Huwebes, Oktubre 26, 2017

Maharang na Lada đź’•

An Istorya Kun Tanu Maharang An Lada

Paenot na taramon:
Ang osipon (short story) na ini iyo an enot na sinurat ko sa lenguwaheng Bikol na osipon na pan-aki. Ini naging finalist sa Premio Tomas Arejola Para sa Lieraturang Biolnon 2009 para kategoryang osipon na pan-aki.
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Aldaw kaidto nin Sabado, sosog sa kinagawian kan samuyang pamilya na pag-aldaw nin Sabado, iyo an aldaw nin samuyang pagsungko sa namomotan mi asin an paborito kong Lola, si Lola Meding.
Nasa Naga an harong ni Lola, kun kaya harus tolong oras an biyahe hale sa Legazpi pasiring duman. Eksayted ako sa samuyang biyahe nin huli ta mahihiling ko na naman si Lola asin madadangog ko na naman an saiyang mga manlaen-laen na istorya arog kan adbentyur sa irarom kan dagat, mga hayop na nagtataram, mga magagayon na palasyo nin mga prinsipe asin prinsesa, asin kadakul pang iba.
Alas diyes na kami nakaabot sa harong ni Lola Meding. Pag-abot mi duman, nagbisa kami sa saiya asin pinakakan niya kami nin suman, pinuso, ibos asin pansit bato. Pagkatapos ming magkakan, duminuman sina mama asin papa sa sala tanganing maghiling nin palabas sa telebisyon mantang nagpapahingalo. Dai ako nag-iba sa sainda, duminuman ako sa kusina tanganing magmasid sa pigluluto ni Lola.
“Lola ano po an pigluluto mo?”
“Ah…nagluluto ako nin Bicol Express, ini kaya an paborito ni Papa mo,” an simbag ni Lola mantang nakangirit.
“Pwede ko po manamitan?” An inosente kong hapot sa saiya.
“Sige, alagad dikit lang Jun-Jun ta medyo maharang an,” an paliwanang niya.
Pignamitan ko an pigluluto ni Lola Meding asin sakuyang naaraman na talagang maharang palan idto.
“Lola, tanu po ta maharang an Bicol Express?” An sakuyang hapot mantang dai akong ontok sa pagpaypay kan sakuyang ngimot gamit an mga guramoy.
“Maharang an Bicol Express nin huli ta ini igwang lada,” paliwanag niya asin pinahiling sa sako an itsura kan lada. Alagad medyo nagigiolok man siya sa pagpapaypay ko kan sakuyang ngimot na nakaluwas an dila.
“Eh..tanu po maharang an lada?” An pangungulit ko ki Lola.
“May suanoy na istorya manungod sa rason kun tanu maharang an lada. Muya mong maaraman?”
“Iyo po!” An sakuyang makusog na simbag na risa an pagkaeksayted sa bagong istoryang madadangog ki Lola.
Inistorya ni Lola sa sakuya an siring:

KAN ENOT NA PANAHON, may sarong kadlagan na inaapod na Talingkas. Sinasabi na ang kadlagan na ini pig-iistaran ki sarong magayonon asin makapangyarihan na engkantada na si Esmeralda. An engkantadang ini iyo an nag-aataman kan gabos na bagay na nabubuhay duman.
Sa tahaw kan kadlagan, mahihiling an gabos na klase nin prutas. Alagad, sa gabos na prutas na nagtutubo duman sa Talingkas, an pinakaorog iyo si Lada nin huli ta siya an pinakamahamis, pinakamasiram asin pinakamagayon an kolor kun hinog na. Alagad, kun gurano si Lada kasiram, kahamis asin kagayon an kolor kun hinog na, kabaliktadan man an saiyang ugali. Siya an prutas an pinakamahambog, madaling mapikon asin an pinakamaharang magtaram manungod sa mga kaluyahan kan saiyang mga pag-iriba.
Sarong aldaw, nahiling ni Lada si Santol asin ini nagsabi:
“Hoy Santol! Aram mo daw, kadakula mong kahoy alagad an bunga mo mahalsomon. Dai kaiyan mamumuyang magkakan sa saimo,” an kantiyaw ni Lada ki Santol.
Napasupog si Santol sa tigtaram ni Lada. Aram niyang totoo an gabos na ini kun kaya dai na lang siya nagribok. Dai man siyang magiginibo dawa iwalon pa niya si Lada huli ta ini an tinao sa saiya. Nadangog asin nahiling ni Abokado an ginibong pangangantiyaw ni Lada ki Santol. Nahiling man niya na napasupog an katood kun kaya dai niya napugolan an sadiri asin sinabihan si Lada:
“Lada, tanu ta arog ka kaiyan? Bakong marhay an magtaram ki maraot sa kapwa.”
“Ay sus! Nagtaram an saru diyan, na an bunga kun hinog kaipuhan munang lagan ki asukar bago kakanun ta dai lamang kanamit-namit,” an mahambog na taramon ni Lada.
“Aram mo Lada, kun ika nabiyayaan ki kahamisan, kasiraman, asin kagayonan nin kolor kun hinog na, dai mo dapat iyan pighahambog kundi pigpapasalamat,” an malumanay na pagiromdom ni Bayawas ki Lada.
“O ika Bayawas, nata nag-intra ka man sa hororon?” An hapot ni Lada ki Bayawas.
“Lada, gabos kita digdi magturugang kun kaya dapat dai kita nag-iiriwal ta saro man sana an naggibo sa satuya. Gabos kita importante asin may sirbi sa Saiya,” an simbag ni Bayawas bilang pagkumbinse ki Lada.
“Dai na Bayawas! Ika, may korona man kuta an saimong bunga, alagad panu man nin pisog. Dai lamang matiyaga na magkakan sa saimo,” an pagbara ni Lada ki Bayawas.
“Tama na iyan Lada!” An suriyaw ni Mangga. “Lada, gabos kita digdi sa Talingkas nilalang na may kanya-kanyang siram asin itsura. Gabos kita digdi espesyal asin gabos igwa nin importansiya nin huli ta kun baku kita digdi importante dai man kita digdi mabubuhay,” paliwanag pa niya.
“Hoy Mangga! Dawa ano pa an taramon mo ako man giraray an pinakaorog sa gabos na prutas digdi sa Talingkas. Ako an pinakamahamis, an pinakamasiram asin an may pinakamagayon na kolor kun hinog na,” an mahambog na taramon ni Lada.
Dai aram kan mga prutas duman na nagdadangog si Esmeralda, an engkantadang nangangataman duman. Naisip niya na panahon na tanganing tawan nin leksyon si Lada ta maharang gabos an nagluluwas na taramon sa saiyang ngimot.
Kinaagahan, nagbisita si Esmeralda sa gabos na prutas duman.
“Marhay na aldaw po mahal na engkantada!” An maogmang taramon ninda kan nahiling si Esmeralda.
“Marhay na aldaw man!” An simbag niya. “Napadigdi ako nin huli ta muya kong maaraman nindo na nadangog ko an saindong pasuruway kasuhapon. Kun kaya, muya kong ipaaram sa saindo na gabos kamu digdi sa Talingkas importante, gabos kamu na prutas digdi masiram asin gabos pantay-pantay,” paenot na taramon niya.
“Ika Lada, dai mo pinahalagahan an balaog na tinao sa saimo. Kun biniyayaan ka man nin kahamisan, kasiraman asin kagayonan nin kolor kun hinog na, dai mo dapat iyan pinaghahambog, dapat dai mo iyan ginagamit tanganing alipustahon an iba. Kun kaya ngonian na aldaw babawion ko iyan sa saimo.”
“Pero mahal na engkantada…”
“Lada,” pagputol ni Esmeralda sa taramon ni Lada. “Muya kong mareyalisar mo an saimong mga ginigibo. Poon ngonian, dai kana mapapabilang sa mga prutas. Siring man, nin huli ta mahambog ka asin gabos maharang na taramon an minaluwas sa saimong ngimot, ika magiging maharang sa bilog mong buhay,” an makapangyarihan na sabi ni Esmeralda.
“Patawad po mahal na engkantada dai…”
An taramon na ini ni Lada dai na natapos nin huli ta nagbagong anyo na siya. An dating kahoy nagi na sanang garong masetas kasadit, an saiyang bunga nagkurupos asin nagbago man nin kolor asin an siram pati an hamis niya naribayan ki harang.
“Lola, bako po palan talaga marahay an magin mahambog asin magtaram nin maraot sa kapwa, anu po?” An sakuyang taramon ki Lola.
“Tama an Jun-Jun,” an nakangirit na taramon ni Lola sa sakuya mantang pigbubukag an pigluluto niyang Bicol Express. 

http://insomyarawitdawit.blogspot.com/2009/11/istorya-kun-tanu-maharang-lada.html?m=1

Orosipon – Series of Old Story from Those Who Witnessed It

orosipon â€“ a Bikolnon word for “story,” suggests a refusal to fixity both in terms of the location of the narrator and the structure itself of the story: the story never stops being formed as it passes through multiple speakers. Orosipon, coming from the root word osip which approximates the verb “tell,” points to more than one person involved in an act of telling, which makes the act of telling proper to no one in particular: indeed, it is improper for any one to act as the sole teller. Orosipon suggests a multiplicity and fluidity that is prohibited by the homogenizing structuring of narration and community Âą .
Due to lack of historical materials available, the author started interviewing his grandparents about their experiences in the early 19th century. Since it’s not documented and cannot be substantiated, the author decided to classify it as a simple story, titled, Orosipon, with specific focus for each article released.
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ÂąAbstract of the article – Orosipon Kan Bikolnon: Interrupting the Nation, Raniel Barbaza

https://sorsogoncity.wordpress.com/tag/bicol-short-stories/

Nuarin Daw?

Nagtalubo sa sadit sa espasyo kan harong na bahay kubo,
Inapod an sakung ina asin ama naghahapot kung may lugar pa ako,
Lugar na ano? Lugar sa tigaapod kan kadaklan na mundo.
Manlaen laen na emosyon an sakong nariparo, enot an paghibi kan mga tawo,
Maghibi? Iyo an makamati kan kulog sa sakripisyo.
Iyo, SAKRIPISYO!
Aktibo ang rawit dawit sa mga dila nindo.
Ibabasol sa magurang kung tano ta luho dai mapasaindo.
Tano? Isay nagsasakripisyo?
Kamo na ang hiling sa sadiri kung isay nang tawo?
Kamo na milenyal puro cellphone an gibo?
Kamo na pangangaipo itinatao na alagad puro reklamo?
Nuarin daw ini mabago, itong magirumduman na magurang yaon lang pirmi sa likod nindo.
Dawa masakit ginigibo mahiling sana ang kaogmahan sa mga ngirit nindo.
Nuarin? Nuarin daw?

Rawit Dawit kan Sadiriđź’•

Huna ko pagmata ko pagka-aga magiging maogma nyata mamundo baga, uroaldaw na pangiturog na sana maging okay kita, ako nasasala palan. Naghanap nin marhay na paagi para mabisto ka alagad mayo na, nawara an paglaom sa sadiri na mahahanap pa. Mayo akong nagiginibo aru-aldaw, mamata, makakan, makarigos, ito bagang normal sana. Sabi ngani kan iba "You're just existing not living", iyo aram ko masakit nang maibalik ang kung ano ang nakaagi na asin ang kung ano ang mayo na. Sa oras na nagdulag asin nagdalagan sinayang ko gabos na dapat ngunyan kapot ko na. Bihira an maging makusog sa sadiring paagi lalo kung aram mong sa laog ginagadan ka. Alagad kaipuhan buhayon ang nagadan na paglaom na maabot ang aldaw ang "AKO" ang sadiri ko, ang ako kaito, ang ako ngunyan asin ang ako sa maabot na panahon mahahanap ko.

Bicol literature is about Bicol

By Juan Escandor Jr.
Bicol Mail

Short of a distinctive definition of Bicol literature, writers attending the fourth quadrennial Bicol writers’ conference “Pagsurat Bikol”, held recently at the Ateneo de Naga University, took comfort with the fact that Bicol is in their hearts and minds when they weave pieces of literary work.
“Bicol literature is poetry, novel or fiction written about Bicol. Not necessarily in the Bicol language, not necessarily published in Bicol, and not necessarily by a Bicolano, but it’s about Bicol. Meaning, if it’s a short story the setting is in Bicol or its character is a Bicolano. It’s about Bicol,” according to Marne Kilates.
Kilates is a native of Daraga, Albay with three books of poetry in his name, translator of the works of National Artists Rio Alma and Bienvenido Lumbera, a Palanca awardee and later, its judge, and a recipient of Southeast Asian Writers Award handed down by the Thai Monarchy.
Indie filmmaker and novelist Alvin Yapan, who hails from Pili, Camarines Sur, agrees that Bicol literature is any literary work pertaining to Bicol and added that it must also be an instrument in cultivating the culture of the region.
Tito G. Valiente draws from historical perspective what defines Bicol literature.
Valiente is a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP), scholar of Japanese films, Business Mirror columnist and the director of the Institute of Bikol Culture and History of Ateneo de Naga University.
“The definition of Bicol literature has evolved, through time and space, histories. It is always a literature of displacement,” Valiente said.
He said that Filipinos are displaced because they have been colonized and uprooted from the original culture in a way that it created a “loss” which is “magical”.
Children’s books author Christine Bellen, who grew up in Bacacay, Albay, sees Bicol sensibility in Bicol literature, including the affinity to it.
“The assertion of identity is language and culture. Even in feminism, in its first wave, the identity of the women was asserted by themselves. They have to talk about their body, thought, consciousness and all of the experience they have.”
In Bellen’s view, Bicol literature must be asserted like the way feminists asserted their identity to gain emancipation.
But Bicol literature is also in the crossroad of standardizing spelling or its orthography.
Jose Obias, journalist, author of a book about the Our Lady of Peñafrancia and educated in the seminary, suggested the selective adoption of Spanish spelling.
But Paz Verdades Santos, PhD, who taught literature in De La Salle University and author of several books, disagrees.
“What is obvious is that it should no longer be the old Spanish orthography, with qui for k (aqui/aki (child)) and the Spanish g+ñ for ng (gnonian/ngonian) even if some of the older writers prefer that (Spanish spelling),” Santos asserts.
She explains that in general, she goes for the simpler syllabic orthography based on pronunciation, like Filipino. “In fact, I would rather not use diacritical marks unless there could be some confusion in meaning.”
A diacritical mark is a mark placed on a letter to indicate it has different pronunciation than it would otherwise, or to indicate that the word has a different meaning than it would otherwise, according to Gerald Erichsen, About.com.Spanish Language.
“For example, there is no need to add a diacritical mark to salog (river) when a sentence context shows it is obviously about the floor (salóg) rather than the river,” Santos said.
Even the spelling of “Bicol” has evolved and indigenized to “Bikol, which most Bicol writers use in their published work, according to Kristian Cordero, award-winning poet and fictionist.
Santos said the usual answer on the question of two spellings is “Bicol” is the region and “Bikol” is the language. “I prefer to use Bikol consistently though, whether it is the region, the language, the people, and whether writing in English, Filipino or Bikol.”
She said that based on her monitoring of literary books by Bicolano authors that includes chapbooks, children’s books, self-published books, translations and second editions in various languages published from 2008 to 2012 have reached more than 60 works.

http://naga.gov.ph/news/bicol-literature-is-about-bicol/

Bikol Literature đź’•

MARIA LILIA F. REALUBIT
       Bikol is the language of almost 5 million people in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon that constitute the Bikol Region.  The Bikol people have a writing tradition with roots in its ancient folkways.  Still extant are charm verses exploiting the possibilities of words in folk poems and narratives with mythical content, and bound with early historical fragments which form part of the people’s lives.
       Colonization stifled native writing, however.  Only after about two centuries later did the people begin to write poems and plays adapted from Biblical stories – this time in the Spanish writing system. These dramatic tropes were street presentations during May festivals, Christmas, Easter and Lent.  In 1890, the first Bikol newspaper An Parabareta (the Newsman) was published by Mariano Perfecto, who also established the first printing press.  Imprenta de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. In the midst of numerous devotionals and religious poems, there appeared two protest plays – â€śAn Pagguiao kan mga pastores can pagcamondag ni Jesus duman sa portal sa belen” (The awakening of the shepherds of Jesus birth) by Mariano Perfecto and â€śComedia na dapit sa Dios o magna cahayagan can pagcamondag ni Jesus”(A play about God or matters concerning the birth of Jesus). The first play says that the people accepted the faith but not the Spaniards; the second tries to localize the character Mary, humanize Herodes and make the coronation of Mary an occasion of revelry through two comic characters.
       Corridos or metrical romances became the main reading fare for many years.  Translation from Spanish to Bikol were eagerly awaited that writers switched to translating for the money it brought them.  In time, Bikolcorridoswere written.  The most popular was Magamang Pobre (The Poor Father and Son).
       The comedia or moro-moro stayed for a long time.  Almost every town boasted of a comedia writer and a theater group. The lavish and pompus comedia that Juan Alvarez Guerra saw in the 1880s in Albay has been so well described.  Count on the Bikol to write protest comedias – Comedia ni Hadeng Grimaldo sa Reinong Irlandaby Sabas Armenta and Drama en Comedia de la Vida Conde Urbano by Juan Miraflor.  The first is a deviation from the Moro as villain theme;  the second advocated democracy and favors electing town leaders.
       The  Commonwealth Period were years of poetic and dramatic productivity.  The zarzueladid not escape the Bikol’s questioning bent.  Asisclo Jimenez’s Pagkamoot sa Banuang Tinoboan (Love for the Native Land) demonstrated that national change can be affected through armed revolt.  Jimenez wrote 25 other zarzuelas in varying themes, mostly social criticism.  Crowds would attend the presentations.
       By the mid-thirties, shorter plays became the fashion. The new themes were poor vs. rich, laziness vs. hard work and Rizal and nationalism.  Outstanding was Anti Cristo by Justino Nuyda who wrote of the inevitable conflict between individual morality and material comfort. This play is still presented today in schools in the region.
       The rawitdawit or narrative poem was a vehicle of social and political criticism.  Personal poems were most plentiful.  The period also produced about twenty translations of Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios to Bikol.  Four poets and their works stand out: Manuel Fuentebella’s An Pana (The Arrow), Clemente Alejandria’s Pagaroanggoyong(Perseverance), Eustaquio Dino’s Balosbalos Sana (Retribution) and Mariano Goyena’s Hare…Dali (No…Don’t).  Great sensitivity and exquisite images are marks of these poems, reaching up to lyricism.
       The Post-War Period was unproductive.  It was the Cathedral Players of the Ateneo de Naga that sparked the cultural scene.  The students led by Rev. James Reuter, S.J. translated english plays into Bikol and delighted the Naga folks with Sunday presentations at the plaza kiosk.   In the rural towns they played in church patios and plazas.  If post-war writing was not as significant, the Bikol milieu was not encouraging either.   The stories and novels written in the fifties were insipid and mere narrations; the novels fantastic and improbable.  Writing in the Rainbow journal were largely cerebral and critical of politics, church and society.  It was the people’s interest in the folk story, Ibalon, that inspired two musicals the Handyong written and presented by Orfelina Tuy and Fe Ico, and Ibalon Opereta written by Jose Calleja Reyes.
       Contemporary writing has just began to burst with creative energy.  The writers now possess the courage to deal with big themes.  It began with Francisco Penones, Jr. who sounded a clarion call in his poem An Opon sa Ibalon: Kan mahale an Maskara (The Board in Ibalon When Unmasked).  Society, he declared, is the boar that brought hunger and poverty to the land.  For this poem, Penones received a CCP award.  Merlinda C. Bobis in a masterly poetic drama titled Daragang Magayon(Beautiful Maiden) overturns the passive maiden in the legend and makes her decisive to do her part in changing society.  In her poems, Bobis subtly presents an idealism associated with remembering one’s childhood, each of them a strong and evocative protrait only thoughtful, sensitive poet can create.  For this, she merited a Palanca award.  Carlos O. Aureus weaves together theology and philosophy to present Bikol values and a panorama of Bikol scenes. In ten well-written stories, a novel and a play, he wins the coveted Palanca, CCP, Free Press and Graphic literary awards.  The young literary fictionists, Marco Lopez, Alvin Yaban, Ulysses P. Aureus and Lorenzo D. Paran III are searches for self, identity and nation.
       The seasoned writers include Luis Cabalquinto, Gode Calleja and Ruby Alano.  The young writers are Home Life magazine winners Angelica Gonzales, Honesto Pesimo, Jazmin Llana, Victor Velasco, Nino Manaog, Xavier Olin and Cynthia Buiza.  Emelina G. Regis has a Palanca Award for her environmental play Dalawang Mukha ng Kagubatan (Two Faces of the Forest).  Barbara Barquez Ricafrente writes poems and paints with rage.  She is the first novel awardee of the U.P. Creative Writing Center.
       The Bikolano can write memorable and significant pieces.  The native literary tradition has been resurrected and kept.   How to make the people aware and how to make them read as well and how to multiply these writings so they can be disseminated have to be resolved. 

http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/literary-arts/bikol-literature-in-the-philippines/

TOURISM


Philippine Standard Time:
WHAT MAKES PROVINCE OF ALBAY UNIQUE AS DESTINATIONS?
ALBAY is every traveler’s memento. For years Albay has been synonymous to Mayon Volcano, the famous landmark shortlisted in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. Now, the province is perceptibly shining as a hidden tourism gem offering innumerable activities for leisure, fun, relaxation, and travel.
In Albay, tourists will find many remarkable places that were previously known only to locals and are still untouched by commercialism. Many of these destinations have never been featured in travel literature and awaits discovery. Partly due to its pristineness, the province was declared as a Biosphere Reserve in UNESCO’s MAB Programme as it is the proud home of approximately 462 flora and fauna species, 137 of which are endemic.
People are also one of its tourism assets. ALBAYANOS are resilient, gracious, happy and accommodating who go out of their way to make visitors’ stay in the province comfortable, relaxed, and worry-free.
Albay is home to at least 19 festivals that are celebrated all year round by its different cities and municipalities. In each month of the year, tourists will be sure to find revelers dancing in the streets in celebration of a religious or agricultural festival. These festivals last for several days and feature activities showcasing the local culture and practice.
Albay offers not just scenic and cultural destinations. It is globally recognized by United Nations as the model for adapting to the impacts of climate change. After suffering 46% damage in 2006 due to Typhoon Durian, the province quickly recovered by using tourism as one of its principal tools for reconstruction with foreign tourists’ influx. It also built 320 kilometers of roads to provide access to new and unique destinations such as the Cagsawa Ruins, Quitinday Hills, falls, black sand beaches, Japanese caves, colonial houses, historical landmarks to name a few.
Proof to how guests were entice by its beauty, Albay hosted national and international events like UNWTO-ASEAN 2014, XTERRA Off-road Triathlon 2015, and the upcoming PATA Tourism Frontier, where the province able to share its experiences in transcending and mitigating the inevitable effects of climate change, having the world’s first and only Climate Change Academy and Disaster Risk Management Training Institute. It has zero crime rate against tourists and has modern health facilities.
With all the beautiful destinations and the warmest welcome it can offer to guests and tourists, the province make tourism as one of its priority programs.
WHAT TO DO IN ALBAY?
A. COLORS OF ALBAY TOUR CIRCUIT
Albay offers vast number of tourist attractions that are organized into tourism circuits to cater to the specific preferences and interests of our visitors. The “Colors of Albay” are the following:
• “Green Lane” refers to the special tourism circuit that focuses on eco-tourism and highlights the province’s natural resources and nature formations, such as natural habitats, waterfalls, caves, and eco-parks;
• “Blue Lane” refers to the special tourism circuit devoted to eco-nautical tourism promoting water sports, visits to marine reservation, scuba diving, interaction with marine life and other water activities;
• “Brown Lane” refers to the special tourism circuit that showcases indigenous products, processes, and services which shall include but not limited to trade and souvenir centers, showcasing and selling local culinary treats and native products including abaca handcrafted products, pottery, woven fabrics, cutlery, precious and semiprecious stones, and art products; and
• “Gold Lane” refers to the special tourism circuit that highlights Albay’s tangible and intangible heritage including but not limited to colonial houses, churches, monuments, ruins and relics, tunnels, philosophy, customs, traditions, practices and artistic works and expressions.
B. SAVOR ALBAY’S CUISINES
Food is also a great part of the Albay experience and the local cuisine is one of the most interesting fares in the country. Dishes served from the 65 restaurants in Albay are borne from tradition to culture that is mixed up in a tantalizing melting pot of various flavors, along with a couple of dashes of new fusion cuisine. These establishments are all supported and promoted by the province as part of its culinary tourism program.
Albay’s renowned local dishes are the Bicol Express, pinangat (a dish which combines taro leaves, chili, meat and coconut milk), and pili nut. Offering local specialty cuisines are encouraged and often result in interesting gourmet fusions making Albay’s restaurants some of the most distinct in the country. Another uniquely Albayano dessert that catches gourmet’s attention is the sili ice cream— made from famous scorching chili & comes in varying degrees of hotness.
C. TOURISTS READY AND FRIENDLY
Albay is accessible by land, air, and sea. It has its own airport – The Legazpi Airport, which received chartered Xiamen-Legazpi flights that started in 2014. Construction is underway for the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, which is scheduled for completion in 2016. Buses operate daily between Manila and Albay, and the buses from the South carried by ferries. It has a well-built road system with the leas capex subsidy needed from the National Government. Albay is also the only province with two international seaports in Tabaco City and Legazpi City.
There are more than 154 establishments in Albay with a total room capacity of 2,903. These include luxurious and posh hotels and resorts that also serves as a world-class convention center, hosting a variety of national and international meetings, incentives, conferences, and events.

http://albay.gov.ph/tourism/

An Albay bilang parte nin Bikol đź’•

Saro sa mga atraksyon kan kabikulan, iyo an Mayon Volcano na kung sain mahihiling sa preteryosong lugar kan Albay. Bistado an Albay sa pagkakaigwang pamosong mga atraksyon arog kan Mayon Volcano, Sumlang Lake, Lignon Hill, Missibis Bay, Embarcadero asin kadakol pang iba. Base sa mga historya sa Albay nagpuon an istorya kan tulong mauurag asin makukusog na mga lideres kan tribo kan mga ninuno na sinda Bantog,Baltog sagkod Handiong. Sa presenteng panahon dagos dagos an pagbisita kin mga turista asin mga tawong gustong magimport kan mga produkto kan Albay arog kan mga Abaca Products, mga Pili Delicacies sagkod kadakul pang iba. Bilang sarong bikolano saro ako sa mga tawong maw-ot na palaganapon an turismo asin produkto kan Kabikulan na an albay saro sa mga producers kaini. May mga bagay na nahihipnuan an mga naitatao kan kabikulan sa iba't ibang tawo asin ibang rehiyon saro digdi an pagiging relihiyoso kan mga bikolano, pagiging makitawo asin kadakul pang iba. 
-Ali Armendi

Bicolanos Culture, Customs and Traditions

The Bicolanos observe an annual festival in honor of the Virgin of Penafrancia every third Sunday of September. The towns of Naga comes alive. During the celebration, a jostling crowd of all-male devotees carries the image of the Virgin on their shoulders to the cathedral, while shouting Viva La Virgin! For the next seven days people, mostly Bicolanos, come for an annual visit light candles and kisses the image of the Virgin. To the Bicolanos, this affair is religious and cultural, as well. Every night, shows are held at the plaza the year's biggest cockfights take place, bicycle races are held and the river, a lively boat race precedes the fluvial procession. 

At noon of the third Saturday of the month, the devotees carry the Image on their shoulders preceded to the packed waterfront. The image is boarded onto the barge and the procession begins. With much splashing back to the old chapel until next year's celebration.
ABOUT THE ART....

Bicolano art is shown in their love songs such as Sarong Bangul, Burac na Magayon and others. Among the young songs about nature are popular. To the Bicolanos, the Ibalon, a story of heroism, is an impotant epic.

THE BICOL REGION....

The Bicolanos live in the provinces south of Luzon Community namely Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Albay and Sorsogon. With large tracts of land, farming has become the chief occupation of the people. They also engaged in fishing, logging, cattle-raising and handicraft.

The Bicolano is conservative. They believe it is safe to stick to the old than take a risk in the new. To some extent however, the educated Bicolano has begun to change gradually.

His way of life resembles those of the other people of Luzon. He loves songs and dances. In them, he expresses his feeling and sentiments. He spends his leisure time dancing, singing, playing musical instrument like the guitar, and in cockfighting. He also plays game similar to those played by Tagalogs.

Historian Mr. Teodoro A. Agoncillo said that the Bicolano is know for their religiosity.

Their views on the life with studied calmness and seldom shows their rough edges. Their preference for spicy food is such that no food is good for them without red pepper and coconut milk. Can this the be the reason why he is brave?
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