View of Mayon Volcano from Legazpi City, Albay

Legazpi City, Albay is one of the Bicol Region’s top tourist destinations. It is where the Mayon Volcano, one of the Philippines’ most famous volcanoes is located. Mayon Volcano is the Philippines’ most active volcano and is considered to be the world’s most perfectly formed volcano for its symmetrical cone.

Legazpi Coty is also a convenient embarkation point to other tourist destinations in the region such as the Cagsawa Ruins, the upscale resort of Misibis, Donsol, the site of one of the world’s largest annual migration of whale sharks and the white sand beaches of Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

Legazpi City is the southernmost terminus of the Philippine National Railways Main Line South. It also services sea-going vessels through its port.

Legazpi City Photos

Laoag Cathderal

The name of the city “Laoag”, is a derivation of the Ilocano term, which means light/brightness. Buzeta, an augustinian Missionary, in his Diccionarios Geografico Estatistico Historico de las Islas Filipinas, states that Laoag has a clear atmosphere which presents a beautiful, blue skyline and that there is no doubt that this is the reason why the place was given the name “Laoag”.

As such growth center, major infrastructure projects have been programed for establishment & construction in the city. Such projects are the expansion and rehabilitation of the Laoag International Airport, construction of Laoag City Central Terminal and the establishment of the Laoag Tourist Night Market.

Also, several national government agencies have focused some of their projects in Laoag. Eventually, an industrial center shall be established within the Laoag City Special Economic Zone (Laoag EcoZone) at Barangays Calayab and Balacad.

Laoag City Photos

Tumauini Church in Tumauini, Isabela

Isabela is divided into three physiographic areas. The eastern area, straddled by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, is rugged and thickly forested. Substantial portion is uncharted and unexplored hinterlands and home to a rich variety of flora and fauna while some are government reservations.

The western area is a sprawling fertile valley hemmed by the Central Cordillera and is criss-crossed by the mighty Cagayan, Siffu and Magat Rivers.

Its mountains rise to a peak of about 6,000 feet and is home to one of the world largest remaining low-altitude rainforests with numerous unknown endemic species of flora and fauna and exceptional biological diversity. The area is popularly known as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP).

Isabela Photos

Ilocos Sur is where the Ilocos Region’s myriad of cultures and histories converge to become a living museum of a spirited past. The historic city of Vigan, inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1999, was established in the 16th century. Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.

Calle Crisolo located in the Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Centuries-old Sta. Maria Church, was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as an excellent example of Baroque Churches in the Philippines.

The ubiquitous old and ancestral houses and churches have made the local tourism industry a major contributor to the province’s economy.

Ilocos Sur Photos

Paoay Church, inscribed in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

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Aerial view of Clark Freeport Zone

A former US military base, Clark’s strategic location is right at the heart of growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region – a given advantage in today’s global economy. The zone has modern infrastructure facilities, generous fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, professional support services and other amenities.

The Master Plan for the 4,400-hectare main zone and 27,600-hectare sub zone will transform the zone into an airport-driven urban center perfect for the requirements of high-end IT enabled industries, aviation and logistics related enterprises, tourism and other sectors.

Clark Photos

The 400 year-old Naga Metropolitan Cathderal in Naga City, known as “Nueva Caceres” during the Spanish-colonial era of the Philippines

Camarines Sur is known in elementary school textbooks for Lake Buhi where the world’s smallest edible fish, locally known as tabios (scientific name Mistichttys) abound in its serene and scenic waters. Today, the Province has become one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations because of the CamSur Watersports Complex, a world class cable park designed for wakeboarding and wakeskating, and the Islands of Caramoan, a favorite site for international franchises of the popular reality show “Survivor” in Serbia, Israel, France, Bulgaria, and Sweden.

Matukad Island in Caramoan town, one of the rising tourist destinations in the Philippines

Thirty-five municipalities and two cities classified into four districts compose the province of Camarines Sur. Naga City, the former capital of Camarines Sur, was founded in 1573 as “Nueva Caceres” namesake of the Province in Spain and among the original five royal cities of the Philippines during its Spanish-colonial era. Naga City was designated as the Province’s Capital from March 10, 1917 until June 6, 1955, when Pili, the adjoining town was declared as the new Provincial Capital.

Naga City’s Peñafrancia Festival, the largest Marian devotion in the Philippines

Camarines Sur Photos

Mahabang Buhangin Beach in Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Camarines Norte is blessed with a dense rainforest, habitat of numberless variety of wildlife. The province’s topography is generally rugged. It is composed of rolling hills and mountainous terrain with only a small coastal plain. Its coastal areas are fertile. Situated on these coastal areas are the towns of Vinzons, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Sta. Elena, Capalonga, Daet, Basud, Talisay and Mercedes.

From 1573 to 1829, Camarines sur and Camarine Norte formed only one political unit known as Ambos Camarines. In 1829, they were separated but reunited again in 1854. They again separated, to be reunited again in 1893. This union continued until 1919. On March 3, 1919, Camarines Norte was created by the Philippine Legislature in Act 2809.

Camarines Norte is about six hours drive from Manila through lush forests and picturesque seascapes. Camarines Norte can also be reached by air through the Pili Airport in Camarines Sur. From the airport you can take a bus or a cab to Daet via Naga City.

Camarines Norte Photos

Cagayan Provincial Capitol in Tuguegarao City

Cagayan province is distinct from the city in Mindanao named Cagayan de Oro, and is far away from Cagayancillo of Palawan or Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island in the Sulu Sea.

Present day chroniclers say that the name was derived from the word “tagay,” a kind of plant that grows abundantly in the northern part of the province. Thus, “Catagayan” which means a place where the tagay grows abundantly was shortened to “Cagayan,” the present name of the province.

Cagayan Province Photos