Tuguegarao City: Cagayan Valley's Educational Center

Because of the presence of the region’s biggest educational institutions in the city, Tuguegarao is tagged as Cagayan Valley’s Center for Excellence in Education.  There are currently four universities and more than a dozen colleges  in the city that are offering baccalaureate and technical and vocational courses to its students, majority of which comes from the northern Cordillera provinces and the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela. The following is a list of some of the educational institutions found in the city:

AMA Computer College Tuguegarao – Cagayan Valley Road, Caggay

Cagayan State University – Andrews Campus, Caritan Sur

                                                 Carig Campus, Carig Sur               

F.L. Vargas College – Main Campus, Blumentritt Street

                                                         College of Eng’g and Technology Campus, Maharlika Highway, Pengue

                                                     College of Nursing Campus, Bagay Road, San Gabriel

Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines – International School of Asia and the Pacific –                Boundary between Penablanca and Tuguegarao

Saint Paul University Philippines – College Avenue

STI College Tuguegarao – Luna Extension, Ugac Sur

University of Cagayan Valley – Main Campus, College Avenue

                                                         New Site Campus, Balzain Road

University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao – Main Campus, Mabini Street

                                                                            New Site Campus, Bartolome Street, Leonarda

But more than the sprawling campuses and the modernized facilities they have, the educational centers found in Tuguegarao are also capable of molding their students into competent and well – equipped future professionals, students that can keep up with those from the popular universities of the country. A manifestation to this is their students’ performances in national licensure examinations. Here is a list of some feats by students of the different colleges and universities in Tuguegarao:

            Engr. Sonny Mateo of USLT

-          Top 1 in the National Geodetic Engineering Board Examinations

Baby Gina Tagapan Gannaban of MCNP - ISAP

-          Top 10 in the November 2011 National Midwifery Board Examinations

 Benjamin P. Liao of MCNP - ISAP

-      Top 10 in the November 2011 National Radiologic Technology Board Examinations

Daven J. Udani of MCNP - ISAP

-      Top 7 in the June 2011 National Radiologic Technology Board Examinations

Diane Bernadette S. Cos-Agon of MCNP - ISAP

-      Top 1 in the October 2011 National Customs Broker Board Examinations

Rommel Adolf Ibay Diciano of UCV

-      Top 5 in the October 2011 National Criminologists Board Examinations

USLT: Top 3 Best Performing School in the National CPA Board Examinations

 The above - listed achievements made the whole city of Tuguegarao proud and solidified its position as Region 02's Center for Education.

Note: For a complete list of educational institutions based in the city, visit the Various Institutions page of this blogsite.

Chic - Boy grilling soon in Tuguegarao!

Chic – Boy, as in Chicken and Baboy, is one of the newest food chains in the country that is quickly gaining popularity among consumers because of the wide variety of food they offer and of course, the satisfaction it brings. Like other grilled food restaurants in the country, their main offering to the market includes Bacolod’s famous Chicken Inasal. But more than that, they also offer the Filipino market with Cebu’s sumptuous version of Lechon Manok and Lechon Baboy (which is my personal favorite). Their menu includes a lot more. Actually, the number of dishes in their outnumber that of other grilled food restaurants.

Moreover, Chic – Boy is one of the fastest growing restaurants of its kind in the country. A manifestation of this growth is their plan to open fifty – two new stores in strategic locations in the country in addition to the currently existing fifty – two Chic – Boy stores. 

The people of Tuguegarao would soon have a taste of their various food offerings because the city will be one of their newest destinations for its expansion. They will be located at Arellano corner Blumentritt Streets possibly at the new commercial building beside FCI Phase 3. The date of opening is not yet stated in their Chic - Boy's Official Website though.

People: Rep. Randolph S. Ting

Having served Tuguegarao as mayor for almost a decade, everyone from the city definitely know this guy who could be considered as the person primarily responsible for the transformation of Tuguegarao from an ordinary town to a progressive city.  His efforts and works for the city of Tuguegarao made him Most Outstanding Mayor for two consecutive years in 2002 and 2003. After serving his last term as mayor of the city, he ran for a seat at the congress but failed as he lost to Manny Mamba. Believing that he was robbed of a congress seat and that the people wants him to be their representative in the congress, he ran again during the last elections and successfully earned a seat in the country's 15th Congress. In this new venture of his, he hopes to help the entire third district of Cagayan and its people like the way he helped Tuguegarao.

Here is a glimpse of what he has been doing with his legislative work:

House Measures Sponsored/Authored (9)

• HB02329 [History] [Text of Engrossed Bill  84k]
  AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL ROAD TRAVERSING THE BARANGAYS OF SAMPAGUITA, SOLANA CAGAYAN, WARAT, PIAT, CAGAYAN, LA SUERTE, CATARAUAN, NANUCCAUAN, AND BAYABAT ALL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF AMULUNG, CAGAYAN GOING TO BARANGAY AFUSING, ALCALA, CAGAYAN INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
  Status: Approved by the House on 2011-08-03, transmitted to on 2011-08-10 and received by the Senate on 2011-08-10
• HB02330 [History] [Text of Engrossed Bill  86k]
  AN ACT CONVERTING THE JP RIZAL ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ENRILE, CAGAYAN GOING TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF STA. MARIA OF THE PROVINCE OF ISABELA VIA BARANGAYS LANNA, MAGALALAG, ALIBAGO, MARACURU, INGA, LEMU, AND DIVISORIA OF THE SAME MUNICIPALITY INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
  Status: Approved by the House on 2011-08-03, transmitted to on 2011-08-10 and received by the Senate on 2011-08-10
• HB02331 [History] [Text of Engrossed Bill  86k]
  AN ACT CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL ROAD TRAVERSING THE BARANGAYS OF GADU, CALLILAUAN, CARILUCUD, UBONG, PAROG-PAROG, BANTAY, NABBOTUAN AND PALAO, ALL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SOLANA, CAGAYAN GOING TO BARANGAY MACUTAY OF RIZAL, KALINGA INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
  Status: Approved by the House on 2011-08-03, transmitted to on 2011-08-10 and received by the Senate on 2011-08-10
• HB02808 [History] [Text As Filed  320k]
  AN ACT LOWERING THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE SECTIONS 13(b) AND 13-A OF R.A. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE ACT OF 1997
  Status: Pending with the Committee on CIVIL SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION since 2010-09-01
• HB03477 [History]
  AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PEÑABLANCA PROTECTED LANDSCAPE AND SEASCAPE LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PEÑABLANCA, PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN, AS A PROTECTED AREA AND ITS PERIPHERAL AREAS AS BUFFER ZONE
  Status: Pending with the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES since 2010-10-13
• HB05178 [History]
  AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 17 ARTICLE V OF RA 8423 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE TRADITIONAL AND MEDICINE (TAMA) ACT OF 1997 CREATING THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE (PITAHC) THAT WILL CAUSE THE TRANSFER OF THE FOUR HERBAL PROCESSING PLANTS OF THE COUNTRY FROM PITAHC, A GOCC TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, A NATIONAL AGENCY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF
  Status: Pending with the Committee on HEALTH since 2011-09-05
• HB05415 [History]
  AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE ACROSS THE CAGAYAN RIVER BETWEEN BARANGAY CENTRO, SOLANA, CAGAYAN TO BARANGAY BAGAY, TUGUEGRARAO CITY, CAGAYAN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
  Status: Pending First Reading (Filed last 2011-10-12)
• HR00840 [History]
  A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION TO CLARIFY THE COMPUTATION OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT PER OVERLOADING PROVISION OF REPUBLIC ACT 8794 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT IMPOSING A MOTOR VEHICLE USER'S CHARGE ON OWNERS OF ALL TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
  Status: Adopted Resolution (Pending with the committee on TRANSPORTATION since 2011-01-24)

Apart from the above, he has also been tending to the needs of the people with various projects he is currently working on like establishment of an herbal plantation, donation of computer units to the police force, construction of bridges and hospitals, and a lot lot more.

For more information, visit Rep. Randolph Ting's page at the House of Representative Official Website.

Photos of New Commercial establishments in Tuguegarao

One good reason why people say that Tuguegarao has been improving and progressing over the years is that they could actually see several educational, governmental and more prevalently, commercial establishments sprouting in the city. And it isn't only in the Centros, composed of 12 barangays, where you could actually see those new establishments. They are all over Tuguegarao. The barangays of Ugac Sur and Norte, Caritan Centro, Norte and Sur and other adjacent barangays has been the recipient of the urban spill - over from the Centros and the barangays of Carig Sur and Buntun are slowly turning into big commercial hubs of their own. 

Here are photos of only some of the newest establishments in the city of Tuguegarao:

Diversion Road, San Gabriel, Tuguegarao City

Luna Extension corner Diversion Road, Buntun, Tuguegarao City

Burgos Street, Tuguegarao City

The Red Square, Rizal Street, Tuguegarao City

Crown Foodarama, Bonifacio Street, Tuguegarao City

Bonifacio Street, Tuguegarao City

Bonifacio Street, Tuguegarao City

Maharlika Highway, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City

Maharlika Highway, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City

Luna Extension(infron of Western Central Terminal), Buntun, Tuguegarao City

Luna Extension, Buntun, Tuguegarao City

Luna Extension, Buntun, Tuguegarao City

The Original Savory Restaurant soon to open!

What started out in 1950 as just a small restaurant in Quiapo offering only Lomi to its customers, The Original Savory Restaurant has grown tremendously over the years. Today, Lomi isn't the only food they could offer as their menu already features various Filipino and Chinese dishes, the most popular of which is their Fried Chicken. Moreover, they expanded to nine branches to date and soon, they will be having their stores in the bustling cities of Antipolo and Tuguegarao.

Their branch in Tuguegarao will be located at the lower ground floor of the Burgos Street side of the Mall of the Valley. The soon - to - open Tuguegarao store shall be the first and only Savory resto outside Metro Manila and the Greater Manila Area.

Update on Cagayan Sports Complex renovations

In its bid to host next year's edition of the Palarong Pambansa, the largest sports spectacle for elementary and high school students in the country, the Provincial Government of Cagayan earmarked more than a hundred million pesos for the renovation of the decades - old Cagayan Sports Complex located at Caritan Sur, Tuguegarao City. The project includes the reconstruction and expansion of the grandstand, installation of lights, reconstruction of the swimming pools, creation of an eco - park and improvement of the track oval among others.

Thinking about the great number of people who would be attending the event and the degree of economic activity it would generate, every Cagayano should support the provincial government of Cagayan in its bid to bring the Palarong Pambansa in home soil for the first time. The bid though has been hit by a dagger as the city of Marikina, with better and more modernized facilities and equipments, signified its intention to host the said event.

The following are photos showing the latest developments in the Cagayan Sports Complex in Tuguegarao City:

Tuguegarao's Old Gymnasium

Before, Tuguegarao City's People's Gymnasium, which could accomodate around 3, 000 people, had been the primary venue for the biggest events which the city hosted. It is in this gymnasium where various concerts by celebrities and musicians like Hale, Parokya ni Edgar, Sam Milby among others entertained Tuguegaraoenos with their musical prowess. Basketball superstars like Alvin Patrimonio and Marlou Aquino likewise wowed their fans with their superb basketball moves in games held in the gymnasium.

However, the glitter that the People's Gymnasium once had has already been lost nowadays as it has not received substantial attention from the people and the local government especially over the past years. The place hasn't been maintained effectively and this is evident in the litters that abound the gym, the dust which seems like another coating of paint, damaged windows and other similar stuffs and many many many more.Though the People's Gymnasium still holds some events under its roof like trade fairs, inter - agency and inter -  barangay basketball tournaments, the state it is currently in makes it unfit to host bigger events like the ones it usually hosts in the past. 

Hopefully, the city officials would soon take notice of the gym's conditions and take appropriate actions. A huge makeover will be needed to reinstate the value that the People's Gymnasium, located at Mabini Street corner Luna Street, Tuguegarao City, previously had. 

Here are some of the gym's latest photos:

3 BFAR Region 02 Employees in Top 10 of Fisheries Technologists boards

Three employees from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 02 Office at Regional Government Center, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City made it to the Top 10 of the October 2011 Fisheries Technologists Licensure Examinations given by the Bureau of Fisheries and the Professional Regulation Commission. They are Angel Balisi Encarnacion of UP - Visayas, Iloilo City, Rhodamel Dela Rosa Culiuan of Central Luzon State University and Arsenio Sibayan Banares of UP - Visayas, Iloilo City. They landed at 3rd, 5th and 8th places, respectively.

Aside from the three, eight more employees from the BFAR Region 02 office in Tuguegarao also passed the said examinations.

The following is the list of Region 02's colleges and universities with their respective passing percentages:

CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY - APARRI     60.00%

ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY - ROXAS     50.00%

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY - BAYOMBONG     00.00%

"The Dreamer's Bridge" construction almost done

 Soon, Buntun bridge will no longer be the only prominent bridge in the city of Tuguegarao. It will already be joined by the still - to - be - completed Dreamer's bridge located at the Provincial Road, Caggay, Tuguegarao City. The said bridge will serve as an extension of the Bartolome Street and shall connect the barangays of Caggay and Capatan. After its completion, it shall provide a faster and more convenient route going to Manila and other southern provinces from the northern part of Tuguegarao. Furthermore, it shall serve as a catalyst for urban development for the barangays like Caggay, Capatan and Larion.

Student from ISAP tops Customs Brokers Licensure Examinations

Another Cagayano has made it to the growing list of topnotchers hailing from the province after Ms. Diane Bernadeth Cos Agon of the Penablanca - based International School of Asia and the Pacific, together with two others who obatined a grade of 90.00%, topped the October 2011 Customs Brokers Licensure Examinations given by the Professional Regulation Commission. 

The said feat gives the province of Cagayan its second topnotcher so far for the year after Engr, Sonny Mateo of University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao topped the Geodetic Engineering Board Examinations earlier this year.

Congratulations to Diane Bernadeth Cos Agon of ISAP for making Cagayanos proud once again!

Source from PRC

Performance of Schools in the Electronics Engineering Boards

Here is the performance of the various educational institutions in the region in the recently concluded Electronics Engineering Board Examinations:

CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY - TUGUEGARAO                    -  31.25%
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY(NVPC) - BAMBANG -  55.56%
SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY                                                      -  40.74%
SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY TUGUEGARAO                               -    8.33%
UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS TUGUEGARAO                       -  17.78%

Schools in the region offering Electronics Engineering Programs that is not included in the list above obtained a nil passing percentage.

Photos of Mall of the Valley

Photos of Saints Peter's and Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral

Saints Peter's and Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral

Rizal Street, Tuguegarao City