43. CVRTC IN QUIRINO’S PROVINCE

CVRTC IN QUIRINO’S PROVINCE

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

21 September 2017

This is my very first time to attend the regional assembly of the Cagayan Valley Regional Tourism Council (CVRTC). Barely three months as Provincial Tourism Officer of Isabela, our office has closely coordinated with the regional tourism council to make sure we are updated with the events, programs and activities of the tourism industry. The five provinces and four cities of Cagayan Valley converged in the capital town of Cabarroguis during the assembly which was chaired by the former mayor of Lal-lo, Cagayan now Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Maria Olivia B. Pascual with the theme: “Nagkakaisang REHIYON Tungo sa TWO-rismong Masigla at Kumikilos”. No less than the father of the province, Hon. Junie E. Cua welcomed the delegates to Quirino followed by a message from the AGBIAG Partylist Representative Michelle M. Antonio focusing on tourism and legislation. DOT Regional Director Virgilio M. Maguigad introduced the guest of honor and speaker, Assistant Secretary Eden Josephine I. David. The main guest is assigned as ASec for Farm Tourism, Faith-Based Tourism and Convergence Program. The morning program was concluded with the launching of the “Lakbay Rehiyon Dos Raffle Promo & CVRTC Sticker”. In the afternoon session, Director Maguigad and CVRTC Chair Pascual expounded on the tourism situation of the valley and its goal, programs and projects for this term.

Long before its formal creation as an independent LGU, our host Quirino province was the forest region of the province of Nueva Vizcaya inhabited by tribal groups known as the Negritos or Aeta. They roamed the hinterlands and built their movable abode at the heart of the jungle. On June 18, 1966, by virtue of Republic Act 4734 the municipalities of Diffun, Saguday, Aglipay and Maddela were constituted into a sub-province christened as "Quirino", named after the 2^nd President of the Third Republic. Some of its northwestern part was originally a part of Isabela province particularly within the jurisdiction of the old town of Santiago (now a city) and San Agustin. On June 21, 1969, by virtue of Republic Act 5554, the municipality of Cabarroguis was created.  On September 10, 1971, by virtue of Republic Act 6394, Quirino was separated into a regular province. On February 25, 1983, by virtue of Batas Pambansa Bilang 345, Nagtipunan was created as the sixth municipality of Quirino.

The first time I saw a picture of President Elpidio Quirino was in the old 1949 photo of the president signing Executive Order No. 293 creating Barrio Cabatuan and its integral parts as a regular municipality kept by my grandfather, the first mayor of Cabatuan. Under Quirino’s presidency, eight localities were created in the province of Isabela alone. They were municipalties of Roxas (EO 136), Aurora (EO 139), Santo Tomas (EO 199), Luna (EO 267), Alicia (EO 268), San Agustin (EO 269), Cabatuan (EO 293) and Mallig (RA 678).

Google narrates the short biography of Elpidio Quirino y Rivera. Born on November 16, 1890 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Mariano Quebral Quirino of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur and Gregoria Mendoza Rivera of Agoo, La Union. A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from 1919 to 1925. He was then elected as senator from 1925 to 1931. In 1934, he became a member of the Philippine independence commission that was sent to Washington, D.C. which secured the passage of Tydings–McDuffie Act from the U.S. Congress. In 1935, he was elected to the Constitutional Convention that drafted the Constitution for the newly established Philippine Philippine Commonwealth. He served as Secretary of the Interior and Finance under President Manuel Quezon. After World War II, Quirino was elected vice-president in the 1946 election, consequently the second and last for the Commonwealth and first for the third republic. After the death of incumbent President Manuel Roxas in 1948, he succeeded the presidency. He won the president's office under Liberal Party ticket defeating Nacionalista vice president and former President Jose P. Laurel as well as fellow Liberalista and Senate President Jose Avelino who was a cousin of my paternal grandfather Felimon C. Miano. His five years as president were marked by notable postwar reconstruction, general economic gains, and increased economic aid from the United States. His administration; however, was generally challenged by the Hukbalahaps (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapones or The Nation's Army Against the Japanese Soldiers), who ransacked towns and barrios. Quirino ran for president again in the 1953 presidential election, but was defeated by Nacionalista Ramon Magsaysay. After his term, he retired to his new country home in Novaliches, Quezon City where he died of a heart attack on February 29, 1956.

Tourism in Cagayan Valley is now booming. Thanks to the unprecedented coordinated efforts of the all sectors of society which includes LGU, DOT, CSOs, business sector, and the locals. In the province of Isabela, the three cities of Santiago, Cauayan and Ilagan have already started the basics of the tourism industry and are now being polished to suite the demand of local and foreign tourists. The provincial government has now institutionalized the Isabela Tourism Office with a permanent department head, budget and support staff to cater to the requirements of the industry. In the next decade, Isabela and Cagayan Valley will be at par with tourism giants like Cebu, Davao, Palawan and even Boracay with the access of coastal Isabela through the almost finished Ilagan-Divilacan Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Project.