Libotero – Philippine Travel Photo Blog

Bicol is the Land of Spice

PRELUDE

The Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. It occupies 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.

What has been planned for years has finally come to fruition. It was my first time to do a roadtrip to South Luzon and it is definitely an unforgettable experience. I will not hesitate to revisit the region once the opportunity comes. For the meantime, I would like to share our marvelous and astonishing experience in Bicolandia. I’m writing our experience also to help others who desire to visit the place but don’t know the essential information such as where to start, what to visit, etc.

TIPS:

• Plan your roadtrip ahead. You can’t just go there unprepared. Finalize your itinerary, and your hotel bookings.
• Buy some maps. I recommend EZ Maps. Get the Luzon EZ Map (shows the entire national highway sytsem for Luzon, as well as major roads, distances and cities) and the San Fernando, La Union, Vigan and Laoag EZ Map. It is exciting and interesting to see where you are and how far you have gone in the North. Also, this gives you an assurance that you are on the right track.
• Get your cash ready and don’t rely on ATMs. The further you get in the North, the lesser the ATMs are.
• Check your car days before your roadtrip. Make sure it is well tuned up. You wouldn’t want to encounter engine troubles while you’re enjoying your roadtrip, right? Also, make sure your tires have the right pressure and bring a spare tire.
• Keep your gas half full all the time. Whenever you see a gas station, don’t hesitate, get your tank refilled.
• Bring food and drinks. At times when making a stopover is untimely, it helps if you have with you some chips and bottled/canned drinks to fill your stomach.

Here are the details of our Roadtrip to Bicolandia:

1. Roadtrip to Bicol
2. Quezon Province
3. Naga City
4. Naga Metropolitan Cathedral
5. Naga Basilica
6. Sneak Peek
7. Tanchuling Hotel
8. Pacific Mall Legazpi
9. Morning in Albay
10. Lignon Hill
11. Legazpi Cathedral
12. Cagsawa Ruins
13. Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave
14. Camarines Watersports Complex
15. CWC Experience
16. Camarines Sur Provincial Capitol
17. Revisiting Naga Cathedral
18. Mount Isarog
19. Goodbye and Thank You, Bicolandia

Some of Mindanao’s best dance troupes competed for the highly-coveted grand prize of Kadayawan Festival’s Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan which was held last Saturday, August 21.

Twenty-two (22) contingents, a lot of them being out-of-town contingents, contended for the first prize of P300,000.

Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, a street dancing competition, was one of the main highlights of the 25th Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival. It showcased the different colors, cultures and traditional dances of the different tribes of Davao and Mindanao as they paraded along the city’s major thoroughfares on a sunny Saturday.

This year’s competition only had one category. Participating Mindanao-based contingents showcased the festivals of their localities, while participating Davao City-based contingents interpreted the Kadayawan Festival and Mindanao folklores, myths or legends.

For that, I won’t hold you any longer. Here are some photos that I took during the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan of the Kadayawan Festival 2010:

And the winners are:

5th runner up – P30,000 – Tribu Mapawa, Maragusan, Compostela Valley

4th runner-up – P50,000 – Surallah Central Elementary School, South Cotabato

3rd runner-up – P75,000 – Magallanes Elementary School, Davao City

2nd runner up – P100,000 and Best in Costume and Props – P50,000 – Jesus Soriano National High School, Catalunan Grande, Davao City

1st runner up – P200,000 and Best in Streetdancing – P50,000 – Esperanza National High School, Sultan Kudarat

GRAND CHAMPION – P300,000 – Purok Sison Elementary School, Surallah, South Cotabato

View the complete list of Kadayawan 2010 winners here.

You may view the whole photo set here.

Pamulak or “Season of Bloom” is a floral float parade that was held on the last day of the Kadayawan Festival 2010 last August 22. Floats overflowing with flowers in their fullest and most colorful blooms passed through Davao City’s major streets, a very fitting closing to the Kadayawan Festival which is all about Davao City’s celebration for the ever-bountiful harvest.

The Pamulak is one of, if not the grandest floral float parade in the country today! For that, I won’t hold you any longer. Here are some photos that I took during the Pamulak Floral Float Parade 2010:

And the winners are:

Big Category
FIRST PRIZE: (P500,000) LBC

SECOND PRIZE: (P300,000) DMMA

THIRD PRIZE: (P200,000) IPI

Small Category
FIRST PRIZE: (P300,000) Synnex-Concentrix

SECOND PRIZE: (P200,000) Amiya

THIRD PRIZE: (P100,000) Anflocor

View the complete list of Kadayawan 2010 winners here

You may view the whole photo set here.

Hiyas sa Kadayawan Ata Tribe, Mernadeth Sicutan

Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan – Kadayawan Festival 2010

Best in Costume and Props – P50,000
- Jesus Soriano National High School, Catalunan Grande, Davao City

Best in Streetdancing – P50,000
- Esperanza National High School, Sultan Kudarat

Consolation Prizes – P10,000

Entry #8 – Capitan Tomas Monteverde Elementary School
Entry #19 – San Isidro Elementary School
Entry #20 – Don Julian Rodriguez Elementary School
Entry #21 – Cesario Villa Abrille Elementary School
Entry #12 – Santa Ana National High School
Entry #16 – Santa Ana Central Elementary School
Entry #23 – Digos City National High School
Entry #11 – Mandug Elementary School
Entry #13 – Mati, Davao Oriental

Grand Winners
5th runner up – P30,000 – Tribu Mapawa, Maragusan, Compostela Valley
4th runner-up – P50,000 – Surallah Central Elementary School, South Cotabato
3rd runner-up – P75,000 – Magallanes Elementary School, Davao City
2nd runner up – P100,000 Jesus Soriano National High School, Catalunan Grande, Davao City
1st runner up – P200,000 – Esperanza National High School, Sultan Kudarat
GRAND CHAMPION – P300,000 – Purok Sison Elementary School, Surallah, South Cotabato

PAMULAK Kadayawan Floral Float Parade
Small Category
Honorable Mention:
- Cebuana Lhuillier
- Bagobo Klata Float

3rd – Anflocor
2nd – Amiya of Kisan Lu Lands
WINNER – Synnex-Concentrix

Alternative Category

Honorable Mention:
- Guardians Philippines International Inc. (Anti-Crime Organization)
- Obo Manuvu Tribe

3rd – Philippine Daily Inquirer
2nd – Sr. Sto. Nino de Palaboy
WINNER – Barangay Sasa, 2nd District, Davao City

Big Category

3rd – IPI
2nd – DMMA
1st – LBC

Photos of the recently-concluded Kadayawan Festival 2010 will be posted soon!