Philippines / Northwest Luzon / Urdaneta

Urdaneta, 123km northwest of Manila and 25km southeast of Dagupan City, is sometimes called the Dodge City of the Philippines because of it's vivid cattle trade. Cattle traders from all over converge in Urdaneta to buy and sell. More and more municipalities are adopting and applying Urdaneta's method of marketing cattle in an effort to match the town's success in this area. In the cattle market, dealers trade about 1,500 head weekly.

Before the earthquake of July 16, 1990 it was, however, much overshadowed by the larger Dagupan City. But as Dagupan City was widely destroyed during that earthquake, a large number of businesses have transfered from Dagupan to Urdaneta.

Urdaneta holds the distinction of having the largest number of barangay schools north of Manila. Which is not unexpected as the town is the birthplace of the barangay high school system. It was here the late Dr. Pedro T. Orata, internationally renowned educator, developed and experimented with his now popular concept of bringing education to the people.

There are 39 public and three private elementary schools, 20 public and two private high schools, four colleges; two public and two private, and a dozen special schools including technical institutes and computer centers.

One tourist attraction of the town are the Cabaruan Hills, which was the site of fierce fighting between US and Japanese forces during WW II. Urdaneta holds its fiesta over eight days from December 1 to 8 in honor of its patroness saint, the Immaculada Concepcion, and highlights it with colorful parades, beauty pageants, popularity contests, cultural presentations, agroindustrial fairs, religious activities and sports festivals.

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