DiscoverSanta Marcela
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of Santa Marcela.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Santa Marcela
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Santa Marcela
- A lovely little town called Santa Marcela, is nestled in the western lowlands of Apayao Province upon the fertile floor of the valley of the Apayao River, where soil appears to welcome the sky with open arms.
- Its large rice paddies resemble a green quilt blanketing thousands of hectares that supply food to not just the local families but to the province as well that it is being called as the food basket of Apayao.
- Topography This is a smooth combination of plain lands and hills, the roads passing through fields and between hills give a unique scenic impression of the life in the countryside to the traveller.
- Santa marcela is located near the boundary of the Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, which serves as one of the most convenient and easiest way in of those visiting the Cordillera region, as they are arriving in the south.
- The cultural thread of the town is made with the fibres of the Ilocano settlers who came along with their language, their customs, and their farming methods and interwove them with the native Isnag culture that still resonates in its local festivals.
- Planned holidays to Santa Marcela, Apayao, book with world flights to make sure you enter this paradise of the Philippines without any hassle and with a pocket friendly fare.
- Capital (of the province): Kabugao
- International airport: None in Santa Marcela
- Nearest commonly used airports:
- Tuguegarao Airport (Cagayan) – nearest operational airport with domestic flights
- Laoag International Airport (Ilocos Norte) – domestic flights; regional gateway
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila) – primary international gateway
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz (some distant barangays may have limited or intermittent supply)
- Official / local languages: Isneg/Isnag, Ilocano, Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic, with some indigenous beliefs among local communities.
Reason 02
Highlights
- Santa Marcela is the largest contiguous field in Apayao, with rice paddies, its mosaic of green changing to a golden sign when it is harvest time, it is a living testament to the hard work of the farmers.
- The Apayao River passes through the municipality with its waters creating an irrigation source which ensures all year round lush and productive rice fields.
- It is also close to the lowlands of Ilocos Norte, hence, compared to most mountain towns, Santa Marcela is more accessible and thus has shorter travel time and easier logistics.
- Ilocano pragmatism and Isnag modesty can be traced in the architecture of the town, ranging in styles of the well-built stone houses and the simple, but nonetheless, elegant St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church.
- There is local life all around in Santa Marcela, the markets with their swarming farmers, the intimate family get-togethers, a full-fledged indication of Filipino life.
- To feel the beat of the community, the visitors should be ready to visit the town during the summer fiesta, when the music, dance, and joint dinner unite the town in the spirit of the celebration.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- Dry season, which is November to April, brings the stable weather, clear skies and a steady temperature of $20$ degrees which prompts the exploration and scenic views of outdoor activities like driving around the rice fields.
- In the cool months, the climate is warmer than the deep interior of the Cordillera but cooler than the coastal lowlands and this gives a nice balance to the hiker and farmers alike.
- The holidays to Santa Marcela spring months are when the fields change to a bright green with seedlings growing so that it provides photographers with a good background that is not common in the rest of the province.
- Summer, which is yet sunny, is a little warm and perfect in river-side walks, and in trying freshly-caught fish of the Apayao River.
- Fall and its bountiful harvest is the peak of farming, the season when the community gathers to feast on the fruits of their crop.
- The winter here, though very short, is such that the inhabitants of this town maintain a light jacketing, and the breezes are so petite as to afford the inhabitants a charming rest after the heat of the preceding seasons.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Vast Rice Paddies
- Have a relaxing drive on the winding roads that cut across acres of rice, a sight delight of green that appears to be endless.
- Visit the Apayao River to see how the farmers irrigate the paddies with the water of the Apayao River, an eye opener on the management of water which has been used over the years to keep the town alive.
- Find local women, dressed in bright, handy clothes, in the fields and at work with the seedlings, and their work looks like a wonderful choreography of work.
- observe the slight change in the height and colour of the plants that show the growth stages, seedlings, to full grains.
- Take pictures of the fields early in the morning before dawn or in the evening when the light changes the rice to a golden tapestry.
- Experience the feeling of tranquilly that spreads over you by hearing the rustle of rice leaves and the voices of birds in the distance.
Apayao River Banks
- Stroll by the river side where the water flows over some smooth stones as a cool refreshing factor during hot days.
- Hear the calming music of the running river, a musical background echoing the rhythmic life of the agricultural town.
- Have a glance at the tiny fish that swims under water, and is a reminder of the river being a source of fresh food.
- Be aware of the mangrove roots which line the banks and prevent soil erosion which is a natural form of protection that makes the rice paddies fertile.
- Find local children playing near the side of water, their laughter is heard through the fields which depict the active spirit of the community.
- Cogitate about the way the town was influenced by the presence of the river, both in the aspect of irrigating the land, to naming of festivals in the town.
Santa Marcela Town Proper
- Visit the city-hall, which is a small building that is a centre of civic organisation and local government.
- Visit the main square, where the locals can hold community meetings, festivals and conduct their daily business by exchanging news.
- See how slow the life is - shops are open in the morning, farmers with their fresh goods, people talking over hot cups of local coffee.
- iasmatically enjoy the design of a town with its narrow streets and open spaces, which makes people feel united.
- Sit and have a break in a bench facing the plaza, where children will be playing and families telling their storeys.
- Experience the closeness of the places where modernity and tradition are intertwined, which is a feature of Santa Marcela.
St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church
- Stroll to the church which is a stone building that is so quiet and dignified in the midst of the fields.
- Be aware of the plain but remarkable construction, that is within the community owing to their worship and practical mode of construction.
- See the way people in this country go to Mass on Sundays, with their voices in a chant of faith and brotherhood.
- Take a look at the little shrine inside, where people make their offerings and prayers to be blessed and safe.
- Enjoy the silent times of contemplation that the church provides, a break to the hectic life.
- Experience the spirit of history, generations have been in these pews, their history is built into the building.
Reason 05
Discover More
Local Market (Public Market)
- Walk around stalls piled with fresh rice, colourful corn and a variety of root crops that show how fertile the valley is.
- Find suppliers to deal with who receive you with warm smiles and are more than willing to share the history of each product.
- Taste local specialities, such as fermented fish to freshly prepared pinakbet, a flavour of the local cuisine.
- Watch the dancing of the shoppers, the daily dance of exchange which keeps the economy of the town going.
- Visit the many handcrafts on display, including woven baskets, embroidered fabrics, etc. which demonstrates the expertise of the local craftsmen.
- Spend some time enjoying the ambience of the market where you can hear fresh produce being smelled in the air, and people talking.
Isnag Cultural Touchpoints
- Get to know about the Isnag people, who are practising traditional ways of weaving, pottery, and fishing in their traditions that are passed generational.
- Cheque out a local Isnag home and observe how the traditional design of the house is mingling with the way of life today, bamboo walls and thatched roofs.
- Witness rituals at harvest times, an amazing performance of colours, rhythmic movements and the pride of the community.
- Talk with local guides about the meaning of some signs used in Isnag art, and learn more about their worldview.
- Sample a small bowl of fermented rice, a food that is a regular and represents the food culture of the area.
- Attentively follow the rituals of river crossings, where the elders of Isnag bless the water and then the people can use the water to irrigate their fields.
Roadside Produce Stalls
- Standalone stalls in dingy streets where farmers peddle freshly produced rice, corn and root crops directly out of their farms.
- Observe the rich hues of the produce, a natural palette that narrates the storey of the produce that is in season.
- Interact with farmers who share the treatment they accord to their crops including planting, harvesting, humbly, and proudly.
- Taste a slice of fresh coffee, or a bite of grilled corn, a good wholesome taste of the produce of the valley.
- Notice the tendency to place the stalls in places of joint use and community building.
- Get the power of witnessing the community unify in the market, a living example of cooperation.
Geographical closeness to the Cagayan/Ilocos Norte (Regional)
- Stroll along the boundary fence which is the point of exchange between the Santa Marcela to Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, the basis of a cultural exchange.
- Observe the mixture of languages in this region, Ilocano, Tagalog and Isnag, are mixed during conversations.
- Track the movement of goods and ideas across the border, which makes the economy of the town interesting and dynamic.
- Have a feeling of the local festivals that tend to include the surrounding towns broadening the social circle and common celebrations of the community.
- value the convenient nature of markets in Ilocos Norte where farmers and traders can exchange goods and services.
- Ponder on the fact that the location of the town as a port of entry welcomes visitors who bring with them their rich cultural heritage to the town which enhances the colour of the local cultural landscape.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- Isnag people are natives of this land; they are in close contact with the land, and their storeys and legends are intertwined into everyday practises and harvests.
- The Ilocano settlers, who came later in the centuries, brought with them their language, weaving styles among others, and their style of farming, establishing a distinctive cultural fusion that continues to this day.
- Most of the inhabitants speak the Ilocano language though you will also get the melodious dialect of Isnag, particularly during festivals and other communal events.
- Rice farming is the chief source of livelihood in the town and farmers use a very advanced irrigation system directing water of the river through the plains.
- The traditional festivals tend to unite Catholic religion, particularly St. Anthony of Padua, with the Indigenous practises, which venerate the earth, the river, and harvest.
- Community cooperation is valued in everyday life; neighbours are assisting one another in planting, harvesting and celebrating and it is a collective responsibility spirit.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- Local food revolves around the harvest of the rice fields including fresh rice, which is aromatic and delicious, usually accompanied by fresh vegetables.
- Pinikpikan, a Cordilleran style chicken dish is sometimes served on the menus and is made by simmering the bird till the flavours permeate the broth.
- Pinakbet– a wholesome stew of mixed vegetables with the touch of fish sauce (bagoong) is an Indispensable menu of Ilocano families, which shows the people of this area love eating vegetables.
- Freshly caught fish in the Apayao River are grilled or fried, the fresh fish taking on the taste of the valley waterways.
- The farmers in the town also sell root crops such as sweet potatoes and cassava, which are consumed in other complementary food like boiled or roasted.
- The local farms result into the production of seasonal fruits like mangoes and bananas which provide sweet and tropical tastes that are a counterbalance to the savoury meals.
Fun
- There are endless views of rice fields; this is an ideal place to take photographs, picnics or even just to have a peaceful time of contemplation in the serene nature for holidays to Santa Marcela.
- The Apayao River is a good place to take a leisurely walk just because the sound of the running river and the birds singing put one at ease.
- Cultural tours, like the visit to the Isnag villages or a local festival, provide the idea of the rich heritage and the colourful traditions of the town.
- Meeting farmers and understanding their rice growing methods will be a practical experience that will open the gap between the observer and participant.
- Visiting the places of the town by bicycle or motorbike means that you get a closer look at the day to day life of the town, whether it is a market stand or a house.
- It is impossible not to notice the cheerful atmosphere of festival season when people can hear the beat of drums and the rhythm of dances as well as smell delicious foods that are sold in the streets.
Fashion
- Dressing lightly in breathable material such as cotton shirt, shorts, or light pants is recommended to the visitors in order to enjoy the warm and sunny days.
- When it cools down or during a stroll along the river, a light jacket or sweater may come in handy; it is also a good item to have when it is breezy occasionally.
- Heavy footwear, closed toed or sandals with a good grip, are needed since the roads and the banks of the river may be rough or muddy.
- Customary clothing, such as the hand-woven tapis, or embroidered pinasang can be used during the festivals, in a kind of an honourable reference to local traditions.
- A broad hat or sunglasses hold the sun that is very strong in the tropics and help the traveller to be stylish.
- To people who care about local crafts, buying a handmade bag or woven accessories will give money to the artisans and allow them to have a unique souvenir.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- The Apayao River, the mainstay of this municipality, has the potential to be used in fishing, river-bank walks and wildlife sightseeing which thrive in the clean waters.
- Thousands of hectares of rice paddies are a product of human ingenuity as well as the agricultural abilities of the region.
- Chequered hilly habits of the foothills of the Cordillera give picturesque sceneries and periodic paths on which to walk or ride a bicycle.
- The land sustains a variety of flora including rice seedlings to tough grasses, which are the foodstuff of the local wild life animals like the deer and small mammals.
- The banks of the river are also interspersed with the mangrove roots and reeds, thereby forming a natural habitat, which prevents the soil erosion and breeds fish.
- Holidays to Santa Marcela seasons, most notably the approach to harvest, turn the landscape into the golden hue and make it a perfect theme of photographers and nature lovers.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- Every year on the 13 th of June, the Santa Marcela Town Fiesta, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, involves processions, music and communal meals that attract inhabitants of far and wide.
- The harvest festivals are celebrated at the end of growing season, farmers present their best goods, share recipes and express gratitude.
- The fact that the town takes part in Apayao Provincial Festivals helps to emphasise its involvement in the cultural mosaic of the area, where dramas, dances and parades are offered.
- Streets are flooded with colourful decorations and local delicacies and incense smell in the air during these festivals.
- It is common practise to sing, dance traditional songs and dances during community gatherings, a living memory of the Ilocano and Isnag intermingling.
- The celebratory mood is not limited to the town area, as visitors who seek to enjoy the hospitality of Cordilleran people come to the town for holidays to Santa Marcela.