The Cordillera Administrative Region is located in northern Luzon in the Philippines. It is the only landlocked region in the country, bordered by Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley Region. The region comprises six provinces: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. It is known for its diverse ethnic groups and languages as well as its mountainous terrain and forests. Major attractions include rice terraces, waterfalls, and festivals celebrating the region's rich culture and agriculture.
2. is an administrative region in the Philippines,
situated within the island of Luzon. It is the
only landlocked region in the insular country,
bordered by the Ilocos Region to the west and
southwest, and by the Cagayan Valley Region to
the north, east, and southeast. It is the least
populous region in the Philippines. It comprises six
provinces, including Abra, Apayao, Benguet,
Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province. The region
has been called "the most diversified
ethnolinguistic region in the Philippines“ with the
many "sub-dialect variations" of its major
languages. This diversity has been attributed to the
mountainous topology of the region. However, this
did not lead to variations in "cultural development",
and the majority of the people share a "similar
cultural identity".
CORDILLERA
ADMINISTRATIVE
REGION
3. Abra
one of the provinces in Northern Luzon. Aside from its
stunning natural landscapes, Abra is also rich in culture and
has a unique local cuisine.
In terms of attractions, the Malibcong Rice Terraces is a must-
visit spot for tourists. It offers breathtaking views of the
surrounding landscape and showcases traditional farming
methods still used by locals today.
Abra -Their traditional fabric called “piningitan” or “bankudo”
is a heritage craft, an intricate weaving style that takes
months to finish.
Top destinations include Bangued Cathedral, Calaba Bridge,
and Tugot ni Angalo Rock Formation. Local cuisine to try
includes "pakbet"(mixed vegetables) and "sinigang na
tilapia"(fish soup).
4. Apayao - This province is home to various indigenous
communities with distinct cultures including the Isnag, Itneg, and
Kalinga tribes. A must-see attraction is the Mataguisi Viewpoint
which offers stunning views of Cagayan Valley.
Say-am Festival is a cultural festival and founding anniversary
celebration in the province of Apayao, Philippines held every
February 14. It usually starts on the first day of February and
culminating activities fall on the 14th of the month, which is the
date that the province was established.
Apayao - Must-visit attractions include Mataguisi Viewpoint,
Dibagat River, and Penablanca Lake. When it comes to food, don't
miss trying "pinikpikan"(traditional chicken dish) and
"dinengdeng"(fish stew with vegetables).
5. Benguet - The Strawberry Capital of the Philippines has numerous
vegetable farms that offer tours. Festivals like the Flower Festival
showcase vibrant floral displays along with street dances.
6. The province is a major tourist destination in the
country, with most of its tourist spots centered on
culture and nature. Baguio's location within the
province provides a boost to the tourism industry of
the province. Notable interesting places in the
province include Mount
Pulag along Kabayan, Kennon
Road in Tuba, Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, Binga
Dam in Itogon, strawberry and flower farms in La
Trinidad, and the Palina and Naguey rice terraces
in Atok.
7. Old traditions that each province in the Cordillera Administrative Region still
practice up to these days:
1. Abra - The Kawayan Festival is celebrated annually, which showcases
bamboo as a versatile product and its significance to Abrenian culture.
2. Benguet – The Panagbenga Festival celebrates Baguio City’s blooms
every February by showcasing vibrant costumes, floats, & and creative
street dancing performances.
3. Ifugao – A crucial aspect of traditional Ifugao culture is rice cultivation
on terraces. Intangible cultural heritage crafts include making salt,
dyeing threads, clothing weaving, story telling, music performances
typically via gangsa (gongs),& and varied dance routines.
8. Local Cuisines
Baguio City is also known for its unique and delicious local
cuisines:
1. Pinikpikan – a chicken dish that is beaten with a stick to
tenderize the meat
2. Strawberry Taho – a twist on the traditional Filipino snack,
taho, made with fresh strawberries
3. Ube Jam – a sweet spread made from purple yam
4. Peanut Brittle – a crunchy sweet treat made from peanuts
and sugar
5. Bagnet – a crispy pork dish similar to lechon kawali
6. Sinanglao – a soup made from beef innards and bile, a
popular hangover cure among locals
Overall, Baguio City is a must-visit destination for those who want
to experience the beauty of nature, the richness of culture, and
the delicious local cuisines.
14. Ifugao
The province is bordered by Benguet to the west, Mountain Province to the
north, Isabela to the east, and Nueva Vizcaya to the south. Situated within
the Cordillera Central mountain range, Ifugao is characterized by rugged
terrain, river valleys, and massive forests.
Home to the famous rice terraces, Ifugao's people are known for their
agricultural innovations like building irrigation systems without any form of
machinery used during ancient times; the locals continue to utilize this
method even now by preserving it as part of their traditions & and creating
long-lasting relationship between men, nature, and spirit entities.
Food
Binakle is a type of steamed rice cake originating from the Ifugao province
of the Philippines. It is made from glutinous rice (diket) that is pounded into
a paste, wrapped in banana or rattan leaves, and steamed.
Binaod is a native delicacy of Ifugao. The intestines of pig is prepared just
after the pig manure have been dried and collected. It is eaten with sayote
leaves and rice.
Vah-vah is sauteed frog legs.
Inlagim is a native chicken stew that is used during rituals or celebrations in
Ifugao. It is a ginger and onion based soup with chicken as the usual main
ingredient
15. Ifugao is best known for its magnificent rice terraces - designated as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site and one of the most awe-inspiring cultural landscapes in Southeast
Asia. These stunningly intricate terraces are not only visually striking but also reflect an
ancient agricultural method that has sustained generations of farmers.
Beyond the rice terraces, this province offers many other attractions such as hot springs
located in Banaue town; Tappiya Falls found within Batad community trekking paths;
and the stunning viewpoint at Mount Amuyao peak which provides panoramic views of
Mountain Province below.
The culture here is deeply rooted with regional festivals like Ayyoweng Di Lambak ed
Lubuagan (Harvest Thanksgiving) affording tourists opportunities to witness traditional
tribal dances performed by local residents showcasing their finery heirloom pieces
symbolizing mentioning grown harvest bounty including vegetable variety ampalaya or
bottle gourd locally called upo! The Kankanay people have unique customs too,
particularly jewelry-making techniques using silver or copper alloy metalworks blending
old traditions together contemporary styles works accessible for modern patrons yet
emblematic origin practiced last few hundred years past!
16. Kalinga
Large swaths of the province's lowlands are open grassland suitable
for pasture, while the highlands have extensive areas of tropical
rainforest. In higher elevations to the west, particularly in the
mountains of Balbalan, lie some of the most intact pine forests of
Luzon island. Rizal and Tabuk with their flatlands are the biggest rice
producers. Next in rice production are the mountainous area, and of
note are the rice terraces of Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Pinukpuk,
Tinglayan, and Tanudan.
105-year old Apo Whang Od, the embodiment of Kalinga tattoo
artistry. Kalinga master tattooist (mambabatok) and recipient of the
prestigious Dangal ng Haraya Award. Featured in Vogue Philippines
(April Issue) just this year.
17. There are many sub-tribes in the province. The
strong sense of tribal membership and filial loyalty
results in frequent tribal unrest and occasional
outright war. Due to the mountainous terrain and
warrior-culture of the people, the Kalinga were able
to preserve their culture despite centuries of
occupation in the lowlands by the Spaniards,
Americans, and the Japanese.
The Kalingas are a proud people and well known for
their intricate hand-woven textiles and beautiful and
colorful beaded jewelry.
For the men of the tribe, tattoos represent courage
and the stages of being a Kalinga warrior, while for
women they symbolise maturity, fertility and beauty.
Batok is an ancient technique of tattooing where a
mixture of charcoal and water is tapped into the skin
using the thorn end of a calamansi or pomelo tree.
18.
19. FOOD
INANDILA a native delicacy of Kalinga, made of pound malagkit/
sticky rice,Ladok(the brown precipitate left in coconut oil
extraction) plus brown sugar/muscovado Inandila is short for
"SINANDILA" which means "just like a tongue". this is served in
all occassions like Bodong, weddings, etc.
Binongor is a native delicacy of Kalinga people. It is a. vegetable
stew that mainly consists of local mollusk, "agurong" or "bissukol",
an edible shell found on rice.
20. Mountain Province
This province offers a diverse range of attractions, rich cultures and
delicious local cuisine.
One of the major attractions in this province is Sagada, which is
famous for its hanging coffins and caves. Tourists can also go hiking
or rock climbing in the surrounding mountains. Mountain Province
has many festivals throughout the year as well, including Sagada's
Etag Festival where locals celebrate pork meat preparations from
previous seasons.
In terms of culture, The Tingguian people have their own unique
customs such as tattooing with intricate designs to reflect personal
history stories, craftsmanship skills like weaving baskets out of rattan
fibers & typical household items like placemats made from dried
mats called "banig."
The local cuisine here is not to be missed either! Some popular
dishes include pinikpikan (chicken dish), etag (preserved meat),
chap-suy or mixed vegetables steamed along with rice grains using
traditional cooking methods that make it stand apart from other
regions' cuisines.
21. One must-visit attraction is the Banaue Rice Terraces - known as
the "Eighth Wonder of the World". These ancient rice terraces
were carved by hand over 2,000 years ago and are still used today
for farming purposes. In addition to its stunning landscape, this
province also houses numerous waterfalls such as Pongas Falls
and Bomod-ok Falls that offer picturesque views for hikers
exploring region.
There are various local festivals celebrated in Mountain Province
throughout the year highlighting Vegetables grown within Sagada
Region adding to locally sourced ingredients found in many
Filipino dishes!
Lang-Ay Festival that promotes musical heritage starring
traditional trade craftspeople like wood sculptors or back-strap
weavers displaying their talents; Panagbenga Festival which
features an extravagant parade with colorful flowers and
indigenous costumes while showcasing authentic experiences
through daily life stories narrated by locals themselves.
22. 5.Kalinga - Tattoo-making artistry called “batok”, marks identity
status for tribespeople while respecting ecological balance.
Bodong(bedek)original justice system formalizes peace & and
dispute resolution agreements among communities. Simply put,
Kalingas prioritize living in harmony with nature around them whilst
keeping ethical social values intact throughout diverse generations.
6. Mountain Province: Sagada It’s known for having hanging coffins,
a method intended for preserving ancestors’ bodies,& and public
service through voluntary work. For centuries, Sagada also boasted
pottery industry tracing back clay production practices passed down
from early settlers. Capitalizing on this lasting craftiness offers
advantageous potentials such as tourism-ecotourism or job
opportunities.
