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Camarines Sur | |
---|---|
Anthem: Camarines Sur March | |
Coordinates: 13°40′N123°20′E / 13.67°N 123.33°E | |
Country | Philippines |
Region | Bicol Region |
Founded (Separated from Ambos Camarines) | March 19, 1919 |
Capital | Pili 13°33′15″N123°16′31″E / 13.55417°N 123.27528°E |
Largest city | Naga City 13°37′12″N123°10′12″E / 13.62000°N 123.17000°E |
Government | |
• Governor | Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte (PDP–Laban) |
• Vice Governor | Salvio Patrick Fortuno (PDP–Laban) |
• Legislature | Camarines Sur Provincial Board |
Area | |
• Total | 5,497.03 km2 (2,122.42 sq mi) |
• Rank | 16th out of 81 |
Highest elevation | 2,011.7 m (6,600.1 ft) |
Population (2020 census) [2] | |
• Total | 2,068,244 |
• Rank | 11th out of 81 |
• Density | 380/km2 (970/sq mi) |
• Rank | 19th out of 81 |
Includes independent component city | |
Divisions | |
• Independent cities | 1
|
• Component cities | 1 |
• Municipalities | |
• Barangays |
|
• Districts | Legislative districts of Camarines Sur (shared with Naga City) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
IDD : area code | +63 (0)54 |
ISO 3166 code | PH-CAS |
Spoken languages | |
Website | camarinessur |
Camarines Sur (Central Bikol : Habagatan na Camarines; Tagalog : Timog Camarines), officially the Province of Camarines Sur (Bikol: Probinsya kan Habagatan na Camarines; Tagalog : Lalawigan ng Timog Camarines), is a province in the Philippines located in the Bicol Region on Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the northwest, and Albay to the south. To the east lies the island province of Catanduanes across the Maqueda Channel.
Camarines Sur is the largest among the six provinces in the Bicol Region both by population and land area. Its territory includes two cities: Naga, the most-populous, lone chartered and independent city, as the province's religious, cultural, financial, commercial, industrial and business center; and Iriga, a component city, as the center of the Rinconada area and Riŋkonāda Language. Within the province lies Lake Buhi, where the smallest commercially harvested fish, the sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis), can be found. The province is also home to the critically endangered Isarog Agta language, one of the three critically endangered languages in the Philippines according to UNESCO.
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The earliest settlers in Camarines Sur are the Isarog Agta people who live within the circumference of Mount Isarog and the Iraya Agta who live within the circumference of Mount Iraya. They have been in the province for thousands of years and have been one of the first settlers in the entire Philippines.
In July 1569, Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, a member of the expedition led by Maestro de Campo Mateo de Saz and Captain Martín de Goiti, led a group which crossed from Burias and Ticao islands and landed on a coastal settlement called Ibalon in what is now the province of Sorsogon. From this point another expedition was sent to explore the interior and founded the town of Camalig.
In 1573, Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north as made it as far south as Libon, establishing the settlement of Santiago de Libon. José María de Peñaranda, the first governor of Albay and a military engineer, was made corregidor of the province on 14 May 1834. He constructed public buildings and built roads and bridges. The entire Bicol Peninsula was organized as one province with two divisions, Camarines in the northwest and Ibalon in the southeast. In 1636, the two were separated.
Known centuries ago as the Tierra de Camarines, the province is distinctly Spanish-founded settlement. Its name having been derived from camaronchones or camarines, a Spanish word for kamalig referring to small nipa or bamboo-made huts by the natives.
In 1574, Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris referred Camarines Sur to the King of Spain as Los Camarines, after the abundance of camarins-rice granaries – which were conspicuous features of the area.
Spanish colonizers later subjugated its people and denominated the area into two distinct aggrupations. Partido de Camarines was partitioned into Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte in 1829, and thereafter underwent fusion, annexations and re-partitions until 19 March 1919, when two provinces, jointly called Ambos Camarines , were finally separated with their present boundaries by decree of the First Philippine Legislature.
The Philippine Revolution started in Ambos Camarines when Elías Ángeles and Félix Plazo, Filipino corporals in the Spanish Army, sided with revolutionists and fought the local Spanish forces on 17 September 1898. Governor Vicente Zaidín capitulated to the revolutionists on the following day. With the arrival of General Vicente Lukbán, the revolutionary government in the Bicol Region was established.
The American forces occupied the Bicol Peninsula in January 1900. In March of the same year. General John M. Bell was made the military governor of the southeastern Luzon. Civil government was finally established in Ambos Camarines in April 1901.[ citation needed ]
During World War II, Camarines Sur came under Japanese occupation in late December 1941, following the capture of Naga on 18 December, a few days after the Japanese invasion of Legaspi. [3] Guerrilla units were organized by Wenceslao Q. Vinzons that waged underground operations against the Japanese troops stationed in Camarines Sur. After the capture of Vinzons on 8 July 1942, the guerrilla movement was carried on by Lieutenant Francisco Boayes and by the Tangcong Vaca Guerrilla Unit organized by Elías Madrid, Juan Miranda and León Aureus in San Nicolás, Canaman. In April 1945, Camarines Sur was finally liberated from the Japanese invaders against the combined Filipino and American troops in 1945.[ citation needed ]
The military general headquarters and military camp bases of the Philippine Commonwealth Army were active from 3 January 1942 until 30 June 1946, and the Philippine Constabulary was active from 28 October 1944 to 30 June 1946, in Camarines Sur. The Filipino soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary were spearheading the local military special operations in Bicol Region with the Bicolano guerrilla units decisively aiding them.[ citation needed ]
On 6 June 1955, the provincial capital, which had previously been located in Naga, was transferred to Pili by virtue of Republic Act 1336. [4]
Camarines Sur covers a total area of 5,497.03 square kilometres (2,122 sq mi) [5] occupying the central section of the Bicol Region in Luzon. The province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the northwest, and Albay to the south. To the east lies the Maqueda Channel. Camarines Sur is home to five (5) out of eleven (11) declared natural parks in Bicol Region (Region V), namely Bicol Natural Park between the borders of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, Buhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Lagonoy Natural Biotic Area, Malabungot Protected Landscape in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, and Mount Isarog Natural Park, totaling 17,769.23 hectares. [6]
Camarines Sur occupies the central section of the Bicol Peninsula. With a land area of 5,266.8 square kilometres (2,034 sq mi), it is the largest province in the Bicol Region. At the center of the province is the Bicol Plain, surrounded by mountains which include Mount Bernacci (Tangcong Vaca), Mount Isarog and Mount Iriga. The eastern portion of the province lies on the mountainous Caramoan Peninsula, which faces the island of Catanduanes to the east.
The Bicol River drains the central and southern parts of the province into the San Miguel Bay. Mount Asog is surrounded by three lakes: Buhi, Bato, and Baao.
The climate in Camarines Sur, like most of the rest of the country, is very tropical. It is dry from March to May and wet the rest of the year Annual average rainfall is 2,565 millimetres (101 in). Camarines Sur has an average temperature of 27.0 °C (80.6 °F) and a relative humidity of 25.8%, based from Aera Tranquilo.
Camarines Sur comprises into 2 cities and 35 municipalities.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
1903 | 193,902 | — |
1918 | 218,733 | +0.81% |
1939 | 385,695 | +2.74% |
1948 | 553,691 | +4.10% |
1960 | 819,565 | +3.32% |
1970 | 948,436 | +1.47% |
1975 | 1,023,819 | +1.55% |
1980 | 1,099,346 | +1.43% |
1990 | 1,305,919 | +1.74% |
1995 | 1,432,598 | +1.75% |
2000 | 1,551,549 | +1.72% |
2007 | 1,693,821 | +1.22% |
2010 | 1,822,371 | +2.70% |
2015 | 1,952,544 | +1.32% |
2020 | 2,068,244 | +1.14% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [7] [8] [8] [9] |
The population of Camarines Sur in the 2020 census was 2,068,244 people, [2] with a density of 380 inhabitants per square kilometre or 980 inhabitants per square mile.
During the May 2010 census, there were 1,822,371 residents in Camarines Sur, making it the most populous in the region. The census also stated that Camarines Sur had 288,172 households with an average household size of 5.37 persons, significantly higher than the national average of 4.99. The annual growth rate was 1.86%, much lower than the national growth rate of 2.36%. This rate of growth will double the population of Camarines Sur in 8 years.
Prior to colonization, the region had a complex religious system which involved various deities. Among these deities include:
The religion of the province is predominantly Roman Catholicism followed by 93% [14] of the population, one of the highest in the entire Philippines, including Philippine-based catholic Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Aglipayan Church.
Other religions professed by the people include Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) the Province of Camarines Sur has 2 Ecclesiastical District of the Church 1.Iriga 2.Naga serves the increasing numbers, Baptist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Methodists and other smaller Christian groups. Islam is also present in the province with their mosques stood in large population areas. Sikhism and Taoism is present in the province as well. Some do not practice religion or identify as Agnostic.
The main languages spoken in Camarines Sur are the Coastal Bikol (especially Central Bikol) and Inland Bikol group of languages. The latter is a group of languages that includes Albay Bikol group and Rinconada Bikol, while the former just consists dialects.
A dialect of Coastal Bikol, called Coastal Bikol-Partido is used in the eastern portion of the province around Lagonoy Gulf, and another dialect called Coastal Bikol-Central is spoken around Naga City.
The Canaman dialect of Central Bikol variant of Coastal Bikol spoken in Canaman, Camarines Sur is said to be the "purest" form of Bikol (according to Jesuit anthropologist Frank Lynch, S.J.), though most linguists just consider it as the standard form of Central Bikol language since other Coastal Bikol languages, Rinconada Bikol and Buhinon (both Inland Bikol) are separate languages.
The Rinconada Bikol also known as Riŋkonāda (under the umbrella of Inland Bikol group of languages), is used by most people in the Rinconada area or district of the province especially in Nabua, Iriga City and by people of Rinconada in diaspora. Buhinon (one of the languages of Albay Bikol group, another member of Inland Bikol), is a minority language spoken in the town of Buhi and around Lake Buhi. Most inhabitants of Camarines Sur understand Tagalog and English.
In 2010, UNESCO released its 3rd world volume of Endangered Languages in the World, where 3 critically endangered languages were in the Philippines. One of these languages in the Isarog Agta language which has an estimated 5 speakers in the year 2000. The language was classified as Critically Endangered, meaning the youngest speakers are grandparents and older, and they speak the language partially and infrequently and hardly pass the language to their children and grandchildren anymore. If the remaining 150 people do not pass their native language to the next generation of Isarog Agta people, their indigenous language will be extinct within a period of 1 to 2 decades.
The Isarog Agta people live within the circumference of Mount Isarog, though only 5 of them still know their indigenous language. They are one of the original Negrito settlers in the entire Philippines. They belong to the Aeta people classification, but have distinct language and belief systems unique to their own culture and heritage.
Camarines Sur had urban areas since the Spanish Colonial Period with Naga City (or Nueva Caceres) becoming urban in the 19th century due to it being the center of commerce in the former province of Ambos Camarines. Nabua (Which formerly included present day Balatan), Libmanan (Then included present day Cabusao and some barangays of Canaman Pamplona and Pasacao), Sipocot, Pili, Calabanga, Iriga then followed Nueva Caceres with some barangays being classified as urban.
By the late 1990s the remaining rural municipalities were Siruma, Garchitorena, Presentacion and Cabusao. Until 2007 when all of these 4 municipalities were classified as urban by the National Statistics Office.
The economy of Camarines Sur is mostly agriculture-based. 29 of the 35 towns are agricultural and produce rice, corn, feedmeal, freshwater fish, livestock, coconut, sugar, abacá, and water-lily.
Entrepreneurs engage in trading, often branching out towards neighboring provinces in the south as local demand might be limited by the 3rd to 5th income-class municipalities. Handicrafts are the major source of rural income, providing a fairly large share in the small-scale industries of the province. Forestry and papermaking are other sources of livelihood. The manufacture of abacá products such as Manila hemp, hats, bags, mats, and slippers is one of the main sources of income in the rural areas. Fishing is also done along both shores of the province. Tourism, primarily because of Caramoan and Mount Isarog, also generates income for Camarines Sur.
Naga and several towns have a tri-economy or three-base economy: commerce, industry, and agriculture. As the main center in the Bicol Region, all of the products from other provinces in the region are brought to Naga. It has four major industries: the manufacture of jewelry and gifts/toys/housewares, and processing of pineapple and coconut. Naga also has vast cornfields, rice fields, and water lily farms all over the city.
Calabanga, Cabusao, Libmanan and Sipocot have similar economies to Naga City. Calabanga has commerce from goods moving out of Naga, and is the trade center for the towns of Tinambac, Bombon, Cabusao, and Siruma and further Mercedes in Camarines Norte. Calabanga also has fishing from the Quipayo Fishing Center (the largest in Bicol), and vast productions of corn, sugar, and rice, which benefit from a large granary. Libmanan has 156 hectares of ricefields and cornfields, and fishing along its coastline connecting the towns of Ragay and Pasacao; Libmanan also has a commercial district. Sipocot has an agricultural base economy, with an abundant stock of native chicken (Sipocot's OTOP) and wide production of calamansi and other vegetables, while also serving as trading post for towns of Cabusao, Lupi, Del Gallego, Libmanan Ragay and Mercedes (Camarines Norte) Tagkawayan (Quezon Province) . Fish products from these towns are received by Sipocot. Other towns not mentioned have a fishing industry as the main base of their economy.
Naga City, Iriga City, and Pili are the main economic centers of Camarines Sur.
The towns of Nabua, Goa, Calabanga, Libmanan, Pasacao, Sipocot, Baao are also taking successful steps towards urbanization and competitiveness.
Milaor, Camaligan, Canaman, Magarao, Gainza serves as a sub-urban area of Naga City.
The rest of the province takes a long time to urbanize due to lack of major roads, or isolation from business centers.
The Pan-Philippine Highway (N1/AH26), is the highway backbone network, and the secondary and tertiary roads interconnect most cities and municipalities in Sipocot, Libmanan, Pamplona, San Fernando, Milaor, Naga City, Pili, Bula, Baao, Iriga City, Nabua before ending at Bato.
In order to spur development in the province, two expressways in Camarines Sur have been proposed:
Albay, officially the Province of Albay, is a province in the Bicol Region of the Philippines, mostly on the southeastern part of the island of Luzon. Its capital is the city of Legazpi, the regional center of the whole Bicol Region, which is located in the southern foothill of Mayon Volcano.
The Bicol Region, designated as Region V, is an administrative region of the Philippines. It comprises six provinces, four on the Bicol Peninsula : Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon, and two off the shore: Catanduanes and Masbate.
Naga, officially the City of Naga, or the Pilgrim City of Naga, is a 1st class independent component city in the Bicol Region. According to the 2020 census, Naga has a population of 209,170 people. The most populous in Camarines Sur and the second most populous following Legazpi City in Albay.
Baao, officially the Municipality of Baao is 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 61,493 people.
Buhi, officially the Municipality of Buhi, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 81,306 people.
Calabanga, officially the Municipality of Calabanga, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 88,906 people.
Goa, officially the Municipality of Goa, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 71,368 people.
Iriga, officially the City of Iriga, is a component city in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 114,457 people.
Milaor, officially the Municipality of Milaor, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,963 people.
Minalabac, officially the Municipality of Minalabac, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,981 people.
Nabua, officially the Municipality of Nabua, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 86,490 people.
Ocampo, officially the Municipality of Ocampo, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 51,073 people.
Tigaon, officially the Municipality of Tigaon, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,524 people.
The legislative districts of Ambos Camarines were the representations of the historical province of Ambos Camarines in the various national legislatures of the Philippines until 1919.
Mount Isarog is an active stratovolcano located in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines, on the island of Luzon. The mountain has active fumaroles and hot springs. It has an elevation of 2,011.6 m (6,600 ft) above mean sea level.
Rinconada Bikol or simply Rinconada, spoken in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines, is one of several languages that compose the Inland Bikol group of the Bikol macrolanguage. It belongs to the Austronesian language family that also includes most Philippine languages, the Formosan languages of Taiwanese aborigines, Malay, the Polynesian languages and Malagasy.
Inagta Rinconada is a Bikol language spoken by a semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer Agta (Negrito) people of the Philippines. It is spoken to the east of Iriga City up to the shores of Lake Buhi. The language is largely intelligible with Mount Iraya Agta on the other side of the lake.
Mount Iraya Agta is a Bikol language spoken by a semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer Agta (Negrito) people of the Philippines, east of Lake Buhi in Luzon. It is mutually intelligible with Mount Iriga Agta on the other side of the lake.
The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the southeastern part of Luzon, the neighboring island-province of Catanduanes, and the island of Burias in Masbate.
The Camarines Sur Provincial Board is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Philippine province of Camarines Sur.