City of Ilagan Museum

The morning of our fourth day in the City of Ilagan, after breakfast at the hotel, we visited the City of Ilagan Museum, located near the Ilagan City Hall and the GSO Office in a building inaugurated last September 2, 2020.  Managed by the city’s Tourism Office, it provides information on the history, culture and heritage of the City of Ilagan.

The museum is divided into two wings, the left wing devoted to Ilagan in the 20th and 21st century, while the right wing delves on the early history and culture and traditions of Ilagan.

The museum’s right wing

The left wing

At the entrance of the wing to the right of the stairs is a diorama of Irraya, 1521.  Interesting  displays include a bell used to call teachers and students of the Isabela National High School to flag raising ceremonies; and a sara (carabao horn) used to call Ilaguenos to meetings or festivals or to warn people of inbound calamities or disasters.

Irraya 1521 Diorama

A fishing boat, a threshing board, an Ilagan carison wheel and a wooden plow

At one prominent corner are actual farming implements such as a wooden plow, threshing board, etc., an original Ilagan carison wheel, and a fishing boat.

A bell used to call teachers and students of the Isabela National High School to flag raising ceremonies

Sara (Carabao Horn)

A 1958 Yashica 635 twin lens reflex camera and a surveyor’s theodolite

There’s also a butaka (a handcrafted chair with a long “armrest”), old religious statuary; a numismatic display of old Philippine coins and paper currency; mannequins dressed in native Filipino attire (barong tagalog and baro’t saya); old missals and prayer books; World War II helmets; and old photos.

Butaka

Old religious statuary

Another corner displays old appliances such a console television, phonograph players, transistor radios, and cassette players while mounted on the wall above them are 7-inch single and 12-inch long playing records.

Office equipment such as typewriters and adding machines

Old phonograph players and console TV.  Hanging on the walls are 7-inch single and 12-inch long playing records. On the right is an old violin

There’s also office equipment such as typewriters and adding machines; a violin as well as charcoal flat irons, cutlery, oil lamps, bauls (wooden chests), banga (clay jars) and porcelain china.

Old Philippine paper currency

Old Philippine coins

There are two oil on canvas portraits including one of Antonio Lopez y Lopez (1817-1883), the first Marques de Comillas, who formed the Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas, S.A.

Portrait of Antonio Lopez y Lopez, the first Marquess de Comillas

Artwork by Ilagueno artists

Prominently mounted on a wall, at the other wing of the museum, are photos of local chief executives, from the past to the present, while shelves display the numerous local and international awards conferred on the city.

Local Chief Executives, past and present

Scaled model of the City of Ilagan Medical Center and the City Hall

Also on display are scaled models of the City of Ilagan Medical Center and the City Hall; Bambanti Festival King and Queen costumes; a Queen Isabela gown, and paintings done by Ilagueno artists.

Bambanti Festival King and Queen costumes

Gown, for the 2023 Bambanti Festival Search for Queen Isabela, designed by Laoag City (Ilocos Norte)-based fashion designer Amor Albano

Modular display stands also feature the City of Ilagan’s notable tourist attractions such as Bonifacio Park, Rizal Park, Ilagan Sanctuary, Pinzal Falls, City of Ilagan Sports Complex, Sta. Victoria Caves, St. Ferdinand Parish Church, etc. 

Rizal Park and St. Ferdinand Parish Church

City of Ilagan Sports Complex and Casa San Antonio

City of Ilagan Museum: 2/F, City Library Bldg., City Hall Complex, Brgy. San Vicente, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Mobile number: (0935) 673-3590.

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.