Tourist Attractions
Governor’s Rapids
One of Quirino’s most famous tourist sites – Governor’s Rapids – is found in Maddela, in Barangay Divisoria Sur. Named after a Japanese governor general who, according to folklore, disappeared in its waters during the last world war, this is a particularly picturesque stretch of the Cagayan River that has been awarded as one of the cleanest inland bodies of water in the region.
The river’s blue waters, which dramatically contrast with the towering perpendicular walls of white limestone that line its banks, have made the site a popular spot for swimming and fishing. Its swift, turbulent currents, on the other hand, have made it a perfect venue for kayaking and whitewater rafting. One section of the river, dubbed the Bisangal Rapid, but more often called by the more descriptive moniker “Seven Rapids,” is especially rough and turbulent and has, thus, been attracting enthusiasts of extreme water tubing. Many adventurous visitors also engage in cliff-diving. There is a small island in the middle of the river – essentially just a boulder that is about six meters high – that has become a popular spot for this type of excitement.
Meanwhile, tourists who want to relax simply take a leisurely boat ride on the river. The bugadors (boatmen) who row these boats also function as knowledgeable tour guides, regaling their passengers with interesting stories and humorous anecdotes about the place. The riverbanks are dotted with several cozy spaces that provide a magnificent view of the river, the limestone cliffs and the mighty Sierra Made mountain range that soars behind them.
The limestone cliffs that rise on both sides of the river are home to the aborigines of the Province, the Agtas who live in the area, but they also hide a number of exploration-worthy caves and waterfalls. One of these hidden wonders is a waterfall in a cavern called the “Tinyente Cave.” Like Governor’s Rapids, it was named after the Japanese governor general, a lieutenant (“tinyente” in Filipino) in the army. It is located inside a cave and can only be reached by squeezing through several narrow openings. But the waterfall itself – a 12-meter high cascade of cold fresh water – is inside a huge cathedral-like chamber with a high rocky ceiling. The water falls into a basin that is big enough to accommodate ten or so swimmers.
To keep Governor’s Rapids and its surroundings well-maintained and ensure the safety and wellbeing of visitors, the Quirino provincial government initiated the establishment of a cooperative called the Governor’s Rapids Nature Advocates Credit Cooperative. Members include the bugadors, the small enterprises that rent out life vests, owners of cottages that visitors can rent, providers of homestay accommodations, as well as caterers.
The last group is known for serving dishes made from fish found in the area such as kanduli (a kind of catfish endemic to the island of Luzon) stewed in tomatoes, stewed igat (freshwater eel), burasi (carp) stewed in coconut milk, deep-fried balanban (goby), and ikan (mullet) stew with a sour and savory taste. Freshwater shrimp, called by the locals as lasik, is also available and is served in a variety of ways – hinalabos (scalded in salty water), sweet and spicy, crispy or as the calamansi (Philippine lemon) drizzled and still alive centerpiece of the popular “jumping” salad.
Maddela Eco-Tourism Park
This nature preserve, located in Barangay Dumabato Sur, is another popular tourist destination. Its most famous – and most photographed – attraction is the seven-tier Maddela Waterfalls that can be reached after a short trek. The falls’ crystal-clear waters skip down a virtual stone stairway and then drop onto a pool that has become a favorite swimming venue for visitors.
The whole park, teeming with lush flora and fauna endemic to the place, is perfect for picnicking, for nature-tripping or simply for resting from the stresses of everyday life.
Maria Angela Falls
Located in Barangay Jose Ancheta, this is a 15-meter high waterfall that cascades along an exquisitely formed wall of rocks whose sides are covered with shrubbery. Its cool waters fall onto a catch basin that has become a much-visited swimming hole, especially during the summer months.
Reachable after a short trek on a well-maintained path, the place is an ideal spot for family picnics, for selfies and for communing with nature.
Panagsasalog Festival
Like all Quirino municipalities, Maddela also holds an annual fiesta that attracts visitors to the town. Held in June 12-15, this is the “Panagsasalog Festival.” This dramatizes, through music and street dances, the traditional custom of Maddela’s farming communities of leaving their homes at dawn to go to their farms where they work all day until they return home at nightfall. This yearly festival, in fact, got its name from “salog,” the Ilocano term for “going to the farms.”
It portrays how communal activities are conducted, particularly during the planting season as well as harvest time when the town’s farmers go to the farms very early in the morning to work. It, thus, signifies the Maddellanians’ love for hard work and shows how they express their gratitude to the Almighty for a bountiful harvest.
Restaurants
A commercial center, Maddela has several restaurants where visitors can go for snacks or full meals.
Listed below are some of the most popular ones.
Buddies Place
Located on the national highway in Poblacion Sur, this is a family-style restaurant that serves such Ilocano delicacies as dinengdeng and pinakbet (vegetable dishes with a bagoong – fermented salted anchovies – soup base). It also offers crispy pata, pancit palabok and fresh lumpia.
For snacks, it has pizza, halo-halo and dendelot, a Cagayan Valley specialty made from glutinous rice flour steamed in a banana leaf wrap and served with coconut sugar syrup and curdled coconut cream
Medy’s Noodle House and Restaurant
True to its name, this eatery, located in Poblacion Sur, specializes in noodle dishes. Its extensive pancit menu includes such favorites as batil patong, cabagan, canton, bihon and guisado.
It also serves lomi, pares, bulalo and pinapaitan, an Ilocano specialty made from cow’s innards (although the Ilocano classic calls for goat innards) flavored with bile, tamarind and plenty of chillies
Aldine’s Pasty and Food Hauz
Also located in Poblacion Sur, this restaurant is another pancit specialist that offers palabok, bihon, guisado, canton and sotanghon. It likewise serves a broad array of meat dishes from fried chicken to chicken inasal to chicken teriyaki to pork barbecue, all the way to beef pares.
Its snacks menu includes halo-halo, mais con yelo (a variation of the more renowned halo-halo, this is a mixture of shaved ice, corn kernels, sugar and milk), and frappes.
Chloe Becca’s Pares House
Known for its pares, this restaurant located in Purok 2, Barangay Dumabato Norte, offers a wide variety of this popular Filipino street food. Diners can choose from beef, tumbong (pig intestines) and lechon (roasted pig).
It also serves grilled porkchop and pork belly, as well as different kinds of silogs.
Gracious Plate
A well-patronized restaurant in Purok Namnama in Poblacion Norte, it offers traditional delicacies as well as some innovative dishes such as its Pinoy samgyupsal, a Filipinized version of the Korean staple, and bulalugaw which is lugaw (a simple Filipino rice porridge dish) made special with the addition of tenderized beef shanks, boiled eggs and sweet corn.
It also serves adobong pato (the quintessential Filipino meat dish that is made from duck meat instead of the usual chicken or port), bulalo, pinapaitan and pinikpikan. The last is an Igorot chicken dish that is made by beating a live chicken with a stick before it is cooked. The beating brings the blood to the surface of the skin which is believed to enhance the flavor of the meat.
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Villa Guada Flor Garden and Café
Located in Barangay Abbag, this is a popular venue for family gatherings because of its homey garden setting. During the holiday season, it becomes even more bright and joyous as it is adorned to take on a Christmas village ambiance.
It is also known for its food, particularly for its Pancit Villa Guadaflor, a spicy noodle dish. In addition, it serves chicken barbeque and, for dessert or snack, puto pao (steamed rice cake with meat filling.)
Maddela Gallery
