Kalinga is a landlocked province in the Philippines situated within the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk.

The Kalinga people are highlanders and the most extensive rice farmers of the Cordillera peoples, having been blessed with some of the most suitable land for both wet and dry rice farming. Like the Ifugao, the Kalinga are prolific terrace builders. The Kalinga are also skilled craftsmen, well-versed in basketry, loom weaving, metalsmithing, and pottery, the last centred in the lower Chico River Valley. The white rafting area in Kalinga is in the beautiful mountain setting at Chico River. The spectacular beauty of the mountains and the gorgeous river of Tabuk combined for an exciting and memorable white rafting adventure.

In this province also live the master tattooist (mambabatok) and recipient of the prestigious Dangal ng Haraya Award, Whang-od.

Quick facts

Governor: JAMES EDDUBA

Vice Governor: FERDINAND TUBBAN

POPULATION:229,570 (As of 2022)

GEOGRAPHY: Kalinga is bounded on the north by the province of Apayao, on the east by Cagayan and Isabela, on the west by Abra and on the south by Mt. Province. Kalinga has a total land area of 3,231.25 sq. km. having a topography that is generally rugged and sloping, with mountain peaks ranging from 1,500 meters to 2,500 meters in height.

CITY: 1 (City of Tabuk)

TOWNS/MUNICIPALITIES:7 (Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Rizal, Tanudan and Tinglayan.)

BARANGAYS: 175

LANGUAGE: The primary language spoken is Kalinga, including its dialects of Balangao, Butbut, Limos, Lower Tanudan, Lubuagan, Mabaka, Madukayang, Southern Kalingan, and Upper Tanudan. Gaddang, as well as Ilocano, Tagalog, and English are also spoken in as lingua francas with varying degrees of proficiency.

RELIGION: The Kalinga are one of several large, historically non-Christian groups living in the mountains of northern Luzon. They are grouped together on the grounds of cultural and linguistic similarity rather than common identity.