A Tale Of Two Cities: Batac And Tabuk Up North

If famed novelist Charles Dickens were to contextualize in contemporary Philippine set ting his well-loved 1800s novel “A Tale of Two Cities,“ he would perhaps be talking about two new northern cities on the rise--Batac, Ilocos Norte and Tabuk, Kalinga.

Proclaimed as component cities in 2007, and whose status was affirmed in 2011 by the Supreme Court, these new urban centers share many things in common, aside from their arduous paths to cityhood.

Located on both sides of the mighty Cordillera mountain range, these two new cities are havens for culture, agribusiness, tourism and good governance.

Known as the “Home of Great Leaders“, Batac is acknowledged for producing leaders who have made indelible imprints in the country's history, and a trip to the city is incomplete without a visit to the landmarks erected in their honor.

Memorialized in the city's shrines are former President Ferdinand Marcos; Bishop Gregorio Aglipay, founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente which was born out of our libertarian struggles; and Gen. Artemio Ricarte, the only leader who figured in the 1896 Philippine Revolution, the FilipinoAmerican War and World War II.

Another must-stop is the Empanadaan Center where one can feast on the tastiest empanada, longanisa and pansit in the Ilocos region and shop for home-made souvenirs and food products. Located at the heart of the city, the building affords guests a view of the Marcos Presidential Center, the Immaculate Conception Church, the picturesque Riverside Park and the spic and span plaza.

Empanadaan has encouraged a culture of entrepreneurship in the food business because of its most sought-after culinary fare which draws diners from all over Ilocandia. Because of this, Batac has instituted the Empanada Festival every June 24 to mark its cityhood day. Barely four years old, the young fest depicts the cottage industry of empanada making, and topped the first province-wide Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival held in November 2011.

A landlocked city with no major river system, Batac's farmers have ingenuously constructed a series of hilltop Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIP) dams to irrigate their farmlands. These mini-dams also double as aquaculture farms for freshwater fish, such as the exotic Pangasius.

Surrounded by lush vegetation, the SWIP dams are envisioned to be eco-tourism sites where locals and guests alike can go boating, fishing, picnicking and perhaps zip-lining once the cables are put in place.

Along with the Mariano Marcos State University, the National Tobacco Authority and the SWIPs, Batac is an ideal agri-tourism site where visitors can get a crash course on aquaculture 101, as well as the ageold tobacco industry which dates back to the Spanish era.

Just like the typical Ilocano noted for his industry and frugality, Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta said that the city is taking to the next level the Department of Trade and Industry's One Town, One Product (OTOP) program. He said that Batacenos have adopted the “One Barangay, One Product“ (OBOP) battlecry to maximize the use of indigenous resources, such as the vegetable-fortified pancit noodles which are a local staple, perhaps next to rice.

Other OBOP goodies which will soon hit the local market are mango delicacies, rice crispies, camote chips and tomato jam, among oth ers, which will make Batac a foodie haven.

For a dose of adrenaline, there is Everland Resort which has two 65and 35-foot high ziplines, 210 and 90 meters long, respectively, a swimming pool and various recreational facilities. Looking forward to the influx of tourists, Batac is building the three-storey City Inn.

Due to its good governance practices, it has been given the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the Department of the Interior and Local Government in recognition of its efforts in advancing accountability and transparency.

Situated on a plateau in the Cordillera region is Tabuk City, perhaps among the remaining frontier cities and best-kept secrets in the country.

The sprawling city by the mighty Chico River is the provincial capital of Kalinga and also while KalingaApayao was still a single province up to 1995.

It can be reached through a one-hour scenic zigzag ride from Tuguegarao City. Due to its strategic location, it is the hub of culture, tourism and trading, serving as jump-off point to the equally alluring frontier spots in the province.

Due to its elevated terrain, nature has gifted the city with numerous vantage points where guests are treated to an awe-inspiring vista of the river's meandering waters and the splendor of Cordillera's ranges.

For a taste of the indigenous lifestyle, a visit to barangay Naneng is a must. Sandwiched between the mountains and the river, it is considered as Tabuk's “heritage village“ and showcase of Kalinga tribal culture despite the onset of modern living. Tribe members have preserved their folkways and traditions, and put on their intricately-handwoven native apparel on special occasions to dance the customary pattong accompanied by the brass gangsa (gongs).

Some of them still possess ancient beads, pottery and paraphernalia; and likewise engage in tattoo art, which are status symbols in the community.

The barrio is also home to the St.

Joseph's Parish, the oldest Catholic church in the province founded in the 1950s by Belgian missionary priests, who are buried in the compound.

But perhaps, Tabuk's claim to fame and major tourist magnet is Chico River white-water rafting adventure, the first and the best of its kind in the country. Discovered in the late 1990s, the river boasts of Class 4 rapids which can be classified as world-class and extreme-class for paddlers.

True-blue adventurers from all over the globe converge in Tabuk during the middle to the latter part of the year to experience the thrill of riding its raging waters, unparalleled in any part of the Philippines and perhaps, in Asia.

Mayor Ferdinand Tubban said that they will soon unveil new attractions to make the city a nature and culture getaway. Among these, he said, are Malalao Hills, BangaBanga Falls and the Gapang Canyon Pool, which will surely delight nature lovers.

He added that with their recent elevation into a city, Tabuk will be able to harness the full potentials of their natural wonders by putting in place the necessary support infrastructure.

Currently, the city has homey boutique hotels which afford guests basic amenities and a touch of country living.

Tubban also noted that the city is getting known for its aromatic upland coffee and civet cat coffee, locally known as musang or alamid brew, regarded as among the world's best and most expensive.

They also take pride in their upland unoy, an organic red rice widely sought by health buffs who don't want to dispense with the staple grain.

Indeed, if Charles Dickens were alive today, he will surely find Batac and Tabuk worthy of his tale.