Apayao facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Apayao
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
   (from top: left to right) Abulog River in Kabugao, Dibagat home and Pudtol church ruins.
|
|||
|
|||
Location in the Philippines
|
|||
|
OpenStreetMap
|
|||
| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | Cordillera Administrative Region | ||
| Founded | May 8, 1995 | ||
| Capital | Kabugao* | ||
| Administrative center | Luna | ||
| Largest municipality | Conner | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4,413.35 km2 (1,704.00 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 27th out of 81 | ||
| Highest elevation
(Mount Lungod)
|
1,921 m (6,302 ft) | ||
| Population
(2020 census)
|
|||
| • Total | 124,366 | ||
| • Estimate
(2020)
|
123,898 | ||
| • Rank | 78th out of 81 | ||
| • Density | 28.17950/km2 (72.9846/sq mi) | ||
| • Density rank | 81st out of 81 | ||
| Divisions | |||
| • Independent cities | 0 | ||
| • Component cities | 0 | ||
| • Municipalities |
7
|
||
| • Barangays | 133 | ||
| • Districts | Legislative district of Apayao | ||
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PHT) | ||
| ZIP code |
3807–3814
|
||
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)74 | ||
| ISO 3166 code | PH-APA | ||
| Spoken languages | |||
| Website | www |
||
| * Kabugao is the officially recognized capital and seat of government, although the province carries out many of its operations in a new government center established in Luna. | |||
Apayao, also known as the Province of Apayao, is a province in the Philippines. It is located on the island of Luzon and is part of the Cordillera Administrative Region. Apayao is a landlocked province, meaning it has no coastline.
The capital of Apayao is Kabugao. However, many government offices are now in a newer center in Luna. The province shares borders with Cagayan to the north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the west, and Kalinga to the south.
Before 1995, Apayao and Kalinga were one province called Kalinga-Apayao. They were separated to better serve the different groups of people living there. Apayao has a population of about 124,366 people (as of 2020). It covers an area of about 4,413 square kilometers. It is one of the least crowded provinces in the Philippines.
History of Apayao
By the 1900s, the Isneg people were the main group living in Apayao. They mostly lived in the higher areas like Kabugao and Calanasan. Many lived along the Apayao-Abulug River.
Spanish Rule in Apayao
The Spanish arrived in the Cordillera mountains early on. Apayao, then part of Cagayan, was one of the first areas they explored. However, the Isneg tribe largely kept their independence until the late 1800s.
In 1610, Dominican friars (religious teachers) set up a mission in what is now Pudtol. They tried again in 1684 and built a church in Kabugao.
By 1891, the Spanish created special military districts called comandancias in Apayao and Cabugaoan. These covered the western and eastern parts of today's Apayao. But the Spanish never fully controlled the area.
American Era in Apayao
Apayao became a sub-province of Cagayan on May 9, 1907. This happened through a law called Act No. 1642.
On August 13, 1908, the Americans created the Mountain Province. Apayao became one of its sub-provinces, along with Benguet, Ifugao, and Kalinga.
Over the years, Apayao's borders changed a few times:
- Some parts of Apayao were moved to Ilocos Norte in 1920.
- In 1927, parts of Pinukpuk in Kalinga were added to Conner.
- In 1929, Luna was created as a separate district from Tauit.
- In 1936, Tauit was joined with Luna.
In these early years, Apayao was divided into seven municipal districts. Most of these were home to the Isneg people.
Japanese Occupation of Apayao
In 1942, during World War II, Japanese forces entered Apayao. They stayed for three years. Local Filipino soldiers and Cordilleran fighters helped drive out the Japanese in 1945.
During the war, Kabugao was occupied by the Japanese for a year. An Isneg guerrilla group was formed to fight them. Not much fighting happened in Apayao itself, but many Isneg people fought with American and Filipino forces in nearby areas.
After World War II
Kalinga-Apayao Province
On June 18, 1966, the large Mountain Province was divided into four new provinces. These were Benguet, Mountain Province (formerly Bontoc), Kalinga-Apayao, and Ifugao. Kalinga-Apayao became part of the Cagayan Valley region in 1972.
During the Marcos Years
The 1970s brought many changes to the Philippines, including Kalinga-Apayao. During this time, President Ferdinand Marcos started many large projects. This led to economic problems and social unrest.
In September 1972, President Marcos declared Martial Law. This allowed him to stay in power for 14 more years. This period is known for problems with human rights, especially for people who spoke out against the government.
Kalinga-Apayao became a place of conflict. This was because of the Chico River Dam Project. If built, this dam would have flooded many towns and forced about 100,000 local people to move. Marcos sent soldiers to stop protests, which made tensions in the area very high.
Apayao was greatly affected by these events. This included the fight against the Chico Dam Project and the struggle against logging companies that wanted to take over indigenous lands.
After the People Power Revolution
In 1986, President Marcos was removed from power by the People Power Revolution. Many activists who had been fighting against the government came out into the open. The new president, Corazon Aquino, released political prisoners and tried to make peace. However, peace talks eventually failed.
In 1986, another important event happened. The Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) separated from the New People's Army. Their leader, Conrado Balweg, believed that the interests of the Igorot people were better served by focusing on regional freedom. This led to talks that helped create the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Cordillera Administrative Region and Apayao's Independence
In September 1986, the CPLA signed a peace agreement with the government. This led to the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region on July 15, 1987. Kalinga-Apayao became one of its provinces.
Finally, on February 14, 1995, Kalinga-Apayao was divided into two separate provinces: Kalinga and Apayao. This was done through a law called Republic Act No. 7878.
Geography of Apayao
Apayao is located within the Cordillera Central mountains. Many rivers flow through the province. It covers an area of about 4,413 square kilometers. Apayao is the northernmost part of the Cordillera Administrative Region. It is bordered by Cagayan to the north and east, Ilocos Norte to the west, and Abra and Kalinga to the south.
The province is divided into two main parts:
- Upper Apayao: This includes the mountain towns of Calanasan, Conner, and Kabugao.
- Lower Apayao: This includes the lowland towns of Luna, Pudtol, Flora, and Santa Marcela.
Plains and valleys in Apayao are used for farming. Most of Apayao is made up of farmlands.
Climate in Apayao
Apayao has both dry and wet seasons. The dry season is from November to April, and the wet season is during the rest of the year. The heaviest rains usually happen from December to February. May is typically the warmest month.
Apayao's Amazing Nature
Apayao is rich in different kinds of plants and animals. It is a safe home for 139 bird species. About 61 of these birds are found only in Apayao, and 4 are in danger of disappearing. The province also has 43 types of wild plants that local people eat. There are also 50 kinds of medicinal plants.
Apayao is home to rare animals like the critically endangered rufous hornbill. It also has important trees like lawaan (dipterocarp trees), and unique Raflesia flowers. The white-winged flying fox also lives here.
In 2011, the Philippine Eagle Foundation started looking for eagles in Apayao. People had reported seeing huge eagles there for centuries. On March 22, 2013, scientists found a strong group of critically endangered Philippine eagles in the Calanasan Lowland Forest. The Philippine eagle is the country's national bird.
In January 2015, the town of Calanasan started a program to protect 3,000 hectares of its forests. Apayao is one of the few provinces in the Philippines with a plan to manage its forest land. In July 2015, the first active Philippine eagle nest in Apayao was discovered.
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
On July 9, 2018, the Apayao government announced its plan for the province to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A Biosphere Reserve is a special area recognized for its unique nature and how people live with it. Apayao has over 286,000 hectares of untouched forests.
In July 2024, UNESCO officially named Apayao's 3,960 square kilometers of lush forests and the Apayao River as a Biosphere Reserve. This makes Apayao the fourth Biosphere Reserve in the Philippines.
Towns of Apayao
Apayao has 7 municipalities (towns). All of them are part of one legislative district.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Villages in Apayao
The 7 towns of Apayao have a total of 133 barangays (villages). Barangay Malama in Conner was the most populated in 2015. Eleazar in Calanasan was the least populated.
People of Apayao
The population of Apayao was 124,366 people in the 2020 census. This means there are about 28 people per square kilometer.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on a 2000 survey, Ilocanos made up about half of Apayao's population. The Isnag people were almost one-third of the population. Other groups living in the province include the Malaueg, Itneg, Kalinga, Kankanaey, Bontoc, and Ibaloi.
Apayao's Economy
|
||||
Apayao's economy mainly relies on farming. Farmers grow food crops like palay (rice), corn, coffee, root crops, and vegetables. They also grow fruits such as lanzones, citrus, bananas, pineapples, durian, santol, rambutan, coconut, and mangosteen. In 2011, Apayao produced 98,489 metric tons of rice. Some parts of Apayao also have beautiful rice terraces.
People in Apayao also raise animals like pigs, carabaos (water buffalo), cattle, goats, and sheep. Other businesses include making furniture, clothes, food products, gifts, and home items.
The Department of Trade and Industry says that Apayao has industries for furniture, crafts, food processing, and agricultural support.
The people of Apayao are also known for their traditional skills. They are good at making baskets, handicrafts, and weaving textiles.
History of Tauit
Tauit (or Tawit) was an old Isneg settlement along the lower Apayao-Abulug River. It was Apayao's first sub-provincial capital from 1907 to 1915. The capital was then moved to Kabugao in August 1915.
Tauit is thought to be the early version of today's Pudtol. Its main government area, Barrio Tawit, was later divided into four villages.
In 1913, a group of Isneg people attacked Tauit. They were upset because many Ilocano people were moving into their land.
Over time, parts of Tauit were separated to form other towns. In 1926, Allacapan was founded as a municipal district. In 1927, it became independent and was later given to the province of Cagayan in 1928.
In 1929, another part of Tauit became a separate district called Macatel, which was later renamed Luna. Because it was hard to travel to Tauit, it was decided that Luna would represent the area instead.
Tauit was officially removed as a municipal district in 1936. Its remaining areas became part of Luna. These areas later formed the municipal district of Pudtol in 1956.
Parts of Pudtol and Luna later became the municipalities of Flora and Santa Marcela. Today, parts of what was once Tauit are found in northeastern Apayao and some areas of Cagayan.
See also
In Spanish: Apayao para niños
