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HISTORY OF THE BICOL REGION
 The term “Bikol” could have been derived from
“biko”, the name of a river which drains into San
Miguel Bay.
 Possible origins also include the Bikul or bikal
bamboo treewhich line rivulets and the ancient
native word biko meaning “twisted” or “bent”.
 Bikol has a rugged topography.
 Region V comprises six provinces: Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay,
Sorsogon and Masbate.
 The capitals of each provinces are: Daet, Pili, Virac,
Legazpi, Sorsogon and Masbate.
 Three cities namely, Legazpi in Albay, Naga and
Iriga in Camarines.
 2020 census population – 6,082,165
 The Bikol language is basically Malayo Polynesian
with adaptations of some Arabic, Indian, Chinese
and Spanish words.
 Among many variations of Bikol, Naga Bikol is the
standard idiom.
(1) Coastal Bikolwith four sub-languages
(2) Inland Bikolwith six sub-languages
(3) Pandan Bikol, and
(4) Bisakolwith three sub-languages.
 The Bikol region was known as Ibalon, variously
interpreted to derive from 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.
 As a corruption of Gibal-ong, a sitio of Magallanes,
Sorsogon where the Spaniards first landed in 1567.
 The region was called Los Camarines after the huts
found by the Spaniards in Camalig, Albay.
 A barangay (village) system was in existence by
1569.
 Pre-colonial leadership was based on strength,
courage and intelligence.
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 The Spaniards arrived in Masbate in 1567 under
Mateo del Saz and Martin de Goiti.
 It was Luis de Guzman’s visit in 1569 that began
colonization.
 The Agustinian priests, Alonzo Jimenez and Juan
de Orta, pioneered in the conversion of Bikol, the
first natives of Luzon to be Christianized.
 In 1636 the region was subdivided into Ibalon and
Camarines, the former composed of Albay,
Catanduanes (once part of Albay), Sorsogon,
Masbate and the Ticao and Burias Islands.
 In 1829 Camarines split into Norte and Sur, but
were reunited in 1893; in 1919 they were formally
established as provinces.
 Records show that Spanish abuse in Luzon started
in Bicol.
 The natives were first oppressed by Andres de
Ibarrawho reached Bikol in 1570.
 The gold mines too were exploited by Juan de
Salcedo during his explorations of northern Bikol in
1571.
 The strict imposition in these provinces of the 1854
Claveria law ordering the adoption of Spanish
surnames.
 Eighteenth century reforms introduced the
principales or local elite into local office.
 The gobernadorcillo or town mayorwas selected
from 12 electors who were of this class and andwho
were preferably well versed in Spanish.
 To assure full and timely collection of taxes, Simon
de Anda’s 1781 decree stipulated that cabezas de
barangay or barangay heads be wealthy.
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 The Bikols were described by some Spanish
chroniclers as very fierce warriors.
 Sorsogon participated in Samar’s Sumuroy Revolt
in 1649.
 In Camarines, minor rebellions occurred
contemporaneously with the Sumuroy rebellion and
during the British occupation of Manila between
1762 and 1764.
 To entrench themselves in the region, the
Americans encouraged native collaboration.
 When the rebels rejected peacemaking and
overtures, the Americans returned to force: burning,
pillaging and killing.
 In April 1901 the American military government was
replaced by provincial civil governments under the
Philippine Commission.
 Fifty three American Thomasites arrived in Bikol to
help execute the First Philippine Commission’s
policy on public instruction in the first decade of the
century.
 On December 12 1941 Japanese soldiers landed in
Legazpi, and two days later marched into Naga.
 The first guerilla force against the Japanese in the
Philippines was organized by Wenceslao Vinzons
of CamarinesNorte in December 1941.
 In March and April 1945, Douglas McArthur’s Sixth
Army, aided by Filipino guerillas defeated the
Japanese in the region.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BICOL REGION
ACCORDING TO ITS FEATURES
ECONOMY
 Geography defines the region’s traditional
occupation, agriculture and fishing.
 Bicol is currently the largest producer of sweet
potato and the third largest producer of cassava and
calamansi.
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 Camarines Sur has the biggest livestock and poultry
production and is the region’s main source of
carabao, duck and chicken.
 In the region Camarines Sur is the overall largest
fish producer; Masbate, the best inland fish
producer; and Camarines Norte, the most efficient
commercial fish producer.
 The world’s smallest commercial fish is "Sinarapan"
(Mistichthys luzonensis). It can only be found in
Lake Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur. It grows to
an average length of 1.25 centimeters, only slightly
longer than the Dwarf Goby.
 Region V has the most iron reserves, comprising
57% of the national total.
 Most communities engage in abaca craft, machine
or handmade novelties like wall décor, mats, rugs,
hat, slippers, made from strands of plaited abaca
material.
 Tiwi’s clay, especially from the hill areas is used for
decorative items, like flower pots and water jugs,
and construction materials such as clay and bricks.
 Tabaco, Albay’s cutlery which includes scissors,
bolo and knives, razors and chisels is the region’s
second largest cottage industry.
 Camarines Norte, the gold rich Paracale-Labo
Panganiban, is the center of Bicol’s gold jewelry
making industry.
 In 2019, the Masbate Gold Project of Philippine
Gold Processing & Refining Corporation produced
6,291 kilograms of gold, 1.34 percent more than in
2018.
 To promote sustainable and responsible mining, the
Minahang Bayan, or People’s Small Scale Mining
Area, was established in the provinces of
Camarines Norte and Masbate in 2018 (PH-EITI
2017) through the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act
(Republic Act [RA] 7076).
 The lasa grass of Catanduanes is used for brooms
and dusters.
 Bikol’s tourism industry is another source of income.
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 Based on partial data from the Department of
Tourism, tourist arrivals reached 1.28 million in
2019, mostly domestic tourists (86 percent).
Legazpi City had the highest number of tourists
during the year at 576,600, accounting for 51
percent of total tourist arrivals.
 Sinakat – gift to the bride from a relative
attending the wedding.
 Ilinakad – extra fine if the bride was not the
eldest in the family.

 But because of the pandemic, this has affected at
least 7 million direct and indirect employees in the
region’s tourism industry, including workers and
owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises
(MierManjares 2020).
 Sayod – drawing of the marriage covenant.
 Tronco – a genealogical tracing to prevent
incestuous alliances

 Pagcaya – the wedding feast

POLITICAL SYSTEM
 Some national executive offices and constitutionally  Purukan or hurulungan – the bestowing of gifts.
mandated bodies have regional branches in
Legazpi
 Hagol – (palm tree) coffin.
 Bicol is served by one Regional Courts and 13
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in Albay.  Pasaca – indigenous funeral rites
 In Congress, Bikol is represented by 18 members  Basbas – cleansing of corpses
(2022).
1. Albay, 1st District Lagman, Edcel C.
2. Albay, 2nd District Salceda, Joey Sarte  Dool - dutiful reverence of the deceased
3. Albay, 3rd District Cabredo, Fernando
4. Camarines Norte, 1st District Tallado, Josie
 Yokod – the recounting of the deceased life.
5. Camarines Norte, 2nd District Panotes, Toots
6. Camarines Sur, 1st District Horibata, Hori
7. Camarines Sur, 2nd District Villafuerte, Luis  Tolodan – a big clay palate containing a
Raymund Jr. "LRay" dressed chicken without its innards.
8. Camarines Sur, 3rd District Bordado, Gabriel  “da-y na maolang, padagoson mo an
Jr. simong lacao.”
9. Camarines Sur, 4th District Fuentebella, Arnie
10. Camarines Sur, 5th District Villafuerte, Migz
11. Catanduanes, Lone District Rodriguez, Leo1 RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
12. Masbate, 1st District Kho, Richard
 Lumay - love potion
13. Masbate, 2nd District Kho, Ara
 Hinaw-thief detector
14. Masbate, 3rd District Kho, Wilton "Tonton" Tan
 Anting anting - amulets
15. Sorsogon, 1st District Escudero, Dette
a. Kibal - which makes invulnerable to
16. Sorsogon, 2nd District Fortes, Wowo
sharp objects

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
 Parabulong/arbulario - faith healer
● Naming children according to their attributes or the  Hilo - poison
conditions marking their birth was a regional ● Night birds like koro koro and kikik or tiktik
custom. convey ill omens.
 Lagpitao/ palakaw-lakaw – the initial
acquaintance through an intermediary.
 Agricultural rites like tamoy, talagbanhi and rogativa
combine indigenous and hispanic influences.
 Pasonco – the examination of the prospective
match by both parties.
 Tinagba - celebrated after the harvest during
the feast of Corpus Christi.
 Pag-agad – the rendering of service by the
groom to the bride’s family

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 Tumatarok - a prayer offering and oratory with
song and dance, sanctifies a devotion to San
Felipe and San Santiago in Minalabac,
Camarines Sur.
 The most popular and distinct manifestation of Bikol
faith is the special devotion to Nuestra Senora de
Penafrancia, Patroness of Bicol, who is eanderingly
addressed as “ina”.
ARCHITECTURE AND COMMUNITY PLANNING
 In Sorsogon, towns emerged for many various
reasons:
● Castilla – repopulation of the coast after the
19th century Muslim invasions
● Magallanes – the establishment of astilleros or
shipyards which generated employment and
assured protection.
● Barcelona – the conflict of economic interest
● Irosin – the conflict of political interest.
 In Naga, the old Caceres, a huge stone cathedral
looms before the large square.
 Churches were erected within 20 years following the
arrival of the Franciscans in the 1578.
 Daraga’s present church , overlooking the ruins of
the lava-covered town of Cagsawa exemplifies
baroque architecture.
 The style of Naga Cathedral’s façade may be
characterized as “earthquake baroque.”
 Tabaco’s cemetery is dominated by an old arch and
domed cemetery chapel which is one of the most
beautiful in the region.
 The 125 year old Nuyda house in Camalig Albay
has unusually large Capiz panes measuring 7.5x7.5
cm.
 The Buenaventura-Pardinas house in Guinobatan
has its Reinassance style molave balustrade.
 The Pabico house in Daet, Camarines Norte
presents an interesting study in interior design.
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 In the same city stands the Valdeo (Pimentel house)
another Bikol architectural classic.
 The windows are the most practical assets of the
Jaucian house in Ligao, Albay.
 The Fuentebella house in Sangay, Camarines Sur,
burned in the 1950’s was a large stone and brick
structure linked to a smaller building at the back by
a long wooden bridge.
 The Almeda residence is a landmark along Abella
street.
 Other notable bahay na bato in Bicol are the
ancestral houses of the Imperial, Hernandez,
Macandog, Abella and Arejola.
VISUAL ARTS AND CRAFTS
 Agrimon (also known as the alpajor and alakdan) –
flat necklace chain of the 18th century.
 Tamborin – the intricate golden bead necklace of
the 19th century.
 The Kalanay pottery specimens dug up in Masbate
have 15 different patterns combining triangles and
scallops among other designs.
 Gayangan – pivoted turntable.
 Hurnahan – a cylindrical tin mold used in forming
slabs for jar bodies.
 Pambikal – the paddles
 Gapu – the anvil stone
 Hapin – the top part of a broken jar wrapped in a
mat or sack.
 Kawatan – novelties and toys
 Koron – cooking pot
 Gripo – unit faucet water jars
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 Kaldero – kettlelike pots

 Golgoreta – pitchers

 Pugon sa uling – charcoal burning stoves

 Masetera – flower pots

 Bikol has always excelled in the carving of religious

statues.

 The art of abaca weaving has been long developed

in Albay and Camarines Sur.