Photos by: maryan54

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. It has one independent component city, Naga City, and six component cities, Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Tabaco. The regional centers are Legazpi City, the region's political and administrative center, and Naga City, the region's cultural and religious center. Legazpi and Naga are also the hub of the region's economic activity.

Inhabitants, called Bicolanos, speak any one of the several varieties of Bikol, an Austronesian language closely related to other Central Philippine languages such as Cebuano and Tagalog. Bikol varieties include Bikol Rinconada (Iriga-Buhi area), the western Albay dialects (Oas, Daraga), Bikol Sorsogon (Sorsogon), Bikol Catanduanes and Bikol Partido (municipalities surrounding Lagonoy Gulf). Standard Bikol is based on the dialect of Naga City and is spoken in a wide area stretching from Camarines Norte, most of Camarines Sur, the entire east coast of Albay (including Legazpi and Tabaco) and northern Sorsogon. Standard Bikol is generally understood by other Bikol speakers and is the regional lingua franca.

The Bicol region is often seen as the epicenter of the counterculture and liberal politics in the Philippines. As many of its inhabitants seem to oppose many right-wing governments and ideology in which they blame for corruption. The region has a political reputation of voting always for left-wing politicians. It is also widely seen as a stronghold for the National Democratic Front. The area is also the most secular out of the entire Philippines, as only 55% of Bicol Region inhabitants attend church weekly, compared to 68% as the nation's whole.
 

Getting There
By flight Schedule: Approximately 1 hour and 20mins flying time.
Air Philippines
Manila-Naga City						Naga City-Manila
	FLT NO.	FREQ	ETD	ETA		FLT NO.	FREQ	ETD	ETA
1	2P961D	Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun	0645	0730		2P962D	Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun	0800	0845
Cebu Pacific/Philippine Airlines
Manila-Legazpi City						Legazpi City-Manila
	FLT NO.	FREQ	ETD	ETA		FLT NO.	FREQ	ETD	ETA
1	PR277D	DAILY	0700	0805		5J 326  135	DAILY	0835	0930
2	PR2775	DAILY	0700	0805		PR2785	DAILY	0845	0950
3	5J325  135	DAILY	0710	0805		PR278D	DAILY	0845	0950
4	5J327D	DAILY	1245	1340		5J328D	DAILY	1410	1505
By Land Schedule via Public Transport:
PENAFRANCIA  Terminal : Araneta Bus Terminal Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines FROM TO TYPE FREQ TIME Manila Naga City Ordinary Aircon Daily 7:30 AM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM Manila Naga City Lazy Boy Seats Daily 7:30 AM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM
ISAROG BUS LINES  Terminal : Araneta Bus Terminal Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines FROM TO TYPE FREQ TIME Manila Naga City One(1) Seater Daily 8:30 PM 8:45 PM Manila Naga City Ordinary Aircon Daily 8:30 PM 8:45 PM Manila Naga City Lazy Boy Seats Daily ---
PHILTRANCO  Terminal : Araneta Bus Terminal Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines FROM TO TYPE FREQ TIME Manila Naga City Ordinary Non-Aircon Daily --- Manila Naga City Ordinary Aircon Daily ---