Rizal, Cagayan

The epic town of Cagayan where the legendary figures Biuag and Malana were said to have fought their epic battle for supremacy over the hand of the beautiful “Manginganay” by hurling at each other volleys of uprooted trees and live cattle.

Otherwise known as the Malaweg, its name dates back to the early 1600’s when Spaniards exploring the Itawes found themselves in a plateau. Feeling very thirsty, they drank the water from a brook which their nature guide called “ueg”. One of the Spaniards became ill after drinking and called the brook “malo ueg”, meaning bad or evil river. On April 26, 1608, the Dominicans accepted the ecclesiastical administration of the town. This is recorded as the official founding of Malaueg.

Rizal is one of the poorest towns in the province, and is greatly devastated by strong typhoons and rains that cause erosion and closure of major roads and bridges, often isolating the town from the province. With an estimated annual income of 40.048 million, it has a population of 19,999 and a land area of 32,586 hectares. People are hardworking. Agriculture is their major source of income and their products include root crops, rice, corn, and coffee. The town’s Malaweg Church is now declared as one of the country’s 26 National Cultural Treasures, which is the only one in Cagayan.