Cabanatuan City Day (Banatu Festival) in the Philippines Date in the current year: February 3, 2025

Cabanatuan is a component city in the Philippine province of Nueva Ecija. It is the most populous city in the province and the former provincial capital. Cabanatuan was founded in 1750 as a barrio of Gapan, which was founded by Spanish priests in 1595. The name Cabanatuan is derived from the word banatu, which means a vine plant that grows along the banks of the Pampanga River. It is literally translated as “a place where banatu is abundant”.

Cabanatuan became an independent municipality and the capital of Nueva Ecija in 1780. In 1850, the capital was transferred to San Isidro. However, during the American occupation of the Philippines Cabanatuan was reinstated as the provincial capital in 1917.

During World War II, Cabanatuan was occupied by Japan along with the rest of the Philippines. During the occupation, the town was the site of a prison camp for American soldiers, some of whom had endured the infamous Bataan Death March. On January 30, 1945, Filipino guerrillas and American soldiers (the U.S. Army Rangers and Alamo Scouts) raided the camp and freed more than 500 POWs.

On June 15, 1950, Cabanatuan was granted cityhood. In 1965, it again lost its status as the provincial capital when the capital was transferred to the newly established city of Palayan, which was created with the specific purpose of becoming a new provincial capital. In 1990, Cabanatuan was severely damaged during the Luzon earthquake.

Despite losing its status as provincial capital and suffering losses during the Luzon earthquake, Cabanatuan is a major economic, transportation, educational, medical, shopping and entertainment center in Nueva Ecija and surrounding provinces in Central Luzon. It is famous for its motorized tricycles, which has earned it the nickname “Tricycle Capital of the Philippines”. Another nickname of Cabatuan is “Gateway to the North” due to its location on the island of Luzon.

The celebration of Cabanatuan City Day is known as the Banatu Festival. The festival was started in 2015 to showcase the history, culture and beauty of the city of Cabanatuan as well as the talent and craftsmanship of its people (Cabanatueños).

The Banatu Festival usually begins at the end of January and culminates on February 3. Its many events and activities include cultural shows, a culinary fair, beauty pageant, a holy mass, various contests and competitions, and an awards ceremony.

One of the main highlights of the Banatu Festival is the Longganisa Festival, which actually predates the Banatu Festival. Longganisa is a type of sausage similar to chorizo that is popular in the Philippines. Cabanatuan longganisa, also known as batotay, bototay or batutay, is a local specialty; unlike Vigan longganisa, it is made from beef instead of pork. During the festival, local vendors roast hundreds of kilograms of longganisa and offer it to city residents and tourists.