BICOL
BICOL
INTRODUCTION OF REGION.
-Bicol is the adventure capital of the Philippines, and is well known for its active volcanoes, tranquil
whale sharks, secret beaches and spicy foods.
-The region was originally called Ibalon.
(“people from the other side” or “people who are hospitable and give visitors gifts to bring
home”)
- Bicol Region is composed of four contiguous provinces: Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte,
and Sorsogon;
- Two island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate;
- And seven cities namely, Legazpi, Naga, Iriga, Tabaco, Ligao, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
- And The main languages spoken in Camarines Sur are the Coastal Bikol (especially Central Bikol)
and Inland Bikol group of languages.
GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Camarines Sur has 2 cities and 35 Municipalities.
Camarines Sur occupies the central section of the Bicol Peninsula. With a land area of 5,266.8
square kilometres
At the center of the province is the Bicol Plain, surrounded by mountains which include Mount
Bernacci (Tangcong Vaca), Mount Isarog and Mount Iriga. The eastern portion of the province lies
on the mountainous Caramoan Peninsula, which faces the island of Catanduanes to the east.
Next, CARAMOAN
The municipality is located at the tip of the Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land
extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the north and east and Lagonoy Gulf on the
south. It has been dubbed as the Emerging Paradise of the Pacific due to its white and pink sand
beaches known internationally.
DEL GALLEGO
It used to be called Danawin and is located along Kilbay River. It was established through
Executive Order No. 56 Series of 1936 signed by then President Manuel L. Quezon.
Del Gallego is the last town in the northern part of Camarines Sur. This is where the Quirino
Highway (Andaya Highway) road meets with the first town of Quezon province, Tagkawayan.
GAINZA
officially the Municipality of Gainza is a 4th class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur.
It is one of the oldest municipalities in Camarines Sur, and Gainza is a part of Metro Naga Urban
Area.
The town is not a young municipality neither it can be counted among the ancient towns and cities in
the Bicol Region. However, its origin is as old as “Ciudad de Caceres” – Naga City today. The
municipality was formerly a barrio of Ciudad de Cacares founded by Captain Pedro de Chavez.
NABUA
Nabua is the mother town of Iriga City, Buhi, Bato, Balatan, Bula and Baao in Camarines Sur.
Nabua has five districts: Antacudos, Binoyoan, Caobnan, Lupa and Sabang.
and it is thes home of the modern kuntaw, and jota rojana.
Agriculture contributes a major role to the economy of the municipality of Nabua given its vast
alluvial plains. Its agricultural contribution consists of crop production, livestock, and fishery. Crop
production is more intense rather than livestock and fishery.
PILI, CAMARINES SUR.
The name of the town has many disputed etymologies, either it came from the Bicol Region's Pili
nut (Canarium ovatum) or from the Bicol word “pili” or “to choose”.
The town of Pili has a “plain and elevated” geography, thus is very ideal for agriculture. Majority of
the farmlands are in the area between the Uptown and Downtown Area. Rice, sugarcanes, and corn
are the primary products.
Sili Ice Cream is made of coconut cream. Its major ingredient, “siling labuyo”, makes it unique from
other ice creams. This hot yet cold ice cream has a different level of spiciness. It was originally
introduced by a Bicol-based restaurant, “1st Colonial Grill”, which can be found in Naga City and
Legazpi, Albay.
Laing Pizza-
Pizza is not only famous in Italy, but also in the Philippines. Bicol has its own version of pizza,
the LAING PIZZA, which can be found in the restaurant of Camarines Sur Watersports Complex
located also at Brgy. Cadlan, Pili. If you plan to introduce Bicolano cuisine to a visitor, this Bicolano
Pizza is the perfect dish that depicts all Bicolano cuisine. It has a rich coconut milk as its base, a
plenty amount of cheese, Bicol express (pork in coconut milk with shrimp paste and chilis), and
Laing (dried taro leaves in coconut milk) perfectly garnished on top of a thin and crisp dough.
FESTIVITIES
And Next, I am presenting the few Festivals in Camarines Sur.
first is the karanowan Festival-
In appreciation of the beautiful God- given nature, the Karonawan Fish-Tival is a celebration of
the beauty and bounty of Bato in order to inject and instill the importance of preserving and
conserving the these natural resources as major sources of food and as potential tourist attractions.
And it is celebrated every Febuary 15 at Bato, Camarines Sur
daraga, albay-
The word daraga historically referred to a "maiden", and is the modern term for an "unmarried
woman" in many of the Bikol languages. The original settlement of Daraga dates back to the 12th
century, but has changed location repeatedly due to the constant threats posed by the Mayon Volcano.
The town was previously named Budiao, Cagsawa, and Locsin.
Jovellar-
The town was named in honor of Spanish governor-general Joaquín Jovellar y Soler.
Jovellar's main industry is agriculture. Primary crops are rice, copra, abaca, and corn.
Quipia River runs through the town and the river leads all the way to Donsol in Sorsogon.
Tourist activities in the area may include a trip to the river just behind the local school or a trip to
Pariaan pool. Once at the town center, one can find a statue of the national hero, Jose Rizal, and the
town church in front of it.
Ginulay na Santol-
The name is pretty straightforward and it's not hard to enjoy — the taste is fresh as the ingredients are
locally sourced. The gata is strong, but not so much that it masks the flavor of the santol.
Pili cheesecake-
For local dessert, look no further than 528 Cafe in Pacific Mall. There's a humble looking cheesecake
that is bursting with Filipino flavors. Pili nuts top the cake and is also mixed in the crust, but it's the pili
meat that stood out for Drew.
Unlike other flavored cheesecakes that usually just tastes like cheese with a faint hint of a blueberry,
Drew testifies to the strong, creamy pili flavor in this cake.
cagsawa festival-
The Cagsawa Festival aims to celebrate the indomitable spirit and resilience of Albayanos, and not the
memory of the disaster’s horrors. The month-long Cagsawa Festival, celebrated every February, kicks
off at the historic and world famous Cagsawa Ruins.
Next is Ms. Paraan, kyna who will be discussing the next province.