For the nth time, it is not Cagayan de Oro, it is Cagayan. It is located up north and not down south. It is not a city, it is a province. It is a large province and its size is just enough to contain its enormous richness. And when we say Cagayan, we refer to our homeland, the smiling land of beauty. It is a top destination not because it is on top of the map but because it is boldly beautiful.  Certainly, our province’s position as one of the                                                                is well deserved.

Our province is the third largest in the Philippines in terms of land area. The vastness of our province is characterized by plains of ricefields, undulating hills and majestic emerald mountains. It is crisscrossed by the long and mighty Cagayan River. It is composed of twenty-eight municipalities and one city - the City of Tuguegarao, both the provincial and regional capital. It is home to over a million industrious people. Our ethnicity is composed mainly of fun-loving Ilocano, Ibanag and Itawit. Our harmonious coexistence makes our province a vibrant melting pot of cultures.

Our province is green. It is brown. It is adventure. It is fun. More than the river, we have the sea. We have one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. Sta. Ana in the northeastern tip is the site of an annual gamefishing competition.  It is also the Sailfish Capital of the Philippines. Our waters, especially around the Calayan group of islands, are hosts to humpbacked whales and dolphins. Our waters are a good spot for surfing and other water sports, too. Sta. Ana and Claveria are worthy of mentioning.

Our province is endowed. It has thick forests and mineral-rich mountains. In these mountains are some three hundred recorded caves  featuring subterranean rivers and pools, and  immaculate stalactites and stalagmites. Our caves are home to millions of bats, and other species of animals that are known to be endemic. Thus, our province is justifiably a spelunker’s paradise. 

Our province is old. It is prehistoric.  Its history dates back even before Juan de Salcedo set foot at the mouth of the Cagayan River in 1572. We are the cradle of the Philippine civilization. We have the Callao Caves, the dwelling of the Callao Man, the earliest Filipino to date. We have uncovered in our land prehistoric tools and ornaments, particularly in the towns of Enrile and Solana, that prove the existence of a flourishing life during the pre-hispanic age.

Our province is deeply rooted in Catholicism. It was one of the epicenters of Catholic  faith during the Spanish occupation. This is evident in the establishment of Lallo as  the seat of the diocese of Nueva Segovia. Our province has many Spanish-built churches which, until now, remain as bastions for believers. While some churches have fallen to the wrath of the second world war and are now just ruins, we remain intact with our faith. Our province’s patroness, and that of the entire Cagayan Valley- the Our Lady of Piat, epitomizes our closeness to the Catholic religion. We flock to the town of Piat in order to pay homage to the miraculous Lady.

Our province is new. It has the Port Irene which is strategically located. Our province will soon be the location of an international airport that will provide flights to and from some East Asian countries. Investment opportunities await those who want to venture in agriculture, renewable energy and ecotourism.  Our province offers amenities that can cater both the frugal and those who want to overindulge.

Our province is rich. We have plenty of agricultural products. Our people transform them into viable products that can compete in the global market. We produce large volumes of rice and corn. We are proud of our edible products like the Alcala  milk candy, Tuguegarao pancit batil-patong, Lallo lubeg wines, and a lot more. Our ingenuity is likewise etched in our handicrafts.

Our province is an educational center. It is home to big institutions offering world class and competitive education. Our institutions produce promising individuals.  Our province is likewise a government center. It is also a center for commerce, industry and transportation. It is a jump-off point to other provinces here in the north. It is where the pulse beats, day-in and day-out.

Our province is a smiling land. It is a happy land. We do a lot of merrymaking and gaiety both in our homes and in the streets. We celebrate fiestas and festivals. We do it to honor the saints, to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, for a prosperous life and for other good things. Our festivals like the Sambali, Pavvurulun and Viray reflect our colourful and meaningful traditions.

This is our province. This is our homeland. We are proud of it and yes, we love it dearly! Our Cagayan is distinct. It is beautiful. Beautiful it is that we want to share it with you. Our Cagayan invites you - for fun, for adventure, for history, for culture, for business, for leisure, or what have you. We are sure, our Cagayan is just a perfect place for you.