Kalinga, Cordillera Autonomous Region, Philippines
Biographical Information
PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF KALINGA-APAYAO
FAST FACTS
Capitals : Tabuk, Kabugao
Area : 7,048 sq. km
Combined Population : 211,775
Cities : none
No. of Towns : 15
LOCATION
Kalinga and Apayao are in the northernmost Cordillera region in
Luzon. They
are landlocked by Cagayan on the north and east, by Isabela also
on the east,
by Abra and llocos Norte on the west, and by the Mountain
Province on the
south.
THE LAND
The province of Kalinga-Apayao was recently divided. Kalinga has
eight
municipalities, with Tabuk as its capital. Apayao has seven
municipalities,
with Kabugao as its capital. Kalinga is surrounded by mountain
peaks. It is
divided into three areas centered around the Chico River: the
mountainous
western portion of the river's basin, the valley of the river and
its tributaries,
and the level plains between the river and Cagayan province.
Apayao descends eastward to Cagayan Valley, interlocking wide
tracts of flat
lands and floodplains among its main rivers: Abulug, Talibago,
Matalak, and
Sinundungan. The climate is relatively dry from November to April
and
generally wet the rest of the year.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The Indonesian immigrants who came to Luzon thousands of years
ago are
said to be the ancestors of the present-day Kalingas and Apayaos.
During the
Spanish era, Dominican missions were established in Tabang and
Piat along
the Chico River in 1604 and in Tuga, 25 km south of Tuao, in
1688. The
Spaniards constructed military posts at Balbalasang, a town
located near the
Saltan River, and at Balitokon town, situated near the Pacil
River. However,
when the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896, both the
Spanish military
soldiers, as well as missionaries, withdrew from the Cordillera
mountains.
When the Filipino-American War broke out in 1899, General Emilio
Aguinaldo and his army were forced to retreat from their capital
in Malolos,
Bulacan, to the northern provinces. In 1900, they stayed for two
months in
Lubuagan, a settlement of the Kalingas, to regain their,strength
before
proceeding to Isabela where Aguinaldo was eventually captured by
the
Americans.
When the old Mountain Province was created in 1908, two of its
sub-provinces were Kalinga and Apayao. When Republic Act No.4695
divided the old Mountain Province on June 18, 1966 into four
regular
provinces, the sub-provinces of Kalinga and Apayao were merged to
form one
province. On February 14, 1995, they were converted into regular
provinces
by Republic Act No. 7878. The Kalinga area gained prominence in
1975
when the Chico Valley Hydroelectric Dam project was initiated by
the
government. Firm resistance to the project was demonstrated by
the tribes,
with the support of outsiders, because it would have flooded
Kalinga villages,
including their rice terraces and sacred burial grounds.
THE PEOPLE
The province is clearly divided along tribal lines: the Kalingas
and the
Apayaos. The Kalingas were once fierce head-hunters and they are
still a
proud people, wary of strangers and fond of social celebrations.
Although
contemporary dress is now the norm, some men still wear G-strings
and a
round hat containing tobacco and matches, while women wear
wraparound
skirts. They live on leveled parts of steep mountain slopes,
where a small
shrine called podayan guards the entrance to the village.
The Apayaos, known as Isnegs in other provinces, get their name
from the
river where they get their food. They are skilled hunters and
fishermen; they
carry axes and woven rattan and bamboo baskets for keeping their
catch. The
men wear a blue or black G string under which is a bag containing
tobacco or
betel nut and lime; the women wear decorated dark skirts and
long-sleeved
blouses. They live in complex traditional houses with an
elongated floor plan
and a gabled roof, with granaries between the houses. Both ethnic
groups are
fond of tattoos; the Apayaos are the most heavily tattooed
mountain people.
Both also have elaborate costumes reserved for rituals and
festive occasions.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Being a largely agricultural province, Kalinga-Apayao produces a
variety of
crops, the major ones of which are rice, corn, coffee, and
coconut. Rich pine
forests are found in the higher elevations. Kalinga's open
grasslands are
suitable for pastures while Apayao is abundant in mineral
resources. Scenic
spots and panoramic views all over the province need only to be
tapped and
developed into tourist destinations.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised: June 18, 1999
