Camarines Norte Part 2

Bagasbas Lighthouse Hotel Resort

It is my first time to go anywhere in the Bicol Region. Upon our arrival in Bagasbas one early morning, I realize that we were near a beach judging by the winds. We got settled after long travel to catch up with the remaining hours of sleep. When we woke up by daylight, I realized that we were already along the beach line. After having our hearty breakfast, we prepped up for the town center.

Bagasbas beach

On our way, we passed by a nearby park. I was oriented that stood here was a replica of a monument dedicated to Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero. Not the monument of Rizal in Luneta. I was oriented two years after Rizal’s death in 1896, the first monument in his honor was first constructed here in Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte. 

Replica of the first Rizal monument

We proceeded to the actual location of the first monument. The three-sided stone pylon stands 15 feet. Unlike the monument in Manila, it has no statue of Rizal. Written on its square podium are Rizal’s novels, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and Morga, tribute to Antonio De Morga, author of Sucesos de las islas Filipinas, an important book about the history of early Spanish colonization. On the top most triangle is an eight-rayed sun, a 5 pointed star, and a phrase, “A Jose Rizal” (To Jose Rizal). This is the source of national pride for the Bicolanos. The next part will be about our tour on the Museo Bulawan.

The First Rizal Monument

Destination: Camarines Norte Part 1

Replica of the first Rizal monument

This was my first visit to the Bicol Region and I know friends who are from that province. I am starting a series of blog posts during my time and experiences in Camarines Norte. We left Manila around 5:30 in the afternoon by a private vehicle provided by the Provincial Tourism Office of Camarines Norte. The group  is composed of Bernard Supetran, PR consultant, Benjamin Layug of Business Mirror and Byahero, a travel website, Joselito Cinco of Manila Standard,  Kara Santos of Sunday Inquirer and yours truly. We arrived at Bagasbas in Camarines Norte at 1:30 in the morning which totals seven hours of travel by land and we stayed in Bagasbas Lighthouse Hotel Resort along Bagasbas Boulevard facing the Bagasbas beach.

Camarines Norte is found in the Northwestern of coast of the Bicol Peninsula, which forms the southeastern section of Luzon. It is one of the six provinces of Bicol Region. The major industries Camarines Norte is proud of are jewelry making, fishing, aquatic products, processing of queen pineapple and tourism. Camarines Norte has a total land area of 232,007 hectares composed of twelve municipalities and is divided in Tagalog and Bicolano speaking towns. Total population of Camarines Norte is about 470,654. The ratio of population density is 202 persons to a square kilometer. In my next blog post, I will feature the churches of Camarines Norte that are celebrating their four hundred years.

Posted previously at : http://mvlnunez.blogspot.com/2011/02/destination-camarines-norte.html#ixzz1jEs44Mia