ALBAY
Possessing a generally volcanic terrain, Albay is best
known for the famous Mayo Volcano.
Named after the Bicol word magayon, meaning “beautiful”,
the once perfect cone is as majestic as it dreadful- its
eruption in 1814 killed thousands of people and buried
towns, particularly Cagsawa where the church belfry
remained.
Albay’s official seal depicts the kalaw, a high-flying
bird native to Albay. The bird symbolizes the hopes and
aspirations of the people. The streak of light on the
shoulder of the volcano in the seal signifies the
artistry of its people, while the ricefields denote the
agricultural economy of the inhabitants.
Former Names: “Sawagnan” and “Albaybay”
Land Area: 2,552.6 square kilometers
Capital: Legaspi City
Population: 809,177 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Bicol
Income Classification: Second Class Province
No. of Cities: 1 (Legaspi)
No. of Municipalities: 17 (Bacacay, Camalig,
Daraga-Locsin, Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Ligao,
Malilipot, Malinao, Manito, Oas, Pio Duran, Polangui,
Rapu-Rapu, Santo Domingo-Libon, Tobaco, and Tiwi)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Apart from Mayon Volcano, several
other mountains accentuate the scenic panorama of the
province. The plains and valleys are fertile mainly
because of active volcanism in the area. There are also
various creeks and rivers that drain the province.
No. of Principal Rivers: 4
No. of Mountains: 11 (prominent ones are Mayon,
Putsan, Caburanan, Pantao, Masaraga and Malinao)
Climate: The eastern part of Albay has no dry
season but has a pRonounced maximum rainfall from
November to January.
The west portion has no dry season with the rainfalls
fairly distributed throughout the year. Generally, the
climate is mild.
Average Annual Rainfall: 133.18 inches
Principal products/crops: Rice, (major crop), coconut,
sugarcane, calamansi and peanuts.
Industries: Coconut oil production (major
industry), fishing and coal mining.
Mineral Resources: Copper, coal, lime, clay,
gypsum, perlite, and coral rocks.
Forest Resources: Timber, rattan, almaciga, and
beeswax.
Tourist Attractions: The Cagsawa ruins, the Pali
Falls, Mayon Volcano, Hoyop-Hoyopan Caves in Camalig,
the Dalipay Spring and Waterfalls, the Maglabog Boiling
Lake, the Naglagbay Lake in Tiwi, Roca-Monte abaca
processing at Daraga, Tiwi Hot Springs, the Kalayukay
Beach and Puro Beach.
Governor: Romeo R. Salalima
Congressman: Edcel C. Lagman, Carlos R. Imperial,
Elfren R. Sarte (deceased)
CAMARINES NORTE
During the later part of the 16th century, the Spanish
used Camarines Norte as their base for colonizing the
whole of Bicol. The Spanish thrust was, likewise,
motivated by news of gold deposits in this part of Bicol.
It was during this time that the Paracale deposits were
discovered and the town of Paracale has been associated
with gold mining ever since. Today, Camarines Norte is
the second richest mining district in the country, next
to the Mountain Provinces.
In the early years of Spanish colonial rule, Camarines
Norte formed part of a province known as Ambos Camarines
which was founded in 1573. In 1829, Ambos Camarines was
split into northern and southern provinces; but in 1854,
the new provinces were merged again. In 1957, they were
again separated and in 1893, were once more reunited.
The last partition was decreed in March 1919 when
Philippine Legislature authorized the Governor-General
to split Ambos Camarines into two provinces. This
partition prevails to this day and the boundaries
between Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur are
substantially the same as they were in 1919.
Former Name: Ambos Camarines
Land Area: 2,112.5 square kilometers
Capital: Daet
Population: 308,007 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Bicol
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 12 (Basud, Capalonga, Daet,
Imelda, Jose, Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, San
Vicente, Santa Elena, Talisay, and Vinzons)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: While blessed with extensive tracts
of fertile lands, some parts of the province are stony
and sandy, prohibiting agricultural cultivation. The
terrain is generally rugged with rolling hills and
mountains except for the coastal area where one finds
fertile plains and small valleys.
No. of Principal Rivers: 1 (Daet-Talisay)
No. of Mountains: 7
Climate: No dry season. Its maximum rainfall is
from October to January.
Average Annual Rainfall: 150.55 inches
Principal products/crops: Coconut, banana, abaca
and rice
Industries: Mining (major industry)
Mineral Resources: Iron ore, gold, silver,
uranium, zinc and copper
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Philippine Iron Mines,
Pulang Data, Bagasbas Beach Resort, Shrine of the Black
Nazarene, Bicol National Park, Calaguas Islands, Canton
Caves, Lanot Soda Springs, Mananap Falls, and the Tulay
na Lupa Reservoir.
Governor: Casimiro A. Padilla Jr.
Congressman: Renato M. Unico
CAMARINES SUR
Camarines Sur’s history is intimately interwoven with
that of its sister province, Camarines Norte, from the
16th century up to 1919 when Philippine Legislature
finally decreed a formal separation. The province is
about two-and-a-half times larger than Camarines Norte.
The town of Naga became the capital of Camarines Sur
immediately after the separation. When it was converted
in to a chartered city on December 18, 1948, the
municipality of Pili was declared its new capital.
The province ranks next to Albay and Sorsogon as the
most densely populated province of the region. Its
populous city and towns are Iriga, Nabua, and Libmanan.
Tabios or sinarapan, the smallest fish in the world, are
found in Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur.
Former Name: Ambos Camarines
Land Area: 5,266.8 square kilometers
Capital: Pili
Population: 1,099,346 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Bicol
Income Classification: First Class Province
No. of Cities: 2 (Naga and Iriga)
No. of Municipalities: 35 (Baao, Balatan, Bato,
Bombon, Buhi, Bula, Cabusao, Calabanga, Camaligan,
Canaman, Caramoan, Del Gallego, Gainza, Garchitorena,
Goa, Lagonoy, Libmanan, Lupi, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac,
Nabua, Ocampo, Pamplona, Pasacao, Pili, Presentacion,
Ragay, Sagnay, San Fernando, San Jose, Sipocot, Siruma,
Tigaon, and Tinambac)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The terrain is generally mountainous
but levels off to an extensive plain that cuts across
the center of the province. The plain is popularly known
as the Bicol Plain. The lands surrounding the two peaks
of Mt. Iriga are exceedingly rough and are suitable for
the growing of abaca.
No. of Principal Rivers: 5
No. of Mountains: 16
Climate: The western and southern portions of
Camarines Sur do not have a dry season nor a very
pronounced rainy period. The rest of the province lack a
dry season but experience a maximum rain period from
November to January. Typhoons usually batter the
province.
Average Annual Rainfall: 150.55 inches
Principal products/crops: Abaca, rice coconut,
corn, rootcrops, citrus, and bananas
Industries: Fishing (major industry)
Mineral Resources: Copper, iron, gypsum, pumice
and chromite
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: The Leaning Tower of Bombon,
Atulyan Island, Ubo Falls, Sibaguan Waterfalls, Lake
Buhi, Malacsay Falls, Caranan Beach Resort, Penafrancia
Resort, and Carolina Resort
Governor: Luis R. Villafuerte
Congressman: Rolando R. Andaya, Raul S. Roco,
Eduardo P. Pilapil, Ciriaco R. Alfelor
CATANDUANES
Catanduanes is one of the smallest provinces of the
country in terms of population. Its slow development has
been attributed to its climate.
Juan de Salcedo explored Catanduanes in 1573. In 1582,
it was allotted to four encomenderos. In 1755, it was
overran by the Muslim who pillaged and burned the towns.
During the Philippine Revolution, the Spaniards left
Catanduanes on the Motorboat, Josefa, on September
18,1898 before the arrival of the first revolutionary
troops under Major Estanislao Legazpi. When the
Philippine American War broke out, Brig. Gen. William A.
Kobbe occupied Virac on January 24, 1900. The Japanese
invaders occupied the province in 1941 and was liberated
in 1945.
Former Names: Catanduan and Catagodognan
Land Area: 1,511.5 square kilometers
Capital: Virac
Population: 175,247 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Bicol
Income Classification: Fifth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 11 (Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato,
Caramoran, Gigmoto, Pandan, Panganiban (Payo), San
Andres (Cololbon), San Miguel, Viga, and Virac)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Catanduanes, being one huge mountain mass,
has limited coastal plains. Cultivation is confined to
small alluvial areas and adjacent gentle slopes. On the
northern section, there is a wide coastal plain which is
considered as the rice granary of the province.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 5
Climate: The province has a continuous year-long
rainfall and is constantly visited by northern trade
winds and the southwest monsoon and cyclonic storms.
Average Annual Rainfall: 46 inches
Principal products/crops: Coconut, abaca, palay
and rootcrops
Industries: Logging, and fishing (major industry)
Mineral Resources: Gold, silver, manganese,
marble, kaolin and phosphate rocks
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Binauahan Falls, the Luyang
caves and beach resorts such as Egang, Marilma, Lourdes
and Palawig.
Governor: Leandro I. Verceles
Congressman: Moises M. Tapia (deceased)
MASBATE
Masbate, known as the cattle island of the Philippines,
was once a part of Albay. In 1846 it was separated from
Albay was made a comendencia- politico- military.
General Lucban established the local government and left
Vicente Trivino of Boac, Marinduque in charge of Masbate
until the government was turned over to the United
States forces in 1900.
On March 18, 1901, Masbate was organized as a province
under Act No. 105 of the Philippine Commission. On
November 23, 1905, under Act No. 1413, Masbate was
annexed to Sorsogon. On December 15, 1920, by virtue of
Act No. 2934 of the Philippine Legislature, it was made
a province independent of Sorsogon Masbate has 121
islands and islets, 61 of which are named.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 4,047.7 square kilometers
Capital: Masbate
Population: 584,520 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Bicol, Cebuano and Hilagaynon
Income Classification: Third Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 21 (Aroroy, Baleno, Balub,
Batuan, Cataingan, Cawayan, Claveria, Dimasalang,
Esperanza, Mandaon, Masbate, Milagros, Mobo, Monreal,
Palanas, Pio V. Corpus (Limbuhan), Placer, San Fernando,
San Jacinto, San Pascual and Uson)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The province has scattered reefs and
coral areas on its southern and western coasts. The
interior of the island is characterized by low rolling
hills. Ticao Island is semi-mountainous with arable land
concentrated mostly on its northwest corner. The eastern
coastline of Burias is characterized by cliffs and bold
promontories.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 15(Mt. Engano is the highest)
Climate: Relatively dry from January to June and
wet the rest of the year. It lies directly in the path
of destructive typhoons which affect the country yearly.
Burias and Ticao have rainfalls more or less evenly
distributed throughout the year.
Average Annual Rainfall: 78.79 inches
Principal products/crops: Corn, coconut, rice and
banana
Industries: Cattle raising (major industry),
fishing, agriculture, and mining
Mineral Resources: Gold, manganese, limestone,
silver, iron, chromite, lead, zinc, and coal.
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Dacu beach resort, Espinosa
beach, Valencia beach resort and the cattle ranches.
Governor: Emilio Espinosa Jr.
Congressman: Tito R. Espinosa, Luz Cleta R.
Bakunawa, Moises R. Espinosa (deceased)
SORSOGON
Abaca was introduced in the province of Sorsogon by the
Spaniards. In 1660, Father Espellarga, parish priest of
Bacon, invented the first stripping machine for abaca.
Today, Sorsogon is the premier abaca-producing province
in the Philippines.
A total of 15 towns of Sorsogon lie along the coast.
Irosin, the only inland town, is at the center of a
basin which looks like a crater of a depressed volcano.
Created in 1864, Sorsogon has three waterfalls: the
Magallanes, Ubo, and Cawayan Falls. Rich fishing grounds
are in the towns of Bulan, Donsol, Magallanes, Gubat,
Pilar and the Burias Pass, Sibuyan Sea and Ragay Gulf.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 2,141.4 square kilometers
Capital: Sorsogon
Population: 500,685 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Bicol
Income Classification: Third Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 16 ( Bacon, Barcelona,
Bulan, Bulusan, Casiguran, Castilla, Donsol, Gubat,
Irosin, Juban, Magallanes, Matnog, Pilar, Prieto Diaz,
Santa Magdalena, and Sorsogon)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Although the terrain is very hilly, there is
no great mountain range extending to it. There are six
main elevations, the highest of which is Mt. Bulusan, an
active volcano reaching 5,165 feet. There big rivers cut
the province.
No. of Principal Rivers: 3
No. of Mountains: 6 (Mt. Bulusan is the highest)
Climate: There is considerable rainfall throughout the
year, with precipitation occurring during the latter
half of September and October. The province lies within
the typhoon belt.
Average Annual Rainfall: 144.96 inches
Principal products/crops: Abaca, coconut rice,
corn, rootcrops, fruits and pili
Industries: Hemp making and fishing (major
industry)
Mineral Resources: Sulphur, coal, and limestone
Forest Resources: Almaciga, tanbark, buri, nipa,
rattan and firewood
Tourist Attractions: Lake Osiao and Cape Pampang
in Bacon, Bulos and Mapaso Springs in Irosin, Tinalos
islet near the Bagatao Island, Magallanes Falls and Ubo
Falls in Santa Magdalena, the Bucal-bucalan Springs and
the Cawayan Waterfalls in Sorsogon, and the Bugs Cave in
Bulusan.
Governor: Cleto D. Arnedo
Congressman: Salvador Escudero III, Bonifacio H. Gillego
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