Piat is known throughout the Philippines because of its Lady of Piat (Nuestra Señora de Visitacion). Pilgrims and land tourists from all walks of life pay homage in her shrine in Piat. In the “Historia de Nuestra Señora de Piat”, Father J. Malumbres tells us that the image of our Lady of Piat was brought from Macao, a colony of Portugal in China.

The year 1600 saw the massacre of Spanish settlers who made the mistake of abusing the impartial friendship offered them by the Kalingas and Negritos. This incident made the Spaniards realize the danger of coming back to live in Piat. It was only in 1604 that an intrepid missionary succeeded in pacifying the belligerent Piateños. With these, the Spaniards returned to the town. The only resentment of the natives after the said incident was when the authorities compelled them to wear hats, shoes and formal dresses during holidays.

The Spaniards had left when the Americans came led by Captain William Hawkins. Except for the almacinero (warehouseman) and two Spanish priests, Hawkins and his men were proffered a cordial welcome by Gobernadorcillo Vicente Oñate. They occupied Piat for a year only, after which Hawkins married Señorita Esperanza Gannaban.

Historical landmarks in Piat are the following; brick watchtower (for fear of invaders a sentinel used to stay on guard there), concrete bridge bordering the Centro and Maguilling was constructed in 1911, the “Gabaldon” school building was built in 1922, and many others.

Piat is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 22,211 people in 3,975 households.

The following are the 18 barangays of Piat:

Apayao / Aquib / Dugayung / Gumarueng / Macapil / Maguilling / Minanga / Poblacion I / Santa Barbara / Santo Domingo / Sicatna / Villa Rey (San Gaspar) / Warat / Baung / Calaoagan / Catarauan / Poblacion II / Villa Reyno

Peñablanca has for its eastern boundary a long stretch of the Pacific Ocean , on its southern edge is the Pacific Ocean to Namabbalan, Tuguegarao from the point, its western perimeter touches the eastern side of Tuguegarao, Iguig and Amulung up to the southern boundary of Baggao.

In the mid 18th century, the Spanish authorities made this town a part of Tuguegarao and it was named “Barrio de Bubug” because of the abundance of “dapdap” trees known as “bubug” in the Ybanag dialect. Peñablanca was then considered by the Spanish friars as a hunter’s paradise. Its forest was excellent hunting ground, where deer, wild pigs and wild birds of various kinds abounded.

The first settlers were a group of hunters composed mostly of Ybanags from Tuguegarao. These settlers adopted the kaingin method of farming and they occupied the central part of the town now known as the Poblacion. At the later part of the 18th century, a Spanish friar was assigned to propagate Christianity in the town and suggested that this be named “Peñablanca” because of its white rocks. Peñablanca was finally made into a town on November 21, 1896 by virtue of a Royal Decree by the King of Spain.

The town is blessed with natural resources rich forest, abundant marine life in its lakes and rivers and vast fertile agricultural lands.

Peñablanca accelerated growth and development may be attributed to its being the site of the Callao Caves Resort and Park which is the premier tourist spot in the region. The cave has seven chambers and its chamber is 100 meters long, 50 meters wide and 36 meters high. Governor General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. visited the cave in 1932. The cave is also a rich source of guano, a fertilizer useful to farmers.

Rice, corn and peanuts are considered as its prime agricultural products. Poultry and swine projects in the locality are fast progressing too.

Peñablanca is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 40,336 people in 6,690 households.

Below are the 24 barangays of Peñablanca:

Aggugaddan / Alimanao / Baliuag / Bical / Bugatay / Buyun / Cabasan / Cabbo / Callao / Camasi / Centro (Pob.) / Dodan / Lapi / Malibabag / Manga / Minanga / Nabbabalayan / Nanguilattan / Nannarian / Parabba / Patagueleg / Quibal / San Roque (Litto) / Sisim

Pamplona is the result of the fusion of two villages; Abulacan (now barrio San Juan) and Masi. Abulacan was founded by the ecclesiastical authorities on April 30, 1757 with San Juan Nepomuceno as the patron saint. Sometime in 1842, Vicar Pedro Montenegro, O.P. convinced the people to unite the two towns. The vicar named it “Pamplona” in memory of his hometown Pamplona in Spain.

After the fusion, an agreement was made that there would be two patron saints of Pamplona: San Juan Nepomuceno and San Pedro de Martir. This is the reason why the town fiesta is celebrated for two days and the images of the two patron saints are carried during religious processions. The town fiesta is celebrated every April 29.

In 1919, some of the prominent people of Pamplona recommended the transfer of the same to Bidduang, a barrio of Pamplona. The transfer was made on November 16, 1919, during the administration of municipal president Esteban Meneses by order of General Wood. In 1928, on the sixth year of the administration of municipal president Paulino Ifurung, one of his last acts was the transfer of the municipal government back to its old site, Pamplona, by then called “Albano .”

Most interesting spot is the mouth of the Pamplona River. It saw history in the making for it was the starting point of Salcedo and his conquistadores when they explored Cagayan in 1572. Because of the river’s strong current and unpredictable floods, Mayor Nicolas B. Aquino built in 1955 a steel level and an irrigation system. It was the first of its kind in Cagayan.

The town is also noted for its Malagabavi Cave. It is located at the foot of a mountain virtually shaped like a pig. Legend has it that this cave was used by a giant as an entrance to his abode. It is said that he was a normal being like a human until his transformation to a giant by a goddess who fell in love with him.

Pamplona is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 21,889 people in 3,787 households.

The 18 barangays of Pamplona are the following:

Abanqueruan / Allasitan / Bagu / Balingit / Bidduang / Cabaggan / Capalalian / Casitan / Centro (Pob.) / Curva / Gattu / Masi / Nagattatan / Nagtupacan / San Juan / Santa Cruz / Tabba / Tupanna

Lasam was once a part of Gattaran, but as the population increased, the residents of the western part of the town asked that it be created a separate municipality.

In 1950, Lasam was created as a municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 507 signed by then President Elpidio Quirino. It was named after the late Cagayan Governor Honorio Lasam. It was officially inaugurated as a town separate from Gattaran in January 1951.

Ignacio Jurado was appointed as the first mayor and his first major task was to build Lasam as a new town separate from the mother municipality of Gattaran .

Lasam is primarily an agricultural community and its people derive their income mainly from farming and raising livestock.

Lasam is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 36,646 people in 6,634 households.

Lasam’s 30 barangays are:

Aggunetan / Alannay / Battalan / Calapangan Norte / Calapangan Sur / Callao Norte / Callao Sur / Cataliganan / Finugo Norte / Gabun / Ignacio B. Jurado (Finugu Sur) / Magsaysay / Malinta / Minanga Sur / Minanga Norte / Nicolas Agatep / Peru / Centro I (Pob.) / San Pedro / Sicalao / Tagao / Tucalan Passing / Viga / Cabatacan East (Duldugan) / Cabatacan West / Nabannagan East / Nabannagan West / Centro II (Pob) / Centro III (Pob) / New Orlins

Lallo has a rich historical background. During the early part of the 16th century, Lallo was the hub of religious, trade and commercial activities of Northern Luzon. One of the first four cities in the Philippines (others were Manila, 1571; Cebu, 1565; Naga, 1575), Lalloc, old name for Lallo, benefited and enjoyed the gifts from the Papal Throne. Named Nueva Segovia by Juan Pablo Carreon in 1581, the town was the seat of the Diocese on August 15, 1595 following the order of Pope Clement VIII, until it was transferred to Vigan, Ilocos Sur in 1755, and it was the capital of Cagayan up to 1839 when the provincial government was moved to Tuguegarao. Very famous among the missionaries at that time was Bishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P., the first bishop elected to the Diocesan home of Nueva Segovia. He later founded the University of Santo Tomas.

In those years, Lallo had three parishes. The parish of the Cathedral was served by the Seculars up to 1786. This was located in the “Centro” where the present Santo Domingo church now stands. The parish of Bagumbayan was entrusted to the Dominicans by Bishop Diego de Soria in 1613. The third, the parish of Tucalana, also under the Dominicans, was located in the present site of the “Compania Tabacalera,” the ruins of which were used by the said company as foundations for their buildings and warehouses.

The Tabacalera (Compaña General de Tabacos Filipinas) which was founded in 1881 played a vital role in the economy of the town. This firm had developed the Philippine Tobacco and stabilized the Philippine economy.

During the last World War, Lallo was made the central office of the “Gunmai” (Naric) which was controlled by the Imperial Army of Japan. The big warehouse and buildings of the Compaña Tabacalera were used by the said Japanese-controlled corporations as offices, bodegas and arsenals. These were all destroyed when the Unites States Air Force bombed the town on January 6, 1945.

After the war, her inhabitants worked hard to make their historical town retain the luster and prestige it enjoyed during the Spanish regime. Lallo has been known also as the only town in Cagayan where clams (cabibi) abound. This is one of the sources of income to many of its town people.

Some of the historical and interesting spots which is still existing today is the “cotta,” a kind of fortress similar to the walls of Intramuros.

Lal-lo is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 39,607 people in 7,443 households.

During the Spanish colonization times, Lal-lo was known as the city of Nueva Segovia and was the seat of the Nueva Segovia diocese before it was moved to Vigan, Ilocos Sur. There is a recent move in the congress to rename Lal-lo back to its former name and re-classify the municipality as a component city.

Below are the 35 barangays of Lallo:

Abagao / Alaguia / Bagumbayan / Bangag / Bical / Bicud / Binag / Cabayabasan (Capacuan) / Cagoran / Cambong / Catayauan / Catugan / Centro (Pob.) / Cullit / * Dagupan / Dalaya / Fabrica / Fusina / Jurisdiction / Lalafugan / Logac / Magallungon (Sta. Teresa) / Magapit / Malanao / Maxingal / Naguilian / Paranum / Rosario / San Antonio (Lafu) / San Jose / San Juan / San Lorenzo / San Mariano / Santa Maria / Tucalana

Buguey was formerly a part of Camalaniugan. Most of the early inhabitants were the Ybanags. Buguey grew out of these inhabitants and through immigration from neighboring places including the Ilocos towns.

Buguey carried the name “Cagayan” for a time and was later changed to “Navugay-ira” then to “Mission” and lastly “Buguey.” According to the accounts of Fray Julian Malumbres, O.P., before Juan Salcedo, there was a battle ensued between the pirates (moros) and the inhabitants with some Spanish soldiers. The pirates relieved the inhabitants of their earthly belongings including the brass bell of the church which is said to be the largest bell in northern Cagayan. The bell was called Sta. Barbara. To enable them to bring it home, they placed five small vintas side by side and fastened them. With all the stolen loot loaded, the pirates shoved off. Barely recovered from their shock, the inhabitants ran to the shore invoking curses on the pirates. Above the din of their angry shouts, the winds howled, the sea thundered and the vintas of the pirates capsized. And with them went down the bell.

“Navugay-ira! Navugay-ira! (meaning “they capsized!”) chorused the inhabitants and the Spanish soldiers who survived the raid. Since their village had no official name, they decided to perpetuate the memory of the bell by calling it “Navugay-ira.” Sometime later, they deleted “Na” and “Ira” to spell out “Vugay.” Much later, the letter “V” was changed to “B” and the word pronounced “Buguey.”

The sea has been a benevolent employer and fishing a lucrative job. Music, as revealed by the adaptive of the people in the use of musical instruments, like the harp, violin and guitar, were commonly found in the home of every Bugueyeno.

The principal products are coconut, tobacco, rice, fish and timber, and one of the tourist spot is Bantay Pukis.

Buguey is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 28,129 people in 5,113 households.

Below are the 30 barangays of Buguey:

Ballang / Balza / Cabaritan / Calamegatan / Centro (Pob.) / Centro West / Dalaya / Fula / Leron / Antiporda / Maddalero / Mala Este / Mala Weste / Minanga Este / Paddaya Este / Pattao / Quinawegan / Remebella / San Isidro / Santa Isabel / Santa Maria / Tabbac / Villa Cielo / Alucao Weste (San Lorenzo) / Minanga Weste / Paddaya Weste / San Juan / San Vicente / Villa Gracia / Villa Leonora

Ballesteros came about when some barangays of Aparri and Abulug were merged to make a new town. It was formerly a barrio of Santa Cruz of Abulug. Executive Order No. 79 issued on December 18, 1911 by Governor General William Camoron Forbes sliced the barrios of Santa Cruz, Palloc and Ammubuan from the municipality of Aparri; the barrio of Santa Cruz, Cabuluan and Cabaritan from the municipality of Abulug to form an independent municipality now known as Ballesteros, named after a kind priest, Fr. Gregorio Ballesteros, who spent the better years of his life with the residents. The inhabitants are Ibanags but the Ilocano migrants who intermarried with the natives made Ballestros an Iluko-speaking town.

On January 1, 1912, the new political subdivision was formally inaugurated into a new municipality, taking the barrios of Payagan, Fugu and Mabuttal of the municipality of Aparri . And again on October 15, 1945, the town acquired additional territory by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 692 which annexed to Ballesteros the Sitios of Nararagan, Cabayu, Tulang, Silangan, Cabaggawan, Lappiad and Batolin from the newly created municipality of Allacapan .

On January 1, 1912, Ballesteros was inaugurated as a municipality.

In 1913, Governor-General Francis Burton Harris issued an executive order further annexing some barangays of Aparri to Ballesteros. To further expand it, sometime in October 1945, from the newly created town of Allacapan were chopped some barangays and annexed to Ballesteros, resulting to 19 barangays being attributed to Ballesteros.

Now, the residents are predominantly Ilocanos though there are sparingly Itawes still. The Negritoes often go down to conduct business on a barter basis.

Ballesteros is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines and has a 12,000 hectare land. According to the latest census, it has a population of 31,044 people in 2,270 households.

The following are the 19 barangays of Ballesteros:

Ammubuan / Baran / Cabaritan East / Cabaritan West / Cabayu / Cabuluan East / Cabuluan West / Centro East (Pob.) / Centro West (Pob.) / Fugu / Mabuttal East / Mabuttal West / Nararagan / Palloc / Payagan East / Payagan West / San Juan / Santa Cruz / Zitanga

It was once a barangay of Amulung but due to a Royal Degree on November 27, 1896, it was separated from Amulung. Don Rafael Catolico became its head in 1899 making Baggao automatically a “pueblo.”

Bounded by the Sierra Madre Mountain and the Pacific Ocean, Baggao also boasts of several scenic spots like the seven Steps at Gimuno, Duba Summer Resort and the hot spring at Intal, to name a few.

The inhabitants were from the early Indonesian immigrant to the present-day Ybanag, Kalingas and the migrant Ilocanos who introduced the tobacco crop.

As more settlers poured in, a Spanish Missionary was assigned in the person of Fray Pedro Vicandi, O.P. He directed the construction of a chapel atop the hill overlooking the village.

The most important products are rice, corn, tobacco, mongo and lumber. The chief occupation of the people is farming.

Baggao is the birthplace of Msgr. Teodolfo S. Domingo, D.D. He is the first native bishop of the Tuguegarao Diocese, and was consecrated on July 2, 1957 by Msgr. Egidio Vaquozzi, Papal Nuncio.

Baggao is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines with an area of 92,060 hectares.. According to the latest census, it has a population of 73,048 people in 13,039 households.

It has 48 barangays namely:

Adaoag / Agaman (Proper) / Alba / Annayatan / Asassi / Asinga-Via / Awallan / Bacagan / Bagunot / Barsat East / Barsat West / Bitag Grande / Bitag Pequeño / Bunugan / Canagatan / Carupian / Catugay / Poblacion (Centro) / Dabbac Grande / Dalin / Dalla / Hacienda Intal / Ibulo / Imurong / J. Pallagao / Lasilat / Masical / Mocag / Nangalinan / Remus / San Antonio / San Francisco / San Isidro / San Jose / San Miguel / San Vicente / Santa Margarita / Santor / Taguing / Taguntungan / Tallang / Temblique / Taytay / Tungel / Mabini / Agaman Norte / Agaman Sur / C. Verzosa (Valley Cove)

The municipality of Aparri has the coveted title “Cleanest Town in Cagayan.” It is located at the northernmost part of Cagayan, near Babuyan Channel. One of its 42 barangays, Fuga, is one dot of an island on the Babuyanes. The 42 barangays are distributed on its 26,460 hectare area, most of which are across the temperamental Cagayan River.

On May 11, 1680, Aparri town was officially inaugurated and was granted ecclesiastical recognition having for patron saint, Peter Thelmo. It is the only town which celebrates its town fiesta for 10 to 15 days with daily activities and nightly dancing, a showcase of the fun loving and frivolous traits of the Ibanags.

It is believed that Aparri got its name when the civil and religious authorities in Nueva Segovia (now Lallo) decided in 1604, to erect a church there for the evangelization of the natives. The many priests who celebrated the first mass there remained to supervise the construction of the church and continue their evangelization work subsequently, the natives referred to their place as “Aparrian,” an Ybanag word meaning “where priests resided.”

Noting the fast growth of “Aparrian” in population and its strategic location for a sea port, the Spanish Authorities in Nueva Segovia again decided on May 11, 1682 to separate the delta from Camalaniugan and Buguey and granted it ecclesiastical recognition and at the same time to elevate the community to the status of a “pueblo” or a township, hence, the word “aparte de Camalaniugan y Buguey.” It was not long afterward, the word “aparte” was corrupted into “aparri” by the natives.

Before the coming of the settlers from the Ilocos Region, Aparri has already a port and galleons were coming from Acapulco, Mexico. Mexican goods were unloaded in Aparri in exchange for native commodities like lumber, tobacco, dried/fresh fish, rice, corn and many others.

By the 17th century, the ecclesiastical head in Nueva Segovia (the former capital of the province now called Lallo) lavished Aparri with Papal gifts, an ornate church, considered to be the best in Cagayan, was built. An earthquake, however, destroyed it.

During the last World War, the town proper of Aparri was a devastated by bombing done by the liberating Americans who wanted to rid the town of any Japanese squatter.

After the war, Aparri was on her feet again. Her people including those who died during the war contributed something for democracy. The Cagayan River and the China Sea fringing her shares, symbol of man’s eternal hope and God’s fulfilled promise, over spur the Aparrianos to carry on.

Aparri is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Luzon, Philippines. According to the latest census, Aparri has a population of 61,024 people.

Aparri has an approximate income of Php 75,000,000.00. Aparri sits at the mouth of the Cagayan River, the longest river in the Philippines, about 55 miles north of Tuguegarao, the provincial capital.

Aparri was then a Japanese trading post established on 1405 because of its location at the northern tip of Luzon. But it was established as one of the major ports of the Galleon Trade on May 11, 1680 because it is located at the mouth of the mighty Cagayan River towards the flourishing city of then Nueva Segovia. The original inhabitants of this town were the Ybanags/Ibanags. Later, as the Spaniards settled and with its strategic location, Ilocanos and Chinese people settled in the area.

The valley is one of the largest tobacco-producing sections in the Philippines; and the town has a considerable coastwise trade.

It has a meteorological station.

In 2006, work was started to build a port, after the old pier deteriorated due to the rising level of water, the common storms, and poor construction (ruins of it are now seen washed up on the beach).

It incorporates the Fuga Island of the Babuyan Group of Islands.

From the original innovator of the swimming pool with waves (Agos Grandes) offers these new features again first and only at SPLASH ISLAND. Currently, a 30 foot structure is being constructed in front of Agos Grandes for the SLIDE FOR LIFE “ZIP LINE” wherein guest will be attached to a safety harness and plunges to the giant floating wall placed at the middle of the waving pool.

All these added attractions, aside from the 12 water slides, will be spread within the 7 hectare property with a maximum capacity of 15,000 people and will be available to the public as SPLASH ISLAND will opens daily starting February 27.

For inquiries visit their website at www.splashisland.net or call MR. SONNY TORRES @ 09189129177 or MR. RAOUL ESPERAS, Head PR & Events @ 09278570493.