REGION 5 – BICOL REGION

The Bicol Region is located in the southernmost tip of Luzon Island, the largest islan 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 thr province to the rest of Luzon.

PRE- HISTORY

The Bicol Region was known as Ibalon, variously interpreted to derive from ibalio, “to bring to
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.

◦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 Tobaco. Masbate City and
Sorsogon City are cities within their namesake provinces.

PROVINCES AND ITS CAPITAL

1. ALBAY

Known as the ‘Land of the most perfect cone’’.

CAPITAL: Legazpi City

◦Legazpi City, the regional administrative center of Bicol region, which is located in the southern

foothill of Mayon Volcano, the symbol most associated with the province.

HISTORY

Long before the Spaniards arrived, Albay had a thriving civilization. Formerly called Ibat, and then
Libog, Albay was once ruled by Gat Ibal, an old chief who also founded the old barangay of Sawangan,
now the district of Albay and part of the city of Legazpi.

In 1573, Juan de Salcedo penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north as far as Libon, establishing the
settlement of Santiago de Libon. Jose Maria Peñaranda, a military engineer, was made “corregidor” of
the province on May 14, 1834. He constructed public buildings and built roads and bridges.
2. CATANDUANES

CAPITAL: Virac

◦ It is the 12th largest Island in the Philippines. The province lies to the east of Camarines Sur
across Maqueda Channel.

Where it got its name

◦One legend states that Catanduanes came from the word “ tandu”, a native click beetle
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.

HISTORY

Juan de Salcedo arrived in this island in 1573, hunting for pirayes, and conquered the natives.
Three years later, a galleon expendition from Acapulco was shipwrecked near the island and the
survivors were either killed or made servants. The Batalay Church in Bato, just several
kilometers from the capital town of Virac, marks that historical event.

3. MASBATE

Known as the “Cattle Island of the Philippines/ Rodeo Capital”

CAPITAL: Masbate City

◦Masbate is an island province located in the Bicol Region and lies at the center of the
Philippines archipelago. It consist of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.

◦The province is subdivided into 20 municipalities and 1 city which is Masbate City, the
provincial capital.

HISTORY

The account that “Masbate” was coined after the words “masa” and “bate” remains anecdotal.
Chinese visited Masbate and established small settlements during the Srivijaya and Majapahit
periods.

Ruins of cave- like dwellings, possibly built by Indians that accompanied the traders, were
discovered along the coasts of Aroroy, Palanas and Masbate. Porcelain jars dating back to the
10th century were excavated at Kalanay Cave in Aroroy town in the 1930s.
4. SORSOGON

CAPITAL: Sorsogon City

◦The name of the city is derived from the word “sosogon” meaning “trace the river by going
upstream”.
◦It is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities
(towns) and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City (formerly the towns of Sorsogon and Bacon)
and borders the province of Albay to the north.

HISTORY

Sorsogon was discovered in 1569 by a group of Spanish missionaries named Father Alonzo
Jimenez, Juan Orta and Captain Luis Entiquez de Guzman. Sorsogon became an independent
region on October 17, 1894 with Juan de la Guardia as the first governor.

5. CAMARINES NORTE

Known as the “Bicolandia’s Goldmine”

CAPITAL: Daet

◦The province of Camrines Norte is found in the northwestern coast of the Bicol
Peninsula, which form the southeastern section of Luzon, the largest island in the
Philippine archipelago.
◦ Camarines Norte derives its name from the Spanish word “camarin” , meaning rice
granary or warehouse. It is famous for its Formosa- the sweetest pineapple. It is known for
mining ,jewelry craft, pineapple and coconut industry.

HISTORY

The province of Camarines was created from Bicol 1636. That province was divided in 1829,
creating Camarines Norte an Camarines Sur. They were briefly merged from 1845 to 1857 to
make Ambos

Juan de Salcedo, dispatched by Legazpi to explore the island in 1571, influenced the existence of
Camarines Norte. After subduing Taytay and Cainta, he marched further across Laguna and
Tayabas. He visited the rich gold-laden town of Mambulao and Paracale, obsessed by them
about which he heard from natives there existing gold mines.
6. CAMARINES SUR

Known as the ‘’World Smallest Fish and Higher Climbs’’

CAPITAL: Naga

◦Camarines Sur is home to the smallest fish in the world and famous for its Mt. Isarog, lots of
beaches, old churches, and many splendid attractions.
◦Also called CamSur is the largest among the six provinces in the Bicol Region in Luzon both in
terms of population and land area. The province is subdivided into 2 cities and 35
municipalities. Its territory includes: Naga City, the lone chartered city, while Iriga City, is a
component city.
◦The province’s name has been derived from “ camaronchones” or “ camarines”, a Spanish
word for “kamalig” reffering to small nipa or bamboo-made huts by the natives.

HISTORY

Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman and Fr. Alfonso Gimenez, first explored the Province in 1569.
As they went deeper they encountered many rice granaries, which in Spanish were called
camarines.

In 1573, Juan de Salcedo leading his troops, penetrated and explored the peninsula as far as
Santiago de Libon in search for spices, gold and other precious stones.Naga City, the former
capital of Camarines Sur, was found in 1573 as Nueva Caceres namesake of the Province in Spain
and among the original five royal cities of the colony.

BICOL LITERATURE

DID YOU KNOW?

Around 5 million people speak variations of Bikolano dialect in the Bicol region. From
Camarines Sur to Naga to Albay Sorsogon and every locality in between Bikolano literature has
flourished, providing a lively literary flavor unrivaled by any other literary tradition.

HOW THE DIVERSITY UNFOLDED:

Just like other local traditions and cultures in the country, Bikolano literature has its roots
in orally transmitted poems and mythical narratives that reflect the history of the people. The
transformation of the literature can be traced by going through local and national history.
 Mariano Perfecto is the first Bikolano writer who published Bikono Newspaper, he was also
responsible for the development of the first printing press named “ Imprenta de Nuesta Senora
de Penafrancia”.
While the latter development implied that Bikolano literature was dominated by religious
writing at that time.
 Protest drama became a form of expressing the peoples growing resentment of Spanish
rule.
 “Comedia” writers such as Sabas Armenta, Juan Alvarez Guerra and Juan Miraflor have
protest plays credited to their names.
The dramatic genre of the ‘’ corridor’’ which was popular among the Tagalog speaking folk,
was adapted into the local “ Bikolcorrido”, with “Magaamang Pobre”.

BICOLANO AUTHORS AND THEIR LITERARY PIECES:

1. LUIS GUEVARRA DATO

(4 July 1906- 29 January 1985)

◦ He was a Filipino poet, writer, educator and politician from Baao, Camrines Sur.
◦ He was one of the first Filipinos to write and publish works in English.
◦ He was also considered as an “Authority on the Bicol language and culture”.
◦He also worked as a newspaperman for the Bicol Star, Niga times, and other Newspapers.

2. MARNE L. KILATES

◦ Born November 05, 1952 Daraga, Albay, Bicol

◦ He published three books of poetry, Children of the Snarl (Aklat Peskador, 1987) Poems en
Route ( UST Publishing House , 1998) and Mostly in Monsoon Weather ( UP Press , 2007),
and nine books of translation of Filipino poetry into English.
◦ His translations include works by major Filipino poets, the latest of which are the
University of the Philipines Centennial Edition of Francisco Balagtas’ Florante at Laura, an
National Artist Virgilio S. Almario’s ( or Rio Alma’s) Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon /Journeys,
Junctions (Anvil , 2008).
3. DAMIANA LIGON EUGENIO
◦The mother of Philipine folklore.
◦Was a Filipino female auhtor and had several publications in the field of Philippine
folklore and a professor at the UP Dilimanat the Department of English and Comparative
Literature for the college of Arts.
◦Graduted BSE from the University of the Philippines as Cum Laude. Completed her M.A
degree in English Literature and folklore.
LITERARY PIECE