Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz gets a tattoo from Apo Whang-od in Buscalan, Tinglayan. (Photo credit_ Hidilyn Diaz IG)
TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) – Culture is one of the main reasons tourists visit the province of Kalinga, the Office of the Provincial Administrator (OPAD)-Tourism Services said.
In 2024, the OPAS-TS said, the village of Buscalan in Tinglayan town, home to world-known tattoo artist Apo Whang-od Oggay, logged the most visits by far among tourist destinations and attractions in the province, said the OPAD-TS.
Apo Whang-od, who is more than 100 years old, is the last and oldest mambabatok or practitioner of the traditional Kalinga tattooing. She is said to be the world’s oldest tattoo artist, and oldest person on the Vogue cover.
The second most popular destination is another site offering cultural experience to visitors, the Awichon Cultural Village in Lubuagan town.
“Ti reason da nga mapan agpasyar dituy Kalinga ket our culture since Kalinga is rich in heritage and culture, so idiay ti pappapanan da, especially kinni Apo Whang-od. Nu saan ket, idiay Lubuagan, idiay Awichon or idiay Mabilong weavers [village] wherein ‘yung mga textiles din naman ang gusto nilang ma-try or kitaen,” said Joyce C. Gabit, statistician of the OPAD-TS.
(The reason tourists visit Kalinga is because of our culture since Kalinga is rich in heritage and culture. They go especially to Apo Whang-od, or to Lubuagan, at the Awichon or Mabilong weavers [village] for the textile.)
Other top tourist attractions in the province are the Chico River White Water Rafting, Naneng Heritage Village, and Mt. Talama in Tabuk City; Balbalasang Village and Tawang Tourism Village in Balbalan); The Ranch ATV Adventures Kalinga or TRAAK; and Rang-ay Eco-adventure & Resort in Rizal.
Gabit said that most tourists also come to visit during the month of February for the annual celebration of Kalinga’s founding anniversary and Bodong Festival, and during the summer months.
The Bodong Festival celebrates Kalinga’s age-old peacekeeping system, and features cultural performances and shows.
“For the record, ti kaadwan ket February kasi isu ti founding anniversary dituy Kalinga [and] the Bodong. Ti sumarsarunu met nga months ket most likely idiay summer months kasi isu ti Holy Week,” Gabit said.
Gabit shared that most domestic tourists are from nearby provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, as well as foreign visitors mostly from Canada, and the United States.
Kalinga recorded 110,620 tourist arrivals based on the latest figures of the OPAD-Tourism Services, but the statistics is expected to increase as some local government units have yet to submit their reports, said Gabit.
Tabuk City recorded the highest tourism arrivals with 66,874 visitors, followed by Tinglayan with 38,478.
Moreover, Gabit said Tabuk City is popular for its resorts which are frequented by visitors from Cagayan and Isabela especially during the summer months.
“Nu kitkitan tayo diay data ti same-day tourists, ti kaadwan ket Tabuk City kasi mostly amin nga resorts ket found here in Tabuk City and [among] our top resorts ket ILOBA Resort and Adventure Place and Tree Tops Tabuk,” Gabit said.
(Looking at the data of same-day tourists, it’s mostly Tabuk City because most of the resorts are found here in Tabuk City, and among our top resorts are the ILOBA Resort and Adventure Place and Tree Tops Tabuk.)
Tabuk City’s tourist arrivals are also high considering the capital is where most hotels and accommodation establishments are located, Gabit said. (JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
