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The Lambanog is a famous Filipino alcoholic drink made from

the sap of the unopened coconut flower. Distilled mostly in

the Quezon province, it is also known as coconut vodka or coconut 

wine. Constant efforts at standardizing lambanog production led toits better quality. The Lambanog now is already being exported to

other countries and continues to win foreign customers due to its

non-chemical ingredients as well as its potency. 

The Lambanog is a major part of the Quezon province tradition.

It traces its roots back to the early 1900s. People in the area consider it a way of life. Generations of coconut farmers have passed but the

Lambanog is still being produced and keeps getting better. The

province is just a few hours away from Manila. 

The processing of the Lambanog is done through the following

three stages:

1. Pruning of the coconut flowers – the coconut plantation

worker or farmer climbs the coconut tree to prune its flowers

and allow the sap to drip into a tukil or bamboo receptacle. He

then returns the next morning to collect the receptacles.

2. Fermentation/Cooking of the sap – after this stage a coconut 

toddy locally known as tuba is produced.

3. Distillation of the tuba  – the classic Lambanog is then ripenedby time. 

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Lambanog processing is basically low-cost and easy. This is the

reason why it is called „the poor man‟s drink.‟ In the rural areas of the

Quezon Province, festivities and occasions are never complete without 

the lambanog. The „tagayan ,‟ a practice in which people taketurns drinking Lambanog using only one glass placed in the center of 

the group, is a treasured daily activity in the area. 

The coconut tree grows throughout the Philippine archipelago. 

Coconut tree products have always been among the leading exports of 

the country. Recently however, other countries have paved the wayfor a tougher competition in the coconut export industry. The

Lambanog is an excellent addition to the Philippine export market.

With intelligent and continuous innovation, it can achieve worldwide

popularity. 

The feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is celebrated on the third

Saturday of September in Naga City, Bicol. The feast day is preceded

by a novena , nine days of prayer, in honor of the Virgin. On the first 

day, the image of the Virgin, a copy of the Madonna in Peñafrancia,

Spain, is brought from its shrine to the Naga Cathedral where

the novena is held. On the last day, the image is returned to her 

 shrine following the Naga River route. The colorful evening procession

is lit by thousands of candles from devotees in boats escorting theimage. When the barge reaches its destination, the devotees shout 

"Viva la Virgen" (Long live the Virgin!) and the image is brought back

in a procession to the cathedral. 

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 According to locals, a Spanish government official from

Peñafrancia, Spain, settled with his family in Cavite in 1712. One

day, his daughter fell ill and the family prayed for her recovery to the

famous Madonna of Peñafrancia, a picture of whom was in their possession. When the daughter recovered, the father vowed to build a

chapel in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Manila. However, since

he was being detained in Nueva Caceres, he built the chapel in that 

city, now known as Naga, instead.

The famous Madonna is believed to have miraculous powers. Onher feast day, pilgrims gather at her shrine to pay her homage for 

favors received.‟ 

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Pinakbet or pakbet is a popular Ilocano dish, from the northern

regions of the Philippines, although it has become popular throughout 

the archipelago. The word is the contracted form of 

the Ilocano word pinakebbet , meaning "shrunk" or "shriveled". The

original Ilocano pinakbet uses bagoong ("bugguong" in Ilokano), of 

fermented monamon or other fish, while further south, bagoong 

alamang is used. The basic vegetables used in this dish include

native bitter melon, eggplant, tomato, okra,  string beans, chili 

peppers , parda, winged beans, and others. Root crops and some

beans like camote, patani, kadios are also optionally added. The young

pod of marunggay is also added. It is usually spiced

with ginger, onions, or  garlic. A Tagalog version usually includes

calabaza. Most of these vegetables are easily accessible, and are grown

in backyards and gardens of most Ilocano households. As its name

 suggests, it is usually cooked until almost dry and shriveled; the flavors

of the vegetables are accentuated with shrimp paste. In some

cases, lechon, chicharon, or other meats (most commonly pork) areadded. It is considered a very healthy dish, and convenient in relation

to the harsh and rugged, yet fruitful Ilocos region of the Philippines.

The vegetable dish pinakbet is more than a regional cuisine. It is

an enduring symbol of the Ilocano palate and a lucid display of the

Ilocanos‟ history of contestations and struggles with the physical and social environment. The recipe weaves intimations of the cultural

productions of the Ilokanos‟ transaction to their arid and less

productive land. (Caday, 2009) 

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Ingredients:

1/2 cup squash, cubed

5 pcs string beans, cut 3 inches long5 pcs okra, sliced lengthwise

4 small whole baby ampalaya, only ends are cut off 

1/4 cup patani (optional)

6 pcs eggplant, halved

3 pcs tomatoes, quartered

1 tbsp. ginger strips

3 cloves garlic, crushed2 pcs onions, quartered

1 tbsp. fish bagoong or shrimp paste

1/4 kilo bagnet or pork belly, fried until crispy ( for vegan, replace

with fried gluten )

1 cup water 

Directions:1. In a saucepan, arrange the vegetables in the following order:

 squash, string beans, ampalaya, okra, patani, eggplant, tomatoes,

 ginger, garlic and onions.

2. Top with bagnet (or pork) and bagoong (fish paste).

3. Add water. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer.

4. Slowly stir with a ladle to make sure that all portions are cooked.

5. Simmer until almost all the liquid is conserve hot. Good for four.

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In the farthest coast of Camarines Sur is a paradise hidden in

an underdeveloped and rural soil, where white sand beaches, limestone

cliffs, islands and islets are common scenery. This is Caramoan! 

Caramoan, a peninsular town, is a group of islands and islets

 scattered in the Pacific Ocean, endowed with nature‟s beauty and

preserved by its seclusion. 

Made famous by the hit global reality show franchise “Survivor”,

the group of islands is blessed with numerous islands with fine white

 sand, lagoons, caves, limestone cliffs and rocks, and rich marine life

that give new definition to an island experience. But even before the

“Survivor” series, there was already Caramoan – beautifully unspoiled

and unexploited.

With its natural beauty and rich history, Caramoan stands proud

as a real tourism gem of Bicolandia that holds a promise of a perfect 

tropical island adventure!

Come south! Cam Sur! Caramoan!

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How to Get There 

Barangay Sabang in the town of San Jose, Camarines Sur is the

common jump-off point to Caramoan Islands. There are public boats

that leave every hour from 6AM to 11AM from Sabang going to

Guijalo, Caramoan charging P120 per passenger. However if you miss

the last public boat, you can hire a private boat en route to Guijalo.

Range varies depending on the size of the boat and your haggling skill.

 A boat that can accommodate up to 16 persons can be rented from

P2500-P3000.

When it is low tide in Sabang, the boats couldn‟t get near the

 shore, but the porters are there to carry passengers on their backs.

They charge P10 per passenger.

From Manila  

By Air  

 AirPhil Express, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air fly from Manila to

Naga. From there catch a jeep, van or bus going to Sabang in Naga

Central Terminal.

Occasionally though (when the weather is good), there are

 jeepneys from Naga going to Caramoan that charge P250 per 

passenger, travel time is five hours by land on a very rough road.

By Land  

Peñafrancia Tours is the only bus line that goes directly to

Sabang from Manila. Fare is P780.00, travel time is 9 to 10 hours.

Meanwhile, RSL Bus, Phitranco, Isarog Bus, Amihan Bus,

Raymond Bus and Executive Bus have daily trips from Manila

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(Cubao/Pasay/Alabang) to Naga. Fare varies from P500 to P700 one-

way.

From Naga  

Trips direct to Caramoan from Naga are available only during

 good weather, and catching these trips need some luck as the trips are

limited. Naga to Caramoan takes five hours by public jeepney and the

fare is at P250 per passenger, while Goa to Caramoan takes four 

hours at P200 per passenger.

From Naga though, there are jeepneys, vans and buses going toSabang at Naga Central Terminal. Fare is around P60-P100 one-

way. Travel time is two hours.

From Virac  

 Another alternative, which is unknown to many, is to go to

Virac, Catanduanes and catch a two hour boat going to Caramoan.

This route is easier compared to Naga.

Cebu Pacific and Zest Air have direct flights from Manila to Virac. 

Where to Stay 

The town has a lot of hotels and inns to choose from for those tourists

who prefer staying indoors. But for more adventurous type, campingin one of the islands is a cheap and fun way of experiencing

Caramoan.

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 Activities 

Island and beach hopping around Caramoan Group: Sabitang Laya,

Manlawig Sandbar, Cotivas, Lahuy, Gota, Lahus, Matukad, Pitogo,

Minalahos, Hunongan, Tinago, Haponan, BasodSwimming/Snorkeling (be careful of the jellyfish though)

Camping – just bring your own camping equipments, enough foods

and water supply, there are a lot of islands to choose from (those

that aren‟t use in Survivor taping) 

Spelunking in Culapnit Cave

Visit St. Michael Parish, an old red-brick church

Trek to Mt. Caglago with the 500-steps to the summit and see the

360 degree view of the Caramoan Islands and the gigantic statue of 

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Mother of Peace

Explore Naga, visit Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex and

Penafrancia Church

Head south and visit the spots of Albay and Sorsogon

Head north and explore the islands of Mercedes Group, CalaguasGroup and Maculabo or surf in Daet‟s Bagasbas Beach 

Tips 

The best time to go there is during dry months (November to May)

If you will go camping, be sure to choose an island not being used by

the Survivor 

Survivor rented the island for 25 years starting 2008, meaning,

tourists will not be able to explore the island freely up to 2033 if 

the contract is not extended

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The Bahay Kubo is the native house of the Philippines and is also

considered as its national shelter. Made of indigenous building

materials like bamboo and nipa, this pre-Hispanic architecture was

constructed to perfectly adapt to the tropical climate of thePhilippines and to be easily repaired or rebuilt once damaged by

typhoon, flood or earthquake which frequented the country. Its name

is said to have originated from the Spanish word, cubo , which means

“cube,” because of the bahay kubo 's rectangular/cubic shape.

 Also known as Nipa Hut, this architecture can still be foundalong the countryside. It is constructed of indigenous materials that 

can easily be found in their local surroundings – wood, planks, grass,

bamboo and large logs. Normally cubic in shape, this shelter is raised

on stilts or posts of one to two meters depending on the area where

the said shelter is constructed – it may be on solid ground, on a

hillside or mountainside, or in shallow water. Raising the interior from

the ground safeguards the shelter's inhabitants from flood, and from

 snakes and other wild animals.

 A typical bahay kubo only has one, large, open, multi-purpose

room for dwelling, called bulwagan . It has a cellar, called silong where

most household chores are done. This area serves as the area for 

livestock pens, storage space, workspace and granary. The walls are

made of nipa and cogon leaves or sawali or woven bamboo, and there

are large windows on all sides, which keep the interior well-ventilated.

The windows have tukod  or “legs” that hold the swinging shades open

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during the day, and secure it back in place at night. Another feature

of the the bahay kubo is ladder or hagdan which can easily be

removed at night or when the owners are out. Likewise, some huts

have an open back porch or batalan where household chores are doneand where the jars of water are placed. 

Tinikling is the most popular and best known of the Philippine

dances and honored as the Philippine national dance. The dance

imitates the movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass

 stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by ricefarmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed

by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles. Tinikling means

"bamboo dance" in English. 

Considered as one of the oldest dances from the Philippines, this

dance was originated in the islands of Leyte in the Visayan Islands.

People of Leyte describe the tikling bird as one of the most unique in

its movements - walking around and between the tree branches and

 some grass stems. This bird was named "tikling" from which the

Tinikling dance got its name. Because of the creativeness of the people,

they imitate this bird by using bamboo poles.  

Before this dance became what it is today, it went through anevolution of sorts. Different stories of the Tinikling's origin have been

passed down through oral histories and folklore. 

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One of the stories of the Tinikling's origin may be made up, a

fact, or part of a legend. The story says that the Tinikling started by

the people who worked on the fields and paddies in the Philippines.

When the Spaniards came from Spain and conquered the Philippines,the natives were sent to the haciendas. The natives lost control of 

their land because they were under the encomienda system, an

economic system that is largely based on rural and agricultural

operations of large farmlands administered by caretakers for the King

of Spain. The natives had to work all day to please the Spaniards. The

natives could have completely lost control of their destiny under an

exploitative system. The people of the Philippines worked in the fields

and paddies for nearly four hundred years (1500-1898). 

The people who worked too slowly would be sent out of the

paddies for punishment. Their punishment was to stand between two

bamboo poles cut from the grove. Sometimes, the sticks would have

thorns sticking from their segments. The poles were then clapped tobeat the native's feet. By jumping when the bamboo sticks were apart,

the natives tried to escape this cruel form of punishment. This type of 

punishment became a cycle - the more bruised the person's feet were,

the less work he would do, the less work he would do, the more

punishment. 

The matrix for the dance was probably laid out when theworkers would return home with their feet bruised and bleeding from

the punishment. It is said that from a distance, the people who were

receiving the beating looked like the heron. And this is one of the

 stories about the Tinikling's origin. 

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The punishment later became the dance it is today. When the

Tinikling is danced, there is music of plucked strings in Iberian-

influence staccato interspersing with tremolos and kept in time with

double stepping sway balances. By practicing to escape the bamboo sticks during punishment, the Tinikling soon became a challenge, an

art, and a dance. 

The Tinikling is performed on certain Sundays in the Philippines.

One can watch the nimble feet jump between the bamboo sticks

hoping to escape its ferocious bite. But now that it is no longer apunishment, the sticks are smooth and the clapping is gentle. The

Tinikling has truly become a dance. 

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