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- For Santiago of Chile, see Santiago. For other cities by the name, see Santiago (disambiguation).
Santiago City is a landlocked city in Isabela, Philippines.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Founded by the Spanish during the 18th century, it was originally called Carig, before being renamed after its patron saint. In 1994 it became the first legally-designated city in the Cagayan Valley Region, owing to its strategic location at the spot where the Maharlika Highway from Manila branches out into different routes leading to Quirino Province, Tuguegarao and the Mallig Plains. It is home to about 150,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
It also forms a minor metropolitan area that includes the neighboring municipalities of Cordon, San Isidro and Ramon.
Get in
[edit | edit source]Santiago is on the Maharlika Highway (Pan-Philippine Highway, Asian Highway 26), and is a key destination for buses from Metro Manila. It is the hub of public transportation to other towns of southern Isabela and the neighboring provinces of Ifugao, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya. It is also the terminus of the Tuguegarao-Roxas-Santiago Road, which runs parallel to Maharlika Highway in western Isabela up to Tuguegarao in Cagayan. Long-distance commutes are handled by buses, while commuters to neighboring provinces usually ride passenger vans.
There is frequent bus service along the Cagayan Valley Road, between Manila and Tuguegarao. There are also less frequent buses connecting the city with Baguio, Abra province, and cities in the Ilocos region.
The jeepney fare from Solano to Santiago is ₱60. The a/c bus fare from Santiago to Tuguegarao is ₱190.
The nearest airport is in Cauayan, an hour’s drive.
- 1 Victory Liner Bus Terminal, R.C. Miranda Boulevard, Calao West.
- 2 GV Florida Bus Terminal, Maharlika Highway, Calao East.
Get around
[edit | edit source]
Tricycles are the main public transportation mode within the city. Fares start at P20.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Calvary Hills and The Chapel of Transfiguration, Dariok Hills, Balintocatoc. Open 24 hours. The place offers a pilgrimage venue for the Holy Week where life-size Stations of the Cross are presented from the foot of the hill going all the way up to the top where a Chapel was so designed to face the rising sun. The Chapel of Transfiguration offers pilgrims a commanding silence befitting a place of worship and can also be utilized for masses and retreat venues. A life-size image of Our Lady of La Salette also stands at the site, facing the City. Free.
- 2 Balay Na Santiago, Melegrito Street. This used to be a barangay hall called Palacio del Barrio located at Calao West. Balay na Santiago houses the city museum and city library. This also serves as a multi-purpose function hall for art and music exhibitions and different occasion. The building itself is of the bahay na bato style popular during the Spanish colonial era.
- 3 Santiago Concrete Water Tank, #3 Carreon Street. Open 24 hours. This concrete water tank has been a landmark in Santiago City since the early 1970s. It is almost 30 meters high, and towers over the whole city, visible from almost anywhere. It was constructed through the help of then Congressman Delfin Albano of the lone district of Isabela, and under the leadership of then Mayor Dodo Miranda. It was turned into a colorful mural and is now considered a City Heritage Treasure. Free.
- 4 Museo de Pattaradday, Centro East. This museum at houses collection of artifacts, relics, dresses and antique furniture showing the culture and traditions that are typical in this region of Northeastern Luzon. Temporary closed as of September 2023.
- 5 Magat Dam, Burgos-General Aguinaldo Road, Barangay General Aguinaldo, Ramon. Opened in 1983, it was deemed the largest dam in Southeast Asia at the time and created a reservoir that displaced numerous communities in neighboring Ifugao. Since then it is one of the main sources of irrigation and electricity in the Cagayan Valley Region. The complex and its surroundings have become a favorite recreation spot for residents as well as day-trippers from Santiago. Fishing activities are also available at the reservoir.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Robinsons Place Santiago, Maharlika Highway, Mabini, toll-free: 8397 1888 loc. 36035Phone with wrong formatCountry code missing. 10AM–9PM. Has a nice food court on the 2nd floor.
- 2 Xentro Mall Santiago City, Maharlika Highway corner Four Lanes Street, ☏ +63 977 252 5711. 9AM–8PM.
- 3 Fresco Mall Santiago City (Mart One), Santiago-Tuguegarao Road, Mabini. 9AM–8PM.
- 4 Santiago City Night Market, Panganiban Street. 7PM–2AM.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Gwapigs Porkchop-Estrella's Cafe, #18 Magsaysay Avenue. 8AM–10PM. Filipino restaurant.
- 2 Katerina's Homemade Goodies. 9AM–5PM. Has a wide variety of cakes and pastries that suits everyone's taste.
- 3 Gorio’s Yakiniku - Alfresco, corner Alvarez Street and Sacristia Street, ☏ +63 92-7833-4156. Korean barbecue restaurant.
- 4 Moo-Bang Unlimited Korean Barbecue, City Road corner Osmena Street.
- 5 Chang Noi Food House, Vizcalang Street. 11AM–9PM. Thai restaurant, Very tasty, flavorful and authentic Thai food. The prices are very reasonable.
- 6 Makkhan Boodle Restaurant, Four Lanes Street. Filipino restaurant.
- 7 Katrina Sinugba at Inasal-Santiago City, Four Lanes Street, ☏ +63 905-351-3123. 10AM–8PM.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Jubilee Hotel, 210 Bayaua Street, ☏ +63 91-7816-2658. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A/C double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV for 12 hours.
- 2 Mango Suites, 1 City Road, Calao East, ☏ +63 916-582-1956, +63 943-137-3106, toll-free: +63 78 305 4233, mango.suites10@gmail.com. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon.
- 3 Dreamwave Hotel Santiago City, Four Lanes Street (located in Xentro Mall Santiago), ☏ +63 977-278-2674, dreamwavesantiago@gmail.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 4 Zen Hotel Santiago City, Maharlika Highway, Villasis, toll-free: (078) 305 2351Country code missing, isabelazenhotel@zenhotelgroup.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. ₱1,587-2,154.
- 5 Oryza Hotel Santiago City, Maharlika Highway, ☏ +63 927-714-9677, oryzahotel@gmail.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Santiago City |
| Tuguegarao ← Echague ← | N  S | → Cordon → Solano |
| Tuguegarao ← Ramon ← | N  S | → END |