Camarines Sur (; ), officially the Province of Camarines Sur (Bikol: Probinsya kan Habagatan na Camarines; ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in the island of 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. The province is home to historic churches and landmarks reflecting its Spanish colonial past. The Peñafrancia Festival held every September is a significant religious event attracting thousands of pilgrims. The province is also home to indigenous communities such as the Agta whose traditions contribute to the region's unique cultural tapestry
History
Early history 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.
Spanish occupation
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. Before that, under Spanish rule, when both provinces were still unite, Camarines Sur occupied all lands to the south of Camarines Norte which once belonged to undivided Camarines, of which the number of Spanish-Filipino families and their residences are as follows: 59 at Camalig, 24 at Ligao, 15 at Polangui, and 1 at Libon; all being under the Partido de Iriga, then; 10 at Buhi, 2 at Nabua, and 57 at Bao; all being under the Partido de la Binconada, and finally; 2 in San Fernando, 7 in Milaor, 1 in Libmanan, and 301 Spanish-Filipino families in Nueva Caceres, or modern day Naga City.(Page 605) Camarines Sur also has an additional 485 Spanish-Filipino Mestizo tributes or families.(Page 513)
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.
American occupation 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.
Japanese occupation 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. 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.
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.
Philippine Independence Transfer of provincial capital On 6 June 1955, the provincial capital, which had previously been located in Naga, was transferred to Pili by virtue of Republic Act 1336.
Geography
Camarines Sur covers a total area of 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.
Terrain
Camarines Sur occupies the central section of the Bicol Peninsula. With a land area of , 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.
Climate 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 . Camarines Sur has an average temperature of and a relative humidity of 25.8%, based from Aera Tranquilo.
Administrative divisions
Camarines Sur comprises into 2 cities and 35 municipalities.
City municipality District Population Area Density Coordinates km2 /km2 Baao 5th 58,849 30 Balatan 5th 30,922 17 Bato 5th 52,137 33 Bombon 3rd 16,512 8 Buhi 5th 77,143 38 Bula 5th 69,430 33 Cabusao 1st 18,397 9 Calabanga 3rd 83,033 48 Camaligan 3rd 24,109 13 Canaman 3rd 34,210 24 Caramoan 4th 47,605 49 Del Gallego 1st 25,397 32 Gainza 2nd 11,262 8 Garchitorena 4th 27,010 23 Goa 4th 63,308 34 Iriga City ∗ 5th 111,757 36 Lagonoy 4th 55,465 38 Libmanan 2nd 108,716 75 Lupi 1st 32,167 38 Magarao 3rd 25,694 15 Milaor 2nd 31,150 20 Minalabac 2nd 52,390 25 Nabua 5th 83,874 42 Naga ^ 3rd 196,003 27 Ocampo 3rd 45,934 25 Pamplona 2nd 36,390 17 Pasacao 2nd 49,035 19 Pili † 3rd 89,545 26 Presentacion 4th 20,996 18 Ragay 1st 58,214 38 Sagñay 4th 34,546 19 San Fernando 2nd 35,258 22 San Jose 4th 40,623 29 Sipocot 1st 64,855 46 Siruma 4th 17,764 22 Tigaon 4th 55,272 23 Tinambac 4th 67,572 44 Total 2,068,244 1,952,544 5,511.90 1,063
Demographics
The population of Camarines Sur in the 2024 census was 2,063,314 people, with a density of .
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.
Religion
Prior to colonization, the region had a complex religious system which involved various deities. Among these deities include: Gugurang, the supreme god who dwells inside of Mount Mayon where he guards and protects the sacred fire in which Asuang, his brother was trying to steal. Whenever people disobey his orders or commit numerous sins, he would cause Mount Mayon to burst lava as a sign of warning for people to mend their crooked ways. Ancient Bikolanos had a rite performed for him called Atang.Clark, Jordan (2011) The Aswang Phenomenon Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goLgDpSStmc Asuang, the evil god who always tries to steal the sacred fire of Mount Mayón from his brother, Gugurang. Addressed sometimes as Aswang, he dwells mainly inside Mount Malinao. As an evil god, he would cause the people to suffer misfortunes and commit sins. Enemy of Gugurang and a friend of Bulan, the god of the moon. Haliya, the masked goddess of the moonlight and protector of Bulan and the arch-enemy of Bakunawa. Her cult is composed primarily of women. There is also a ritual dance named after her as it is performed to be a counter-measure against Bakunawa. Bulan, the god of the pale moon, he is depicted as a pubescent boy with uncommon comeliness that made savage beast and the vicious mermaids (Magindara) tame. He has deep affection towards the sea god Magindang, but plays with him by running away so that Magindang would never catch him. The reason for this is because he is shy to the man that he loves. If Magindang manages to catch Bulan, Haliya always comes to free him from Magindang's grip. Magindang, the god of the sea and all its creatures. He has deep affection to the lunar god Bulan and pursues him despite never catching him. Due to this, the Bicolanos reasoned that it is to why the waves rise to reach the Moon when seen from the distant horizon. Whenever he does catch up to Bulan, Haliya comes to rescue Bulan and free him immediately. Bakunawa, a gigantic sea serpent deity who is often considered as the cause of eclipses, the devourer of the Sun and the Moon, and an adversary of Haliya as Bakunawa's main aim is to swallow Bulan, who Haliya swore to protect for all of eternity. Okot, god of forest and hunting.
Catholicism The religion of the province is predominantly Roman Catholicism followed by 93% of the population, one of the highest in the entire Philippines, including Philippine-based catholic Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Aglipayan Church.
Others