Bikol/Culture

Bicolano Culture Now that the Philippines is Christianized, Bicolano people are mostly devoted Catholics. Our Lady of Peñafrancia serves as the patron saint of the entire Bicol Region. Its shrine is located at the Piligrim City of Naga. The entire province of Albay has Our Lady of Salvation as its patron saint with the shrine located at barangay Joroan in the municipality of Tiwi. Bicolano people also have Pantomina as its courtship dance. It's often danced after the wedding ceremony as a money dance. It is danced nowadays in rural areas of Bicol. The Kasanggayahan Festival of Sorsogon province preserves it by showcasing it as a street dance presentation during the festival and named it "Pantomina sa Tinampo" (Pantomina in the Street). The well-known Bicolano classic song 'Sarong Banggi' is being immortalized in Santo Domingo, Albay through a festival called Sarong Banggi Festival. Its composer, Potenciano Gregorio was a local of Santo Domingo that was called Lib-og back then. As one of the ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines, Bicolanos has its own epic story called Ibalong. It tells the story about the three heroes — Bantong, Handyong and Baltog that started the Bicolano civilization. The epic is immortalized as a festival in Legazpi City. Bicol Region is known in the Philippines as a region that cooks spicy dishes. Even though Bicol Express didn't originally come from this region, it already became a trademark dish. Pinangat of Camalig town in Albay is also a culturally significant dish. It is made of taro leaves cooked in coconut milk. Pili nut candy is a well-known pasalubong from Bicol. It is a candied kernel of Pili fruit (Canarium ovatum). Mayon Volcano is the iconic symbol of the province of Albay and the entire Bicol Region. Despite its being active, it's known for its perfect cone shape. Bicolano people describe themselves as uragon which means fiesty in English. It's evident in the resilience of the people of Bicol. It can also mean achiever as many of them became excellent in a variety of professions.