A Mother’s Stuff

Santa Victoria Caves

The Santa Victoria Caves are more than 12 Philippine limestone caves that are found in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. The caves are known for their beautiful and unusual rock formations, their sparkling rocks, and their subterranean waterfalls. They are also of archaeological significance as they are believed to have been occupied by the nomadic Agta or Dumagat people in the past. The caves are located within the Isabela Sanctuary, which is part of the Fuyot Springs National Park (FSNP) in Ilagan, Isabela. This area is included in the Palanan Wilderness Area or Northern Sierra Madre National Park in the province of Isabela in Cagayan Valley.

The Sta. Victoria Caves may be found together with a wildlife sanctuary, botanical garden, and waterfalls in the 200-hectare Isabela Sanctuary, which forms about a quarter of the 819-hectare FSNP in Fuyot, Santa Victoria. This area is located in the eastern part of Ilagan in Isabela, Cagayan Valley. Part of the municipality of Ilagan, the caves are just 15 kilometers away from the town proper of Ilagan and 19 kilometers away from the town of Tumauini. The 2 distinctive geological features that the Sta. Victoria Caves are known for are their sparkling rocks can be found in the Sta. Victoria Caves. In addition, the caves are their naturally-formed lattices. Underground waterfalls can also be found in the Sta. Victoria Caves.

World’s biggest butaka

It is 11 feet 4 inches high, 20 feet 8 inches long, and 9 feet 7 inches wide. It weighs 2,368 kilos and was constructed by 25 workers in 29 days.

St. Mathias Church (Tumauini, Isabela)

St. Mathias Church was built in 1753 by the Dominicans and was finished in 1805. It is an ultra-baroque church, unique for its extensive use of baked clay both for wall finishing and ornamentation. Clay bricks come to life in concentric circles on the façade, spiral curves on the finial serpentine reliefs, and many finely molded details – flowers, foliage, surfaces, cherubs, and saints. Its architecture bears Chinese ancestry. This church of bricks features a unique cylindrical bell tower that is the only one of its kind in the Philippines. It was declared a National Historical Landmark on February 24, 1989.

Magat Dam Tourism Complex

The Magat Dam Tourism Complex is a Philippine tourism site that centers on the reservoir lake formed by Magat Dam, a hydro-electric power plant in Aguinaldo, Ramon, Isabela. Situated in the Magat Forest Reserve, it is a pleasant location for picnicking, fishing, and engaging in various types of water sports. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the province of Isabela.

The Magat Dam was built in the early 1980s to fulfill the growing energy and irrigation needs of the area. The dam was the largest in Asia at the time of its construction, and could irrigate as much as 82,000 hectares.

With the dam came changes in the landscape and character of the provinces affected, which included Quirino and Ifugao, as well as Isabela. A lake about a hundred meters deep was created in a previously dry area ranging from Aguinaldo in Ramon, Isabela, Bagabag in Nueva Vizcaya, and Potia in Ifugao. With its clean, flowing waters, this lake was ideal for fish farming and became a major provider of a great variety of freshwater fish: tilapia, catfish ayungin, biya, and kurilao, among others.

In 1995, then-president Fidel Ramos visited the site of the dam and realized that it had excellent potential for tourism. He appointed the local government of Isabela to develop it into a tourist destination, together with the National Institute of Agriculture (NIA), National Power Corporation (NPC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The tourism complex centers on the 4,450 hectare lake created by the dam. The waters are clean and there are facilities for fishing, boating, and various water sports like water-skiing. Close to the dam is Camp Vizcarra, a leisure resort that was constructed next to the river by the local government of Isabela. The site is accessible from Santiago City by means of jeepney and bus.

Northern Sierra Madre National Park

The Northern Sierra Madre National Park is the most extensive area of preserved rainforest in the Philippines at 359,486 hectares. It is the larger of 2 remaining areas of intact primeval forest in Luzon, the other being a much smaller wooded area in the Cordilleras. The Northern Sierra Madre National Park was designated a protected area on March 10, 1997 under Presidential Proclamation No. 978, to protect it from the logging industry. Combined by presidential decree with the bordering Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape in November 2003, it covers a protected natural landscape larger than Switzerland. It is also known as the Palanan Complex or Palanan Wilderness Area after one of its highest peaks, Mt. Palanan.

The park consists of 287,861 hectares of land and 71,625 hectares of marine areas. Its landscape is hilly to mountainous, with the Sierra Madre Mountain Range running through it. While many parts of the forest cover of the Northern Sierra Madre Mountains have been heavily logged in the past, the interior still consists of lush virgin forest. There are several peaks in the north to south mountain range area rising higher than 1,000 meters (2,743.2 feet). These include Mt. Divilican (1,311 m or 3596.34 feet), Mt. Cresta (1,672 m or 4586.63 feet), and Mt. Palanan (1,184 m or 3,247.95 feet).

The park is home to a large number of endangered and protected animal and plant species which are indigenous to the Philippines. As much as 45 % of all plant species native to the Philippines and more than 50 % of threatened local wildlife may be found in these forests. The lowland areas are covered by lush undisturbed dipterocarp rainforest while higher altitude areas are covered by montane forest. Along its coastline are estuaries, mangrove and beach forests, bed of sea-grass, and coral reefs which serve as important ecosystems.

Consisting of forests in the northern half of the 1.7-million-hectare Sierra Madre mountain range, the park lies in the east of the province of Isabela. To its north is the Diktayan River while Disabunga River forms its southern border. To the west is the Cagayan Valley. In the east, it reaches the coast of the Philippine Sea.

The park is home to rare bird species, including most of the 6 species of eagles found in the Philippines such as the endangered Philippine eagle and the Rufous-bellied eagle. Rare species of reptiles found in the park include the Philippine sail-fin water lizard, the estuarine crocodile, and Gray’s monitor lizard. At least 12 new species of reptiles and 15 new species of amphibians that are unique to the Philippines have been discovered in the park.

Dasol’s beaches, festivals, destinations & more

The town of Dasol celebrates the annual feast of its Catholic patron Saint Vincent Ferrer every first Friday of Lent (after Ash Wednesday) and follows the tradition of every Filipino fiesta.

The 18 barangays that compose the town: Alilao * Amalbalan * Bobonot * Eguia * Gais-Guipe * Hermosa * Macalang * Magsaysay * Malacapas * Malimpin * Osmeña * Petal * Poblacion * San Vicente * Tambac * Tambobong * Uli * Viga

There are great places too that the town has to offer to its local and foreign visitors:

• Colibra Island (also known as Snake Island)
• Polo Camaso Islet
• Tambobong Beach
• Osmeña Beach
• Macalang Beach
• Salabusuban Falls
• Rongaab Cave

Calasiao’s barangays, attractions & fiesta

BARANGAY

Calasiao has 24 barangays and it enjoys its success due to the central location and proximity to Dagupan City. Businesses have more potential for success since the town is traversed by the national highway (MacArthur).

Ambonao * Ambuetel * Banaoang * Bued * Buenlag * Cabilocaan * Dinalaoan * Doyong * Gabon * Lasip * Longos * Lumbang * Macabito * Malabago * Mancup * Nagsaing * Nalsian * Poblacion East * Poblacion West * Quesban * San Miguel * San Vicente * Songkoy * Talibaew

ATTRACTIONS

Calasiao is only a few minutes ride to the Bonuan Blue Beach and the Hundred Islands and about an hour ride to Baguio City and a four hour ride to Manila. The town is known for its “puto” (a soft rice cake), “suman” (sweet coconut and sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves) and “bagoong” (fermented fish paste). Many pilgrims from neighboring cities/towns and provinces visit Calasiao to pray at the Senor Divino Tesoro shrine. The statue of a crucified Jesus Christ is believed to grow in size and grant miracles.

FESTIVALS

The town celebrates its fiesta every May 2 and 3, the feast day of Señor Divino Tesoro. Also in the same month, Calasiao annually celebrates its “Puto industry festival.”

Bolinao beaches and more…

The Cape Bolinao Lighthouse was built by the Americans during 1903 with a 300 feet (91 m) high promontory at the western part of Cape Bolinao. The lighthouse still sends signals to vessels passing by the area.

Sea urchins or “uni” are regularly harvested in Isla Silaki, Bolinao, Pangasinan. It is one of the most expensive dishes in Japanese restaurants.

Sunny white beach at Rock Garden Resort, Bolinao, Pangasinan.

The “Treasurers of Bolinao“, Pangasinan.

The Patar White Beach is only a walking distance from Cape Bolinao’s Lighthouse”, Pangasinan.

Tourism in Agno, Pangasinan

Agno offers different places of interest to nature lovers and beachgoers. There is the Sabangan Beach where you can find natural umbrella rocks and the Aloleng Beach, simply called “Agno Beach,” with its fine sands.

Photos below are full views of Agno Beach in Aloleng. Private beach rest houses dot the shoreline and vacant beach lots with array of coconut trees are ideal for camping and bonfire.

Agno Beach is also a good place for swimming, snorkeling and diving for it is rich with underwater beauty and marine life. You can find the splendor of marine treasure such as undisturbed corals, edible seaweeds and multicolored fish.

Living along the seacoast gives us sigh of relief and heals the wounds of loneliness. The roaring sound of Bangol Crag gives lullaby music during stormy nights.

If you love the game of hide-and-seek, just confine yourselves at Sabangan Beach under its huge boulders of umbrella rocks adorned with crawling plants. These rocks are like caves. Boy Scouts used to camp overnight under the umbrella rocks as part of their training. You can also make a visit to the lighthouse on the hillside nearby and watch those birds flying from one tree to another.

The Mabini River offers a habitat for bangus (milkfish) fry and a variety of fish. It is also a perfect place for boating and boat racing. Swimmers who prefer fresh water stay at the river. And those experienced ones swim across the wide river.

Dagupan City’s barangays, tourism & recreation

31 Barangays

Bacayao Norte * Bacayao Sur * Barangay II * Barangay IV * Bolosan * Bonuan Binloc * Bonuan Boquig * Bonuan Gueset * Calmay * Carael * Caranglaan * Herrero-Perez East * Lasip Chico * Lasip Grande * Lomboy * Lucao * Malued * Mamalingling * Mangin * Mayombo * Pantal * Poblacion Oeste * Barangay I * Pogo Chico * Pogo Grande * Pugaro Suit * Salapingao * Salisay * Tambac * Tapuac * Tebeng

Tourism and Recreation

Bureau Of Fisheries And Aquatic Resources (BFAR) * Dagupan City Plaza / Museum * Tondaligan Beach * Bonuan Beaches * Dagupan City People’s Astrodome * CSI STADIA (Jimmy Fernandez Complex) * CSI The City Mall * CSI Market Square * Star Plaza Hotel * Luxor Hotel * BHF Family Plaza * Nepo Mall * Magiclub

Alaminos City and Barangay Fiestas

Filipino fiestas are busy, festive and vibrant and when its turn to celebrate comes around, Alaminos City is one that can be counted upon to do so with gusto. The weeklong celebration (that usually starts on March 17) is often buzzing with activity, with events and fairs decorating the whole city before, during and after the actual date of the fiesta. Alaminians can choose between concerts of famous artists, beauty pageants and sports competitions to keep them on their feet. Food and product fairs entice everyone to sample the ingenuity and distinct quality of the city’s resources. The action and spectacle continues till the wee hours of the evening, sometimes with grand finales like fireworks.

With all these better entertainment treats, people still flock to the carnival and enjoy the rides like the Ferris Wheel or Merry-Go-Round, and can never forget to venture around the tiangges, hoping to score a coffee mug 50% off or a bunch of pillowcases on sale or indulge themselves to a few breaks in the many different games that promise a winning night. Children especially enjoy going to the circus, chomping and gulping treats as their eyes silently gape at trapeze artists, magicians and sword eaters.

A barangay fiesta in Alaminos is city fiesta scaled down. Amazing local bands take the place of famous recording groups, pageants for ladies and gays and sometimes mini fashion shows decorate the evening, while basketball competition is a popular day event. Tiangges cannot be left out and sumptuous food overflows from each household, ready to welcome guests from neighboring barangays.

Giant Clams or Taklobos of Alaminos

A part of the diverse marine ecosystem that was largely affected by the depletion of the coral reefs in the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) was the Giant Clams, locally known as taklobos. This marine resource regarded as the world’s largest bivalve mollusks, their shell length extending over a meter and can weigh over 225 kg, is the faithful ally of the coral reef in supporting the marine life in the Park. Its massive size and interesting hues that gleamed underwater proved to be a magnificent attraction, marveled at by visiting tourists who either dive or snorkel in the area. Its soft flesh is coveted the world over for its delectability.

Sadly, they began to be wiped out through the indiscriminate harvesting of people who intends to profit from selling them as delicacies, and as decorations in aquariums and home ornaments. This was made even worse by illegal fishing.

A new surge of hope dawned on HINP through the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI). They greatly help the City in rehabilitating this vital marine gem, replanting them in parts of the park, which is currently strictly protected. No diver or snorkeler is allowed in those parts. With this revitalization, valuable marine food resources are given new lives, ensuring a continuing dynamic marine ecosystem for the Park. With the joint efforts of UPMIS and Alaminos City, the Giant Clams would soon flourish and aid in the City’s goal of a fully restored Hundred Islands National Park, with a thriving marine life and ready to thrust forward the city’s economy and tourism potential.

Hundred Islands National Park

The Hundred Islands National Park (Pangasinan: Kapulo-puloan or Taytay-Bakes) is in the province of Pangasinan in northern Philippines. It is located in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The islands (124 at low tide and 123 at high tide) are scattered along Lingayen Gulf and cover an area of 18.44 square kilometres (4,557 acres). They are believed to be about two million years old. Only three of them have been developed for tourists: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children’s Island.

Sparkling like diamonds, the waters glisten as the sun’s golden rays touch the pristine sea. Delightful in one’s eyes is the powdery blue sky casting a bright gleam beneath. The spread of white sand shimmers against the stream that changes hue—from emerald green to turquoise and azure—as the briny deep goes unfathomable. A stroll along the beach ends up with a dip into the soothing warm waters. Colorful tropical fish glide in somewhat orchestrated manner among a many coral gardens. Out of the water, is a discovery that envelopes not only one isle but a throng of numerous islands ambling along each other.

Public bus lines, namely Victory Liner, Five Star, and Philippine Rabbit have scheduled rides from Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Subic, Tarlac, and Zambales bound straight to Alaminos City and vice versa.

Alaminos City

The City of Alaminos is a 5th class city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 73,448 people in 15,527 households. Alaminos is home to the Hundred Islands National Park, a tourism destination composed of 123 small islands located in Barangay Lucap, Alaminos City.

Alaminos is undeniably a growing trade, commercial and educational center of Western Pangasinan. Owing to its strategic location and with the presence of the world-famous Hundred Islands National Park, and with its abundant natural resources, the municipality is one of the growth centers in Region I. With such inherent strengths, traders and businessmen continue to come to Alaminos. Investments propelled the economic development of the town.

Related links for Alaminos:

• History of Alaminos
• City Government
• City Information

The Province of Pangasinan

Pangasinan is one of the four provinces that comprise the Ilocos Region of the Philippines. Its provincial capital is Lingayen and is located on the west central area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf. It has a total land area of 5,368.82 square kilometers and a total population of 2,434,086 as of 2000, and projected to be 3,039,500 in 2010. (National Statistics Office, 2000 Census). The Pangasinan Language is the primary language in Pangasinan. The name Pangasinan means “land of salt” or “place of salt-making”. It is derived from the word “asin” which is the word for “salt” in Pangasinan Language. The province is a major salt producer in the Philippines.

Pangasinan province is famous for the Hundred Islands National Park. This is a marine park located off the coast of Alaminos City in the Lingayen Gulf and is composed of some 123 islands, most of which are quite small and uninhabited.

Pangasinan is noted as the birthplace of President Fidel V. Ramos, and former Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. The mother of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was from Binalonan, Pangasinan. The father of the late actor and former presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. was from San Carlos City, Pangasinan. The maternal great-grandfather of Jose Rizal, a Philippine national hero, was a Pangasinan named Manuel Facundo de Quintos who was a lawyer and the gobernadorcillo of Lingayen in the 1850s.

Pangasinan occupies a strategic geo-political position in the central plain of Luzon, known as the rice granary of the Philippines. Pangasinan has been described as a gateway to northern Luzon and as the heartland of the Philippines. The province is 170 kilometers north of Manila, 50 kilometers south of Baguio City, 115 kilometers north of Subic International Airport and Seaport, and 80 kilometers north of Clark International Airport.