Region II Cagayan Valley

The name is derived from the famous Sagayan River, the longest and the biggest river in the Philippines. The Cagayan Valley comprises the northern part of Luzon—Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. It is bordered on the west by the Central Cordillera, on the east by the Sierra Madre Mountains and on the south by the Carballo Mountain.It is the second biggest region in the country. Region 2 constitutes significant ethnic groups: Ivatan(Batanes); Ibanag(Cagayan and Isabela); Itaves, Malueg, Aeta(Cagayan); Gaddang and Isinai(Nueva Vizcaya); and Ilongot(Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino).

Tourist Spots in Region 2

Literary Works

Gaddang’s Proverbs (Lalenut)

Ino pakay a naddawa naddumug. The rice stalk full of grain is bent.

Mapia quepay a mattangit ca sito aggaw abao Eh maccataua ca si uddi Mah so maccataua ca toya eh mattangit daddaramat. T’ is better to cry now and laugh later, Than laugh now and mourn the day after.

Metappol nu you atawn Baccan si guinatan. You can throw your wife or husband out; But never your own parents.

Gaddang’s Riddles

Ana tata bafay, ivarac na ino anacna. (Kalabasa) A woman scatters her children.(Squash)

Appat a mauauahi sinumallang so simban Naddadaruma color na sinnun da Allawan da, tata lamang a libaga. (Mamman) Four sisters went to church Wearing clothes of varied hues, Whan they came home, they all wore red. (Betel Chew)

Isinay Baliwayway

Baliwaway, Baliwaway ta meyo mos di ana uwar, ta asan elan bumungan, ya oras te pangan si ehawan.

Bawi, bawi, bawing, bawing, bawing, baway, ta asan bumangun, mu oras mot si pangan, ta mahanun masi-on, ta amoy miikwila.

Wawing, wawing, wawing, waway, baliwawing baliwaway, ta mahinun masi-on, ta mahanun mot amoy miikwila.

Baliwawing, baliwawing, baliwaway, ta mahanu mot masi-on, ta mahanun pinabanga.

Isinay Baliwayway (English Translation)

Baliwaway, Baliwaway so that my child will go to sleep now so that when he or she wakes up it is time to eat lunch.

Bawi, bawi, bawing, bawing, bawing, baway, so that when he or she gets up it is already time to eat, so that he or she will grow up fast, and he or she will go to school.

Wawing, wawing, wawing, waway, baliwawing baliwaway, so that he or she will grow up fast, and he or she will go to school.

Baliwawing, baliwawing, baliwaway, so that he or she will grow up fast, so that he or she will be of help soon.

Ilongot Baliwayway

Ay os’ song bukod nito ta uc ‘kit capa, Taan ca pa no be ‘dac Du bucud si ‘gudu to simican capo’ Sigudu agcapo andan ‘ge; Do an ‘gen isipel con lagem Ta alim ‘bawa we maduken bilay mo Sicapo ma manalima di ‘ke. I say ma ibigec dimo ay nongo capo, Ta inki ‘taac pud uma antala ‘baco. Ta we panaga ‘gaan ta no biayta, Ta camuem pon sumi ’can Atembawa sumican capo Ossong, Sica ma mangoma, Ancayab ‘ca mad kio Tan de gan moy di, Ta we poy paguen co, Pangagaan ta no canan ‘ta.

Ilongot Baliwayway(English Translation)

My son, now that you are still young, I compare you to a blooming flower, But, when you grow to be a big man, Maybe you will be a naughty youth; But, though my suspecions are like that,

I just bear them all Because, if you will grow, and have a long life, You shall take care of me when i grow old. I am then urging you to sleep, So that I can go out to the field and work, To plant; so we may have something to reap, to sustain our life: So that you will grow easily. And if you will grow to be a man, my son, You shall take my place on the farm. You shall climb the tall trees in my stead; Cut the branches and the trunk, So that we shall have some place to plant rice To sustain us, while we are still alive.

Ivatan’s Laji

Muyin, paru ninu si tauri a manianinu

du chinuhat ko a danum, nia di ko s '

di pachilupa ta pakaynay koa mavuya?

As anu madiman aku, nia ivuyunn mo yaken

du kurus di San Pilis, as ivuvun mo yaken

du asked nu kuku mo ta pachisuvsuvway ko

du kanen mo a mahutu as pachidiludilupay

ko du inumin a danum

English Translation

Whose face I do behold, mirrored

Upon the water I have to boiled to drink?

I do not dare drink to prolong the vision.

If I die, bury me not

ate the cross of San Felix, bury me

under your fingernails, that I may be eaten Along with every food you eat, that I may be drunk along with every cup of water you drink.

Ibanag Proverbs

“Awan tu umune ta uton ng ari umulak ta davvun.”

Nobody goes up who does not come down.

>> An advice to those who upon reaching the peak of their success look down, and even insult and oppress the poor and the lowly.

“Mamatugo ka ta gayan nga manututu ta matam.”

You rear a crow that pecks your eyes.

>> Reflects the abhorrence and loathe against those who are ungrateful.

“Mammula ka ta mapia, gataban nu noka.”

He who sows goodness, reaps gratitude.

“I buruasi nga inijkao, nu ari atazzi, alawa nikaw.”

Borrowed clothes are either loose or tight.

>> A sequel and an anthesis

“Awat tu serbi na ru nga kukua, nu marake i pinangngapangngua.”

Wealth is uselss if character is worthless.

“Ari ka maniguru Ta sinaddad na kayu Ta egge laman Y minafun A kutu-kutu ngadavvun.”

Trust not in the appearance of tree As one sound and healthy For who knows if it is infested With very harmful pests.

“Mas napia Y mattadday Anne ta mevulun to marake nga tolay.”

It is better to be alone Than to be with a bad companion.

“Maski attannang Y balay nga ekku unekam Sangaw nu amuluga Siyempre tu mappagukuba.”

No matter how high you ascend Sooner or later you will descend.

“Awan tu serbi na aru nga kukua Nu marake y pangpangapan na.”

Wealth is useless When you get it from a bad source.

“Sikaw kurug a maya Kataw ta gabbayan na Ariammu tum Ta ammum tu aru y lalung.”

If you really in love Come and carry me in your arm Never leave me alone For many crave for me to be their own.