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The Cagayano for the World

By Nena Visitacion Leticia s. de Alban
Tumauini, Isabela, Cagayan Valley, Philippines
September 8, 2016
1. The Cagayano is a special person speaking a beautiful language. In contemporary world , about five
million people are moving around the planet with some Cagayano blood cells. More than four and a half
million live in the Philippines; two million of which are in Cagayan Valley and neighbor provinces.
Lamentably about a million speak fluent languages of Cagayan and about a million too can speak few
words.
Archeological findings indicate ancestors to 500,000 years ago. PrehistoCivilization with rich and
diverse culture is the description of some anthropologist. Oldest fossils were found in the eastern part
of Isabela , Tumauini and other old fossils in other towns of Cagayan.
Ybanag , Ytawit, Yogad, Gaddang, Malaweg, Atta, Bungkalot and Tsinay Are Cagayan and Cagayan is
ybanag, Ytawit, Yogad, Gaddang, Malaweg, Atta and Bugkalot, Yraya and Tsinay. These ethnic brothers
equally respect and appreciate one another.
Each one with his own language, find joy in learning brothers languages. There is peace in their midst
and lot of inter-marriage. They are full of pride in being native of a vast land rich in natural resources.
Among the ethnic brothers, the Ybanag, Ytawit, Malaweg, Yogad and Gaddang are similar looking and
difficult to distinguish one from the other except by the language they use .
They are good built, good swimmers, taller and lighter in complexion than their brothers Atta, Isneg, and
Bugkalot, Tsinay. The former are good farmers but not as good hunters as their shorter Brothers, They
less wander within the forest zones of the valley. They are excellent blacksmiths and continue to make
good bolos. The Itawits are noted for their pottery and basket-weaving traditions.
The Cagayano is a fast learner. Especially the ybanags, ytawit, and Malaweg can easily adjust to the
sounds and pronunciation of other languages. He learns easily the language of the migrants. Ilocano,
Tagalog, kapampangan, bicolano, etc. He is sentimental, romantic, and lover of nature. His background
of being surrounded by abundance of lands gives him self confidence. He is friendly with a mindset
excellent for diplomacy; trustful, loyal, hospitable and less suspicious of strangers and migrants who
may abuse his kindness. But,When challenged he faces his opponent square to the face with candor and
bravery.
These ethnic brothers have a commonal mindset in their attitude towards the existence of a God who
bestows graces and guides the movements of nature. The rituals of the native religion have been
immersed in Christian religiosity. Offerings of food for the departed loved one in all occasions called
Tunnac; Belief in the presence of the unseen one in everything from planning to execution: Facing of
doors, windows; ritual of washings and food to eat upon childbirth; naming of a child, change of names,
cutting of hair and nails; transfer of property, home, etc. or mapellu to find causes for his problems and
be healed of such problems.
2. In 1583, a Royal Decree declared Cagayan a Province . As the historian and missionary Jose
Burgues, to quote "The old Cagayan Valley comprises the entir northeastern portion of Luzon to include
Batanes, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, including kalinga and Apayao, Specifically east of Cordillera
Mountain,those north of the Caraballo Mountain including the islands in the Balintang Channel. Aritao
and other portions of the Provinces of Kalinga and Apayao. Military District of Apayao, Itaves,
Quiangan, Cayapa and Bintangan, plus the area of the Sierra Madre range to the Pacific Ocean in the
said trajectory . It is bounded on its eastern side by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
3. Two hundred fifty eight years later, a Royal decree on April 10, 1841 approved the creation of the the
politico- military province of Nueva Vizcaya. Cagayan was divided into two. The new province
comprised the town of Ilagan to Aritao and the mountain provinces. Civil government was established in
the province by the Philippine Commision in 1902. Tumauini to Aparri and the other Islands north of
Aparri remained part of the New Cagayan.

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4. After fifteen years, in May1, 1856, the creation of a new province was Inevitable because of the
progress and vastness of the region. The last two towns in the south of Cagayan province , San Pablo
(page 6 by P. Pedro de St. Tomas, Cabagan Nuevo or simply Cabagan today was just a sitio or barrio of
San Pablo) and Tumauini (short lived Capitolyo of Isabela from the book of Fr. Malumbres) together
with the northern towns of Nueva Vizcaya from Ilagan to Cordon became the new province of Isabela.
In 1908, the northwestern territory of Nueva Vizcaya was annexed to the newly organized sub-province
of Ifugao. The survey executed by the Bureau of Lands in 1914 further downsized Nueva Vizcaya and
reduced again upon the enactment of the Administrative Code of 1917.
5. On June 18, 1966, Rep. Act 4734 was enacted, constituting the municipalities of Diffun, Saguday,
Aglipay and Maddela (all of Nueva Vizcaya province) into a new sub-province to be known as
"Quirino On June 21, 1969, Republic Act 5554 created the municipality of Cabarroguis (now
provincial capital), from portions of Diffun, Saguday and Aglipay. Republic Act 6394, (September 10,
1971 separated Quirino from its mother province, Nueva Vizcaya, making it a Regular province.The
province of Quirino was formally established on February 10, 1972. On February 25, 1983, Batas
Pambansa Blg. 345 created within Quirino the municipality of Nagtipunan, a division of the
Municipality of Maddela.
6. In 1783, the Spanish claimed Batanes as part of the Philippines. Batanes is an archipelago province
in the Cagayan Valley Region. It is the northernmost province of the country, and also the smallest, both
in population and land area..The island group is located approximately 162 kilometres (101 mi) north of
the Luzon mainland and about 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Taiwan, separated from the of
Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province by the Balintang Channel and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel
Batanes was made a part of Cagayan. In 1909.
7. In Summary, Cagayan Valley is the large mass of land in the northeastern region of Luzon,
comprising the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and the Batasnes group of
islands. It is bordered to the west by the Cordillera mountain range, to the east by the Sierra Madre, to
the south by the Caraballo Mountains, and to the north by the Luzon Strait.
Below is a table that shows the different provinces in region 2 or Valle de Cagayan, the capital,
population, area, density, Number of cities, municipalities and barangays.
Cagayan Valley comprises five provinces, one independent city, three component cities, 89
municipalities, and 2,311 barangays.[5]
Province

Capital

Population (2015)[2]

Area[6]
km
sq mi
2

Batanes
Basco
0.5%
17,246
219.01
84.56
Cagayan
Tuguegarao
34.7% 1,199,320 9,295.75 3,589.11
Isabela
Ilagan
46.2% 1,593,566 12,414.93 4,793.43
Nueva Vizcaya Bayombong 13.1%
452,287 3,975.67 1,535.01
Quirino
Cabarroguis
5.5%
188,991 2,323.47
897.10
Total
3,451,410 28,228.83 10,899.21
Figures for Isabela include the independent component city of Santiago.

Density
Cities Muni. Bgy.
/km2 /sq mi
79
130
130
110
81
120

200
340
340
280
210
310

0
1
3
0
0
4

6
28
34
15
6
89

29
820
1,055
275
132
2,311

8. The Spanish government rightly judged that the ethnic brothers are of one racial stock. And made
Ybanag Tongue the lingua franca, both civilly and ecclesiastically for the entire people of Cagayan
which they called collectively as the Cagayanes, later called Cagayanos.

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The word Ibanag or "Ybanag" or "Ybanak" or "Ibanak" means "people of the River because they are
settled along the Cagayan river. The Ibanag (Ybanag) language is the most complete, understood in the
region . It is most popular and fluently spoken in: Tuguegrao City, Solana, Abulug, Aparri,
Camalaniugan, Lallo, Tuao,Enrile, Cabagan, San Pablo, Tumauini, Sta. Maria, Sto. Tomas, Ilagan,
Gamu, Naguilian, Reina Mercedes, San Mariano and others. Ybanak speaking population in the region,
other parts of the country and Cagayanos abroad is estimated at less than a million and about half
million can understand and speak some words.
Before the coming of Spaniards , Cagayanes had long established social and business relations with
Chinese, Japanese, Indians Malays and others who came for trade.The presence of artifacts, foreign
lingo and cultural practices point t0 previous social and trade intercourse with neighbor Asians.
Progressive migration to the region from the 19th century to the present of Ifugaos, Kalingas, Ilocanos,
Tagalogs, Visayans, Pangasinenses, kapampangans, Bicolanos, Mindanaoans, Chinese, Japanese,
Indians, Malays, Spaniards, Americans and others reshaped the native Cagayanes towards the
Cagayanos that we know today. Some visitors to the province who stay long enough immersed to imbibe
the spirit of the valley feel they have become a New Cagayano.
9. By the grace of God the Cagayanos have moved forward in the last 500 years. They have achieved
beyond the lofty dreams and aspirations of their ancestors.They are successful! The descendants have
become:
a) Teachers majoring in varied disciplines, graduated from the different schools of the country; the big
schools in Manila, other regions and schools and universities of the valley that can head and mentor in
different disciplines of schools public and private both home and abroad..
b) Engineers to construct houses, offices, schools and government buildings, roads and Bridges,
churches and other structures both at home and abroad.
c) Surveyor, geologists, et
d) Medical specialist, medical doctors in different fields, nurses, midwives, pharmacist, nutritionists,
medical assistants, medical aides, etc from internal medicine to cancer.
d) Businessman, bankers, entrepreneurs, traders, middleman, agents, realtors,
e) Manufacturers, Executives, frontlines , office workers, etc..
f) Agriculturist, landed people
g) Economist, mathematicians, physicist, scientist..
h) Historians, linguists, writers, etc.
i) People in the field of arts, artists, actors and actresses, musicians, composers,
dancers, singers, pianists, painters, etc.
j) Lawyers, philosophers, national politicians like senators, and Vice-president.
k) Priest, nuns, preachers, etc.
l) Statesman, politicians, diplomats and people of high consequence
m) Millionaires, Philanthropist, social workers, etc..
n) And others.

However, without a solid foundation, without roots sunk deep to nourish and anchor, the growth is
limited. Today the Cagayano wish to grow in many directions. He is aware that he must seek the depth
of his being, attain lofty heights to flourish.
He needs to seek once again the blessings of his elders and connect with his past; speak the language
that can reach the majority in his beloved region and all Cagayanos, a model to the juniors as promised
during those lean years. This good deed will increase his self confidence and endear him more to the
land of his forefathers.
Years back he was persuaded by his government to internalize Tagalog for national unity. Now the same
office says that for more effective learning in the classrooms, the young must learn lessons in his native
language.
To quote Deped..
Years of research have shown that the use of the language spoken at home during the learners early
years of schooling produces better and faster learners who can easily adapt to learn a second language
(Filipino) and third language (English).
The Cagayano supports the good intention and the opportunites offered to the youth. AlthoFulfilled and
plenty of self confidence the mature Cagayano is enlightened that for his labor to bear more fruits, he
must share the sparkle of his being in memory of his beloved ones and gratitude to his past. The
Cagayano must speak ybanag once again.Then The Cagayano will soar to the sky like a bird bringing
peace and joy to the World.
9. Suggestions to expedite and facilitate the mentoring of the native language ybanak in the schools
and the community:
The provincial and municipal entities must support the ybanag awareness objective of the DepEd,
through :
a. DepEd and school administrators should provide more seminars and training to teachers to better
equip them with needed knowledge and level of competencies in emplementing in implementing the
Mother Tongue based Multilingual education program. Teachers need to undergo workshop/training on
test construction in tne first language or mother tongue.
The government should allocate budget in the preparation and production of modules, books and other
instructional materials written in the first language or mother tongue.
The government policy makers, education practicioners, and specialist should come up with a program
aiming to raise awareness of mother based multilingual education. The program should contain its value
and benefits.
Educational managers and policy makers should conduct an evaluative research on teaching learningprocess of Mother tongue Based Multilingual education and enhance the program through identifying
the areas where the students and the teachers nedd further assistance.
b. Communications such as directives and orders in the provincial and municipal level should be in the
first ( Ibanag), second( Tagalog) and third language(English).
c. This is to include all street signs in the centers and barangays.

d. Radio programs should accommodate ybanag speaking programs at least even only one hour a day.
Ybanag songs to be played in the radio and in community programs.
e. The regional language be used during the sessions in the provincial, municipal and barangay levels.
f. School directions, orders, and communications to parents in the lower level should be in ybanag.
g. A corresponding provincial and municipal budget should be allotted to support objectives of DepEd
program on this matter..
h. The parents should become aware of the program and fully assist and cooperate by following strictly
suggestions of the school.
i. Balagtasan in Ybanag called versu should take place in all barangays and municipalities. Also
contests in singing, dancing, and other forms of arts must reflect the arts and culture of the region.
j. And others the ybanag creativity will add.

Sources of Information
Cagayan Valley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagayan_Valley Cagayan Valley (Ilocano: Tanap ti Cagayan; Ibanag: Tana'
nak Cagayan; Filipino : Lambak ng Cagayan) (designated as Region II) is an administrative region in
Cagayan Valley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagayan_Valley Cagayan Valley (Ilocano: Tanap ti Cagayan; Ibanag: Tana'
nak Cagayan; Filipino : Lambak ng Cagayan) (designated as Region II) is an administrative region in ...
Cagayan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagayan Cagayan is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley
region in the northeast of Luzon Island, and includes the Babuyan Islands to the north
Cagayan Valley languages - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagayan_Valley_languages The Cagayan Valley languages are a group of
languages spoken in the Philippines. They are,. Isnag; Ibanagic: Atta, Ibanag, Itawit, Yogad; Gaddang
Cagayan:
Nueva Vizcaya - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nueva_Vizcaya Nueva Vizcaya (English: New Biscay) is a province of the
Philippines located in Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Bayombong. It is bordered by ..
Isabela (province) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabela_(province) Isabela is the second largest province of the
Philippines, and the largest on the island of Luzon in land area. Its capital is the city of Ilagan. Situated
within the province and valley.

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Batanes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batanes Batanes is an archipelago province in the Philippines situated in
the Cagayan Valley region. It is the northernmost province in the country, and also the smallest , .
Quirino - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quirino Quirino is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the
Cagayan Valley region in Luzon and named after Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the .
Ibanag indigenous religious beliefs: a study in culture and education ...
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/ARS2505.0001.001 His research on the "'banag Indigenous
Religious Beliefs' was submitted in .... Page VI PREFACE The study of Ibanag culture is a field which
is hardly ... of the research and for making available his personal library; Dr. Paz Policarpio ... I2bid ., p.
499. See also Malumbres, Historia de Cagayan (Manila: Universidad de Sto.
Assessment of the Implementation of Mother Tongue Based Multilingual education Policy inselected
public elementary schools in the Province of Isabela : Basis for designing an Enhanced Mother tongue
Based Multilingual education program. Gladys Taguba. Rull, Doctor in Educational Management,
Polytechnique University, 2015 (from Tumauini, Isabela)
Historia de Isabela, Malumbres., UST printing Press.1908.
Seminars on Archeology, Manila. 1999
This paper is dedicated to my late father Atty. Josefin de Alban (Abogado peping) very fluent ybanag
Speaker.
Goodluck and God bless!