TH1706

Features
Region II: Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley is located at the northeastern part of Luzon. The provinces in this region are Batanes, Cagayan,
Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. Most of the regions are in a valley between the Cordillera and Sierra
Madre mountain ranges (Philippine Country, n.d.).
• Batanes is an island province and the home of the Ivatans. The Ivatan diet consists of vegetables, pork,
and fish. Fish like flying fish and mahi-mahi are sun-dried to preserve them for the lean months (Fenix,
2014).
• Cagayan produces agricultural products like rice, corn, peanuts, beans, and fruits. Fish are available
on the coastal parts of Cagayan, such as the Balintang Channel and the Pacific Ocean (Philippine
Information Agency, n.d.).
• Isabela is an exporter of rice and corn. The locals have several cattle farms in the province. Agriculture
is an important part of the Isabela province where its people celebrate harvest season during the Gakit
Festival (Philippine Information Agency, n.d.).
• Nueva Vizcaya is driven by its strong agricultural economy. The province exports fruits and vegetables
like mangoes, citrus fruits, mushrooms, onions, cabbages, and rambutan. The locals also celebrate
bountiful harvest during the Ammungan Festival. Because of its history, Nueva Vizcaya shares a lot of
its native cuisines with its neighboring provinces (Philippine Information Agency, n.d.).
• Quirino exports rice, corn, bananas, mangoes, and other fruits and vegetables. Just like Nueva Vizcaya,
this province shares its native cuisine with its neighboring provinces (Philippine Information Agency,
n.d.).

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

This region consists of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. CAR is famous for its
rice terraces. Because of the cooler climate in the mountains, this region can produce strawberries and other
cold-weather plants, as well as a variety of rice grains. (Department of Interior and Local Government –
Cordillera Administrative Region, n.d.)
• Abra’s popular dishes came from the Ilocos Region like bagnet, pinakbet, and dinengdeng, and rice-
based delicacies like bibingka. (Philippine Information Agency, n.d.)
• Apayao’s source of livelihood comes from livestock and poultry breeding like swine, carabao, cattle,
goat and sheep. It shares local cuisines with Ilocos and other Cordillera provinces. (Philippine
Information Agency, n.d.)
• Benguet’s cold climate can grow various vegetables and fruits, thus earning the title “Salad Bowl of
the Philippines.” The province is also called the “Strawberry Country” because of the strawberry
varieties that grow there. Other temperate fruits can be grown there like oranges and pears.
(Philippine Information Agency, n.d.)
• Ifugao is known for its native rice. (Philippine Information Agency, n.d.)
• Kalinga is home to indigenous tribes. The province is also the best source of Arabica coffee in the
country. (Philippine Information Agency, n.d.)
• Mountain Province is known for their Arabica coffee and heirloom rice. They share similar local
cuisines with neighboring provinces like Benguet. (Philippine Information Agency, n.d.)

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 TH1706

Distinct Food Products

Batanes
• Venes – These are sautéed dried taro stalks, pork blood, and dried fish.
• Luñis – It is a pork confit dish (pork cooked and preserved in its own fat).
• Amay – It is made from mashed sweet potatoes and taro.
• Tipujo – This is a dish made from breadfruit mixed with dried fish, then cooked in coconut milk.

Cagayan
• Pancit Batil Patong – Miki and vermicelli noodles are sautéed together with vegetables. Scrambled
eggs are put on top, hence the name “batil” (beat the egg) and “patong” (put on top).
• Mondongo – This is a stew made with ox tripe, which is similar to the Spanish callos.
• Tuguegarao Longganisa – This type of longganisa contains lean meat and garlic, then flavored with
vinegar.
• Zinagan – This is a blood stew of pork innards and lean meat and is similar to Southern Tagalog’s
dinuguan.
• Molio – This dish is similar to zinagan but instead of pork innards, pork belly is used.

Isabela
• Pansit Cabagan – This pansit is stir fried with soy sauce then topped with lechon carajay (deep-fried
pork), vegetables, and quail eggs.
• Binalay – It is a type of rice cake like suman. Glutinous rice flour is mixed with water to make rice
dough, which will then be wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Once cooked, this served with laro
or sweet latik sauce.
• Lechon Carnero – This is a roasted lamb dish. Just like the roast pig, lechon carnero is roasted whole
on a bamboo pole. It is served during fiestas in Isabela.

Benguet
• Etag – This is a smoked and cured pork.
• Pinikpikan – The chicken is beaten with a stick before killing to create blood clots under its skin. Then,
the chicken is boiled in water with pieces of etag.
• Kini-ing or Kinuday – It is a native smoked meat.
• Pinuneg – It is a native sausage with pork blood, minced pork, innards, and cooked rice.

Ifugao
• Binakle – This type of rice cake is offered to their rice god, Bulol, as thanksgiving on harvest season.

Kalinga
• Binungor – This vegetable dish contains string beans, squash, bitter melon, jackfruit, kidney beans,
bamboo shoots, and black fungus that are stewed in coconut milk.
• Inandila – This is a rice dough made from rice flour and water then poached in simmering water. It is
large, thick, and shaped like a tongue. It is topped with latik (curdled coconut cream) and crushed
nuts.
References:
Alejandro, R., Fernandez, D. G., Alvina, C. S., & Reyes, M. (2012). Authentic recipes from the philippines. Singapore: Periplus Editions.
Department of Interior and Local Government – Cordillera Administrative Region (n.d.). Local Governance Regional Information Resource Center. Retrieved from
http://dilgcar.com/index.php
Fenix, M. (2014). Country cooking: Philippine regional cuisines. Pasig City, PH: Anvil Publishing, Inc.
Philippine Country. (n.d.). Map of the Philippine. Retrieved from Philippinecountry.com: http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippinemap.html
Philippine Information Agency. (n.d.). Provinces. Retrieved from Philippine Information Agency: https://pia.gov.ph/provinces
Sta Maria, F. P. (2016). What kids should know about Filipino food. Diliman, QC: Adarna House.

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