Tuguegarao

Tuguegarao
Component City

Seal
Nickname(s): Regional Center of Cagayan Valley; Cagayan Provincial Capital

Location in the province of Cagayan
Tuguegarao

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 17°37′N 121°43′E / 17.617°N 121.717°ECoordinates: 17°37′N 121°43′E / 17.617°N 121.717°E
Country Philippines
Region Cagayan Valley (Region II)
Province Cagayan
Congr. district 3rd District of Cagayan
Township May 9, 1604
Cityhood December 18, 1999
Barangays 49
Government[1]
  Type Mayor–council
  Mayor Engelbert Caronan
  Vice-Mayor Bienvenido C. de Guzman II
  City Council
Area[2]
  Total 144.80 km2 (55.91 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2010)[3]
  Total 138,865
  Density 960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Demonym Tuguegaraoeños
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 3500
Dialing code 78
Income class 3rd class[2]
Website www.tuguegaraocity.gov.ph

Tuguegarao is a third-class city and capital of the province of Cagayan in the Philippines.[2] It is the regional and institutional center of Cagayan Valley region.

The city is located on a peninsula surrounded by the Cagayan and Pinacanauan Rivers. The Pinacanauan joins the Cagayan River in Tuguegarao. The city is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains to the east, Cordillera Mountains to the west, and the Caraballo Mountains to the south. It is one of the settlements on the southern border of the province.

The population of the city as of the May 1, 2010 census is 138,865 people.[3] Most inhabitants are Ibanag, Ilokano, Tagalog, Itawes and Kapamapangan among others. Some are of Chinese and Indian descent.

The highest temperature in the Philippines was recorded in Tuguegarao on April 29, 1912, and May 11, 1969, at 42.2 °C (108.0 °F).[4] Average temperature during March and April is 38 °C (100 °F), one of the highest in the country.

Barangays

The city is politically subdivided into 49 barangays.[2]

  • Annafunan East (Urban)
  • Annafunan West (Urban)
  • Atulayan Norte (Urban)
  • Atulayan Sur (Urban)
  • Bagay
  • Buntun (Urban)
  • Caggay (Urban)
  • Capatan
  • Carig Norte
  • Carig Sur (Urban)
  • Caritan Centro (Urban)
  • Caritan Norte (Urban)
  • Caritan Sur (Urban)
  • Cataggaman Nuevo (Urban)
  • Cataggaman Pardo
  • Cataggaman Viejo
  • Centro 1 (Pob.)
  • Centro 2 (Pob.)
  • Centro 3 (Pob.)
  • Centro 4 (Pob.)
  • Centro 5 (Pob.)
  • Centro 6 (Pob.)
  • Centro 7 (Pob.)
  • Centro 8 (Pob.)
  • Centro 9 (Pob.)
  • Centro 10 (Pob.)
  • Centro 11 (Pob.)
  • Centro 12 (Pob.)
  • Dadda
  • Gosi Norte
  • Gosi Sur
  • Larion Alto
  • Larion Bajo
  • Leonarda (Urban)
  • Libag Norte (Urban)
  • Libag Sur (Urban)
  • Linao East
  • Linao Norte
  • Linao West
  • Namabbalan Norte
  • Namabbalan Sur
  • Pallua Norte
  • Pallua Sur
  • Pengue-Ruyu (Urban)
  • San Gabriel (Urban)
  • Tagga
  • Tanza (Urban)
  • Ugac Norte (Urban)
  • Ugac Sur (Urban)

Etymology

There are several versions of legends looming about the origin of the name of the city of Tuguegarao. One is the abundance of "tarrao" trees in the area. Another is from the word "tuggi" meaning fire. Another recorded version is, the town was formerly called Tuerao by the people of the northern towns. Still another is that the name Tuguegarao comes from two Ibanag words "tuggi" (fire) and "aggao" (day), possibly referring to a daytime fire that happened in the town. The most accepted version of the legend is the Ibanags' reply to the Spaniards when the latter asked for the name of the place - "Tuggi gari yaw", meaning "This used to be fire", or the town was carved out of the wilderness by clearing and burning. On the other hand, a historical evidence that might provide clues to the origin of the city's name comes from the fact that in 1591, the place was listed as a Spanish encomienda (land grant), which was originally a pre-colonial settlement called Tubigarao.[5]

History

Founding of the town

The Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto (Stone Chapel of Saint Hyacinth) established in 1604.

The community was governed as a barangay established by the Dominicans as a mission until the Spaniards gave it the status of pueblo (municipality) on May 9, 1604, making it one of the political units of the province of Cagayan. The settlement was a small in terms of population but was big in territory, which then included what would later become the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino till the 1850s. As a mission pueblo and with assigned encomendero (landlord) to Tuguegarao, the inhabitants (as tenants) were made to pay taxes in the form of poultry products and other food products. Resentments later flared and the people of Tuguegarao revolted in 1605, killing the encomendero. Again, the people of Tuguegarao revolted in 1718 and then 1761 under a leader named Rivera.

The first parochial building of Tugugarao was constructed in 1604, a chapel that became the foundation of what is now the Ermita de Piedra de San Jacinto (Stone Chapel of Saint Hyacinth) dedicated to Saint Hyacinth, the patron saint of Tuguegarao. The present chapel is the latest in a process of rebuilding that started in 1724 when it was rebuilt by Fr. Bernabe de la Magdalena, O.P..

Provincial capital

Tuguegarao became the capital of Cagayan province in 1839 when the provincial seat of power was relocated from Lal-lo. The decline of Lal-lo became the transformation of Tuguegarao as the most important town in Cagayan.

American colonial period

Tuguegarao was occupied by American troops on December 12, 1899. During World War II, the city and its airfield of some significance was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army on December 8, 1941. The General Headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, Philippine Constabulary and the USAFIP-NL units was actived on 1942 to 1946 and stationed in Tuguegarao. The city and airfield were bombed by the US and Philippine regularly between January and May 1945, and attacked by Donald Blackburn's guerrilla forces in June 1945.[6]:299–302 The local recognized guerrillas helped by entering the town, Philippine Commonwealth troops under the Philippine Army and Constabulary units and USAFIP-NL military units came in early June; the town was officially liberated on June 25, 1945.

After World War II

Sitio Capatan was elevated into a barrio (or barangay) Capatan of Tuguegarao on April 3, 1959 by Republic Act no. 2107.[7]

Growth

Tuguegarao was once the only first class municipality in the province of Cagayan. It has served as the provincial capital of Cagayan since 1839 because of the notable socio-economic progress of the town. In 1975, Tuguegarao was declared as the capital and seat of the regional government of Cagayan Valley (Region II) being the region's geographic center with adequate facilities and amenities needed by such.

New barangays were formed in the 1970s that by 1981, Tuguegarao had 49 barangays, 12 of which were urban. The late 1980s saw the gradual expansion of the urban core of Tuguegarao to the outlying barangays of Ugac, Caritan and Atulayan. With the fast rising prices of real estate in the poblacion (city center), residents found it profitable to sell their properties in the poblacion and buy lots in the surrounding barangay neighborhoods, but still close to avail the amenities of the city.

By 1980, Tuguegarao had a population of 73,507. The increase in population could be attributed to various factors. One is the increasing peace and order problems in the other towns in the region driving the people to Tuguegarao, which is relatively free of the insurgency problem with the visible presence of the military and its geographic location. Another factor is the presence of the schools, whose quality of education is highly comparable to that of Metropolitan Manila. Others come because of the increase in trade and industry. The completion of the Maharlika Highway made Region II more accessible to people from other areas.

The year 1983 marked the quadricentennial celebration of the establishment of the civil government of the Province of Cagayan. In the week-long celebration held in Tuguegarao, several Philippine cabinet ministers visited the town and province.

Of very great consideration is the town's tremendous improvement in social services and infrastructure facilities since 1975. In the 1980s and 1990s, multistory buildings were constructed in the poblacion greatly changing Tuguegarao's skyline. Other changes included landscaped schools and homes, cable television, air-conditioned buses, jet flights, telegraph and telex services, door-to-door delivery services, domestic and overseas long-distance calls, luxurious social amenities and other trappings of a highly urbanized town.

Hotel Delfino siege

The Hotel Delfino siege was a bloody coup attempt that happened on March 4, 1990, when suspended Cagayan governor Rodolfo "Agi" Aguinaldo and his armed men of 200 seized Hotel Delfino in Tuguegarao. Brigader General Oscar Florendo, his driver and four members of the civilian staff, and several other people were held hostage for several hours. A gunfight was launched to kill Aguinaldo and his men but one of the suspended governor's men was found dead in a checkpoint shootout, Brig. Gen. Florendo and 12 others were also dead and 10 more wounded. Aguinaldo was slightly wounded in a car gunfight but eventually escaped and hid into the mountains.

Component city

Tuguegarao became a component city after it was affirmed in a plebiscite held on December 18, 1999. Randolph Sera Ting is the first mayor of the new city. On July 2, 2007, Delfin Telan Ting (who was then a municipal mayor from 1988 to 1998) was elected to become the second mayor of the city.

Demographics

Population of Tuguegarao City
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 17,000    
1939 19,300+0.61%
1948 10,500−6.54%
1960 27,600+8.39%
1970 59,200+7.92%
1980 73,507+2.19%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 94,787+2.58%
1995 107,275+2.35%
2000 120,645+2.55%
2007 129,539+0.99%
2010 138,865+2.56%
Source: National Statistics Office & Jan Lameyer

Climate

Climate data for Tuguegarao City
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37
(99)
37
(99)
40
(104)
42
(108)
41
(106)
41
(106)
41
(106)
38
(100)
37
(99)
38
(100)
36
(97)
38
(100)
42
(108)
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)
30
(86)
33
(91)
36
(97)
36
(97)
36
(97)
34
(93)
34
(93)
33
(91)
31
(88)
30
(86)
28
(82)
32.4
(90.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 23
(73)
24
(75)
26
(79)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
28
(82)
27
(81)
26
(79)
25
(77)
24
(75)
26.5
(79.6)
Average low °C (°F) 19
(66)
18
(64)
20
(68)
22
(72)
23
(73)
23
(73)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
21
(70)
20
(68)
21.2
(70.2)
Record low °C (°F) 12
(54)
13
(55)
14
(57)
17
(63)
17
(63)
18
(64)
18
(64)
19
(66)
18
(64)
18
(64)
12
(54)
12
(54)
12
(54)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 31.2
(1.228)
23.0
(0.906)
27.7
(1.091)
28.1
(1.106)
113.5
(4.469)
141.4
(5.567)
176.4
(6.945)
236.6
(9.315)
224.9
(8.854)
247.7
(9.752)
222.9
(8.776)
178.0
(7.008)
1,651.4
(65.017)
Avg. rainy days 10 6 5 5 13 12 15 15 15 17 16 15 144
Average relative humidity (%) 82 76 73 71 72 75 79 79 80 82 84 85 78.2
Mean daily sunshine hours 11.6 11.9 12.4 12.9 13.4 13.6 13.5 13.1 12.6 12.1 11.7 11.5 12.52
Source #1: World Weather Online[8]
Source #2: Weatherbase[9]

Economy

Tuguegarao City's Calle Commercio (commercial street) in 2010.

Within the past three decades, its economy gradually shifted from agriculture to secondary/tertiary economic activities such as trading, commerce and services. The shift was ushered by Tuguegarao's role as the provincial and regional government center and one of the centers of commerce in Northern Luzon. Banking, educational, commercial, industrial and tourism-related activities proliferate in the area.

As of 2013, there were 4,210 registered business establishments for which more than half are located in the Poblacion and less than one-third (1/3) are in the urban barangays. Of these registered establishments, 53.48% are wholesale and retail trade establishments. Financing, insurance and real estate firms contributed 8.54%, and the remaining 37.98% consist of service enterprises and social amenities to include business, recreational, personal, utility and other services. At present, there are 31 banks operating in the city.

Festivals

Places of interest

Buntun Bridge
Saint Peter Metropolitan Church
Horno used to prepare bricks

Local government

City officials (2007-2010):

City officials (2010-2013):

Current city officials (2013-2016):

Transportation

Tuguegarao City's main transportation vehicle: Tricycle.

Tuguegarao serves as a vital transportation and communication hub. It can be reached using buses with en route to Tuguegarao, Baggao, Aparri, and also Santiago. Bus services that operate in Tuguegarao include Victory Liner, GV Florida Transport, Five Star Bus Company, Dalin Liner, Northern Luzon Bus Line, Everlasting Transport Inc., Universal Guiding Star Bus Line, Northstar Transport Inc., and many smaller feeder minibuses which offers services like Sleeper, Super Deluxe, Deluxe, Air conditioned, and Ordinary Fare.

There are also some vans that plies to Claveria, Sta.Praxedes, Aparri, Sta.Ana, Alcala, Lasam and Junction Luna, Abulug in Cagayan, Santiago City, Roxas, Ilagan City and Cauayan City in Isabela, Luna and Kabugao in Apayao. There are also mini buses plying to Lasam, Allacapan, Claveria, Santiago City and Roxas. There are jeeps with routes to Iguig, Tuao, Enrile, Tabuk and Rizal in Kalinga and some mountainous barrios in Cagayan. The tricycle and calesa is a common mode of public transport in the city.

The Tuguegarao City Domestic Airport is a facility located 21.036 meters or 69 feet above sea level and is capable of handling Boeing-737-sized aircraft. Small aircraft, helicopters and army cargo aircraft also utilize the airport. Cebu Pacific, Sky Pasada and PAL Express are the available domestic airline companies which provide daily flights to and from the city.

Medical institutions

Education

Universities and colleges

There are several universities and colleges that are situated in the city. Majority of the universities and colleges of the Province of Cagayan are in Tuguegarao. Hence, the city is considered as the University Capital of Region 02. Also, numerous technological and vocational institutes are located in the city. The Philippine Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) offers short-term courses to all Cagayanos. The following schools offer tertiary education for the citizens of the region:

High schools

There are many public and private schools here in Tuguegarao.

Elementary

  • Annafunan Elementary School
  • Arnulfo Interior and Carol Doctolero Montessori
  • Atulayan Elementary School
  • Balzain East Elementary School
  • Bagay Elementary School
  • Buntun Elementary School
  • Capatan Elementary School
  • Carig Elementary School
  • Carig Norte Primary School
  • Caritan Norte Elementary School
  • Cataggaman Elementary School
  • Cataggaman Nuevo Primary School
  • Dadda Primary School
  • Fatima Montessori
  • Florencio L. Vargas College Grade School Department
  • Gosi Elementary School
  • Holy Trinity Montessori School
  • John Wesley College Elementary Department
  • Kebing School
  • Larion Alto Elementary School
  • Larion Bajo Elementary School
  • Leonarda-Pengue-Ruyu Elementary School
  • Libag Elementary School
  • Linao Elementary School
  • Methodist Christian School
  • Montessori de Cagayan
  • Namabbalan Elementary School
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Help Montessori School (Grade School)
  • Pallua Elementary School
  • Pardo Elementary School (Cataggaman Pardo)
  • San Gabriel Elementary School
  • Tagga-Dadda Elementary School
  • St. Clare Montessori School
  • St. Paul University Philippines Grade School Department
  • Tuguegarao Central School
  • Tuguegarao East Central School
  • Tuguegarao North Central School
  • Tuguegarao Northeast Central School
  • Tuguegarao West Central School
  • Ugac Sur Elementary School
  • University of Cagayan Valley Grade School Department
  • University of St. Louis Tuguegarao Grade School Department

Daycare centers

The city has 63 barangay daycare centers. Currently, there are about 3,000 daycare pupils that are on the program. Moreover, there are also several privately operated daycare centers that are scattered in the city.

Specialized education

Far East Christian Deaf Academy provides education from pre-school to middle school operated and funded by the Church of the Living God at Sharon Village, Barangay Cataggaman Nuevo. The University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao also has an elementary school program for the hearing impaired.[12]

International students

Students from China, Congo, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Korea have come to study at St. Paul University Philippines, University of St. Louis Tuguegarao and Cagayan State University. Most of the international students have come to study degrees such as Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of Secondary Education and Doctor of Medicine.[13]

Media

Radio

AM stations:

FM stations:

Television

News Programs

References

  1. "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 11 September 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Province: CAGAYAN". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  4. (2013-04-04). "PAGASA: Hottest day so far this year in NCR at 35.2 degrees Celsius". GMA News Online. Retrieved on 2013-08-02.
  5. Taken from the City's Official Website as written by Maria Fe B. Agu-Villania, CPA, CSEE, the City's Planning and Development Coordinator
  6. Harkins, P., 1956, Blackburn's Headhunters, London: Cassell & Co. LTD
  7. "An Act Creating the Barrio of Capatan in the Municipality of Tuguegarao, Province of Cagayan". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  8. "Tuguegarao, Philippines: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  9. "Tuguegarao, Philippines Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  10. Foley, M. (1912). "Tuguegarao". The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from New Advent on 2013-08-01.
  11. "Cultural Tourism". http://www.cagayan.gov.ph''. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  12. "Directory of Schools for the Deaf in the Philippines". MCCID College Official Website.
  13. Tuguegarao City Government

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tuguegarao City.