Story and photos By Bernard L. Supetran
QUIRINO, the smallest and youngest province in Cagayan Valley, might as well be its proverbial lily because of its hidden natural wonders. Tucked in the region’s interior, this quaint place is not the typical destination because of its aura of isolation, but once you get to discover it, you will realize that is a quintessential and promising hideaway.
Named after former Philippine President Elpidio R. Quirino, it was created on September 10, 1971, when it was declared an independent province by virtue of Republic Act 6394.
A former subprovince of Nueva Vizcaya, it occupied the forest area inhabited by various indigenous peoples’ tribal groups.
Consisting of six municipalities, namely, Diffun, Saguday, Aglipay, Maddela and Nagtipunan, with Cabarroguis as the provincial capital, the province can be reached via the Cagayan Valley Road. At the junction in Cordon, Isabela, turn right all the way to Quirino. You can also fly to Cauayan City, Isabela, and make a one-hour land trip.
But while it is landlocked and does not have any powdery beaches sought-after by travelers, the province tries to position itself with its veritable mix of adventure, nature and culture. It is like a diamond in the rough with a great outdoors to explore, especially those who love cruising on two wheels.
The 111-hectare Provincial Capitol Complex in Cabarroguis is a serendipitous playground for leisure and adventure aside from being the seat of the government.
Within the enclave is the Quirino Watersports Complex landscaped from an undulating terrain framed by the perfectly contoured Susong Dalaga twin hills. It boasts of a hostel with well-appointed rooms, a pavilion and dining area overlooking an infinity pool and a world-class wakeboarding park whose water is fed by natural springs.
Gov. Junie Cua said the province has been trying to earn its place as a mecca for motorsports in Northern Luzon, with its challenging man-made track and scenic country roads.
In 2015 he introduced Quirino Motorismo, which features racing activities on two wheels—drag racing, motocross, slalom racing, bike shows and long-distance drives. He said the motorsport festival, the only one of its kind in the Philippines, is their novel way of luring visitors to explore the province on motorbikes or any automobile.
While the motocross is the top crowd-drawer because of the breathtaking acrobatics, riders look forward to the Endurance Challenge which zooms around Cagayan Valley.
The event’s recent edition ran for 1,000 kilometers with 435 motorcyclists going around Isabela, Cagayan, Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija.
For a glimpse of local heritage, the Quirino Museum is a repository of the province’s amalgam of cultures—the upland tribes from the Cordillera and Sierra Madre mountain ranges, and the migrant lowlanders.
A must-do is spelunking at Aglipay Caves and Campsite, which has hollow and fragile draws, amazing drapers and stunning stalactites attesting to the rich biodiversity of the watershed and forrestal land. Eight chambers have been mapped for tours, which are ideal even for neophytes because of its moderate difficulty.
Named after revolutionary priest Gregorio Aglipay who is believed to have hidden there during the Filipino-American War in the 1900s, the 101-hectare site is surrounded by forests which provide a refuge for vegetation, wildlife and recreation.
Since the province has no beach to boast of, Quirino compensates with lush rivers and waterfalls where its emerging tourism industry revolves. Governor’s Rapids, a tributary of the Cagayan River, is its poster image because of its amazing rockscape and white water where guests do an exciting two-hour cruise.
The area’s iconic features are the majestic jagged limestone formations and naturally carved 30-foot high platforms ideal for diving. Tucked inside one of the rock crevices is a small cascade which form a chest-deep natural pool, which serves as a pit stop in the river tour.
The river has been among those named several times as among the region’s cleanest inland bodies of water, making it ideal for bathing and white-water tubing.
Siitan River in Nagtipunan town is a cousin of Governor’s Rapids, where tourists can cruise aboard a dugout canoe and marvel at the amazing geological wonders. A picturesque rock formation is the “Bimmapor” which sits on the bank, which got its name from bapor because of its resemblance to a steel ship’s hull.
It is a favorite site for camping and outdoor events, and has been the venue of the annual Motorismo, where close to 1,000 riders sleep under the stars before doing the Unity Ride to the Provincial Capitol.
The numerous waterfalls tucked in the mountains’ bosom make the province a virtual waterworld. Maddela has seven emerald waterfalls, whose fifth cascade offers a stunning view of the Sierra Madres.
Adventurers can dip in the rejuvenating cool pools in the waterfalls of Manuela, San Pascual and Battumbaket in Diffun, Tucod in Cabarroguis, Maddela, Pensal, Victoria in Maddela, and Mactol, Tayguido and Guiyayan in Nagtipunan.
For a consummate trip, interactive visits to indigenous tribes, such as the Bugkalot, Agta, Igorot, Kalinga and Dumagat, can be arranged with local authorities for a glimpse and an understanding of their way of life.
With its natural and cultural wonders, and the warm hospitality of its people, Quirino is unquestionably the lily of the Cagayan Valley.
Image credits: Bernard L. Supetran