HISTORY 102: CAMARINES SUR

Known centuries ago as the "Tierra de Camarines", the province is distinctly Spanish-founded settlement. Its name having been derived from "Camaronchones" or "Camarines", a Spanish word for "Kamalig" referring to small nipa or bamboo-made huts by the natives.

In 1574, Governor General Guido de Lavezarez referred Camarines Sur to the King of Spain as Los Camarines, after the abundance of camarins-rice granaries - which were conspicuous features of the area.

Spanish colonizers later subjugated its people and denominated the area into two distinct aggrupations. The southern portion comprising the area south of the present town of Camalig (in Albay), Sorsogon, the islands of Masbate and Catanduanes, and the area, which is now Partido in present day, then called "Partido de Ibalon". The northern, upper portion, which included from the present day Camalig town in Albay, and all towns of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, was called "Partido de Camarines".

Partido de Camarines was partitioned into Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte in 1829, and thereafter underwent fusion, annexations and re-partitions until March 19, 1919 when two provinces, jointly called Ambos Camarines, were finally separated with their present boundaries by decree of the First Philippine Legislature.

The Philippine Revolution started in Ambos Camarines when Elias Angeles and Feliz Plazo, Filipino corporals in the Spanish Army, sided with revolutionist and fought the local Spanish forces on September 17, 1898. Governor Vicente Zaidin capitulated to the revolutionist on the following day. With the arrival of General Vicente Lukban, the revolutionary government in the Bikol Region was established.

The American forces occupied the Bikol Peninsula in January 1900. In March of the same year. General John M. Bell was made the military governor of the southeastern Luzon. Civil government was finally established in Ambos Camarines in April 1901.

At the outbreak of World War II. Guerilla units were organized by Wenceslao Q. Vinzons that waged underground operations against the Japanese troops stationed in Camarines Sur. After the capture of Vinzons on July 8, 1942, the guerilla movement was carried on by Lieutenant Francisco Boayes. In April 1945, Camarines Sur was finally liberated from the Japanese invaders.

Naga City, the former capital of Camarines Sur, was founded in 1573 as "Nueva Caceres" "“ namesake of the Province in Spain and among the original five royal cities of the colony. It was designated as the Province"™s Capital by virtue of Philippine Legislative Act No. 2711 approved on March 10, 1917 until June 6, 1955, when Pili, the adjoining town was declared the Provincial Capital by virtue of Republic Act 1336 up to the present time

LOCATION

Located in the central part of the Bikol peninsula, which forms the southeastern part of the island of Luzon; Bounded on the north by the Provinces of Camarines Norte and Quezon, San Miguel Bay and the Pacific Ocean; on the south by the Province of Albay; on the east by Lagonoy Gulf; and on the west by Ragay Gulf.

The largest among the six provinces in Bikol, its total land area is 5,266.82 sq. kms, which is about 30% of the entire region and about 2% of the national land area.

Thirty-five municipalities and two cities classified into four districts compose the province of Camarines Sur. The first district (Railroad Town) consists of eleven municipalities; second district (Central Bay) has eight municipalities and one chartered city; third district (Partido Area) has ten municipalities and the fourth district (Rinconda Area) comprises of six municipalities and one component city.

It is traversed by the long wide and meandering Bikol River and other streams that descend from the southwestern side of Pasacao-San Fernando-Libmanan mountain ranges and northeastern side of Mt. Isarog

Except for some highlands found in some inland towns such as Ocampo, Baao and Iriga, the rest are mountain ranges which bordered the rugged coastlines. They surround the vast fertile plains and arable lowlands except those found in Nato, Sangay, Sabang and San Jose beaches.

Camarines Sur boasts of three beautiful lakes namely: Baao, Bato and Buhi and four mountains sucha as: Isarog, Iriga, Buhi and Tangcong Vaca.

Camarines Sur is in the middle of the Bikol Peninsula jutting out southeasterly from the main island of Luzon. The province is 450 kilometers from Manila at the north and approximately the same diistance from Cebu in the Visayan Islands at the South.

CLIMATE

The western and southern part of the province belong to the fourth type which is characterized by no dry season and no very pronounced maximum rain period. A definite absence of a dry season with a very pronounced maximum period from November to January predominates over the eastern and northern area. Caramoan Peninsula and the regions east of Mt. Isarog and Iriga fall under this climate.

DIALECT

As a province which belongs to the Bikol region, Standard Bikol is the primary dialect being used. There are, however, other speech varieties which are adapted by some people in other areas of the province. These dialectal differences are believed to be derivatives of the standard Bikol dialect. It is always an advantage having to listen to a Bikolano speaking his own dialect as it is claimed to be one which is endowed with beauty and artistic merit. In the premiere province of Camarines Sur, not to be treated with exemptions are two distinct dialects which are the Buhi-non and Partido dialects. Buhi-non has the reputation of being the most unique albeit the most difficult of all the varieties of Bikol. The Partido dialect, on the other hand, is one which is widely used in the towns of Ocampo, Goa, Tigaon and Lagonoy.

POPULATION

The population of the province as of May 2000 census was 1,551,549 accounting for almost 33 percent of the regional population. The province's population grew at an average annual rate of 1.72 percent between 1995 and 2000. Its population density is 283.0 persons per square kilometer of land area.

MAJOR INDUSTRY

Agriculture is the leading industry with rice and coconut as the leading agricultural crops in the province. Abaca and banana are next because of the kind of soil prevalent in the province. Camarines Sur is a province endowed with a variety of natural resources: from verdant forests which provide a wide range of flora and fauna species; hidden deposits of rare and precious minerals to the vast water world which offers a whole lot of water resources. Moreover, the province's abundant natural resources make it an ideal base for broad range of resource-based industries. Its arable land is suited to the growing and production of a wide variety of food and commercial crops. Mining is a growing industry, too. Aside from this, it is also sufficient in fish due to its virtually untapped, rich fishing grounds

MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

Air Transport

The province can be reached by plane within a flying time of 45 minutes. There is the service of the Philippine Airlines at the upgraded Pili Airport. Shown below are the flight schedules going to and from the province.

Philippine Airlines
2/F G7 Holdings Building
Dinaga Street, Naga City

Flight Schedule:
Manila-Naga: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun
Departure- 7:00 am; Arrival- 7:50 am

Naga-Manila: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
Departure- 8:30 am; Arrival- 9:15 am

Rail Transport

Camarines Sur is served by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) which operates rail service from Manila, passing through woodlands of the Southern Luzon, to its destination in Tabuco, Naga City, in a ten-hour trip.

Philippine National Railways
Tabuco, Naga City
Tel. Nos. 73-96-15; 811-15-53

Naga to Metro Manila - Daily:
4:30 P.M. - Bikol Express
7:30 P.M. - Peñafrancia Express

Naga to Ragay Daily:
6:05 A.M.; 9:25 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.
Naga to Libmanan - Daily: 11:30 A.M.

Sea Transport

Boats sail offshore to islands and coastal communities. Cargo ships from Cebu sail directly to Pasacao Port and Nato Port in Sagñay Town.

Land Transport

Aircon and non-aircon buses ply daily through the Quirino Highway from Manila and vice-versa in an 8-hour trip. The Central Business District (CBD) Terminal located at Naga City houses a line of buses and their booking offices.

A TOURS & TRAVEL
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City
Naga to Metro Manila: 7:30 P.M. Daily

AMDG/RTN
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City
Naga to Daet:Every hour from 5:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Naga to Legazpi:Every 30 minutes from 5:00 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.

AMA TRANS
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City
Naga to Metro Manila: 7:30 to 8:30 P.M. Daily

BLTB
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City
Naga to Metro Manila - Daily:6:45, 9:30 and 10:30 A.M.
Continuous trips from: 1:00 to 10:00 P.M.

CUL TRANSIT
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City

GOLDLINE
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City
Naga to Metro Manila: 7:30 P.M. Daily

ISAROG LINE EXPRESS TRANSPORT
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City
Naga to Metro Manila: 7:30 and 8:00 P.M. Daily

PEÑAFRANCIA TOURS
Central Bus Terminal, Naga City
Naga to Metro Manila: 7:00; 7:30 and 8:00 P.M. Daily

PHILTRANCO
Diversion Rd., Naga City
Naga to Metro Manila - Daily
Every 30 minutes from 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

TRAVEL TIPS

Planning your visit to Camarines Sur would necessarily entail essential information on the province such as how to get here, when to go here, accommodations, transportation, weather and similar other details that would assist you in making your stay in this premiere province of Bikolandia as pleasurable and hassle-free as possible.

To every potential visitor, you can call the Provincial Tourism Office, Promotions and Marketing Section at telephone number 4773172 to inquire on the offered tour packages which you might want to avail of.

Telephones

Telephone Payphones are available everywhere: at drugstores, convenience stores, malls, department stores, gasoline stations, bus terminals. There are also some small grocery store owners who avail of the opportunity in making use of their personal phones for the public charging them P5.00/per minute of call.

In making a long distance call or overseas call, one has to purchase a payphone prepaid card to be able to make such call. The cards are available anywhere. The area code for the entire Camarines Sur is 54.

Banks

Commercial banks are open from Monday to Friday. Banking hours are from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. There are however a number which starts banking transactions as early as 8:30 and ends at 5:30 in the afternoon.

Automated Teller Machines or ATMS serve as the easy way to withdraw money from one's account. Every bank has its own ATM located within the bank's premises or inside the bank itself.