Welcome To My World!

Iguig Calvary Hills
It showcases the larger-than-life-size 14 Stations of the Cross and is a favorite destination during the Holy Week.

Local Delicacies
Longanisa, peanuts and peanut products, carabao milk candy are some of the favorite pasalubong choices from the province

Cave Exploration
Caves of different classifications abound in the province, which makes it a spelunker’s paradise. The Peñablanca Protected Landscape, the northern corridor to the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, is home to some 300 caves, 75 of which have been documented by the National Museum and 30 have been mapped by the British Exploration Club and its local counterpart, the Sierra Madre Outdoor Club. On April 7-13, 2003, SMOC hosted the 24th Mountaineering Federation Philippines, Inc., Congress and Climb which was attended by some 200 outdoor enthusiasts.

Mountains & Forests
The province’s unspoiled mountains and forests are well recommended for outdoor activities like trekking, mountain climbing and exploration, camping, among others. These activities are also good sources of livelihood for the rural communities.

Rivers & Seas
Clean rivers and seas make the province ideal for water sports activities like swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, and white river rafting. The lower basin of the Cagayan River is found in Aparri, Cagayan where a fluvial parade attended by more than a hundred fishing boats is being conducted every May 10. Also, the Cagayan River is the longest and widest river in the country. It starts from the Province of Nueva Vizcaya and snakes down to Cagayan.

Bridges
Magapit Hanging Bridge, built in the early seventies, is one of the first hanging bridges in Asia. Another bridge, Buntun Bridge, is the longest river bridge in the country. Both bridges span the mighty Cagayan River.

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat
It is a favorite destination of pilgrims who pray for favors, healing, and other special graces. The image, which came from Macao, is said to be miraculous and is made of papier mache. Other brick churches constructed during the Spanish times are also a favorite destination by pilgrims. These churches are still unreinforced and are located along national highways.

Native Furniture
Export quality furniture made of softwood and hardwood and rattan products and furniture are among the popular buys from the province

Tuguegarao Pancit
Known locally as Batil Patung, the Tuguegarao Pancit is made of local noodles. Tourists are allowed to witness the actual preparation of this local delicacy in some local panciterias in Tuguegarao City

Peñablanca Caves
Callao Cave, just outside Penablanca, is ideal for the traveler who wants a brief taste of the underground. But the region is packed with dozens of other caves, some partially explored, others still virgin. Sierra, only a 15-minute walk from Callao, has huge chambers filled with white, crystal-studded columns. At Odessa, a cave system with over 8km of known passages and others yet to be explored, spelunkers pass through elephant-sized walkways and narrow, tortuous squeezes. Formations include calcite grottoes and crystalline flowstones. Another cave, Heaven, has a fantastic chamber, which is a highlight of the underground experience. Heaven can be hellish to get to, but those who have been there agree that it’s worth the effort.

AUGUST 7

The current Roman calendar lists two saints on August 7. Their stories are briefly presented here one after the other.

ST. SIXTUS II AND COMPANIONS

The Roman emperors who persecuted Christians were trying to wipe out belief in Jesus and a religion they hated and feared. Although they did not know it, every time they murdered a saint, they gave Christians one more reason for belief. From the bloody Roman persecutions came the martyrs. The martyrs' gift of faithfulness to Jesus, even at the cost of their lives, will bless the Church until the end of time.

The persecution of Emperor Valerian caused the martyrdom of Pope St. Sixtus II and six deacons in one day. The persecution was fierce. Many in the Christian community gathered in the underground catacombs. They participated in the Mass and encouraged each other. Sixtus, a priest of Rome, became pope in 257. That same year Valerian's persecution began. Sixtus carried on bravely for a year, mostly from hiding, encouraging the Christians. With tact and gentleness, he even settled issues about Christian beliefs. Then on August 6, 258, Roman soldiers broke into a room in the catacombs as Sixtus sat peacefully. He was preaching a sermon about Jesus' love and forgiveness. Some say he was killed right there in his chair, along with four of the six deacons. Others say he and the deacons were taken away for trial. Then they were brought back to that very room, where they were killed. The two remaining deacons were killed later in the day.

A century later, Pope St. Damasus wrote a beautiful inscription on the tomb of St. Sixtus which is in the catacombs of St. Callistus in Rome. St. Sixtus II was so highly thought of by the early Christians that he is among the saints listed in the Church's First Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass.

We can ask St. Sixtus II to help us appreciate our gift of faith and grow in our love for Jesus. When we are afraid to stand up for what Jesus expects of us, we can pray to St. Sixtus and his companion martyrs for courage.

  

ST. CAJETAN

Cajetan was born in Vicenza, Italy, in 1480, the son of a count. He graduated from the University of Padua with law degrees. Then he worked in the papal offices in Rome. Cajetan became a priest in 1516. He returned to his own city of Vicenza. Although it angered his rich relatives, the saint joined a group of humble, simple men who devoted themselves to helping the sick and the poor. St. Cajetan would go all over the city looking for unfortunate people and would serve them himself. He helped at the hospital by caring for people with the most disgusting diseases. In other cities, he did the same charitable work. He also kept encouraging everyone to go to Holy Communion often. "I shall never be happy," he said, "until I see Christians flocking to feed on the Bread of Life with eagerness and delight, not with fear and shame."

Together with three other holy men, St. Cajetan started an order of religious priests called "Theatines." This group devoted themselves to preaching. They encouraged frequent confession and Communion, helping the sick and other good works.

Cajetan died at the age of sixty-seven. In his last sickness, he lay on hard boards, even though the doctor advised him to have a mattress. "My Savior died on a cross," he said. "Let me at least die on wood." Cajetan passed away on August 7, 1547, in Naples.

He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Clement X in 1671.

Daily Reading & Meditation

Monday (8/7): "They took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over"

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16 Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." 17 They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." 18 And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Meditation: How do you treat those who make unexpected demands on you? When Jesus and the disciples sought a lonely place to regroup and rest, they found instead a crowd of more than five thousand people waiting for them! Did they resent this intrusion on their hard-earned need for privacy and refreshment? Jesus certainly didn't but welcomed them with open-arms. Jesus put human need ahead of everything else. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and concern for all who are truly needy. Jesus gave the people the word of God and he healed them physically as well as spiritually. We can never intrude upon God nor exhaust his generosity and kindness. He is ever ready to give to those who earnestly seek him out. Do you thirst for his saving word and for his healing power?

Why did Jesus command his disciples to do what seemed impossible-- to feed such a large and hungry crowd when there were no adequate provisions in sight? Jesus, no doubt wanted to test their faith and to teach them to rely upon God for their provision. The signs which Jesus did, including the miraculous feeding of the five thousand signified that God the Father had indeed sent his only begotten Son as the anointed Prophet and King for his people. Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God's provision of manna in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership. This food foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers. Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others.