Notes

<h1>Region 5 or The Bicol Region</h1>
<h2>Culture of Bicol region.</h2>
<p>Culture & Food The Bicol Region has a variety
of cultural sites that showcase its rich history.
Originally came from incomers of China, the
people of Bicol are often mix Chinese, Arab and
Spanish ancestry, and most are devoted Catholics.
Bicol residents also known as Bicolanos, their
mother tongue is some form of the Bikol sociolinguistic
language. The region has a flourishing culture with many
colorful festivals, both religious and otherwise. Like
the rest of the Philippines, Bicol has a tropical climate.<p>

<h2>Regional center of Bicol</h2>
<p>Legazpi City is the regional center of Bicol. it consist of six provinces,
four on the Bicol Peninsula mainland(the southeastern end of Luzon)
– Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines
Sur, Sorsogon and also the offshore island provinces of Catanduanes
and Masbate. The regional center is Legazpi City and has one
Independent part that is a City, the pilgrim city of Naga.</p>

<h2>Bicol's image to the Philippines</h2>
<p>Bicol is well known for its activevolcanoes, untroubled whale sharks, secret beaches
and spicy food. It is also known as the adventure capital of the Philippines.</p>

<h2>Characteristics of a Bicolano</h2>
<p>Bicolanos are friendly and sweet. This is shown during social celebrations
and local fiestas. One way of their means to socialization is through drinking which
establishes discussions with lesser impediments and formality. This made them the
reputation of being hospitable.</p>

<h2>Bicolano Literature</h2>
<p>Bicol literature contains poetry, novel or fiction written about Bicol. Indie filmmaker
and novelist Alvin Yapan, who aclaim from Pili, Camarines Sur, agreed that Bicol literature
is any literary work pertaining to Bicol, including that it must also be an instrument
in enriching the region’s culture.</p>

<h2>Language spoken in Bicol</h2>
<p>Bikol language is the language that they speak in bicol.
The people of the Bicol Region, called Bicolanos, speak any of the several dialects of the Bikol language
family, called Bikol macrolanguages. Austronesian languages are closely grouped under the Central Philippine
languages family such as the Visayan dialects and Tagalog. Central Bicolano is a dialect, mostly spoken in Naga City,
Camarines Sur and Legaspi City, Albay. It is understood in the whole Bicol Region and has a big number of
speakers all over the region. Bikol is a language spoken by people in the
Bicol region on southeastern Luzon in the Philippines. It was highly influenced by the Spanish language.
Central Bicol or commonly called as Bicol-Legaspi or Bicol-Naga is the most spoken language in the Bicol region
of southern Luzon.</p>

<h2>Bicol Region's name origin</h2>
<p>The biggest and longest river in the region is where the region got the name Bicol.
The river origins from the outflow of lakes and springs from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur
and Camarines Norte and form a large stream that exits in the San Miguel Bay, off the shores of
Camarines Sur.</p>

<h2>Some of the unique culture of Bicol culture</h2>
<p>Some having traditional practices are the pamalay, pantomina and tigsikan. Beliefs on God,
the soul and life after death are strongly retained by the people. Related to these, there are annual
rituals like the pabasa, tanggal, fiestas and flores de mayo. Naga City is known for the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in September.
The patroness is considered the mother of the whole Bicol region.</p>

<h2>Beauty of Bicol</h2>
<p>Bicol is a place suitable for all with its historical sites, eco-tourism and watersports.
There is also the famous Mayon Volcano, Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, and many stunning waterfalls.
Like the rest of the Philippines, Bicol has a tropical climate.</p>

<h2>Uniqueness of Bicol</h2>
<p>The food in Bicol is quite unique because, unlike in other places in the country, a lot of gata
(coconut milk) and spicy ingredients are used. On your trip, you have to atleast taste the local Laing and Pinangat.
Other must-tries are the Kinunot, Kinalas and Toasted Siopao of Naga Garden.</p>

<h2>The main economic activity in the Bicol Region</h2>
<p>Bicol Region has a great amount of rich flat land, and agriculture is the biggest component of the economy with close to 50% depending
their livelihood on the industry. Coconuts, abaca, banana, coffee and jackfruit are the top five permanent crops in the region.
Rice and maize are among the chief seasonal crops of the region.</p></center>