Region 4-B (MIMAROPA)

Composed of islands and islets of Southern Luzon. “Food Basket” of Southern Luzon
and an “eco-tourism hub” of the country.

Regional Center: Calapan City

Occidental Mindoro - Mamburao
Oriental Mindoro – Calapan City
Marinduque - Boac
Romblon - Romblon
Palawan – Puerto Princesa City

Occidental Mindoro – Known as the “Home of the Indigenous Mangyans” and occupies
the western half of the island in Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro – Occupies the eastern part of the island of Mindoro. Bounded on the
north by the Verde Island Passage, on the East by Tablas Strait, on the West by the
Occidental Mindoro, and on the south by the Semirara Island.
Marinduque – A Heart-Shaped island between Tayabas Bay in the north and Sibuyan
Sea to the south. The province that is said to be hospitable in nature and very welcoming.
Romblon - “Marble Capital of the Philippines” due to the abundance of marbles found in
the province, which has become one of the main sources of livelihood for the locals.
Palawan – Largest province in the country in terms of jurisdiction. Lies between the west
philippine sea and the Sulu Sea.
Saknungan Festival – Held every 4th week of April in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The
festival commences with the annual celebration of the blessings of the province. It
showcases the spirit of cooperation and unity at work, which is practiced by the people of
Mindoro.
Arawatan Festival – founding anniversary celebrated every 15 th of November in
Occidental Mindoro. Came from the Mangyan word “Arawatan” that refers to unity.
Biniray Festival – Romblon's prestigious festival participated by Rombloanan every 2 nd
week of January in honor of Senor Santo Nino. It’s just the same as Sinulog Festival of
Cebu which depicts the strong faith of the residents to Roman Catholicism.
Kanidugan Festival – Annual festival celebrated in every month of April, foundatopn day
of Odiongan and to honor Saint Vincent Ferrer. Derived from a word “Nidog” or Niyog in
filipino or Coconut in English.
Moriones Festival – Annual festival held on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque.
Men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers
as interpreted by local folk.
Apo Reef National Park – One of the best tourist spots in Occidental Mindoro.
Recognized as the second-largest contiguous reef system in the world.
Arigoy River – Known its crystal clear waters, rich plant life, and clean environment. A
popular destination for tourists locals alike who seek to experience the beauty of the
island.
Bathala Caves – Said to be mystical and repository of psychic power emanating from
various poitns of the universe. It is believed that there are seven caves within the complex.
Boac Church – Roman Catholic Church and cathedral in the town center of Boac,
Marinduque, in the Mimaropa region of the Philippines.
Calauit Safari Park – Remains to be the Philippines’ only reserve and wildlife sanctuary
in Palawan.
Lubang Island – Hiding place of the Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese World War II straggler
who made the island his home.
Mount Halcon – One of the most storied hiking destinations in the Philippines located in
Oriental Mindoro. 8,484 feet above sea level making it the 18th highest mountain peak in
the country.
Mount Iglit-Baco National Park – Located in the Central interior of Mindoro. The park is
habitat of the endemic Tamaraw in the Philippines.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park – Holds a place in the New 7
Wonders of Nature, and has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since
1999. Famously known as Underground River.
Tamaraw Falls – One of Puerto Galera’s most popular attractions. It has a unique Y-
shape due to its twin falls merging together.
The St. Joseph Cathedral – Locally known as the Romblon Cathedral, is a Baroque-
style church that sits along Rizal Street in the provincial capital of the province.
Tinagong Dagat – Saltwater lake situated in the northernmost tip of Tablas Island and is
a top Calatrava, Romblon tourist spot.
Tres Reyes Islands – found in Brgy. Pinggan in Gasan, Marinduque. The island’s name
id originally derived from the three Kings of the Nativity.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park – One of the best diving spots in the Philippines and the
world.
Tukuran Falls – A small waterfall in Oriental Mindoro.
 REGION 5 (BICOL REGION)
Land Area: 17,632 km²

Composed of 6 provinces (4 contiguous province & 2 island provinces)

Albay – Legazpi City
Camarines Norte – Daet
Camarines Sur – Naga
Sorsogon – Sorsogon City
Catanduanes – Virac (Island province)
Masbate – Masbate City (Island province)

ALBAY
Capital: Legazpi City
(Land of the most perfect cone)
Tourist Spot:
Mayon Volcano – No other volcano in the world has a cone perfectly shaped as Mayon.
Mayon is a part of The Pacific Ring of Fire.
Recorded Eruptions:
1814 eruption – Most destructive eruption of Mayon occurred on February 1, 1814
1811 – 1882 eruption – Samuel Kneeland a geologist had personally observed the
volcanic activity on Christmas of 1881
1897 eruption – Mayon Volcano’s longest uninterrupted eruption occurred on June 23,
1897, which lasted for 7 days of raining fire.
Cagraray EcoPark – nature camp on Cagraray Island, which is connected to mainland
Albay by the Sula Bridge.
• Offers adventure activities like wall climbing and zipline rides.
• Chapel, hanging bridge, solar-powered lampposts.
• Education with regards to the environment
• Appreciation of natural resource
Danao Lake – located 500 meters above sea level & about 20 kilometers away from the
town center. Surrounded by lush and verdant vegetation where animals graze freely,
usually when rice planting season is over.
 Camarines Norte
“Bicolandia’s Goldmine”
Capital: Daet
Crescent-shaped province that stretches northwest to the southeast.
Found in the northwestern coast of Bicol Peninsula, which form the southeastern
section of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago.
Tourist Attractions:
Bagasbas Beach - One of the top surfing destinations in the Philippines.
• Bagasbas hosted the 1st International Kiteboarding Competition in the region on
February 2009.
First Jose Rizal Monument – The construction of the memorial marker started on
December 30, 1898 and was declared as a historical landmark in 1961.
• Made of mortars and boulders from the demolished Old Spanish Jail in Daet where
many patriots died, making it historically and culturally significant.
Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Paracale, Camarines Norte – Century Old Church.
• One of the first churches built in Camarines Norte in 1611.
• Believed to be rich in gold mines, and
Gold-panning or Pabirik Festival – Celebrated every last week of January up to the day
of town fiesta on the second day of February.
• Pabirik means “Pan” which is a medium used by the natives of Paracale in gold
panning.

Camarines Sur
Capital: Naga
Largest province in area & population.
(World’s Smallest Fish and Higher Climbs)
CAPITAL: NAGA
Land Area: 5,481.6 km2 (2,116.5 sq mi)
Population: 1,822,371.
 Famous for its Mt. Isarog, lots of beaches, old churches, and many splendid
attractions.
Derived from “Camaronchones” or “camarines”, a Spanish word for “Kamalig”
referring to a small nipa or bamboo-made huts by the natives.
Major producer of Abaca.

Tourist attractions:
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Mother of Peace Grotto – Began in 1989
under the leadership of St. Dominic of Guzman parish priest Rev. Fr. Felix F.
Barella.
Tayak Lagoon: The Hidden Lagoon of Malarad Island – Hidden pool of mostly
seawater. Hidden in a mountain with forest and rocks.
Kaogma Festival – Marks the foundation day May 27, 1569 of CamSur.
• “Kaogma Mardi Gras: The World’s Hottest Festival”
Products: PILI, ABACA

Catanduanes
Capital: Virac
Smallest area and population.
12th largest island in the Philippines.
Land Area: 1,511.5 km2 (583.6 sq mi)
Lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel
Population: 246,300.

Catanduanes came from the word “tandu”, a native click beettle that was abundant
throughout the island. “Katanduan” then was the reference made of this island. When the
spaniards came, it was corrupted from katanduan to Catanduanes.

Tourist Attractions:
Maribina Falls – One of the most popular & most accessible waterfalls in the province.
The falls is about 5 meters high w/ marvelous gushing rapids of crystal clear waters.
• Named after villages of Marinawa & Binanwahan.
• Made of a series of strong cascades coming from the mountain top.
• Ideal place for picnickers and weekenders
Luyang Cave – Located in San Andres. The cave that natives used as a refuge from
attacking Moro Pirates during 17th century.
• The pirates uprooted sili and some dried leaves at the entrance of the cave to
suffocate the natives inside.

MASBATE
(Cattle Island of the Philippines/ Rodeo Capital)
CAPITAL: Masbate City
Island province located in the Bicol Region and lies at the center of the Philippines
Archipelago.
Consist of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao, and Burias

Father Alonso Jimenez – first missionary to the islands of Masbate, Burias, Leyte and
Samar.
Tourist Attractions:
Catandayagan Falls (Ticao Island) - One of the most beautiful falls in Masbate.
Cascades from 60 ft. to its base where multi-colored fishes cavort.
Tinalisay Island (Burias Island) - Ideal for sunbathing and swimming.
San Isidro (Claveria) - A beach with fine and silvery white sand that can easily
accommodate over a thousand people. The bottom of the sea is clear w/ gradual depth
of 5 to 7 feet during high tide.

SORSOGON
Capital: Sorsogon City
Derived from the word “sosogon” meaning “trace the river by going upstream”
Southernmost province in Luzonand is subdivided into 14 municipalities
Borders the province of Albay to the north.
Tourist Attractions:
Barcelona – the Coral Church of Barcelona The pastoral town of Barcelona which is only
a few kilometers away from Gubat prides itself for its 18 th century Church.
Bulusan Lake – A popular tourist attraction in Sorsogon nestled at the heart of Bulusan
Volcano National Park.
Mt. Bulusan – One of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines is Bulusan Volcano.
Matnog Island -