Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Bicol Region
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Regional center | {{{center}}} |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,674,855 |
| – Density | 265.1 per km² |
| Area | 17,632.5 km² |
| Divisions | |
| – Provinces | 6 |
| – Cities | 7 |
| – Municipalities | 107 |
| – Barangays | 3,471 |
| – Cong. districts | 14 |
| Languages | Bikol, Masbateño, Sorsoganon, Tagalog |
Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 16 regions of the Philippines occupying the Bicol Peninsula at the southeastern end of Luzon island and some other islands.
It consists of six provinces, namely, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. It has one independent chartered city, Naga City, and six component cities, Iriga City, Legazpi City, Ligao City, Masbate City, Sorsogon City, and Tabaco City. The regional centers are Legazpi City, the region's political Center, and Naga City, the region's most progressive city and it's commercial, educational, financial, religious, and cultural center.
Inhabitants, called “Bicolanos,” speak any one of several dialects, including Bikol Rinconada (Iriga-Buhi area), Bikol Albay (Albay Province), Bikol Sorsogon (Sorsogon), Bikol Catanduanes and Bikol Partido (municipalities surrounding Lagonoy Gulf). Standard Bikol is Bikol Naga which is generally understood by other Bikol speakers.
The Bicol region is often seen as the epicenter of the counterculture and liberal politics in the Philippines. As many of its inhabitants seem to oppose many right-wing governments and ideology in which they blame for corruption. The region has a political reputation of voting always for the opposition. It is also widely seen as a stronghold for the National Democratic Front.
Albay's archaeology shows concrete evidence of trade with China and Malaya/Indonesia going back two thousand years. The first Spanish contact was in 1565, when a treasure-galleon returning to Cebu from Acapulco, Mexico, was swept off course and the captain recorded his awe at the sight of Mt. Mayon erupting. Mt. Mayon is the most prominent of the several volcanoes in the province, and one of the most famous jewels of the Pacific Ring of Fire; its eruptions have repeatedly inflicted disaster on the province, and enriched the survivors. When at peace, it is a particularly beautiful mountain. Albay has a large amount of rich flat land, and agriculture is the largest component of the provincial economy. Coconuts, rice, abaca, and maize are the chief crops. Handicrafts bolster rural incomes. Commercial fishing is also important, and the province has several thousand manufacturing enterprises. There are plenty of places to visit, offering opportunities to swim at beautiful beaches, scuba-dive to wrecked galleons, explore caves, climb volcanoes, admire waterfalls, lush vegetation, Baroque architecture, etc. Gold-mining and jewelry manufacture continue to distinguish the province. Agriculture and fishing are major factors in the province's economy, and several handicrafts and small-scale industries are widely practiced. Tourism is insignificant, though Daet has become a destination for surfers.
Bicol is composed of six provinces and 7 cities.
| Province | Capital | Population (2000) |
Area (km²) |
Pop. density (per km²) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Albay | Legazpi City | 1,090,907 | 2,552.6 | 427.4 |
 |
Camarines Norte | Daet | 458,840 | 2,112.5 | 217.2 |
 |
Camarines Sur | Pili | 1,551,549 | 5,266.8 | 294.6 |
 |
Catanduanes | Virac | 215,356 | 1,511.5 | 142.5 |
 |
Masbate | Masbate City | 707,668 | 4,047.7 | 174.8 |
 |
Sorsogon | Sorsogon City | 650,535 | 2,141.4 | 303.8 |
- Legazpi City, Albay
- Ligao City, Albay
- Tabaco City, Albay
- Iriga City, Camarines Sur
- Naga City¹, Camarines Sur
- Masbate City, Masbate
- Sorsogon City, Sorsogon
¹ Naga City is an independent chartered city.
The Bikol languages are the dominant languages of the region. Tagalog is also spoken in most of Camarines Norte as well as in the municipality of Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. Two Visayan languages, Sorsoganon and Masbateño, are spoken in Masbate and Sorsogon; they are collectively referred to as Bisakol.
