Bicol Region: Information Sheet

Overview:

The Bicol ,also known simply as Bicol and historically known as Ibalong prior to Spanish
colonization, is a region of the Philippines, designated as Region V. Bicol comprises six provinces, four on
the Bicol Peninsula mainland (the southeastern end of Luzon) – Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
and Sorsogon – and the offshore island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.[2]

The regional center and largest city is Legazpi City.[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.

History:

The Bicol region was known as Ibalong, variously interpreted to derive form 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"; 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. No prehistoric animal fossils have been
discovered in Bicol and the peopling of the region remains obscure. The Aeta from Camarines
Sur to Sorsogon strongly suggest that aborigines lived there long ago, but earliest evidence is of middle to
late Neolithic life.[5]

A barangay (village) system was in existence by 1569. Records show neither sign of Islamic rule
nor any authority surpassing the datu (chieftain). Precolonial leadership was based on strength, courage,
and intelligence. The native seemed apolitical. Thus the datu's influence mattered most during crises like
wars. Otherwise, early Bicol society remained family centered, and the leader was the head of the family.

The Spanish influence in Bicol resulted mainly from the efforts

of Augustinian and Franciscan Spanish missionaries. The first churches in Bicol, the San Francisco
Church, and the Naga Cathedral, both in Naga, along with the Holy Cross Parish in Nabua, Camarines Sur,
are instituted by the Holy Order of the Franciscans. One of the oldest dioceses in the Philippines,
the Archdiocese of Caceres, was also instituted in the Bicol Region. During this time, Bicol was dotted by
many astilleros (shipyards) which were focused on constructing Manila Galleons, the heaviest ships in their
time, from the local hardwood forests and these Manila Galleons were responsible for trade between Asia
and the Americas.[6] Bicol also has Latin-American settlements and cultural influence mostly from Mexico
due to the abundance of chili pepper plantations in the area, as it is Mexican in origin.[7] Bicolano cuisine is
noted for the propensity of being spicy.[8]

1. INTRODUCTION  The Bicol region was known as Ibalon.  The Aeta from Camarines Sur to
Sorsogon strongly suggest that aborigines lived there long ago, but earliest evidence is of middle to
late Neolithic life.  A barangay (village) system was in existence by 1569. Records show neither
sign of Islamic rule nor any authority surpassing the datu (chieftain).

2. INTRODUCTION  The region is composed of six provinces: Albay – Legazpi City Camarines
Norte - Daet Camarines Sur - Naga Sorsogon – Sorsogon City Catanduanes - Virac Masbate –
Masbate City  Camarines Sur is the largest province in area and population, occupying 5,481.6
km2 (2,116.5 sq mi) or around 30.4% of the total land area with a population of 1,822,371. 
Catanduanes is the smallest in area as well as population with only 1,511.5 km2 (583.6 sq mi) or
8.4% of the total regional area and a population of 246,300.

3. INTRODUCTION (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.

4. 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 south 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.

5. HISTORY  Juan de Salcedo arrived in this island in 1573, hunting for pirates, and conquered
the natives. Three years later, a galleon expedition 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.

HISTORY  The province of Camarines was created from Bicol in 1636. That province was divided
in 1829, creating Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. They were briefly merged from 1854 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 of existing gold mines.  Francisco de
Sande took over from Legazpi as Governor General, Spanish influence started to be felt in the
region. He established a permanent spanishgarison in Naga to control the region and defend it
from Chinese and Muslim pirates.

References:

1. Wikipedia.
2. Scribd.
3. Slideshare.
History

Pre-Spanish Colonialization
The original Bicolanos were the indigenous people e.g. the Agta that
roam the peninsula. They can be found in the area of Mt. Isarog and Mt.
Iriga. They have their own culture and economy. Before the foreign
commercial influence, their cultural practices were friendlier to the
environment even if they practice the traditional slash and burn agriculture.
One of the elements of their slash and burn practices is to leave the land for
a while for it to recover. They transfer to another area.Pmcalara 12:45, 2
September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time)
Contrary to western Historians that Philippines was discovered by the
Spaniards, there were already Bicolanos in the region. Artifacts from several
museums in the region can attest to this. Some of these artifacts were found
in Ticao Island in Masbate. There were artifacts the pre-date the arrival of
the Spaniards by at least 500 years.

There was already a Bicol Culture. Also, the many Languages of Bicol
are living evidence to this colorful culture. The Bikol Languages were closely
linked with austronesian languages of South east asia and the Pacific. This
indicate that the Bicolanos had an interaction, culturally and economically,
with its Island neigbors. The propaganda that the Philippines and the Bicol
region were discovered by the Europians were part of a plan to colonize the
nation--physically and culturally.

The economy was based in agriculture and fishing.Pmcalara 11:27, 2

September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time)

In the Island of Masbate, there was still the practice of the local folks
to thank elements of nature e.g. water, wind, land, river, etc. before and
after harvest. They called this as Pa-Ulaw or Pasasalamat literally
thanksgiving. Thanking elements in nature througy Pa-ulaw is not a
Western Philosophy as introduced by Christian Philosophy. Related to Pa-
ulaw is the Pa-tamoy or nagpapaalam literally asking permission. This
means also asking a bountyful harvest or water. In the Pa-tamoy
indigenous people as permission from un-seen elements in nature for them
to use the land, if they are doing agricultural activities.--Pmcalara 17:33, 2
September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time) .

Pa-ulaw and Pa-tamoy have a big possibility that these were handed
down by their ancestors centuries before the the Europeans colonized the
Bicol region. This practices are now part of Filipino and Bicolano fold
religiosity that is still observed today (as observed by Perry Calara,
unpublished).Pmcalara 12:45, 2 September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time)

Spanish Colonialization
The seat of power was based in Nueva Caceres (now Naga City).

American Colonial Era

The Americans controlled Power and Economy.

There were revolts against the occupiers e.g. the Simeon Ola revolt in
Albay.

Most of the Business, particularly Mining industry in Camarines Norte

and Masbate, were controlled by the Americans.Pmcalara 11:27, 2
September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time)

World War II
The Bicolanos were dragged in the fight of two imperialist countries in
the world--Japanese and the Americans. They were fighting for world
economic and political dominance particularly in the Asia Pacific Area.

The Japanese landed in the region a few months after they bombed
Pearl Harbor. When the Americans left the region, Bicolano guerillas were
left to defend the region. Guerilla forces were organized around the regions
to independently fight the new japanese colonizers. Many battles were
fought by the Bicolanos without the Americans.Pmcalara 11:27, 2
September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time)

There were also elite politicians who collaborated with the Japanese.

Post World War II

Most of the Politicians in powers were pro-Americans who re-occupied
the regions after the War. Some pro-American guerillas became political
leaders.Pmcalara 11:27, 2 September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time)
Martial Law
Bicol bacame to be known as an opposition region perhaps because of
its anti US backed Marcos regime and its anti-people Martial Law. Many anti-
fascists and anti-imperialist organization emerged in the region during this
dark era in the region.

Some of the more prominent were the Bicol Saro, Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan- Bicol (BAYAN-Bicol), and many sectoral organizations e.g.
Alyansang Magbubukid ng Bicol. Many Bicol Saro members were politicians
who unified in the anti-fascist movement. Some were local elites removed by
Marcos from power.Pmcalara 11:36, 2 September 2007 (Taipei Standard
Time)

Bayan had provincial chapters and to some extent municipal chapters.

The organization represented the Middle and Lower class of the social
spectrum.
While there were legal organization actively fought the dictator, the
the re-organized Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) also organized
the underground New Peoples Army (NPA) in the regions in the mid 1970s.
Romulo Jallores and his brother Benjie started it in the Caramoan Peninsula
of Camarines Sur

Post People Power One (1986)

Many of the Bicolano opposition elite who fought the Marcos ruled Bicol
regions after the downefall of the dictator. There were instances that some
Marcos cronies also took local powers after winning in the elections.

The traditional feudal patronage politics of pre and during the Marcos
regime continue to exist.

Backward economy based on traditional agricultural practices continue

to exist. The political and economic condition also continue to feed the
armed rebellion of the New People's Army (NPA)that existed during the
Marcos regime.

The rebellion even expanded to the Island of Catanduanes.Pmcalara

12:19, 2 September 2007 (Taipei Standard Time)
Post People Power Two (2001)
 During the 2001 Elections, the Militant Bayan Muna party list emerged
as the dominant partylist group in Bicol when they got the most number of
votes in the partly list elections.

From February 14, 2001 until December 15, 2006 about 127 Bicolano
activists from progressive organizations and partly list were extrajudicially
killed under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime.

List of those killed can be found at the [Karapatan-Bicol] website.

Local elites continue to dominate the political arena after the 2007 elections.
 Matukad Island,the Hidden Lagoon, and the Giant Milk Fish

A long time ago when the gods walked among men and when the colonies of Ibalong were newly
purged from beast and monsters, in one of its colonies lived a young fisherman. He was handsome and
bronzed from the sun as he was kind, and had all the robust appeal of his youth.
One day as he went fishing with the other fishermen he caught something on his net, to
everyone's surprise, it was a mermaid. Beautiful as she was fierce. All the fishermen ready their spears to
kill the sea monster, but the young fisherman told them to halt and he jumped into the water and freed the
mermaid. All the other fishermen thought he was either very brave or very stupid to have dived and freed
the sea monster that was the mermaid.

A few weeks later as the fishermen were out at sea suddenly the skies darkened and a great storm
came, it flipped all the boats. The young fisherman was sure it was his end when suddenly he saw a
beautiful and familiar face, it was the mermaid. The lovely mermaid with her long flowing hair kissed the
fisherman and dragged him to safety. The other fishermen were not so lucky as they were eaten by
the ''magindara'' vicious flesh-eating mermaids who had awoken and had surfaced because of the storm.
The young fisherman was the only survivor of the tragedy. starting from that day the young fisherman
would always have a bountiful catch, and each night when all his work is done he would go to the beach
and meet his now beloved mermaid.

Some of the townspeople became suspicious of the young fisherman luck, some even envious.
Another storm has passed by the colony and people were devastated they were distraught and angry at the
destruction caused by the storm, they were looking for someone to blame. Until one day they saw him with
the mermaid. Rumors spread and they thought he had sold his soul to the god of chaos and evil ''Asuang''
and had a nightly tryst with a flesh-eating Magindara. The people of the colony grew enraged and blinded
by jealousy and mix emotions rallied carrying torches. They soon found the young fisherman and his
mermaid at a near shore. They were going to kill them both for they blamed the mermaid and the young
fishermen for the deaths of all the fishermen. With their torches and their weapons, they carried the young
fisherman and the mermaid with murder in their mind.
 Meanwhile, in a nearby island, a celestial god had descended. The luminous and comely lunar god
Bulan had come down from the heavens for his night bath and swim in a hidden lagoon. He was radiant as
the moon itself and his long black hair brushed by mermaids. The lunar god was enjoying his bath with the
mermaids and his entourage of wind nymphs (tawong lipod) when he heard the commotion from the other
island. Curious and a little irritated of the noise he flew to the nearby island to check what was the cause of
all that commotion.

Back in the shore, the mob of people was about to burn the young fisherman and the mermaid
when a gusting wind blew out their torches. they were in shock to see wind people hovering above them.
All bowed down when they realized a god was coming, luminous and fair the god of the moon slowly
descended clothed in diaphanous white fabrics that floated in the air, and behind him, an entourage of wind
people followed. The lunar god asked in his child-like voice why the people would burn a mermaid and the
young fisherman.

The people awed by the beauty of the lunar god was now calm and they explained that they think
that the relationship between mermaid and mortal was the cause of the colony's misfortune. The lunar god
replied to them at it was nonsense and that the couple was not to blame. The lunar god asked them to
release the mermaid and the young fisherman.
The young fisherman once released prostrated himself before the lunar god. He cried and begged to the
lunar god that he does not want to be part of this colony which hated and tried to kill him and his mermaid
just for being in love. he begged the lunar god to take him and his mermaid where they can live in peace
together.

The lunar god said that he would turn the young fisherman and the mermaid into fishes that they
would live together both in fresh water and salt water together.
Bulan turned the young fisherman and the mermaid into milkfishes, and he personally carried them in a
bubble filled with water. the two tiny milkfish happily swam inside the bubble. The lunar god told the people
that he shall give them bountiful harvest and he shall command his wind nymphs to fend off storms that
might pass their colony and islands in the condition that they leave the lovers (now turned fish) be. The
people of the colony praised and rejoiced as the lunar god gracefully flew away.
Bulan holding the bubble of water with the tiny milk fish descended in the lake(Matukad) where he was
bathing. Here you shall spend your days together and happy. As he popped the bubble containing the
milkfishes and as they fell on the water they grew in size. The became as large as a small boar or pig. The
moon god was happy and he swam with the milkfish lovers as his wind people danced above them. Bulan
said that they would be the guardian of his bathing lagoon.

Many many years have passed and when the god Bulan had decided to go on a deep slumber with
his consort Sidapa in a faraway mountain, the people forgot about the god and their promise to not bother
the milkfish alone. One day a fisherman discovered the hidden lake and saw the lovely and huge milk fish
swimming there. He tried to capture them but couldn't. Fuelled by termination and greed he succeeded in
capturing one of the huge milkfish. Seeing his partner captured the other milkfish surrendered itself to the
fisherman and spoke that he should take him as well. The fisherman angry left the other milkfish so that he
would be isolated all his life. That night the village celebrated the majestic catch, a celebration for huge
milkfish. Wine and singing.

The next day half of the village including the fisherman who caught the milkfish died. All who had
tasted the meat of the huge milkfish had died.