Camarines Norte is a province in Bicol region of the Philippines. It is a largely rainy and forested region; it is less visited than nearby Camarines Sur, but it has hidden beaches, little-explored mountains and small towns with historic churches. Camarines Norte has a Tagalog-influenced Bicolano culture
Towns
Understand
Camarines Norte has a population of around 580,000. The main local language spoken in the Coastal Bikol dialect of Central Bikol, but there is an ongoing shift toward Tagalog, especially in conversation with visitors. Camarines Norte is unique among the Tagalog provinces for its proximity to the Bikol region. The proximity of Tagalog speakers in Camarines Norte, especially in crossroads, has created a unique variety of Tagalog which is enriched by Bikol in different aspects including phonology, morphology, grammar and even discourse. Several dialect areas are suggested.
Like much of Bicol, Camarines Sur has a rainforest climate. Most of the province is covered in rainforest, but agriculture is one of the major sources of local income and most of the forest have been cut down for coconut plantations and rice paddies.
History
Like Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte started as part of a larger Bicol province. In 1636, the Spanish colonial authorities carved out the province of Camarines, and in 1829, it was split into the two provinces. The original Camarines Norte included parts of what is now northwest Camarines Sur until 1846, when they are moved to CamSur and the town of Siruma gained in place. The two were again merged to a single province named Ambos Camarines, but the American colonial government split it back into the two present provinces.
On the final days of the Philippine Revolution, Camarines Sur was the place of a local uprising, led by the local Katipunan leader Ildefonso Moreno. At Daet, the Spaniards have fortified themselves in a house owned by a Spanish merchant, when the rebels besieged them. The Katipunan leaders and other patriots are executed, which further sparked other revolts.
During World War II, Camarines Norte was the location of the first guerrilla encounters in the Philippines. On December 18, 1941, eleven days after the attack on Pearl Harbor and 10 days after the fall of Manila, the Vinzons guerrilla group, along with some Americans, engaged with the Japanese at the village of Laniton in the rural municipality of Basud.
Get in
By bus
- Daet Auto Express. Operates from Manila to Daet terminal.
- Superlines. Operates ordinary or air-conditioned buses from Manila to most towns in Camarines Sur.
By car
Asian Highway 26, or the Maharlika Highway, serves much of Camarines Norte.
By plane
There is one airport at Daet (DTE IATA), but is not served by scheduled flights. The nearest airport with flights is at Naga (WNP IATA).
Get around
- Trikes and jeepneys.
See
Do
- Hang out at Bagasbas Beach, Bicol Province's best known surfing and kitesurfing spot.
- Pinyasan Formosa Festival. Named after the delicious sweet Formosa Pineapple, it lasts a week and a half in mid-June with parades, street stalls and nightly entertainment.
Eat
- There are lots of fast food stands, and restaurants at the beach.