Cordilleras: APAYAO

Brief History of Apayao and its People

Ø  The Indonesian immigrants who came to Luzon many 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 set up military posts at Balbalasang, a town located near the Saltan River, and at Balikoton town, situated near the Pacil River. When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896, both the Spanish soldiers and missionaries, withdraw from the Cordillera Mountains.

Ø  When the old Mountain Province was created in 1908, Kalinga and Apayao were two of its sub-provinces. On June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4695 divided the old Mountain Province into 4 regular provinces, the sub-provinces of Kalinga and Apayao were merged to form one province.

Ø  The Apayao, known also as Isnegs derived their name from the river where they obtain their food. They are skilled hunters and fisherman and carry axes and woven rattan and bamboo baskets for keeping their catch. The men wear a blue or black G-string and under it is a bag containing tobacco or betel nut and lime. The women wear decorated dark shirts and long sleeved blouses and have elaborate costumes reserved for rituals and festive occasions. The Apayaos, the most heavily tattooed mountain people, live in complex traditional houses with an elongated floor and gabled roof and granaries between the houses.

Ø  The Isnegs are animist, believing in the existence of spirits. They do not believe in a Supreme Being but in good and bad spirits. A “shaman” is a village high priestess who communicates with the spirits. Shaman is always women.

Ø  Two of the more important ceremonies of the Isnegs are the “say-am” and the “pilday” performed after successful headquarter trips. During a “say-am” and “pildap” ceremony, heads taken in forays used to be offered to the “Anglabbang”, the spirits of the headquarters.

• Four dialects are spoken along the Abulug-Apayao area, and one in the Matalag river area. The Isneg dialect of the Apayaos has sounds similar to those of the dialects spoken by the Kalinga, Tinggian, Ilocano and Ibanag.

Geographical Location

Ø  Apayao is one of six provinces comprising the Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR. It was created in 1995 through Republic Act No. 7878, authored by Congressman E.K. Balut, which divided the former province of Kalinga-Apayao into two independent and distinct provinces-the Province of Apayao and the Province of Kalinga.

Ø  The province of Apayao is bounded in the north by Ilocos Norte, in the east by Cagayan and Isabela, and in the south by the provinces of Kalinga. It is covered with wide tracts of flat lands and floodplains among its main rivers, namely Abulug, Talibago, Matalak and Sinundungan. The climate is relatively dry from November to April and generally wet during the rest of the year.

Ø  Apayao occupies about 4,120.6 sq. km. of land area and is subdivided into seven (7) municipalities, namely, Calanasan (Bayag), Conner, Flora, Luna, Pudtol, Sta. Marcela and Kabugao, the provincial capital. The municipality of Calanasan occupies the largest land area, some 1,256.2 sq. km., while Sta. Marcela occupies the smallest area, only 240.1 sq. km.

 

Tourist Spots and/or Points of Interest in the Province

• The Agamatan National Park and Wild Life Sanctuary and the unpolluted Apayao River are the main national attractions of the province. The Agamatan National Park and Wild Life Sanctuary is located in Calanasan along its Western boundary with the municipality of Solsona, Ilocos Norte. The area covers sharp peaks and plateaus embedded in the highest mountain ranges of the area which give a commanding view of the Ilocos Norte shorelines including the city of Laoag in the west. The mountain vegetation consists of pine stands and mossy forest and bushes that thrive only at high altitudes and in cool places. The area is located only a couple of hours drive from Laoag City.

• The unpolluted Apayao River is still covered with old growth of Philippine hard wood such as molave, yacal, and narra. When navigated by speed boats, wildlife and fishes are visible in the waters along its banks. The river provides a venue for adventurers, vacationists and wildlife lovers.     

Municipalities of Apayao

·         Calanasan (Bayag)

·         Conner

·         Flora

·         Kabugao

·         Luna

·         Pudtol

·         Sta. Marcela