Notes

Mabuhay ug Madayaw everyone! I am Lovely Joy C. Castro.
This presentation will be the continuation of 3 provinces in region5 and
I will tackle the historical, cultural, religious and man-made sites of each province.

Catanduanes,
Capital City, Virac
The Land of The Howling Winds

Catanduanes is located off the coast of the Bicol Region
in the southern part of Luzon and faces the Pacific Ocean.
Because of its location, the province is usually the first place
in the Philippines to get battered by typhoons, and so
the province is nicknamed the “Land of the Howling Winds.”

Catanduanes has a lot to offer, of its visitors with its varied combination of
Spanish Colonial churches, waterfalls, waves ideal for surfing, and
beaches that are still untouched even by locals. It is also known as
"The Happy Island,” because of its beautiful attractions and friendly people.

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- This cave is the Luyang Cave in San Andres-Virac highway,
reveals, interesting episode in the history of this town.
The historic cave, served as a hiding place for locals during
the Moro Raid in the early years of the 18th century.
It was believed that the town owned a very big bell at the
belfry of their local church. During those days, the Moro pirates
always attacked the village to enslave the male inhabitants.
Thinking that the pirates will be coming back any time soon,
the natives prepared their supplies of food and other belongings
they could carry to their hiding place which was the cave as for their protection.
The cave now historically named "LUYANG CAVE PARK" a mute witness and
testimony of the tragic fate of inhabitants which are the natives that
called “Binanwahan.” who died inside the cave.

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- One of these places, is Amenia Beach located in
Barangay Palawig, San Andres in Catanduanes, It is known
for its powdery white sand. Some activities in Amenia beach are
swimming, skimbording, snorkeling, and camping overnight.
Amenia Beach is also one of the developed beaches in Catanduanes.
Easily accessible and reasonably priced accommodations of
this vacation spot, more appealing to beach goers.
Its clear ambiance is a relaxing experience.

- Solong falls, The waterfalls with an elevation of 100 meters.
A place that is relaxing surrounded by trees, having a quiet and
peaceful ambience, only the sound of the water and the birds are the
only things you can hear. This waterfalls has no entrance fee located at
Brgy. Solong in the town of San Miguel, Catanduanes.

- Vargas Cave, located in Balite, Virac, it has a narrow opening that
provides a challenging point of entry and is hidden in the midst of thickets.

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- Batong Paluay, the locals relate that the image of mystical face of
Our Lady of Sorrows has been found in a flooded stream near the
barangay of Batong Paluay. A chapel was built to house the
miraculous stone and as a place for devotion for believers.
The image is believed to progressively increase in sized over the years.
Every lenten week, people from different places come and
visit the venerated image of our Lady of Sorrows.

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- the PAGASA-DOST Weather Radar Station in Barangay Buenavista,
Municipality of Bato, Catanduanes is considered as one of the most advanced
radar station in the world. This weather radar station is to mitigate the
impact of devastating typhoons in the country and has a state
of the art equipment. From the roof deck, the panoramic view of
the surrounding area is simply breathtaking.

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- Abaca Festival is a cultural and agricultural festival in the
province of Catanduanes, Philippines. Every fourth week of May.
Abaca Festival is week-long and gives the limelight to the fiber industry.
It is the raw material for many woven and derivative products locally made in the
province, in the Bicol region, and in many parts of the country.
Its fiber is used in many products and application such as
in automobile, textile, tea bags, currency papers, filters, handicrafts, and other items.
In addition, environmental concerns have meant manufacturers are switching from
synthetic materials towards sustainable and organic alternatives like abaca.

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- Bicol Express, A signature vegetable dish from the region made of
gabi coconut milk, sili, and shrimp paste, Bicol express goes great with
any type of seafood. One of the best variants was served in
Kemji Resort and Resto near the airport in San Isidro Village, Virac.

- Tilmok is steamed seafood with coconut meat.
Catandungans used buyod (freshwater shrimp) instead of
crab meat and add oregano. It’s spicy too.

- Kaluko is a taro root stuffed with sweetened grated taro and
young coconut meat, then cooked in coconut milk.
Pandan leaves may be added for additional flavor.

- Take your pick: buttered or garlic-coconut?
Find both in a Virac beach front restaurant or in Puraran.
The new roadside eatery next to the arc to Puraran beach
resorts sells alive lobster at a cheaper price.
They’ll cook it without additional fee.

- In Catanduanes, Latik are rice cakes made with malagkit,
coconut milk and malungay extract. It is wrapped in banana leaf and
is best enjoyed with caramelized coconut sauce.

According to Mendoza, you can pair this with suman, if you don’t fancy a sweet topping like latik.

Impling’s occasionally makes kaluko for afternoon snack, but not as regular as latik and tilmok.

This is also a famous delicacy in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Masbate
The Capital of Masbate, is Masbate City
The Rodeo Capital of Southeast Asia

Masbate is an island province in the Philippines that is part of
the Bicol region. The economy of Masbate, is primarily based on
agriculture and fishing. The province is known for its cattle industry,
which produces high-quality beef and dairy products.
The waters surrounding Masbate are also rich in
various species of fish and other seafood, which are exported to
other parts of the country. Masbat or Masbad was
the old name of Masbate Island.

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- Underwater Cave, The cave is located in Claveria,
with an entrance that is undersea. It also offers a chance to
experience history and ancient culture with a hint of mystery at the
Underwater Cave. Inside Underwater Cave are will-sealed
human cascets, carved out of solid wood. Believed to be 500 years old,
these cascets still contain human remains.

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- Matangtubig Spring, Matang Tubig is one of the
beautiful places in Masbate province. It is also a good spot to
visit and spend summer vacations. The water from the stream is
very clean, clear and cold which is very relaxing.
This spring is a very unique spring in having three sources,
one of which is a spring that comes out of a rock.
Streams surrounded by green plants and
trees serve as decorations around the spring.

- Catandayugan Falls, located in the town of monreal, masbate in ticao island.
One of the most beautiful falls in the province.
It is one hour by motorboat from the capital.
It cascades from 60 feet to its base where multi-colored fishes cavort.
Tourists can also enjoy the cool water of Catandayagan Falls by
having the boat dock right below the waterfalls.

- Talisay Beach, The word Talisay is a fruit bearing tree,
scientifically known as Terminalia Catapa..
It is found 13 kilometers southwest of San Fernando in Ticao Island.
Famous for the rocks which serve as natural diving board for swimmers.
The resort has several services rendered such as Birds Watching which
you will surely enjoy the flock of birds along the beach during low tide

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- Colorada Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Masbate, Bicol that
was constructed during the Spanish era.
The lighthouse is abandoned but still beautiful.
It has some similarities with the other Spanish lighthouses,
rustic feel and great for photo shoot.

Sorsogon
Its capital is Sorsogon City (formerly the towns of Sorsogon and Bacon)
Sorsogon is known as the 'Land of Kasanggayahan' or 'A Life of Prosperity'.
From its amazing tourists destinations to its heart-warming and
friendly Sorsoganons. It is famous for being the country's Butanding or
whale shark capital where tourists can freely swim and interact with
the ocean's gentle giants. The province's name was derived from
the word Sogsogon which means tracing the river upstream.

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Sorsogon National High School, in Sorsogon City, Philippines,
was established before World War II was gutteddown by fire past
two o’clock in morning, a day after the celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The school historical main building was burned down twice:
once during Japanese occupation, in 1941, and again in a devastating fire in
February 2014. Looking back, Sorsogon National High School had its own share of crises;
it has survived the Second World War, two super typhoons, two people power revolutions,
and an earthquake of high intensity that almost rocked its very foundation.

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Bulusan nan Si Agingay is a Sorsoganon folktale about
the origins of the volcano lakes Bulusan and Agingay in Sorsogon.
Handsome Bulusan and beautiful Agingay live happily under the shadow of
the volcano but, unknown to the happily married couple, the extreme jealousy in
the person of Casigura driven to the lifeless body of Agingay and the
blood of Bulusan, which from two lakes upon the slopes of the volcano.
The two lakes are now known as Lake Bulusan and Lake Agingay,
and the volcano upon whose slopes the two beautiful lakes serenely repose,
is now known as Mt. Bulusan.