Daily Archives: 9 May, 2024

Balai na Ilagan (Isabela)

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Balay na Ilagan

Balai na Ilagan (“House of Ilagan”), also known as Friendship Hall and Balai na Maguili, is located beside St. Ferdinand Parish Church and Rizal Park.  Brimming with art in every nook, it was built in 2009 and is a testament to the vibrant arts, culture, music and literature scene in the province. Here, artists can learn from workshops, hold concerts or just find solace in the peaceful surroundings.

This multi-purpose hall and former convent and town clinic, within the grounds of the diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, was set up by Stewards and Friends of Ilagan Inc. (the corporate social responsibility arm of the S.M. Lazo Group of Companies based in Malate, Manila) to give Ilagueños a communal space to nurture the artistic talents of Ilagan’s residents.

Interior

They also conduct youth development activities and livelihood training courses for the less fortunate, and ties up with institutions that promote productive skills such as TESDA to enrich the lives of the locals.

Wall-to-wall murals painted by local artists

Balai ni Ilagan promotes culture and the arts by showcasing audio-visual presentations of native and international literature, music, arts and sciences; inviting speakers for cross-cultural learning; and holding competitions related to music, as well as painting and photography contests.

Grand piano

Adorning the interiors are wall-to-wall murals, painted by local artists, of forest scenes and jungle foliage interspersed with bright flowers, wildlife, mythical creatures, waterfalls, and birds in flight.  On one side of the hall is a grand piano for aspiring musicians.  There’s also a well-preserved 18th century chapel in the compound.

Balcony

At the main entrance is an ornate, restored wooden door, from the old convent, carved with flowers and intricate details. The clean and orderly grounds are used by students, to practice plays, presentations and musical numbers.

The clean and orderly grounds used by students

The library, offering a wide range of reading materials, also displays promising artwork by students from workshops.

Balai na Ilagan: Sta. Ana cor. Rizal St., Brgy. Bagumbayan, 3300 Cityof Ilagan, Isabela.

City Tourism Office: 2/F, City Hall Bldg., 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-1511. E-mail: tourism@cityofilagan.gov.ph.

City of Ilagan Tourist Information and Assistance Center: Bonifacio Park, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 324-7769.  E-mail: ilaganinfocenter@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Tourism Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-3146.  Mobile number: (0917) 317-3820.  E-mail: isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com. 

Isabela Provincial Information Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-0248.  Mobile number: (0927) 395-7555.  E-mail: letters_info@yahoo.com.

How to Get There: The City of Ilagan is located 429.3 kms. (an 8-hour drive) from Manila and 35.5 kms. (a 1-hour drive) from Cauayan City.

St. Ferdinand Parish Church (City of Ilagan, Isabela)

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St. Ferdinand Parish Church

The St. Ferdinand Parish Proto-Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Isabela, is located beside St. Ferdinand College and Rizal Park.  The present foundations of the present church was built, from 1696 to 1700, by Fr. Miguel Matos, O.P.,  as a mamposteria and brick church.

In 1777, the solid belfry (existing up to present) was started by Fr. Pedro de San Pedro, O.P., and finished, in 1783, by Fr. Joaquin Sancho, O.P.. In 1786, the bell of the church was forged.  On December 20, 1803, the church became the final resting place of Nueva Segovia Bishop Agustin Pedro Blaquer, OSA, who died in Ilagan on December 19, 1803 after he got sick during his visit to Cauayan. He was interred at the Epistle side of the church.

Old photo of the church probably showing the 1930 facade (St. Ferdinand Official Facebook account)

In 1829, Fr. Luis Garcia, O.P., constructed the sacristy  of ladrillo and finished in 1833. The 1866 typhoon destroyed the church dome and Fr. Pablo Almazan, O.P., demolished major portions of the church’s solid walls in order to build a bigger one.  In 1892, Fr. Isidro Martinena, O.P., established a campo santo (cemetery) in Barangay Santo Tomas, located outside of Ilagan poblacion.

Another old photo of the church, probably showing the 1960s renovation as the buttresses are now more prominent and entrance and stained glass windows have been modified. (photo: hiSTORYA)

The present façade and major parts of the church were constructed in the 1930s. It was renovated in the 1960s. The bell tower, sanctuary, sacristy, parish hall and the old campo santo are the remaining traces of the Spanish-era church.

The present Baroque facade. The buttresses  are now rounded and the stained glass windows and blind arches have also been modified.

During a recent renovation, the ladrillo details of the sanctuary, the Epistle side and Gospel side of the church were once again revealed after the cement were chipped-off.  The ladrillo fence of the campo santo could still be recognized.

AUTHOR’S NOTES

The church’s single level Baroque façade has a semicircular arched main entrance flanked by massive circular buttresses (in turn topped by urn-like finials) and semicircular blind arches (with two smaller semicircular arches within).

Above  the main entrance is a corbelled cornice with a blind semicircular arch enclosing three (one big flanked by two small) semicircular arch stained glass windows.  The triangular pediment, with broken curves along the top, has a centrally located blind rose window.

On the church’s left is the original four-storey square bell tower.  It has narrow semicircular windows, paired Solomonic columns (topped by urn-like finials) at the corners and is topped by a pyramidal roof. 

 

In 1973, the church became the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan, a suffragan diocese (founded on January 31, 1979) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. However, in 2003, the diocese was transferred to the new Cathedral Church (and Bishops’ Residence) in Barangay Upi, in Gamu, Isabela.  In 2013, the present cathedral was placed under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel. Despite the transfer, both city and diocese still remain under the patronage of St. Ferdinand III of Castile, whose feast day is celebrated on May 30. At present, the centuries-old structure is designated as a proto-cathedral by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan.

The 4-storey bell tower is all that remained of the original Spanish-era church

On October 29, 2023, a mass was held for the celebration of the first Holy Rosary Festival wherein the pilgrim image of the St. Ferdinand Parish – Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary was episcopally crowned by Most Rev. David William V. Antonio, D.D., STHD., bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan.

The April 22, 2024 fire that engulfed the church (photo: Rappler)

On April 22, 2024, Monday, at around 11:40 AM, a devastating fire started from the roof of the church while workers were installing steel trusses on the church’s ceiling,  It was extinguished after an hour but most of its interior was destroyed. The final investigation report of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) identified the total cost of the damages is estimated to be around P35-40 million which include antique religious items among others. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Ilagan City Engineering Office conducted a series of tests and studies which revealed that only around 20-30% of the structural integrity of the church remained after the fire took down most of its interior.

The burnt out interior of the church (photo: Philippine News Agency)

Just days after the fire that destroyed the proto-cathedral, the City Government of Ilagan, in coordination with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan, were able to put up a temporary altar and steel benches covered with aluminum roofing sheets and steel trusses in the church-front courtyard (often referred by locals as the Family Park). Since April 28, 2024, while the clearing and restoration of the church is still ongoing, all regular masses of the parish were temporarily being held, by parish priest Fr. Ric-Zeus Angobang (he became parish priest in August 2023), in the make-shift altar.

St. Ferdinand Parish Church: Centro Poblacion, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-2467.  Mobile number: (0997) 068-9967.

City Tourism Office: 2/F, City Hall Bldg., 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-1511. E-mail: tourism@cityofilagan.gov.ph.

City of Ilagan Tourist Information and Assistance Center: Bonifacio Park, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 324-7769.  E-mail: ilaganinfocenter@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Tourism Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-3146.  Mobile number: (0917) 317-3820.  E-mail: isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Information Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-0248.  Mobile number: (0927) 395-7555.  E-mail: letters_info@yahoo.com.

How to Get There: The City of Ilagan is located 429.3 kms. (an 8-hour drive) from Manila and 35.5 kms. (a 1-hour drive) from Cauayan City.

Ilagan Sanctuary: Tree Top Adventure and Sta. Victoria Caves (Isabela)

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George Buid, John Louie Abrina, guide Reggie Lou Mendiola, Cris Gadion, the author and Mia Zamora at Sta. Victoria Caves (photo: Azrael Coladilla)

The highlight of our visit to the 200-hectare Ilagan Sanctuary was our exploration of the natural lattices, sparkling rocks, underground waterfalls and unusual rock formations of the nine-chambered, 400 m. long Santa Victoria Caves.

Mia, Cris and Azrael crossing a hanging bridge

Located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, they are comprised of more than 12 limestone caves known for their unusual but beautiful rock formations, subterranean waterfalls and their sparkling white calcite clusters. They form about a 25% of the 819-hectare Fuyot Springs National Park (FNSP).

The author at Tree Top Adventure

Aside from the caves, the FNSP, now protected as a sanctuary covering four barangays, includes several rivers and creeks (Kabiran, Pasa, Nabulluan and Marabatbat) and forests. These caves also have archaeological significance, as they are believed to have once, in the past, housed the nomadic Dumagat or Agta people.

Check out “Ilagan Sanctuary”

One of the platform stations attached to a tree

At the pavilion at Prayer Mountain, we were assigned a required accredited tour guide by the name of Reggie Lou A. Mendiola.  Aside from providing security, the knowledgeable guides also protect the beauty of the natural elements (stalagmites, stalactites, etc.) inside these subterranean geological marvels.

We finally arrived at the Main Cave…..

Joining me was Azrael Coladilla, Cris Gadion, Mia Zamora and photographers John Louie Abrina and George Buid.

Our tour guide Mr. Reggie Lou A. Mendiola

From the pavilion, we boarded a golf cart that brought us to the jump-off point which is the Tree Top Adventure, an ecologically friendly Canopy Walk. Also within the area is the cable car station, the climbing wall and the convention hall.   Before our hike, Reggie gave us a short orientation talk about the site and the trail we were about to take. 

The entrance to the Main Cave

The entrance to Altar Cave

At the Tree Top Adventure we conquered our fear of heights, while navigating a series of seven wobbly wooden hanging bridges (below which is an obstacle course for kids), supported by steel cables 100 ft. high above the forest floor, between platform stations at endemic tree species.

A stalactite

Flowstone/dripstone rock formations – sheetlike deposits of calcite and other carbonate materials, formed when water flows down the walls

This lead us to the 89 m. long, three-chambered Main Cave, the largest of the four Class III caves of Sta. Victoria Caves that can be explored (the others are Adventure Cave, Moon Cave and Altar Cave).  Except for Adventure Cave (you will have to kick it up a notch here), we explored the other three.

The chapel-like interior of Main Cave

Class III caves are generally safe for inexperienced visitors.  Only this cave type as well as certain parts of Class II caves may be available for ecotourism.  As fruit bats inhabit these caves, flash photography was not allowed so as not to startle the creatures.

A column – a union of stalactite and stalagmite

The dry, walk-through caverns were very easy to explore.  Still, we had to watch our heads at some passages. The sparking rocks, of various shapes and sizes, glowed like crystals in the dark.

The sparkling white calcite clusters that glowed like crystals when lit

A stalagmite – a massive, upward-growing calcite mound deposited from drip water

Moon Cave has a hole in the center where light enters. The 69 m. long Altar Cave has an altar-shaped fissure where a stolen religious ivory statue of the Virgin Mary was previously placed.

This you could imagine as a frog

We imagined some of the peculiarly-shaped rock formations inside as a face, Casper, the Sto. Nino, a frog and cucumbers. 

Here I could imagine a face with a mouth, nose and eyes

Sta. Victoria Caves: Ilagan Sanctuary, National Highway, Brgy. San Andres, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Open 8 AM to 6 PM (Mondays to Thursdays) and 8 AM to 10 PM (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).  Admission: Php150 (adults), Php135 (sister municipalities), Php130 (Ilaguenos  and solo parents), Php120 (senior citizens and children) and Php250 (child with guardian).

City Tourism Office: 2/F, City Hall Bldg., 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-1511. E-mail: tourism@cityofilagan.gov.ph.

City of Ilagan Tourist Information and Assistance Center: Bonifacio Park, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 324-7769.  E-mail: ilaganinfocenter@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Tourism Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-3146.  Mobile number: (0917) 317-3820.  E-mail: isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Information Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-0248.  Mobile number: (0927) 395-7555.  E-mail: letters_info@yahoo.com.

How to Get There: The City of Ilagan is located 429.3 kms. (an 8-hour drive) from Manila and 35.5 kms. (a 1-hour drive) from Cauayan City. The park is located 9.3 kms. from the City of Ilagan. Take a ride on a northbound bus, a jeepney or a van and alight at the junction, where you can then hire a tricycle to take you to the sanctuary.

Ilagan Sanctuary (City of Ilagan, Isabela)

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Members of media at Ilagan Sanctuary (photo: George Buid)

From Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc., it was just a short 4.7-km. (6-min.) drive to the the 200-hectare Ilagan Sanctuary which we were to explore and have lunch.

Check out “Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc.”

The author at Serenity Hill Calvary.  Behind is the giant steel cross

Part of 819-hectare Fuyot Springs National Park (which extends from the City of Ilagan to Tumauini), it is the most visited spot in the City of Ilagan.  Located along the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range, it was developed in 2004 and offers every ecotourism activity imaginable.

The pavilion

Most of these developments were completed in the early 2009 through the initiative of Ilagan Mayor Jose Marie L. Diaz.

Chinese Temple

Capilla de la Serenidad

Muslim Mosque

Under the program, 28 locally-based, non-government organizations signed a memorandum of agreement, where they pledged to take responsibility for the sanctuary’s protection, maintenance and preservation.

The giant concrete rosary laid on the grass

Grotto of the Virgin Mary

Other government and national agencies were also rallied to help with the place’s conservation.

Choo Choo Train

Golf Cart

At the parking area, located just outside the gate, we proceeded to the pavilion near Serenity Hill Calvary (Prayer Mountain), with its serene views and peaceful surroundings. Serenity Hill has 14 Stations of the Cross, a Grotto of the Virgin Mary, a giant steel cross and a large rosary, made of concrete, laid on the grass.

Elvie, Amadis, Ann and Mich on board an open-sided cable car

It also has places of worship such as a quaint chapel (Capilla de la Serenidad) for Catholics, a mosque for Muslims and an ornate temple offering a glimpse into traditions and beliefs of Chinese Buddhists.

Ilagan Sanctuary Map

Other attractions inside the Ilagan Sanctuary include a number of natural parks (Willow Brookside Park, Scented Gardens Park, Rain Forest Park and Hidden Springs Falls Park), Butterfly Park, Animal Kingdom (a mini zoo), fish pond (with Nile tilapia), swimming pools, picnic huts, Sta. Victoria Caves and a natural spring pool.

Exploring Sta.Victoria Caves

Aside from these things, the sanctuary also offers an environmental school (where you can listen to lectures, receive certificates and get seedlings to plant), a botanical garden and a herbal plantation.

Convention Hall

Members of our media group tried out a number of the activities offered.  Azrael, Cris, Mia and photographers John and George, and I tried out the Tree Top Adventure and did some spelunking at Sta. Victoria Caves; Nicole tried out horseback riding within a horse trail; Lea and Minerva braved the bike zip at the boating area, beside the swimming pool; and Rosary, Elvira, Amadis, Ann, Mich, Roel and Minerva did some sightseeing on board a cable car.

Gazebos

After spelunking, Azrael and Mia cooled off at the swimming pool while Minerva, George and John went go carting.  After all these activities, we had our lunch, al fresco style, at picnic tables near the fish pond.

Check out “Ilagan Sanctuary: Tree Top Adventure and Sta. Victoria Caves”

Climbing Wall and Cable Car Station

Other activities inside the sanctuary include bird viewing, wall climbing & rappelling on a 50-ft. high wall, boating or kayaking (in a man-made lake), ziplining, and biking. Some activities in the sanctuary will require you to ride on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at a clearing, at the edge of the park. A 1.5-km. hike, open for guests, to Pinzal Falls, takes about half an hour.

Fish Pond

Two 350 m. long, 700 ft. high, thrilling ziplines, said to be the fastest (you travel at 80 kms. per hour) in the country, were inaugurated last May 2012 (the 326th founding anniversary of the province). You have to climb 250 steps up a hill and the ride takes about a minute long. Participants have to don a helmet and harness.

Swimming Pool

Animal Kingdom, a zoo, houses a variety of animals such as two Bengal tigers (brought here when they were cubs), wild boar (locally called alingo), ostriches, exotic birds, an eagle, graceful deer, snakes, playful long-tailed macaques, an Asian palm civet (locally called mutit or musang in Ilocano), sheep and three Philippine freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus mindorensis). A 120-kg., 17-year old female reticulated python (the world’s longest snake) named Maria Jesusa can be caressed and carried by 10 people.

 

Bengal Tiger at Animal Kingdom

For those who want to stay overnight, there’s a Family Cottage (Php4,000, for 8 pax) and a Couple Cottage (Php3,000 for 5 pax). Extra Bed is Php500/pax.  You can also rent the Administration Building,  with 2 airconditioned rooms, conference table, toilet  and living area, for Php5,000.

Lea and Minerva bike zipping

Rates:

  • Zipbike – Php150/pax
  • Zipline and Cable Car – Php250/pax
  • Horseback Riding – Php300/30 mins.
  • E-Bike – Php250/30 mins.
  • E-Scooter – Php250/30 mins.
  • Kiddie Bikes Php150/10 mins.
  • Kiddie Scooter – Php20/30 mins.
  • Cable Car – Php100/pax
  • Tiger Petting – Php150/pax
  • Fish/Pigeon Feeding – Php10
  • Bouncing Animals – Php10/30 mins.
  • Swan Boat – Php200/boat for 30 mins.
  • Motorized Boat – Php300/boat for 30 mins.
  • Fishing Rod (red tilapia) – Php50 (unlimited time)
  • Go Cart – Php150/10 mins., Php200/20 mins.
  • Golf Cart – Php350/30 mins.

Minerva on a Go Cart

Packages (inclusive of entrance fee):

  • All Rides – Php1,200
  • Adventure Rides – Php500 (cable car, zipline, zip bike, horseback riding)
  • Water Adventure – Php500 (swan boat, motorized boat)
  • Land Rides – Php600 (E-Bike, E-Scooter, Golf Cart, Go Cart)

Boating Lagoon

Rental Fees:

  • Gazebo (2 x 2 m.) – Php200
  • Gazebo (2.5 5 m.) – Php250
  • Gazebo (2 x 3 m.) – Php300
  • Gazebo (3 x 3 m.) – Php500
  • Bulwagan (near zipline are) – Php3,000
  • Pavilion(near Prayer Mountain) – Php3,000
  • Sound System – Php2,000
  • Tables – Php60/piece
  • Chairs – Php20/piece
  • Exclusive use of Children’s Playground – Php4,000
  • Function Hall (near Children’s Playground) – Php3,000/day 

Nicole on horseback

Filming Fees

  • Movie/Video Documentary – Php3,000 (8 hours)
  • Pictorial (Rentals) – Php1,500 (pre-nup and other pictorials with 4-hour use of 1 cottage, additional Php100 for every succeeding hour, couple entrance is free)

Mia and Cris crossing a hanging bridge at Treetop Adventure

Ilagan Sanctuary: Junction National Highway/Sta. Victoria Rd., Brgy. San Andres, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Open 8 AM to 6 PM (Mondays to Thursdays) and 8 AM to 10 PM (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).  Admission: Php150 (adults), Php135 (sister municipalities), Php130 (Ilaguenos  and solo parents), Php120 (senior citizens and children) and Php250 (child with guardian). The parking area is located just outside the gate and golf cart and trains brings you, from the gate, to any point in the sanctuary.  A choo-choo train carries passengers from the zipline  area into the Animal Kingdom, passing through flowering shrubs.

City Tourism Office: 2/F, City Hall Bldg., 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-1511. E-mail: tourism@cityofilagan.gov.ph.

City of Ilagan Tourist Information and Assistance Center: Bonifacio Park, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 324-7769.  E-mail: ilaganinfocenter@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Tourism Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-3146.  Mobile number: (0917) 317-3820.  E-mail: isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Information Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-0248.  Mobile number: (0927) 395-7555.  E-mail: letters_info@yahoo.com.

How to Get There: The City of Ilagan is located 429.3 kms. (an 8-hour drive) from Manila and 35.5 kms. (a 1-hour drive) from Cauayan City. The park is located 9.3 kms. from the City of Ilagan. Take a ride on a northbound bus, a jeepney or a van and alight at the junction, where you can then hire a tricycle to take you to the sanctuary.

Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc. (City of Ilagan, Isabela)

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Dressing Plant of Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc.

On our sixth day in the City of Ilagan, after breakfast at our hotel, we again boarded our coaster and proceeded, on a short 5.4-km. drive, to Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc. (SAPI), a homegrown private integrated agricultural company duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for a plant visit. The company currently operates a modern dressing plant and state-of-the-art machinery for grains processing. It is also the manufacturer and official distributor of frozen poultry products which include Dragon’s Prime Juicy Delight and Super Fresh.

Media group being briefed by Mr. Julius A. Gamayon, SAPI Chief Operating Officer, before entering the dressing plant

Upon arrival at the Poultry Dressing Plant, we were welcomed by Mr. Jose Avelino C. Diaz, SAPI’s President and CEO, and Mr. Julius A. Gamayon, SAPI Chief Operating Officer.  We later interviewed Mr. Diaz inside his office. Established on July 18, 2016, SAPI’s initial line of business consisted of poultry production, hog-raising, fish production, and grains trading. In 2017, the company’s rapid growth allowed it to expand its business into grains and meat processing, trucking, construction and real estate.

Interviewing Mr. Avelino C. Diaz (wearing blue shirt), SAPI’s President and CEO, at his office

In 2018, it expanded its meat processing unit, with the establishment of Sagittarian Meat Processing, and launched several food counter outlets to promote the products, food counter outlets under the trade name The Chicken Place, initially installing them within the city of Ilagan and, later, expanding into the nearby towns in Isabela and Cagayan.

Newly-slaughtered chickens being conveyed, by a conveyor machine, for evisceration

In December 2020, despite the ongoing pandemic, the company managed to respond to the need for fresh and affordable products by establishing Juicy Delight which carries locally produced products such as hotdogs, Hungarian sausages, longganisa, embotido, burger patties, nuggets, ham and other chicken marinated products. 

The evisceration process wherein the feathers, feet and internal organs of the chicken are removed

That same month, Charoen Pokphand  Foods Corp (CPF), the No. 1 agro-industrial company of Thailand), in partnership with SAPI, inaugurated a new 2400-sow swine breeding complex which will be a source of quality breeder stocks for herd restocking and repopulation.

The cleaning and chilling process

On August 10, 2021, recognizing the need innovate and capture a bigger market, SAPI signed an incubation agreement, with the Isabela State University Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ISU-ATBI) Project (under the National ATBI Program of the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatics and Natural Resources Research and Development), to expand the company’s product line, enrolling at the ISU-ATBI incubation program managed by ISU-CVSRRC, iIn partnership with Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC)- Isabela, which will assist SAPI in developing canned chicken products utilizing the developed meat canning technology of ISU-CVSRRC.

The Chicken Processing Plant

The canned products, utilizing SAPI’s own locally produced meat (making cost of production lower as compared to other food processors), will be sold as ready-to-eat products and designed to be responsive to the present needs of the consumers. Aside from developing canned products, ISU-ATBI also provided services in brand marketing, e-commerce and financial management. This technology-based food processing boosts food processing industry in the province by utilizing locally produced raw materials.

The author

On May 17, 2024, CPF, together with SAPI, broke ground for the new Php1.8 billion feedmill complex in Brgy. Cabannungan 2, a big boost for corn farmers as it will assure them a ready market for their produce, at a good price.

Mr. Diaz (third from right) briefing us on the plant’s operation and finished products

During our Poultry Dressing Plant visit, we also observed how the chickens were processed by trained workers and automated equipment.  The evisceration process (removal of feathers, feet and internal organs, washing of carcasses, inspection, chilling and testing) is highly automated, with machines conducting most of the activity.

The steam retort machine (Andi Machinery Technology Co., Td.)

We next transferred to the nearby Chicken Processing Plant. Here, highly efficient sterilization of packaged chicken is achieved via retort processing, using a steam retort machine (Andi Machinery Technology Co., Td.).  It consists of sterilizing, pasteurizing, or cooking a product (and its packaging), eradicating any microorganisms and extending a product’s shelf life (anywhere from one year to 26 months in the right ambient conditions), so that it is both safe and of high quality.

The frozen dressed whole chicken of Super Fresh

Then, for frozen dressed chicken products, the workers cut and debone the chicken carcasses to become different products (wings, drumsticks, breast, etc.) or leave them whole.

The high-speed, fully automated Utrust Pack aluminum vacuum can sealing machine

For canned products, the chicken are cut up into parts and canned (round) using a high-speed, fully automated Utrust Pack aluminum vacuum can sealing machine which removes air from the package, via a vacuum pump, prior to sealing.

The already sealed, but still unlabelled, cans rolling down the canning line

The finished products are then bagged and/or boxed and shipped (frozen dressed chicken products in a refrigerated truck), to grocery stores, supermarkets or distribution centers.

The canned products (Chicken Adobo, Chicken Afritada, Chicken Kaldereta and Corned Chicken) of Juicy Delight

Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc. (SAPI):  Brgy. Santa Victoria, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Mobile number: 0916 514 0813. E-mail: juicydelight13@gmail.com. Website: www.sagittarianagri.net.

City Tourism Office: 2/F, City Hall Bldg., 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-1511. E-mail: tourism@cityofilagan.gov.ph.

City of Ilagan Tourist Information and Assistance Center: Bonifacio Park, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 324-7769.  E-mail: ilaganinfocenter@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Tourism Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-3146.  Mobile number: (0917) 317-3820.  E-mail: isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com. 

Isabela Provincial Information Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-0248.  Mobile number: (0927) 395-7555.  E-mail: letters_info@yahoo.com. 

How to Get There: The City of Ilagan is located 429.3 kms. (an 8-hour drive) from Manila and 35.5 kms. (a 1-hour drive) from Cauayan City.