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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Alcala
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Alcala
- Start your journey to the heartland of the north-Luzon with a serene Alcala which is a municipality that beckons visitors on the holidays to Alcala (Cagayan) to view its serene rice paddies, extensive corn fields, and the huge Cagayan River which quietly cuts through the valley, a place that makes time stand still as one passes by the old-fashioned farms.
- To the organised traveller, the ease of making a reservation using world pinoy flights will allow one to arrive right at Tuguegarao after which it is still a picturesque trip away to the vibrant fabric of Alcala culture and history.
- The name of the town Alcala itself elicits pictures of a town that is agricultural in nature, but at the same time has one of the most remarkable religious buildings in the area, the Spanish-colonial brick church has a nave that is wider than any other in Cagayan Valley.
- Travellers may experience the sweetness of native culture by tasting the local favourite Carabao Milk Candy, a sweet that has been prepared in the same workshops since 1930 and is even manufactured today in family-owned workshops where interested hands are welcome.
- The banks of the river Cagayan are like a natural amphitheatre to take a walk at the sunset, as the water takes the colour of the sky with its fiery colour, and to have a moment of calmness, which seems to be almost unreal.
- The year is also marked with seasonal festivals, the most colourful of which is Pasayak Festival during August where everyone rejoices over the blessings of irrigation and how important water is in the life of their agriculture.
- Capital (of the province): Tuguegarao
- International airport: No international airport in Alcala
- Nearest commonly used:
- Tuguegarao Airport – domestic flights
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila) – major international gateway
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official / local languages: Ibanag, Ilocano, Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- Holidays to Alcala centres around the old St. Philomene Church, a red brick masterpiece constructed under the Spanish rule whose immense nave, the largest in the whole valley, cannot be approached without awe with every stone representing centuries of worship.
- Teaño Alcala Milk Candy is the main product of the town, and it is a tribute to culinary art, as fresh carabao milk is turned into creamy pastillas that dissolve in your mouth and disclose the pastoral heritage of the area.
- The Cagayan River banks follow the outline of the municipality, and, with its smooth rippling flow, have given a long-time home to agriculture, and furnishing a natural boundary which may be walked or rowed along on leisurely walks.
- Pasayak Festival is an agricultural festival held every year, which is characterised by dancing on the streets, colourful floats and a common feast, which reflects the strong bond that the community has with irrigation and harvest.
- The main plaza of Alcala, with all of its colonial buildings, is a social centre where people are likely to find each other, the sellers have their fruits and vegetables and visitors can experience the rhythm of the local life.
- The hills around it including the Bucayag hill offer high points that overlook the vast fields and the town plan rendering it an excellent place to be by both the photographers and the nature lovers.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- Holidays to Alcala Dry season, which runs through December to mid March is clear and cool with the temperatures being favourable to the exploration of the vast fields, walking among villages without the inconvenience of rain.
- In the shoulder months of March to May, the heat is warm, and the corn rows and rice paddies are bathed in a golden light, which is a very lovely atmosphere to those who love the ardour of the hot climate.
- August, in tandem with the Pasayak Festival, is a colourful event where there are vibrant celebrations, street dances and festival ambiance that puts visitors in touch with the culture of the Alcala community and makes it a wonderful experience to feel the cultural beat of the people.
- May is the wettest month of the year and sometimes may spoil plans made on the trip but it keeps the vegetation around the area green resulting in a green canopy that is a stark contrast to the blue sky.
- Monsoon cycle with occasional showers gives the tendency to clean up the fields and leaves behind fresh earthly smell; which is one of the Cagayan Valley.
- The end of the summer when the riverbanks are full of birds and the fields are covered with a mosaic of gold and green colours is when the travellers can select the time of the year when the natural beauty of the region is in full bloom.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
St. Philomene Church
- The red-brick exterior of the church is attention-grabbing with the lines of the architecture indicating the Spanish colonial architecture that has lasted over $300$ years.
- Internally, the nave is broad, and visitors are able to experience the feeling of spaciousness that is uncommon in churches of the valley.
- stained-glass windows that were done by local artists gave the interior of the altar a colourful colourful light and generates a calming atmosphere that is conducive to prayers.
- The tower of the bells, which is only reached by a small staircase, gives you a fabulous view of the town and the fields on which it is situated.
- There is a courtyard that is frequently used in community gatherings, and local residents hold festivals and tell storeys, which provides the visitor with a live account of the cultural life in Alcala.
- next to the church, there is a small museum with the artefacts and photographs, which trace the history of the church and help understand how the city started as a small agricultural community and has ended up being a symbol of culture.
Milk Candy Factories
- The Teaño Alcala Milk Candy factory is open to visitors so that they can have a recent glimpse at the time-honoured production process that has never been deprived of its artisanal nature.
- Fresh carabao milk perfuses the air and stamp, stir, and mould the pastillas, giving the impression of local industry.
- The freshness of creamy sweetness of the candies is a perfect souvenir to the visitor of Alcala which embodies the dairy heritage of the region.
- The factory has on display the history of the candy, the photos of the founders and the initial stages of its production, which makes a point to emphasise the family-owned tradition.
- The back-shop offers a wide range of flavours, including simple and coconut, allowing the traveller to pick a snack that appeals to his/her taste.
- And culinary tourists, the factory also has other shorter courses that you can attend to learn to make a small batch of pastillas under the guidance of a professional.
Alcala Town Park
- This main square with a circle of colonial constructions is an energetic place to meet and have a mix of fresh products and local delicacies.
- The town hall which is only a stone throw away and which is the witness of the civilised existence of the town gives a glimpse of what is currently in operation in the town.
- The expansive and flat area of the park ensures children have a safe space in which to play, with adults having benches where they can sit and enjoy the world passing by.
- Sellers are placed on the border, offering fried fish to freshly roasted coffee and forming an aroma and colour palette of sounds and nuances.
- Weekends: the park has small markets where farmers sell their products to consumers, which strengthens the agricultural origins of the town.
- The peaceful areas of the park can be used by photography lovers to take simple shots of people going about their daily chores in the park, such as fishermen reeling their nets and old people telling tales.
Bucayag Hill
- It is a small hillock that comes up just beyond the edge of the town, and which gives a panoramic view of the expansive rice fields and the neat rows of corn which characterise the valley.
- Climbing to the top is an easy and pleasant walk, and there is a well-placed trailway, which passes a few trees and indigenous shrubs scattered about.
- There is a small viewing deck at the top which is made of wood and one can sit there and take in the distant horizon.
- It is possible to see the plan of the town streets and the course of the Cagayan River which is a different geography perspective, as it is rarely done because of the height of the hill.
- The quiet nests and choice of local species perching along the ridge will appeal to the birdwatchers as they seek a peaceful refuge in the middle of the town.
- When the sun sets, the hill is one of the places where people enjoy watching the stars, since the sky is clear of city lights and the view is truly spectacular in terms of the number of constellations.
Reason 05
Discover More
Callao Cave (Peñablanca)
- This system of limestone caves is kilometres long, and includes a variety of stalactites and stalagmites which gleam like stars in a natural cathedral.
- An old chapel hewn out of the rock is the light of the cave, and it is into this cave the pilgrims have assembled through the years, showing the religious nature of the area.
- The dripstones in the chambers of this cave make rhythmic sounds that resonate with the heart beat of the earth and it is a moving acoustic experience.
- The visitors can also have guided tours of the maze of tunnels and therefore can be guaranteed of safety as well as discover the hidden secrets of the cave and geological history.
- It is biodiverse in the area where the forest canopy supports a great variety of bird species and mammals that find safe habitat here.
- An informational booth just outside the entrance provides visitor exhibitions on the formation of the cave and the importance of the cave to local culture and tips to become a responsible eco-tourist.
Iguig Calvary Hills (Iguig)
- These hills make up a sprawling pilgrimage ground with life-sized Stations of the Cross, carefully designed each and placed on the wavy ground.
- The design of the site facilitates walk -through meditation where pilgrims walk around between different stations contemplating on events that took place during the last day of Christ.
- The hills have the expansive views of the Cagayan River and the visitors can reflect upon how the river is significant to the agriculture and life of the region.
- The stations are decorated by the local art which reflects scenes combining the religious storeys with the regional cultural motifs to give a distinctive interpretation.
- The full vegetation nearby is native trees which cover the pathways, thus making it a cool shaded area during the summer seasons which are very hot.
- Night tours can also be offered, when it will be lightened with soft lanterns at the stations and the calm atmosphere will be created to enjoy some meditative moments.
Magapit Suspension Bridge (Lal-lo)
- This famous bridge is a yellow-painted suspension bridge on top of the river, and it provides an exciting experience to pass it on, which captures the attention of both the adventurous people and the ordinary commuters.
- The architectural design of the bridge, which is a single $220$ metres span, is perceived as a great engineering wonder that has been in place since the $1970$s, a pride of Filipino ingenuity.
- When traversing the bridge, it can be experienced that there is actually a slight motion and one can hear the river flowing beneath the bridge giving a moment of adrenaline rush but safe at the same time.
- The area around the bridge is very green and there is a lot of thick vegetation which provides a glimpse of the wildlife in the area thus being a very popular place to capture nature.
- At one end of the bridge, there is a small viewing platform where the visitors can stop and enjoy the panoramic view of the river and hills, as well as take unforgettable pictures.
- Local guides provide excursions of least one hour which elucidate the history of the bridge, the ecological setting and cultural importance of the place to people living around it.
Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Piat (Piat)
- It is a sacred place of pilgrimage of thousands of believers who visit it annually, and the sanctuary of the worshipped Black Virgin Mary is glorified with piety.
- The architecture of the basilica combined Gothic and Filipino styles, which adds a spiritually-charged atmosphere which appeals to both the locals and the visitors.
- A sense of communal reverence is evident in the offerings that pilgrims make flowers, candles and prayers that are felt in the air.
- On feast days, the courtyard of the basilica is used to hold big gatherings where people in the community come together to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the area through music and dancing as well as eating.
- Below the principal altar, there is a little museum of relics and historical materials which follow the history of the development of the basilica and of the lives of its devotees.
- Just around the plaza are many shrines to other saints, so that one can explore a wide variety of spiritual backgrounds to understand Filipino Catholicism better.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- Alcala is a blend of Ibanag and Ilokano tradition, which is reflected in the language, music and communal activities that glorify agricultural cycles.
- The community has a planting festival after spring each year where all farmers plant rice together, a symbol of hope and community prosperity which is distributed among all the families.
- Rearing of carabao to get milk is now an inseparable component of the local economy and cuisine, and most families keep a small herd, which yields fresh milk to make pastillas and similar delicacies.
- Red-brick architecture which is a characteristic feature of the Spanish colonial influence is not only a style of building but also a sign of the pride of townspeople in their work since every brick is carefully laid and makes solid and durable constructions.
- Folk dances e.g. the Pasayak Street Dance are also performed during festivals and they blend realistic costumes, rhythmic music and narrative elements that celebrate the history of the community.
- Communal meals, in which the local foods such as pancit batil patong and fresh carabao milk are served, become part of traditional festivals, and in the process, they enhance relationships amongst neighbouring households and draw tourists with their distinct tastes and flavours.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- The town has its own signature sweet item, Carabao Milk Candy, which has a creamy slight sweet taste, and will remain on the palate, the taste of the pure milk of the local carabaos.
- Pancit Batil Patong, a highly sought noodle soup, is served with tender carabeef, toasted pork and delicious broth and makes a hearty meal that not only satisfies the locals but also the travellers.
- The fertile soil of the valley produces fresh rice and corn; which are staple in any home kitchen, which makes the food to be healthy as well as locally produced.
- Fresh carabao milk can be sold directly to the consumer, usually in small, family-owned stores where it is sold cold, and in this way the freshness of the product remains intact.
- Food stands are plentiful along the main street of the town and sell grilled fish, banana fritters and other fast foods that can bestow the local tastes in a convenient portable package.
- Pasayak Festival is an annual festival that features a range of local delicacies, grilled pork to sweet coconut desserts, that will enable a visitor to taste a range of traditional local flavours.
Fun
- Street dance contests in Pasayak Festival are an opportunity where the individual participant displays his talents and the judges give prizes based on choreographes, costume design, and overall performance.
- The hobby photographers come to Alcala to take the panoramic views, the old church and the vibrant community life that offers them a visual account of the allure of the area.
- The local market (palengke) becomes a busy socialising place during market days when visitors are able to bargain on the prices of goods, handmade products, and souvenirs thus making it an interesting social experience.
- The town has a good picnic atmosphere given the fact that families normally assemble in the parks and the children play in the open fields as the adults rest in the shaded trees.
- In the case of an adventurous traveller, a guided tour up Bucayag Hill is a short trek that gives naturalists a hiking adventure that will give the mountain climbers the pleasure of panoramic views and the pride of summit.
- A walk by the riverbanks in the evenings gives one a good relaxing routine where he can hear the flowing water as well as see the sky change to twilight as evening falls.
Fashion
- Due to the hot and the humid climate, as well as outdoor activities, practical tropical clothes like light cotton shirts, breathable trousers or wide brimmed hats are necessary.
- The cultural dressing code is adopted in the form of traditional formal and official wear with men wearing Barong Tagalog and women carrying Filipiniana or Baro Saya, which illustrates the high culture clothing of the region.
- Accessories that are hand-stitched such as woven belts and embroidered scarves also provide a personal touch to the usual clothing enabling locals to show their heritage in subtler ways.
- Garments are woven using colourful fabrics that are usually dyed with natural colours that bring out the richness of the artistic culture of the community.
- When paying tribute to the pilgrimage sites, it is better to dress in modest ways, including long dresses or trousers and sleeved shirts, as the places are sacred.
- In dry seasons, such light clothes that are loosely fitting are also an advantage since the sun is hot and so the clothing does not make one feel uncomfortable when they are traversing open expanses or even in scenic areas.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- The enormous corn stuffed and rice paddies fed by the Cagayan river make a patchwork landscape that is so relaxing and scenic that it is a favourite of photographers and nature lovers.
- River ecosystem has a wide range of aquatic organisms like fish, shrimp, amphibians, all of which survive in the crystal clear waters flowing in the terrain of Alcala.
- Hilly landscapes such as Bucayag offer picturesque points of interest and easy hiking paths enabling tourists to have a glimpse of greenery and breathe in the air.
- The local Pinacanauan River and its forest, is a good place to go bird watching and one can be able to see migratory species and the native fauna in the place.
- Soil in the valley is volcanic and provides fertile land, which sustains a good biodiversity that not only helps in crop growth but also breeding of wildflowers, shrubs and insect species that are endemic.
- Holidays to Alcala Wildlife seeing (i.e., bat colonies of enormous proportions called Callao Cave that raise at night) are natural scenes that will be memorable and will draw adventure travellers.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- Holidays to Alcala Pasayak Festival is the biggest celebration of irrigations and agriculture in the town which is held approximately on the $23^\text{rd}$ of August every year and includes street dancing, coloured floats, and shared meals which demonstrate the local products.
- Pasayak is the Ilokano term used to mean irrigation, which reflects the culture of the community in venerating water as the source of life of their agriculture.
- St. Philomene Town Fiesta, held annually to honour the patron saint is made up of mass, processions and communal activities that strengthen faith and unity among residents.
- At the celebration, some local craftsmen present handcrafted artefacts, family-owned restaurants offer a variety of traditional cuisine, which makes the atmosphere at the celebration friendly to families.
- The night activities of the festival include fireworks, music and dancing that shines on the sky and the old church that the town has, creating a feeling of unity and happiness.
- The fiesta has cultural performances, including traditional folk dances and music, which create an immersion into the cultural heritage where the visitors are invited to join the community.