The Bicol Region, also known simply as Bicol, (Central Bikol: Rehiyon nin Bikol; Rinconada

Bicol: Rehiyon ka Bikol;Filipino: Kabikulan; Spanish: Bicolandia) is a region of the Philippines,

designated as Region V. Bicol comprises sixprovinces, four on the Bicol Peninsula (the
southeastern end of Luzon island) Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon and
the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate .[2]
The regional center and largest city is Legazpi City, Albay.[3][4]
The region is bounded by the Lamon Bay to the north, Philippine Sea to the east, and the Sibuyan
Sea and Ragay Gulf to the west. The northernmost provinces, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur,
are bordered to the west by the province of Quezon

Language]
Further information: Bikol languages
The people of the Bicol Region, called Bicolanos,

speak any of the several

languages of the Bikol language family, called Bikol

macrolanguages, an Austronesian

languages closely grouped under the Central

Philippine languages family such as

the Visayan languages and Tagalog. The four major groups of language in Bikol are Coastal Bikol
(with four sub-languages), Inland Bikol (with six sub-languages), Pandan Bikol (lone language) and
Bisakol (with three sub-languages). The majority of Bicolanos understand and speak Central Bikol
language (a member of Coastal Bikol group of languages) since it is the language used in literature
and mass media, but with varying degrees. A known misconception of many Bicolanos is that
Central Bikol, used in the cities of Legazpi and Naga, is the standard Bikol. Central Bikol, though
spoken by the majority and with speakers represented in all provinces in the region, is not a
standard Bikol since other form of Bikol used in the region are separate languages and usually
unintelligible. However, the standard form of Central Bikol language is the Canaman dialect.
Other Bikol languages are Rinconada Bikol spoken in southern part of Camarines Sur
province; Pandan Bikol spoken in northern part of Catanduanes island; and the Albay Bikol group of
languages that include Buhinon, Libon, West Miraya and East Miraya. Albay Bikol speakers can be
found in Buhi, Camarines Sur, central and eastern part of Albay, and Donsol, Sorsogon. The
standard form of Rinconada Bikol both in pronunciation and writing is the Sinabukid (Highland)
dialect of Iriga variant. On the other hand, Buhinon of Buhi, Camarines Sur and Libon of Libon,
Albay are the languages that are only used in their respective municipalities. Rinconada Bikol and
Albay Bikol group of languages are members of Inland Bikol, while Pandan Bikol is the only
language with no sub-languages or division.
The majority of the population in Masbate and Sorsogon
speaks Masbateo and Sorsoganon respectively. The two are Visayan languages but heavily

influenced by Bikol languages, thus tagged and collectively referred to as Bisakol, a portmanteau of
Bisaya (Visayan) and Bikol (Bicolano).
Three Visayan languages are spoken in Masbate, including Hiligaynon/Ilonggo is spoken in the
southwestern tip, while Cebuano and Waray-Waray are spoken in the southern part of the island
province respectively. Tagalog is the dominant and native language of Bicolanos living in the
municipalities in the northern half of Camarines Norte.
Bicolanos also speak and understand Filipino, the national language of the Philippines. English is
widely understood in businesses, schools and public places.

Culture and traits[edit]

The Bicolano cuisine is primarily noted for the prominent use of chili peppers and gata (coconut milk)
in its food. A classic example is the gulay na lada, known outside the region as Bicol Express, a wellloved dish using siling labuyo (native small chillies) and the aforementioned gata.
Like their other neighboring regions, Bicolanas are also expected to lend a hand in household work.
They are even anticipated to offer assistance after being married. On the other hand, Bicolano men
are expected to assume the role of becoming the primary source of income and financial support of
his family.
Bicolanos are also known for being very religious, the place is known for Senora De Penafrancia.
Bicolanos are often sweet, regionalistic, friendly, adventurous, puts high importance on education
and social status. Contrary to what is believed, not all Bicolanos are fond of chili. Men often know
how to cook.

Tourism[edit]

Whale shark spotting in Donsol, Sorsogon

The region's tourism industry has been revived by the

popularity of Mayon Volcano, the new CamSur Water
Sports Complex, whale shark spotting, among others,
which consequently increased the number of upscale
resorts. Naga City has its colonial churches, and
pilgrimages to Our Lady of Peafrancia.[12][13][14]

The municipality of Daet and Catanduanes province have long been destinations for surfers. [15] The
opening of the Southern Luzon International Airport in Legazpi City, which is under construction, is
hoped to further boost tourism in the region.

BICOL EXPRESS

Add zest to your short stay in Bicol with the taste

of the authenticfiery Bicol express invading your tongues. If I were you, I would not leave Bicol behind
without tasting this spicy treat especially prepared for you by the very people who originally concocted it
many decades ago. Obviously, it is the name that easily identified Bicol Express as another Bicolano dish.
However, it is the exquisitely unique blended flavors of thick coconut milk, shrimp paste, pork, garlic,
onions, and a handful of really hot green and red chili peppers(labuyo) that made Bicol express all the
more popular not only domestically but internationally as well.

Good
morning/afternoo
n/evening
Marhay na

aga/hapon/banggi

Thank you

Dios mabalos

The Ibalong Festival is a non-religious festival in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines and is held in
August. The festival celebrates the epic story Ibalong who was accompanied by three legendary
heroes, namely Baltog, Handyong, Oryon and other ancient heroes. People parade in the streets
wearing masks and costumes to imitate the appearances of the heroes and the villains, portraying
the classic battles that made their way into the history of Bicol. The Ibalong Festival aims to express
warmth and goodwill to all people; visitors and tourists are encouraged to celebrate with the
Bicolanos. The Ibalong Festival is also known as the Ibalon Festival.
However, according to renowned historians and anthropologists such as Domingo Abella, Luis
Camara Dery, Merito Espinas, F. Mallari, Norman Owen, Mariano Goyena del Prado, et al., the
present location of the ancient settlement of Ibalong is in Magallanes, Sorsogon.

The word Kasanggayahan is one of the local words that could mean anything, from kagandahan to kasiyahan,
the word only conveys one thing; a positive and optimistic celebration of life in peaceful Sorsogon. It is
celebrated every year to mark the separation of Sorsogon from Albay more than a hundred years ago.

______
Legazpi, officially the City of Legazpi (Bikol: Ciudad nin Legazpi; Filipino: Lungsod ng
Legazpi) and often referred to as Legazpi City, is a component city and the capital of
the province of Albay in the Philippines.

Legazpi City is the administrative center and largest city of the Bicol Region.[10][11] It is a center of
tourism, education, health services, commerce[12] and transportation[4] in the Bicol Region.

Mayon Volcano, one of the Philippines' most popular icons and tourist destinations, is partly within
the city's borders.[13] The city is composed of two districts: Legazpi Port and Albay district.

Legazpi City is a major economic hub in the Bicol Region.

Legazpi has the tourism tagline the "City of Fun and Adventure"

MARIA LILIA F. REALUBIT

Bikol is the language of almost 5 million people in the provinces of Albay,
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon that constitute
the Bikol Region. The Bikol people have a writing tradition with roots in its ancient
folkways. Still extant are charm verses exploiting the possibilities of words in folk
poems and narratives with mythical content, and bound with early historical fragments
which form part of the peoples lives.
Colonization stifled native writing, however. Only after about two centuries later did
the people begin to write poems and plays adapted from Biblical stories this time in
the Spanish writing system. These dramatic tropes were street presentations during
May festivals, Christmas, Easter and Lent. In 1890, the first Bikol newspaper An
Parabareta (the Newsman) was published by Mariano Perfecto, who also established
the first printing press. Imprenta de Nuestra Seora de Peafrancia. In the midst of
numerous devotionals and religious poems, there appeared two protest plays An
Pagguiao kan mga pastores can pagcamondag ni Jesus duman sa portal sa
belen (The awakening of the shepherds of Jesus birth) by Mariano Perfecto
and Comedia na dapit sa Dios o magna cahayagan can pagcamondag ni Jesus (A
play about God or matters concerning the birth of Jesus). The first play says that the
people accepted the faith but not the Spaniards; the second tries to localize the
character Mary, humanize Herodes and make the coronation of Mary an occasion of
revelry through two comic characters.
Corridos or metrical romances became the main reading fare for many years.
Translation from Spanish to Bikol were eagerly awaited that writers switched to
translating for the money it brought them. In time, Bikolcorridos were written. The most
popular was Magamang Pobre (The Poor Father and Son).
The comedia or moro-moro stayed for a long time. Almost every town boasted of
a comedia writer and a theater group. The lavish and pompus comedia that Juan
Alvarez Guerra saw in the 1880s in Albay has been so well described. Count on the
Bikol to write protest comedias Comedia ni Hadeng Grimaldo sa Reinong Irlandaby
Sabas Armenta and Drama en Comedia de la Vida Conde Urbano by Juan Miraflor.
The first is a deviation from the Moro as villain theme; the second advocated
democracy and favors electing town leaders.
The Commonwealth Period were years of poetic and dramatic productivity.
The zarzuela did
not
escape
the
Bikols
questioning
bent.
Asisclo
Jimenezs Pagkamoot sa Banuang Tinoboan (Love for the Native Land) demonstrated
that national change can be affected through armed revolt. Jimenez wrote 25
other zarzuelas in varying themes, mostly social criticism. Crowds would attend the
presentations.

By the mid-thirties, shorter plays became the fashion. The new themes were poor
vs. rich, laziness vs. hard work and Rizal and nationalism. Outstanding was Anti
Cristo by Justino Nuyda who wrote of the inevitable conflict between individual morality
and material comfort. This play is still presented today in schools in the region.
The rawitdawit or narrative poem was a vehicle of social and political criticism.
Personal poems were most plentiful. The period also produced about twenty
translations of Jose Rizals Mi Ultimo Adios to Bikol. Four poets and their works stand
out: Manuel
Fuentebellas
An
Pana (The
Arrow), Clemente
AlejandriasPagaroanggoyong(Perseverance), Eustaquio
Dinos Balosbalos
Sana
(Retribution) and Mariano Goyenas HareDali(NoDont). Great sensitivity and
exquisite images are marks of these poems, reaching up to lyricism.
The Post-War Period was unproductive. It was the Cathedral Players of the Ateneo
de Naga that sparked the cultural scene. The students led by Rev. James Reuter, S.J.
translated english plays into Bikol and delighted the Naga folks with Sunday
presentations at the plaza kiosk. In the rural towns they played in church patios and
plazas. If post-war writing was not as significant, the Bikol milieu was not encouraging
either. The stories and novels written in the fifties were insipid and mere narrations; the
novels fantastic and improbable. Writing in the Rainbow journal were largely cerebral
and critical of politics, church and society. It was the peoples interest in the folk
story, Ibalon, that inspired two musicals the Handyong written and presented by Orfelina
Tuy and Fe Ico, and Ibalon Opereta written by Jose Calleja Reyes.
Contemporary writing has just began to burst with creative energy. The writers now
possess the courage to deal with big themes. It began with Francisco Penones, Jr. who
sounded a clarion call in his poem An Opon sa Ibalon: Kan mahale an Maskara (The
Board in Ibalon When Unmasked). Society, he declared, is the boar that brought
hunger and poverty to the land. For this poem, Penones received a CCP award.
Merlinda C. Bobis in a masterly poetic drama titled Daragang Magayon (Beautiful
Maiden) overturns the passive maiden in the legend and makes her decisive to do her
part in changing society. In her poems, Bobis subtly presents an idealism associated
with remembering ones childhood, each of them a strong and evocative protrait only
thoughtful, sensitive poet can create. For this, she merited a Palanca award. Carlos O.
Aureus weaves together theology and philosophy to present Bikol values and a
panorama of Bikol scenes. In ten well-written stories, a novel and a play, he wins the
coveted Palanca, CCP, Free Press and Graphic literary awards. The young literary
fictionists, Marco Lopez, Alvin Yaban, Ulysses P. Aureus and Lorenzo D. Paran III are
searches for self, identity and nation.
The seasoned writers include Luis Cabalquinto, Gode Calleja and Ruby Alano. The
young writers are Home Life magazine winners Angelica Gonzales, Honesto Pesimo,
Jazmin Llana, Victor Velasco, Nino Manaog, Xavier Olin and Cynthia Buiza. Emelina G.
Regis has a Palanca Award for her environmental play Dalawang Mukha ng
Kagubatan(Two Faces of the Forest). Barbara Barquez Ricafrente writes poems and
paints with rage. She is the first novel awardee of the U.P. Creative Writing Center.

The Bikolano can write memorable and significant pieces. The native literary
tradition has been resurrected and kept. How to make the people aware and how to
make them read as well and how to multiply these writings so they can be disseminated
have to be resolved.

Legazpi as countrys next economic, tourism

hub
JANUARY 17, 2013 by BICOLMAIL in BUSINESS with 0 COMMENTS

LEGAZPI CITY Legazpi is fast-rising as an economic and tourism hub with its
massive infrastructure development, better governance, business growth, and big
influx of foreign and domestic tourists in this city,
Our city ranks fifth as fast-rising city in the Philippines in terms of infrastructure
and business development and in peace and order situation based on an AIM
study, Mayor Geraldine Rosal said.
A recent study made by the Asian Institute of Management disclosed that Legazpi
will be the next hub after Davao and Cebu in terms of infrastructure development,
business growth, and notable peace and order condition.
The development of Legazpi is expected to accelerate further because the city
government, under the PPP, will put up a P300-billion reclamation project within
coastal Puro-Dapdap area here, she added.
Rosal said the city government is fast-tracking the P500-million Legazpi City Urban
Drainage project known as the pumping stations at Tibu and Baybay rivers to
resolve the perennial flooding problem during rainy seasons.
The city government is also anticipating the operation of the Southern Luzon
International Airport two years from now where new developments are being done
in the seaside coast up to the road network that connects to the proposed airport in
Barangay Alobo in neighboring Daraga town.
We will also build man-made amenities like water sports in Barangay Puro where
our new development is located to cater to the increasing demands of visiting
tourists and in preparation for the operation of the international airport, Rosal said.
The Regional Development Council (RDC) headed by Salceda aimed to turn Bicol as
the countrys most livable region in 2020.
Aside from fast rapid development, Legazpi has been the hub of big convention
events.

Last year, the city government hosted at least 12 big national convention activities
where 16,000 people throughout the Philippines and other countries converged.
The series of national convention events in this city brought about higher economic
growth, increase in the number of tourist arrivals and created new jobs with the
opening of several hotels here.
Currently, there are 1,000 rooms available in the city but, Rosal said, there is a need
for at least 500 additional rooms to be more competitive for big conventions in the
future.

BICOL REGIONAL PROFILE

Region 5 (Bicol Region) is best known for being the home of the world's largest fish the butanding (whale shark) and the majestic Mayon Volcano. It also has the other beautiful natural
features like mountains, waterfalls with lush vegetation, and beaches that have grown famous for water
sports activities.
The region is located in the southermost tip of Luzon Island. It 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 northby the province of Quezon, thereby connecting the region to the
rest of Luzon.
The Bicol Region is composed of six (6) provinces: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon,
and the island-provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. It has one (1) independent component city - Naga
City, and six (6) component cities: Iriga, Legazpi, Tabaco, Ligao, Masbate City, and Sorsogon City.
POPULATION
Per 2010 census, Region 5 has a total population of 5,109,798. The region's population density in 2010
was 299 persons per square kilometer.
LAND USE AND FORESTRY
The Bicol Region has a total land area of 1,763,250 hectares, of which 541,189 hectares are established
as forestland and 1,238,091 hectares are alienable & disposable lands. Per 2011 Philippine Forestry
Statistics, it has a total forest cover of 156,476 hectares.
As of 2011, a total of 83 Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) Agreements were signed by the
DENR in the region involving 47,926 hectares of forestland, and benefitting 12,328 households and 83
people's organizations. The CBFM is agovernment strategy which "gives the management of forests back
to the people." It offers long-term security of tenure to partner-communities and promotes an integrated
approach to sustainable forest resource management.
The region also participated in the National Greening Program, a flagship program of President Benigno
S. Aquino III which aims to reforest the entire Philippines within 2011-2016. In 2011 alone, Region 5 was
able to rehabilitate 6,080 hectares of open and denuded lands by conducting massive tree planting
activities involving its citizens, thereby expecting to increase the region's forest cover.

Bicol Region has a large amount of rich flat land, and agriculture is the largest component of the
economy, followed by commercial fishing. Coconuts, abaca, banana, coffee and jackfruit are the top five
permanent crops in the region. Rice and corn are among the chief seasonal crops. Mining is also one of
the contributors to the region's economy.
GEOLOGY
Bicol Region is volvanic in origin and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Volcanism is evident by
the number of hot springs, crater lakes, and volcanoes that dot the region starting from
Mount Labo in Camarines Norte to the Gate Mountains in Matnog, Sorsogon. Mayon Volcano
is the most prominent of the volcanoes in the region, famous for its perfect conical shape
and for being the most active in the country. Other volcanoes include Bulusan Volcano,
Mount Isarog, Mount Iriga, Mount Malinao, Mount Masaraga, and the Pocdol Mountains.
MINERAL
RESOURCES
The region is endowed with rich mineral resources, which include gold, copper, guano, rock
phosphate, marble, silver, lead and manganese.
WILDLIFE
The Bicol Region is home to both the world's largest and smallest fishes.
Donsol, a fishing town in Sorsogon province, serves as a sanctuary to a group of 40 whale
sharks (Rhincodon typus), which are considered as the largest fish in the world. Locally
known as "butanding", whale sharks visit the waters of Donsol from November to May. They
travel across the oceans but nowhere else have they been sighted in a larger group the in
the waters of Sorsogon. They measure between 18 to 40 feet in length and weight about 20
tons.
Despite the enormous size and the popular misconceptions about all sharks being "maneaters", this species does not pose any significant danger to humans. In fact, they are quite
gentle and can be playful with divers. Divers and snorkellers can swim with this giant fish
without any risk apart from unintentionally being hit by the shark's large tail fin.
The world's smallest commercial fish, sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis), can be found only
in Lakes Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur province. Sinarapan is a goby which grows to an
average length of 1.25 centimeters, just slightly longer than the dwarf goby. Today,
unabated fishing in teh two lakes threatens the population of sinarapan.
Another species endemic to the region is the Isarog shrew-mouse, which inhabits in Mt.
Isarog, Camarines Sur.
PROTECTED
AREAS
The following sites in the region have been declared by law as protected areas and
components of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS): the Malabungot
Protected Landscape and Seascape (Garchitorena, Camarines Sur), Chico Island Wildlife
Sanctuary (Cawayan, Masbate), Naro Island Wildlife Sanctuary (Cawayan, Masbate), Lagonoy
Natural Biotic Area (Lagonoy, Camarines Sur), Abasig-Matogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic
Area ( Camarines Norte), Bongsalay Natural Park (Batuan, Masbate), Mayon Volcano Natural
Park (Albay), Bicol Natural Park (Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur), Bulusan Volcano
Natural Park (Sorsogon), and Mt. Isarog Natural Park (Camarines Sur).
DENR
JURISDICTION
Six (6) Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and eleven (11)
Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) are serving the mandate

of the DENR in Region 5. These are: PENROs Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay,
Sorsogon, Masbate, and Catanduanes; and CENROs Daet, Naga City, Iriga City, Goa, Sipocot,
Legazpi City, Guinobatan, Sorsogon City, Mobo, San Jacinto, and Virac.