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Tuguegarao City (sometimes "Taguegarao") is the capital of the northern Cagayan province in the Philippines. It is located on the Cagayan River, near the southern border of the province, Lat 17° 37' N Long 121° 43' E. Its population in 2000 was 120,645.
The origin of the name is unclear; possibilities include "tuggui gari yao" (this was cleared by fire), "garao" (swift river current), or "taraw" (a species of palm). The first recorded settlement was a mission pueblo established 9 May 1604. The city developed gradually, then more rapidly after the provincial capital was transferred from Lallo, in 1839. It was occupied by US troops on 12 December 1899.
During World War II, the city was captured by the Japanese on 12 December 1941, and its airfield was of some significance; the city and airfield were bombed by the US regularly between January and May 1945. The Japanese had left by the time Filipino guerillas came in early June; the town was officially liberated on 25 June.
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