Peñablanca
Peñablanca, officially the Municipality of Peñablanca, is a municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.
Peñablanca is home to the charcoal-drawn Peñablanca petrographs and the Callao Limeston Formation. Both the Peñablanca Petrographs and the Callao Limestone Formation are included as tentative sites of the Philippines for future inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Callao Limestone Formation has at least 93 archaeological sites that yielded stone tools of Paleolithic industry and bones and shells of animals still living in the vicinity.
History
Named after its prominent white rock formations, Peñablanca was formerly a barrio of Tuguegarao named Bubug. However, it also went by other names such as Alimannao, which was said to have been derived from a German rancher named Otto Weber, who, when one of his servants was asked who owned the cows in the area, responded in Itawis: cua na Aliman yao. Another name for the place was camasi, from the native word for tomato, which abounded in the area. Both Alimannao and Camasi are now names of barrios in the municipality.Peñablanca was made a separate municipality by the Spaniards on November 20, 1886. Its first inhabitants were Kalingas and Negritos.
Geography
The municipality is home to the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape which contains the Callao Cave, one of the province's well-known landmarks and tourist spots.Peñablanca is situated from of the provincial capital Tuguegarao, and north of the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays
Peñablanca is divided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.- Aggugaddan
- Alimanao
- Baliuag
- Bical
- Bugatay
- Buyun
- Cabasan
- Cabbo
- Callao
- Camasi
- Centro
- Dodan
- Lapi
- Malibabag
- Mangga
- Minanga
- Nabbabalayan
- Nanguilattan
- Nannarian
- Parabba
- Patagueleg
- Quibal
- San Roque
- Sisim
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Peñablanca was 50,856 people, with a density of.Government
Local government
Peñablanca is part of the third legislative district of the province of Cagayan. It is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the municipal councilors are elected directly by the people through an election held every three years.Elected officials
| Position | Name |
| Congressman | Joseph L. Lara |
| Mayor | Washington M. Taguinod |
| Vice-Mayor | Marilyn J. Taguinod |
| Councilors | Ma. Katrina T. Carag |
| Councilors | Rodney D. Mora |
| Councilors | Janice L. Tungcul-Beleno |
| Councilors | Pauline Tatiana C. Dela Cruz |
| Councilors | Elisa C. Arugay |
| Councilors | Pedro Q. Alan |
| Councilors | Juan H. Lingan Jr. |
| Councilors | Eutiguio A. Calagui |
Education
The Schools Division of Cagayan governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. There are two schools district offices which govern the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality. These are Peñablanca East District, and Peñablanca West District.Primary and elementary schools
- Abucay Elementary School
- Alaminnao Elementary School
- Alitontong Elementary School
- Baguio Point Community Scholl
- Baliwag Elementary School
- Bauan Elementary School
- Bical Elementary School
- Bugatay Elementary School
- Buyun Elementary School
- Cabasan Elementary School
- Cabbo Elementary School
- Callao Elementary School
- Dodan Elementary School
- Lagum Elementary School
- Lapi Elementary School
- Little Jesus Christian Academy Minanga Branch
- Little Jesus Christian Academy Vuyun Branch
- Little Jesus Christian Academy Bambang Branch
- Little Jesus Christian Academy Callao Branch
- Little Jesus Christian Academy Sisim Branch
- Little Jesus Christian Academy Lapi Branch
- Little Jesus Christian Academy Roma Branch
- Mangga Elementary School
- Minanga Elementary School
- Nanguillattan Elementary School
- Nannarian Elementary School
- Parabba Elementary School
- Patagueleg Elementary School
- Methodist Christian School of Peñablanca
- Peñablanca East Central School
- Peñablanca West Central School
- Quibal Elementary School
- San Roque Elementary School
- School of Saints Philip and James
- Sisim Elementary School
Secondary schools
- Cabbo National High School
- Don Severino Pagalilauan National High School
- International School of Asia and the Pacific
- Peñablanca East National High School
- Peñablanca National High School
- San Jacinto Seminary
- School of Saints Philip and James
Media
- 94.9 MHz DWEX FMR Cagayan
- 98.1 MHz DWCJ Radio Bayanian