The cagayan valley or Region II has 5 provinces, 4 cities, 89 Municipalities, and

2,311 Barangays

The major tourist attraction of Cagayan Province is caves, in particular, the famous seven
chambered Callao Caves, which contain a chapel for those who wish to meditate on these
wonders of nature.

BACKGROUND
The northerly mountain of the Philippines, standing majestically in the enchanting
islands of Batanes, the mountain of winds. Its position at the northern part of Batan
island gives its summit a commanding view of the northernmost parts of the country,
and the ocean. This view, however, is made elusive by the perpetual cloud cover that
only gives way to a full view of the mountain on rare occasions.
Mt. Iraya is a very important landmark for the Ivatans, and is steeped in legend. Elder
Ivatan folk say that whenever someone dear to the people departs, a ring of clouds
forms around the mountain. Also, the elders speak of old eruption of Iraya, and points
to the holes near the summit as the crater from which lava and steam spewed out.
Culture aside, its geographic presence is imposing; it is seen throughout the whole
island of Batan and elsewhere in the northern seas. Its rise of 1009 MASL, directly
from the sea, is explained in terms of volcanism. According to geologists, Iraya is one
of the 22 active volcanos in the Philippines, with its last eruption occuring in 1454.

The trail to Mt. Iraya is forested and at times steep. From the jumpoff just beyond the
Basco airport, there is an early, 30-minute assault, followed by a 1.5 hour trek through
a dense forest, which is replete with flora and fauna, especially birds. Snakes are also
said to inhabit these areas, but they are not poisonous. Beyond this forest is the
Shoulder Campsite an excellent viewdeck and a possible campsite. Here, trees
give way to giant reeds (Miscanthus sinensis) locally known as vyawo. The final leg is
the steep assault of the summit, lasting 30-45 minutes. Hold on to the reeds as you
climb. At the summit, which is a ridge directing north, you will definitely feel the
refreshing touch of the wind.
According to the Ivatans, if the wind is coming from the north, most likely the view is
obstructed with clouds, but the east wind is good and clears up the sky. Also, they add
that the best time to climb Iraya is during the mini-summer in September the only
time when Mt. Iraya is devoid of clouds. In this blessed event, views would include
that of the Pacific Ocean (E), Itbayat Island and hill-like Dinem Island (NW), South
China Sea (W), the entirety of Batan Island with Mt. Matarem the most prominent
point (SW), and beyond it, Sabtang Island. But at whatever time of the year, a climb
to Mt. Iraya is memorable and as enchanting as the beautiful province in which it
stands.

Mount Iraya, is an active volcano on Batan Island and the highest point in the
province of Batanes, Philippines.

Location[edit]
Iraya is located on Batan Island, one of the Batanes Islands, in
the province of Batanes, in the Luzon Strait, north of the island of Luzon, in the
Philippines.
It is the northernmost active volcano in the Philippines.
Physical features[edit]
Iraya is a heavily forested stratovolcano, with an elevation of 1,009 metres
(3,310 ft) asl, and a base diameter of 5,500 metres (18,000 ft).
Adjacent volcanic edifice is Mount Matarem.

Volcanic activity[edit]
Mount Iraya last erupted in 1454, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (Phivolcs) considers it as one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines.
In 1998, volcanologists recorded seismic swarms which led them to form a
monitoring network on Batan Island for several months. After the swarms of tremors
had diminished, the temporary stations in Barangay San Joaquin in Basco,
Batanes and another near the crater, were pulled out. Seismicity or any activity
relating to Iraya is still monitored by the Basco Seismological Station.

Volcanoes of the Philippines are all part of the Pacific ring of fire.
Dicotcotan Beach

The virgin white sand beaches of Dicotcotan is probably Isabelas best-kept

secret. Its coastline is very much exposed to swell and strong waves from the
Pacific Ocean, perfect not only for swimming, but also for surfing.
Purto Rico, Isabela
The place is called Vayang. The slopes of the rolling hills rise
and dive gently, forming a crumpled terrain that is covered by
grass, a food and rest sanctuary for cows, goats, and water
buffalos. Embracing the splashes from the West Philippine
Sea (South China Sea), Vayang Rolling Hills overlooks
Chadpidan Beach, the boulder-filled western coast of Batan
Island.
St Dominic Cathedral
A living testament to the grandeur of what the old town was. This church was built around the
17th century and was razed by fire twice and rebuilt on the same ground. The facade remains
the same as it was years ago and is a treasured gem from a time long passed.

Nicknamed the Citrus Capital of the Philippines, this landlocked province is the place to be
when you want to get oranges, honey dew, sweet ponkan, yacon, red chandler pomelo and
seedless Satsuma. But other than offering a great variety of citrus fruits, the province is also
home to several other attractions.
Located in the Cagayan Valley Region in Luzon, the province is surrounded by Ifugao,
Isabela, Quirino, Aurora Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Benguet. It also bounds three
mountain ranges Sierra Madre, Cordillera and Caraballo. Given this makeup, its no wonder
why Nueva Vizcaya is a popular destination among outdoor enthusiasts.
Here are five of the best attractions that the province has to offer:
Church of San Vicente Ferrer

Located in Dupax del Sur, the church of San Vicente Ferrer is situated in a well-preserved
complex. It was built during the second half of the 18th century under the Dominicans. It was
declared as a National Cultural Treasure. For that reason alone, this church is well worth the
visit.
As impressive as the facade of the church is, the four-storey bell tower is equally impressive
as well. It is made of red bricks and makes a wonderful distinction from the church. What
makes the place great are the age-old acacia trees that surround the compound.

Photography lovers will sure love framing the church with the branches and all. If youve got
a thing for very old trees, youll be pleased to know that one acacia dates back to around
1880 and was planted by settlers from Nueva Ecija, a nearby province.

Quirino province was blessed with diverse natural resources, such as

awesome caves, rivers, breathtaking waterfalls, mountains and valleys,
forests, plantations, and minerals. It is tagged as where adventure begins.