Spanish colonial era

Tuguegarao was founded on May 9, 1604, as a "mission-pueblo" with the new vicar Fray Tomas Villa, O.P. initiating the construction of a temporary church housing Sts. Peter and Paul as patron saints.

In the 1720s, Father Antonio Lobato, O.P. developed a layout of street network together with the construction of the cathedral. In 1839, the provincial capital was transferred to Tuguegarao from Lal-lo as the Cagayan-Manila road opened which spurred socio-economic progress.^[9]

American era

The town was occupied by American troops on December 12, 1899. Drastic improvements in Tuguegarao were discerned over the course of provincial administrations—the first Provincial Capitol was completed in 1909, a town hall and public market were built, the provincial high school—Cagayan High School—was founded in a former private residence, and the Cagayan Valley College of Arts & Trades was founded by American educator Claude Andrews.^[9]

Japanese occupation

During World War II, the city and its airfield as bombed at the opening of the Pacific War on 8 December 1941.^[10] The city fell to the Japanese Imperial Army on 12 December 1941, as part of the Japanese invasion of Aparri. The General Headquarters of the 11th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL was activated in 1942 and stationed in Tuguegarao. Following an escalation of fighting during the closing months of the war, the Japanese fled to the barrio of Capatan. Tuguegarao was liberated by Allied forces on 25 June 1945.^[10]

Philippine independence

Sitio Capatan was elevated into a barrio (or barangay) of Tuguegarao on April 3, 1959, by Republic Act No. 2107.^[11]

In 1975, Tuguegarao was declared as the capital and seat of the regional government of Cagayan Valley (Region II) being the region's geographic center with adequate facilities and amenities needed by such. Multistory buildings were constructed in the poblacion greatly changing Tuguegarao's skyline in the 1980s and 1990s.

Hotel Delfino siege

On March 4, 1990, former colonel and suspended Cagayan governor Rodolfo Aguinaldo seized the Hotel Delfino using his private army of about 300 men. Aguinaldo stood accused of supporting the Dec. 1–9, 1989 coup attempt against President Corazon Aquino.^[12] Brigadier General Oscar Florendo, armed forces chief of Civil Military Relations, was sent to Tuguegarao by Aquino to serve Aguinaldo with an arrest warrant.^[12] After Aguinaldo's men seized control of Hotel Delfino where the general was staying, Florendo was taken hostage along with more than 50 other hotel guests.^[13] Florendo was eventually shot inside the hotel and died of his wounds.^[14] Following hours of standoff between the two sides, nearly 1,000 government troops^[15] launched an attack to dislodge Aguinaldo's forces from the hotel.^[16] During this melee, Aguinaldo fled with about 90 fighters for mountains in the north^[13] and went into hiding for several months until he surrendered, only to be cleared of all legal charges by winning reelection in 1992.

Cityhood

Tuguegarao became a component city by virtue of Republic Act 8755 dated November 4, 1999,^[17] followed by a plebiscite held on December 18, 1999. Randolph Ting was the first mayor of the new city. On July 2, 2007, Ting's father, businessman and former municipal mayor Delfin Telan Ting, was elected as the city's second mayor. After the 25-year political dominance of the Tings, however, retired police general Jefferson Soriano won over re-electionist Delfin Ting in the 2013 local elections.^[18] However, Soriano's term was marked by multiple charges of corruption that saw him being and reinstated several times over his nine years in office. Eventually, he was defeated by Maila Ting-Que, daughter of Delfin Ting, in his 4th reelection bid in the 2022 local elections. This made Ting-Que the first woman to be elected mayor of the city.

Barangays

Tuguegarao is politically subdivided and comprises into 49 barangays.^[21] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

There are 31 barangays in the city that are considered urban (highlighted in bold).

Climate

Tuguegarao experiences a tropical monsoon climate (Am), with only a slight difference between summer and winter temperatures, and high year-round humidity. The average temperature during March and April is 38 °C (100 °F),^[26][27] one of the highest in the country.

On May 11, 1969, the highest temperature in the Philippines was recorded in Tuguegarao at 42.2 °C (108.0 °F),^[7][8] beating the previous record of 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) also measured in Tuguegarao in May 1912.^[28] Thus, the city was tagged as the "Hottest City in the Philippines". Unusually, in months—usually lasts from December to February—where the cool northeast monsoon or locally as amihan surges, temperatures in the city drop to as low as 15 °C (59 °F)—in 2017^[29]—especially in early mornings. Locals parallel the chills felt with that in Baguio.^[30]

Population

In the 2020 census, the population of Tuguegarao was 166,334 people^[3] with a density of 1,100 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,800 inhabitants per square mile. It is the most populous and densest city in the Cagayan Valley region. Most of the inhabitants are Ilocanos, Ibanags and Itawes. City's other residents include Kapampangans, Pangasinans, Tagalogs, Cebuanos, Hiligaynons, Maranaos, Maguindanaons and Tausugs—all of whom are not native in the city.^[35] Some are of Chinese and Indian descent.

Religion

Ricardo Baccay, the incumbent Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuguegarao

Due to a history of Spanish and other foreign missions, Christianity, in the form of Roman Catholicism, is the predominant religion in Tuguegarao. The present Roman Catholic Archdiocese was chiseled from the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia formerly located in Lal-lo (Nueva Segovia). It was initially created as a diocese on April 10, 1910, and elevated as an Archdiocese by Pope Paul VI on September 21, 1974. It has jurisdiction over suffragan bishops of Bayombong, Ilagan and Batanes.

The seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese is at St. Peter Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the largest churches in the region.

There are also Protestants, Baptist, Church of Christ, Adventists, Born Again groups, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Philippine-based groups like Iglesia ni Cristo and Members Church of God International that accounts to the city's population. These religious organizations have their own temples and churches sparsely located in the city. Some are Islam where their mosque is found in Centro 10 (Riverside).

Retail and business process outsourcing

Large retail operators have shown significant interest to the growth and increase of land value in cities throughout the Philippines. They are seen as highly developed urban centers where a lot of economic activities take place, and is important to urbanization and development. Tuguegarao is eyed as a center of exponential growth for commerce, industry and service, strengthening its stature as the capital of the Cagayan Valley Region.

SM Prime, the largest retail operator in the country, opened SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown on October 12, 2017, as its first mall in the city and in Cagayan. Its second mall, SM City Tuguegarao, opened on November 18, 2022, marketed as the largest mall in the Cagayan Valley Region.^[46][47][48]

On July 26, 2018,^[49] rival Robinsons Land Corporation opened the mixed-use complex shopping mall Robinsons Place Tuguegarao as the first full-service mall in Cagayan,^[50] including a Go Hotels branch,^[51] the first in the region. A few kilometers away from Robinsons Place Tuguegarao, DoubleDragon Properties, a subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation, started constructing CityMall Tuguegarao at last quarter of 2017 and opened on March 1, 2021, its first in the region.

Other notable shopping centers include the Tuguegarao City Commercial Center, formerly known as the Mall of the Valley; FCI Citimall, the first shopping mall in Northern Luzon; Brickstone Mall; Primark Town Center Tuguegarao, former site of Paseo Reale Mall; Unitop Mall Tuguegarao; Mart One Department Store and more.

Following the opening of 7 Eleven stores in Nueva Vizcaya, and Isabela provinces, the Philippine Seven Corporation expanded its reach to the Cagayan with its two branches in the city at College Avenue, near University of Cagayan Valley and at the new Valley Hotel Tower Mall in Balzain, now there are more than 8 Branches of 7 Eleven stores around the city.^[52]

The city has seen a significant growth of auto-hub companies with the presence of car showrooms in the city. Car brands such as Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Nissan, Isuzu, and Toyota have set up their dealerships in the different parts of the city, mostly located along the major highways of the urbanity. The largest of which is from Toyota located at Carig Sur near the city hall.

The City Government of Tuguegarao, through the city's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Council hosted a meeting with IT-BPO companies Sitel Philippines Inc. and Lee Chiu Property Consultants, Inc. in September 2018 to discuss the possibilities of locating their companies in the city. Initial steps have been made for the establishment of an IT park and a township where BPO companies could locate.^[53][54]

Banking and real estate

Tuguegarao, as the seat of the regional capital of Cagayan Valley, houses the regional headquarters of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas located at the Regional Government Center in Carig Sur. As of 2019, a total of 53 banks are operating in the city such as BPI, BDO, Chinabank, RCBC, EastWest, UnionBank, Robinsons Bank, PNB, Bank of Commerce, Landbank, UCPB, Philippine Postal Savings Bank and others.

Major real estate developers Ayala Land — Avida Settings Tuguegarao — and Vista Land — Camella Tuguegarao, Lessandra Cagayan and the expansion of Camella Cagayan (soon Camella Cagayan Trails) — are constructing their housing developments in Cagayan Valley. New condominiums developments are in the city these are Bayani Hall Lecaros, Bayani Hall Twin Towers developed by Vester Corporation and Rosevale Towers developed by Vista Estates.

The North Gateway Business Park is an 18-hectare (44-acre) mixed-use township development project located in Barangay Carig Sur, near the Regional Government Center. Launched on February 4, 2020, by real estate developer DataLand, it will feature a mixed-use superblock of retail shops, transport terminal, hotel and residential condominiums and a business park for BPO companies, financial institutions and major corporations.^[55][56] Nuciti by Vista Estates will become one of the future central business district of Tuguegarao spanning at 100-hectares of prime land currently it will house the Rosevale Towers, restaurants, cafes and in future developments it will feature commercial blocks, office buildings, meeting spaces, condotels, hotels, condominiums and commercial hubs.

Metro Tuguegarao

In May 2019, the National Economic and Development Authority Regional Development Council - Region 2 worked with consulting firms Pacific Rim Innovation and Management Exponents, Inc. (PRIMEX), Engineering and Development Corporation of the Philippines (EDCOP) and the Key Engineer Corporation to prepare a master plan for spurring economic growth in the Metro Tuguegarao zone. The metropolitan area, known as PIEST, includes the four municipalities of Peñablanca, Iguig, Enrile, Solana and the city of Tuguegarao. A situation analysis made by the consultative bodies found out that agriculture, water resource and tourism sectors were some of the "unutilized potentials" seen as key in the development of the area.^[57] Developments were extended in Metro Area having the Wilcon Depot Iguig, Isuzu Iguig, Puregold Solana, 7 Eleven Solana and the new bridge that will connect the commerce of Solana and the Tuguegarao this bridge will help to decongest the traffic flow of Buntun Bridge and more proposed and developments of infrastructures, commerce for the Metro Area.

Local government

As a component city and capital of the Province of Cagayan, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the city. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the city government.

Tuguegarao is governed by a city mayor, designated as local chief executive, and by a Sangguniang Panlungsod, composed of the vice mayor and the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative body, in accordance with the Local Government Code.^[58] They are voted to office through an election, held every after three years. As a component city, the provincial government of Cagayan has political jurisdiction over local transactions of the city government.

Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Elected officials (2022–2025):^[59][60]

• District Representative (3rd Legislative District of the Province of Cagayan): Joseph L. Lara
• Chief Executive: Maila Rosario T. Que
• Presiding Officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Tuguegarao: Bienvenido C. De Guzman II
• Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Tuguegarao:
  • Mark Angelo B. Dayag
  • Maria Rosario B. Soriano
  • Ronald S. Ortiz
  • Mary Marjorie P. Martin-Chan
  • Imogen Claire M. Callangan
  • Gilbert S. Labang
  • Jude T. Bayona
  • Karina S. Gauani
  • Arnel T. Arugay
  • Grace B. Arago
  • Tirso V. Mangada
  • Marc Aldous C. Baccay

Controversy

On February 10, 2017, then Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano stepped down from office following an order from the Ombudsman to dismiss him for grave misconduct, which stemmed from anomalous purchases made when he was still the comptroller of the Philippine National Police. Soriano voluntarily called the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to facilitate the turn over of the mayoralty office to then Vice Mayor Bienvenido de Guzman II.^[61] After about seven months, following the order of the Court of Appeals Fourth Division (CA) for "immediate" reinstatement of Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano, on September 6, 2017, Soriano took oath of office. The CA disagreed to the Ombudsman's dismissal order—stating that he committed grave misconduct—and that the mayor only committed simple misconduct. According to the decision, he should only be penalized with three months suspension instead of dismissal from service.^[62]

Air

An Air Philippines Boeing 737 at the Tuguegarao Airport

The Tuguegarao Airport handles domestic flights within the Philippines and serves the general area of Tuguegarao and its surrounding municipalities, and is capable of handling Boeing-737-sized aircraft. It is one of the top 20 busiest airports in the country and classified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines as a Principal Class 1 domestic airport. Cebu Pacific, Sky Pasada and PAL Express are the domestic airlines which operate routes to and from the city. As of 2017, the airport is undergoing rehabilitation and expansion consisting of terminal upgrades and widening of runway, for night landing capabilities, and taxiway.^[75]

A proposed international airport, serving the Cagayan Valley Region, will be constructed at the eastern portion of the city—somewhere in barangays Dadda or Tagga—as suggested by City Mayor Bienvenido de Guzman II and former mayor Atty. Jefferson Soriano. Originally, as proposed by the Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, the airport was to be located at the tri-boundary area of Tuao, Piat and Solana towns but was later shelved after a forum.^[76]

Land

The tricycle, Tuguegarao's primary public transit vehicle

A cultural icon of the Philippines with a unique design, Tuguegarao's tricycles offer shared vehicle for hire services for small groups of passengers on a common route over short distances.

Tuguegarao also serves as a vital hub for local, regional and national transportation. Buses operate regional routes from Tuguegarao to Baggao, Aparri, Santiago, Baguio, and many neighboring cities, towns and municipalities. It also is an end-of-the-line stop for many coaches running inter-city and national routes mostly coming from Metro Manila such as GV Florida, Victory Liner, Dalin Bus Liner, Five Star, First North Luzon Transit to name a few.

To the east side are UV Express vans that ply north and south towards Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Aparri, Santa Ana, Alcala, Lasam and Junction Luna, Abulug in Cagayan, Santiago, Roxas, Ilagan and Cauayan in Isabela, Luna and Kabugao in Apayao. There are also mini buses plying to Lasam, Allacapan, Claveria, Santiago and Roxas. Then to the west are jeepneys with routes to Iguig, Tuao, Enrile, Tabuk and Rizal in Kalinga and some mountainous and inland barrios including Callao, all of which lie on the west side of the river.

Kalesas run within the city, mostly near popular points of interest, and are part of the city's tourism but most of these are limited within the downtown area. Taxis are the newest mode of public transportation which are routed from the city to any point in Region 2.

TV Stations

• GMA Tuguegarao Channel 7
• PTV Tuguegarao Channel 12
• GTV Tuguegarao Channel 27
• RJTV Tuguegarao Channel 29
• TV5 Tuguegarao Channel 39
• GNN Tuguegarao Channel 47
• One Sports Tuguegarao Channel 49
• UNTV Tuguegarao Channel 51
• The Northern Forum - Cagayan Valley

Cable & Satellite TV

• RBC Cable Master System
• Clearview Cable TV System
• Cignal TV
• Sky Direct

Radio

AM Stations:

• DZRH Nationwide 576 (Manila Broadcasting Company)
• DZCV 684 Radyo Sanggunian (Filipinas Broadcasting Network)
• DWPE Radyo Pilipinas 729 (Philippine Broadcasting Service)
• DZYT Sonshine Radio 765 (Sonshine Media Network International)
• DZGR Bombo Radyo 891 (People's Broadcasting Service)

FM Stations:

• Barangay FM 89.3 (GMA Network, Inc.)
• 91.7 Magik FM (Century Broadcasting Network)
• 92.5 Brigada News FM (Brigada Mass Media Corporation)
• 94.1 Love Radio (Manila Broadcasting Company)
• 94.9 FMR Cagayan (Philippine Collective Media Corporation)
• 96.5 RJ FM (Relay station of RJ FM 100.3 Manila by Rajah Broadcasting Network)
• 100.5 Big Sound FM (Vanguard Radio Network)
• 101.5 Radio Maria Cagayan (Radio Maria Philippines)
• 105.3 Radyo Pangkaunlaran Cagayan (Department of Agriculture & Philippine Broadcasting Service)

Entertainment

• Ralph Guzman, broadcaster and journalist
• Orestes Ojeda, actor

Military

• Eulogio Balao, former soldier and politician
• Noel A. Coballes, retired lieutenant general and Commanding General of the Philippine Army (2013-2014)
• Benito Antonio T. de Leon, retired AFP military officer

Religion

• Ricardo Baccay, Archbishop elect of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, former third bishop of the Diocese of Alaminos, and former auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao.

Sports

• Rommel Adducul, former professional basketball player and coach
• Philip Butel, Caloocan Supremos basketball player
• Rachelle Anne Cabral, archer in the 2012 Summer Olympics