Arya Abra Philippines
 Abra the biggest land area in the region hemmed by towering mountains from Ilocos in the western part and the Cordillera in the east. A landlocked province of dominant Spanish ancestry in the lowlands and the unique Tingguian Tribe in the uplands. Most speak Ilocano as the predominant language while Itneg and Tagalog are secondary with some other tribe dialects spoken in few barangay’s. Abra is where Father Conrado Balweg started his crusade fighting for the rights of the Cordillera tribes in which he successfully negotiated a peace accord with the government in 1987 and created the Cordillera Autonomous Region which Abra is a member. The province possesses the most number of municipalities and barangays in the Cordillera region with an impressive amount of natural resources of myriad forest products and minerals such as gold, clay guano, rock phosphate and cement raw materials.

This landlocked province is insulated by mountainous gazebo’s where nature remained prestine and on a relaxed pace away from the humdrum of urban cosmopolitan living. The province is well known as the “Dye Capital of the Philippines ” because natural dye producing plants grow profusely in this province that occupies the western part of the Cordillera. Dyes that are extracted from the barks, roots, leaves and fruits of plants are used to color food and beverages. The same dyes are also used on textiles, pharmaceutical products as well as on furniture. The interest in the practice of dyeing enormously decreased during the last few decades. In 1992 the dyeing tradition was revived by the Katutubong Foundation spearheaded by then First Lady Ming Ramos. The handwoven cloths colored with organic dyes, the handcrafted jewelries and the furniture that were made using the wood from the province’s virgin forest are most suitable souvenir items a visitor can take home. Presently, loom weaving and embroidery projects were launched by the Abra government to help boost the economy. There are also other industry that flourish this province such as bamboo and rattan handicrafts that constitutes a large percentage of the province’s industries.

Abra, like the rest of the provinces in the country has a lot of interesting places to entice travelers. Arts and handicrafts afficionados can visit the private Don Tenorio Brillantes Museum that exhibits the private family collection which showcases the Spanish culture. While the Libtec Underground River with enormous cave formation on the open field but upon entering one will be amazed by the flowing clear water of the underground river with views of stalactite and the stalagmites fossils located in Barangay Libtec in Dolores. The Kimkimay Lake is a favorite picnic ground of both local and foreign travelers as it has clear waters suitable for family gatherings and sport fishing located at Taquib, Villaviciosa. The Victoria National Park is also a frequent travel attraction due to its hilltop location overlooking Bangued and the neighboring municipalities of Tayum, La Paz, Pidigan and Penarrubia.

One can say that Abra is an underrated province as seldom would you see tourism write ups. This province however, offers tourists and travelers simple pleasures that only nature can afford to give. The transformation of this province has been enormous through the years spearheaded by its provincial government in terms of trading, business, culture and tourism. If other nearby provinces have their own colorful tribe festivities such as the Panagbenga Flower Festival of Baguio or the Ulalim Festival of Kalinga, Abrenians have also their own festival to be proud of that is visited by locals and foreign travelers especially expatriates and OFW’s. The yearly Raniag Ti Abra Festival is a colorful festivity of ethnic dancing showcasing the Iloco-Tingguian dance, native foods and a trade fair commemorating its founding day celebrated during the month of March.