 Bicol Region

is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Bicol (also

spelled Bikol) is composed of four provinces in the
Bicol Peninsula, the southeastern end of Luzon island,
and two island-provinces adjacent to the peninsula.

 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.
 Coron Festival
A showcase of events highlighted by a
street presentation participated in by the
town’s different public and private
schools and sectors gives a week of fun
and merriment to visitors and locals. Held
every third week of August in Tiwi, the
religious package of devotion and prayer
in honor of Albay’s patroness, Nuestra
Señora de Salvacion (Our Lady of
Salvation), is the peak event of the
festival, colorfully drawing thousands of
devotees and religious groups through a
long maritime procession of different local
sea vessels on the sea spray of the
serene Pacific Ocean going to the quiet
barangay of Joroan, the home of the
miraculous image.
 Ibalong Festival
Is a non-religious
festival in Legazpi
City, Albay,
Philippines and is
held during August.
 Magayon Festival
In admiration of the
Majestic Mayon’s
beauty and splendor,
this festival is dubbed
as Magayon, a Bikol
term which means
beautiful
 Pineapple Festival
The festival features
a colorful street
presentation, art
exhibits, a trade fair,
cultural dances, and
sports events. Daet is
famous for its sweet
pineapple.
 Padaraw Festival
A festival showcsing
colorful costumes
fashioned from the
abaca fiber. It is
highlighted by a
grand street
presentation wherein
the participants are
clad in colorful
costumes using the
abaca fibers. 
 Pili Festival
The Pili Festival honors the
patron saints of Sorsogon
City, Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Pili tree (and nut) is
indigenous to the province
and is known for its various
practical and nutritional
applications. The fiesta’s big
attraction is the street
dance in which beautifully
costumed dancers depict
the many uses of the tree.
Sarung Banggi Festival
The Sarung Banggi
festival showcases a
variety of cultural and
religious activities. The
entire colorful
performance is shown at
nighttime when the street
parade routes are brightly
lighted with large torches.
The whole town becomes
a true picture of rural life
with the multitude of
people occupying the
streets to watch and join
the nighttime merriment.
 Our Lady of Peñafrancia Festival
The feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is
celebrated on the third Saturday of September
in Naga City, Bicol. The feast day is preceded
by a novena, nine days of prayer, in honor of
the Virgin. On the first day, the image of the
Virgin, a copy of the Madonna in Peñafrancia,
Spain, is brought from its shrine to the Naga
Cathedral where the novena is held. On the last
day, the image is returned to her shrine
following the Naga River route. The colorful
evening procession is lit by thousands of
candles from devotees in boats escorting the
image. When the barge reaches its destination,
the devotees shout "Viva la Virgen" (Long live
the Virgin!) and the image is brought back in a
procession to the cathedral.
 Kinalas Festival
Naga City celebrates Kinalas
Festival during its yearly
anniversary of Chartership or
Cityhood. It honors the most
famous local delicacies, the
Kinalas, and Siling Labuyo, with
it having a food contest. Also
known as Charter Day Festival,
different organizations and
schools, compete in Sports and
Academics, as sponsored by the
local government.
 Kadagatan Festival
Formerly called the Bancathon
race, the festival is a water sport
activity participated in by
fishermen from the different
municipalities of Albay aimed to
give recognition and at the same
time provide a venue to the
fishermen to show their strength,
skills, and contributions to the
socio-economic development of
the region. Held in Bacacay every
black Saturday.a
 Bicol Region
Known for its basket, bags,
slippers, coin purse and other
crafts that are made from
abaca and raffia fibers.
BASKET
BAGS
SLIPPERS
COIN PURSE
MAYON VOLCANO
MT. BULUSAN
TIWI HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL
PARK
HOYOP-HOYOPAN CAVE
BUSAY FALLS
CARAMOAN ISLAND
BULUSAN LAKE
LAKE DANAO
OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA
CHURCH
SINIMBAHAN RUINS
 BICOL DELICACIES
The Bicol region is also known for its
delicious food and delicacies. The
Bicolanos love spicy foods. They also
use coconut cream in most of their
recipes. The combination of hot spices
and coconut cream is very enticing not
only in the Bicol region but also in the
entire Philippines.
 Laing
This dish really appeals to
vegetarians and vegans alike. It
is made from taro leaves
simmered in coconut milk and
served with hot chili peppers. 
The dish can be cooked in a
variety of ways and is very
common in carinderias and
cafeterias in the region, even in
Manila, although the city
version may not be as spicy. To
get a taste of authentic laing,
visit Bicol.
 Bicol Express
Bicol Express is probably the
most popular Bicolano dish.
The story goes that the dish
gets its name from a
passenger train from Manila to
Bicol. After you eat the dish,
you’ll be running to find
anything to quench the fire on
your tongue. Like most
Bicolano dishes, it is made of
coconut milk and chili peppers
but with cooked pork as the
main ingredient. 
 Ginataang Labong
Ginataang labong is a
simple dish made from
chopped bamboo shoots
simmered in coconut milk
with some shrimp paste or
fresh shrimps and chili
peppers. This dish is
refreshing and hot at the
same time, thanks to the
combination of bamboo
shoots and peppers. It’s
another healthy dish if you
are not a fan of red meat
 Sinapot
Sinapot is a fried
banana desert that is
in some ways similar
to turon.  It is made
from Saba or
Cardaba banana. The
fruit is peeled then
sliced horizontally
before being mixed in
a batter consisting of
flour and eggs.  After
being deep fried, it is
ready to be served.
 Ginataang Santol
Most Bicolano dishes
make use of coconut
milk, a famous product in
the region. One
popular ginataang dish (a
dish cooked in coconut
milk) is ginataang santol.
This sour fruit mixed with
spicy chili peppers
creates a unique flavor,
which is made even more
special, thanks to the
silky coconut milk. 
 Tilmok
is another famous food from
the Bicol region.Tilmok is the
Bicolano term for coconut
meat. The other main
ingredient of the dish is crab
meat. The preparation
oftilmok starts with the mixing
of coconut meat and the crab
meat together. Garnishing is
added after the meats are
mixed. The mixed “meats” are
put inside banana leaves and
then steamed. This delicious
dish is popular among locals
and even foreigners.