REGION V:Bicol Region

GEOGRAPHYThe Bicol Region is located in the

southernmost tip of Luzon Island, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago. The region is bounded by Lamon Bay to the north, Pacific Ocean to the east, and Sibuyan Sea and Ragay Gulf to the west. The northernmost province, Camarines Norte, is bordered to the north by the province of Quezon, connecting the region to the rest of Luzon.

Pre-History The Bicol region was known as Ibalon,

variously interpreted to derive form ibalio, "to bring to the other side"; ibalon, "people from the other side" or "people who are hospitable and give visitors gifts to bring home"; or as a corruption of Gibal-ong, a sitio of Magallanes, Sorsogon where the Spaniards first landed in 1567 . The Bicol River was first mentioned in Spanish Documents in 1572. The region was also called "Los Camarines" after the huts found by the Spaniards in Camalig, Albay.

Spanish OccupationThe Spanish influence in Bicol resulted

mainly from the efforts of Augustinian and Franciscan Spanish missionaries. The first churches in Bicol, the San Francisco Church, and the Naga Cathedral, both in Naga City , along with the Holy Cross Parish in Nabua, Camarines Sur are instituted by the Holy Order of the Franciscans. of the oldest dioceses in the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Caceres, was also instituted in the Bicol Region.

Political Division The region is composed of six provinces,

namely, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. It has one independent component city, Naga City, and six component cities - Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate City, Sorsogon City, and Tabaco. Masbate City and Sorsogon City are cities within their namesake provinces.The regional centers are Legazpi, the political and administrative center; and Naga City, the cultural and religious center. Together with Sorsogon City, they are the leading cities in the region in terms of urbanization and the hub of the economic activity.

Language The people of the Bicol region, called Bicolanos,

speak any of the several languages of the Bikol macrolanguage, also called Bikolano, an Austronesian language closely related to other Central Philippine languages such as Cebuano and Tagalog. Bicol languages include the Inland Bikol of Bikol-Rinconada (Rinconada area), Bikol-Albay (Buhi, Cam. Sur; Libon, Oas, Daraga, Albay and Donsol, Sorsogon), Bikol-Pandan (Northern Catanduanes). Standard Bikol is based from the coastal Bikol language of the dialect of Legazpi City and is understood widely throughout the region even though they cannot speak it fluently.

Religion Fiestas (Feast day of saints) are annual

celebrations of parishes, from a simple barrio fiesta honoring a patron associated for good harvest, to a town fiesta honoring a miraculous saint, or a regional one such as the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Fiesta, a week-long celebration to honor the Virgin Mary, dubbed as the "Queen Patroness of Bicolandia". It is widely acknowledged that in Luzon, it is Bicol Region that holds the most number of men entering the seminary for Catholic priesthood, or women entering the religious life to become Catholic nuns.

EconomyBicol Region has a large amount of

rich flat land, and agriculture is the largest component of the economy with close to 50% depending their livelihood on the industry. Coconuts, abaca, banana, coffee and jackfruit are the top five permanent crops in the region. Rice and maize are among the chief seasonal crops of the region. Commercial fishing is also important with thirteen major fishing grounds supplying fish markets in places as far as Metro Manila.

TourismThe region has recently seen a

revival in its tourism industry, due to the popularity of Mayon Volcano, the new CamSur Water Sports Complex, whale shark spotting, among others, which consequently increased the number of upscale resorts in the region.

Foods Bicol Express is a dish which was

named after a passenger train from Manila to Bicol.  Bicol

express is made up of pork cooked in coconut milk and spiced with

lots and lots of red hot chili.

FoodsThere is also a Bicolano recipe for

vegetarians: the very popular laing. Laing is made from local “gabi” or taro leaves. The leaves is simmered in coconut cream and then served with siling labuyo or chili pepper.

FoodsWith pili being endemic to the

Bicol region, Bicolanos have found different uses of the pili nut. The easiest  to cook pili dish is the tinolang pili. In this dish, the nuts are soaked in boiling water until the covering is soft. 

Thank You for Listening!!!

Prepared by: Edison Vi Sacramento