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Bicol Region Facts & Worksheets

Bicol is among the administrative regions of the Philippines, labeled as Region V.

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Bicol is among the administrative regions of the Philippines, labeled as Region V. It has six provinces, four of which are on the Bicol peninsula mainland – Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon – and the offshore island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.

See the fact file below for more information on the Bicol Region or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Bicol Region worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • The region was originally called Ibalong; some thought it originated from 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 from Gibal-ong, a sitio of Magallanes in the province of Sorsogon, where the Spaniards first set foot in 1567.
  • It was in 1572 when the Bicol RIver was initially mentioned in Spanish documents.
  • After the Spaniards discovered huts in Camalig, Albay, the region was called Los Camarines.
  • Indigenous groups, especially the Aeta from Camarines Sur to Sorsogon, imply that natives lived in the region long ago, but the earliest proof is dated to late Neolithic life.
  • In 1569, barangay systems were established. Documents suggest no sign of Islamic rule nor any force exceeding the datu (chieftain). It can be concluded that pre-colonial governance was based on strength, courage, and intelligence.
  • Augustinian and Franciscan Spanish missionaries helped in influencing Western culture into the region. The first churches in Bicol – San Francisco Church, Naga Cathedral, and Holy Cross Parish -were established by the Holy Order of Franciscans. The Archdiocese of Caceres, among the oldest diocese in the country, was also instituted by the Spaniards in the region.
  • The region also has Latin-American communities and cultural influences from Mexico because of the widespread chili plantations in the region. Bicolano dishes are known for their spiciness.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

  • Bicol region has six provinces: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate.
  • Occupying 30.4% of the region’s total land area is Camarines Sur, making it the largest province in Bicol. Catanduanes, on the other hand, is the smallest with only 8.4% of the total regional area.
  • Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate City, Sorsogon City, and Tabaco are considered component cities, and Naga is known to be an independent component city.

LANGUAGE

  • Bicolanos speak different languages of the Bikol language family, known as macrolanguages, an Austronesian language classified under the Central Philippine languages family.
  • Four major categories of Bikol language include: (1) Coastal Bikol with four sub-languages, (2) Inland Bikol with six sub-languages, (3) Pandan
  • Bikol, and (4) Bisakol with three sub-languages.
  • Most Bikolanos speak Central Bikol since this language is commonly used in literature and mass media.
  • Other Bikol languages are (1) Rinconada Bikol, which is used in southern districts of Camarines Sur, (2) Pandan Bikol in northern part of Catanduanes, and (3) Albay Bikol group of languages, such as Buhinon, Libon, West Miraya, and East Miraya.
  • Most Bikolanos in Masbate and Sorsogon speak Masbateño, Southern Sorsoganon, and Northern Sorsoganon. Three are Visayan languages but strongly influenced by Bikol languages; these are Bisakol, Bisaya, and Bikol.
  • Bicolanos are proficient in the Filipino language and English is widely used in businesses, schools, and public places.

RELIGION

  • Bicol retains Roman Catholicism through the efforts of the bishops from Nueva Caceres in Naga from the 17th century until the Philippine Revolution in 1898.
  • Naga in Camarines Sur is the religious hotspot of the region and houses the oldest dioceses in the Philippines, the ecclesiastical Archdiocese of Caceres. Other dioceses include the Dioceses of Legazpi, Sorsogon, Daet, Masbate, Libmanan, and Virac.
  • Fiestas are yearly celebrations of parishes, from a simple barrio fiesta commemorating a patron for a good harvest, to a town fiesta honoring a saint, a diocesan fiesta such as the feast of Our Lady of Salvation, or a regional fiesta of Our Lady of Peñafrancia which is a seven-day celebration to honor the Virgin Mary, known as the “Patroness of Bicolandia.”
  • The biggest minority religion in Bicol is Iglesia ni Cristo. Other religions include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist church, Baptist Church, Pentecostal, and indigenous religions.

CULTURE AND TRAITS

  • Bicolano dishes are famous for using chili peppers and gata or coconut milk. A typical example is the gulay na lada, commonly known as the Bicol Express, which is a well-adorned cuisine using siling labuyo or native small chilies and gata.
  • Bicolanos are very religious, sweet, friendly, adventurous, and prioritize education and social status. They are also stereotyped for loving chili.
  • Just like other nearby regions, women in Bicol are expected to help in household chores and to do the cleaning and cooking after getting married. Men, on the other hand, should provide the primary source of income and financial support for the household.

TOURISM

  • The region gained popularity because of Mayon Volcano, which is the highest point in Bicol and known for its beautifully symmetrical cone.
  • CamSur Water Sports Complex in Camarines Sur is a watersports park for wakeboarding, wakeskating, and waterskiing.
  • Whale shark spotting is commonly listed on tourists’ bucket lists. Boat trips to spot and snorkel with these friendly creatures are offered in Donsol, Sorsogon.
  • The region also has a list of colonial churches and pilgrimages.

Bicol Region Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Bicol Region across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Bicol Region worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Bicol which is among the administrative regions of the Philippines, labeled as Region V. It has six provinces, four of which are on the Bicol peninsula mainland – Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon – and the offshore island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Bicol Region Facts
  • Beloved Bicolandia
  • Regional Map
  • Bicol Quiz
  • Who’s Who?
  • From North to South
  • What’s Chili-n?
  • Bicol Deities
  • The Legend of Magayon
  • Souvenirs and Products
  • Bicol Bucket List
  • Viva la Virgen

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Link will appear as Bicol Region Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 3, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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