossils of mammoths, mastodon and other prehistoric creatures have been excavated in Callao Caves, the only known place in the country where they roamed long ago. (Remember the Ice Age when Luzon was still connected to Eurasia).
  
 

• The oldest catholic bell (the Sancta Maria forged in 1595) in the entire  Far East of the globe, just outside Europe can be found in the town of Camalaniugan, Cagayan.
• CNN lists Palaui Island located in its northeastern tip among the top 10 best beaches in the world, the only in Southeast Asia.
• Magapit  Bridge is the first and the oldest suspension bridge in Asia. It traverses the central part of Cagayan river.

                                         

• Tuguegarao, its capital city is also the regional capital of Cagayan Valley (Region II).
• Cagayan is the "Game Fishing Capital" of the Philippines due to the abundance of sailfish, swordfish, dolphins and other big catch within its waters.
• Cagayan, with Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Viscaya and Batanes collectively known as Cagayan Valley, is the "Tilapia Capital" of the Philippines.
• It is the 3rd largest province in terms of land area behind Palawan and Isabela.
• The largest and probably the last untouched, virgin forests in the country lie on the Sierra Madre de Cagayan.
  

• Ludong, a rare fish species sold at P5,000/kg is endemic only to the Philippines and can only be found in Cagayan river. Nowhere else.
• Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) is the largest port in northern Luzon and considered as the "Gateway to East Asia".
• Nueva Segovia (now Lallo, Cagayan) was among the three oldest dioceses in the Philippines created in 1595 during the Spanish Period (Nueva Caceres de Naga and Cebu being the other two).

So much for this. You will have plenty of never-heard real facts if you visit the place this summer.
P.S. It has more than 6 volcanoes. Some are submarine! (Sonnyboy P. Pacursa)