Any ideas on what you should do in the merry month of May? Aside from the beach and parties, check the list below and revise your bucket lists. Magayon Festival Albay | May 1-31 A festival in the merry month of May, showcasing Albay as it comes to age, its cultural heritage, trade, travel and … Continue reading List of Bicol Festivals in the Month of May
Tibay Albay 2023
Arts not only promote culture and philosophy but also the economy. Note that creativity is key in marketing and information dissemination. Salamat, Albay, for the recognition of the Bicolano artists.
Arin na an nabasa mo?
In 2007, Juan Miguel Luz asked: WHY IS it that despite our supposedly high literacy rate, many Filipinos can barely read and write? Why haven’t we been able to develop a reading habit among Filipinos?
That was in 2007 but the same still holds true today. Puwede ta man bagohon ang ugali na yan. Sabi ngani ni Mini-Dwayne Johnson sa “It’s Showtime”, reading leads us to a different world. “Even though you are not outside you are still exploring when you are reading… ”
Let’s start reading. Poonan ta sa mga libro kan mga uragon.
Mga bagong luwas na libro ni Jaime Jesus Borlagdan, hilingon digdi!!!

Tourism as “Magic Bullet”
When I tried compiling the details of the different festivals in the Bicol Region, I was shocked to note that there are overlapping schedules. Albay’s Magayon Festival, CamSur’s Kaogma Festival, and Catanduanes’ Abaca Festival are all happening in May. Add the town and barangay fiestas on said month. This has positive and negative implications.
The overlap in festival schedules in the Bicol Region can have both positive and negative implications for tourists and the tourism industry in the region.
On the positive side, the overlapping schedules could provide a variety of options. Tourists who are visiting the region can take advantage of multiple festivals and enjoy a variety of cultural experiences. It can also increase tourism by attracting more visitors thereby generating more tourism revenue for the region. Lastly, tourists will also be treated with cultural immersion. With a range of cultural festivals happening at the same time, tourists can immerse into the local culture and traditions.
On the negative side, however, overlapping schedules of festivals may put a strain on the already limited resources of the region such as accommodations, transportation, and food. Second, the festivals will also distract audience. Tourists may have a hard time choosing which festival they want to attend which may lead to a distracted audience, and may prevent them from fully participating in all the festivals. Lastly, overlapping schedules may lessen the uniqueness of each festival as visitors may attend the same sets of activities in different locations.
Given these, and to maximize the positive implications as well as minimize the negative implications of overlapping schedules of festivals, the tourism industry players spearheaded by the regional Department of Tourism, should focus on proper tourism planning, marketing, and coordination between different festival organizers. By working together towards the same goal, they can make sure that the festivals meet the interest of the visitors and they can provide an unforgettable experience.
Tourism is often considered a “magic bullet” for local economic development because it has the potential to generate significant revenue and create employment opportunities in a relatively short period of time. But do we have the appropriate gun to use the magic bullet?
The impact of tourism is undeniable. It is instrumental to the creation of jobs across various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, retail, and tourism promotion. In 2019, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), for instance, noted that the Philippine tourism industry led to the creation of 9.5 million jobs in 2019. This declined to 6.49 million because of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns but eventually gained traction due to the easing of health protocols. In 2021, the total contribution of travel and tourism to employment is 7.82 million.
The tourism industry is also a major contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) which was noted to be…
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Puto Festival at Oas, Albay
Oas in Albay province is known among others for its unique delicacy, the "puto de oas". The Oas version of rice cake is a biscuit made of rice and steamed in coconut shell. It cracks in the mouth but melts with distinct sweetness. Photo credit: Cong Joey Salceda FB page To highlight this delicacy, the … Continue reading Puto Festival at Oas, Albay
Abaca Festival, 22-27 May 2023
One of the products that made the Bicol Region famous during the Spanish period is the abaca. The product made a number of traders, particularly Spaniards, rich. Abaca production, however, shrank because of plant diseases and the climate change. Hence, from occupying the whole region, farms devoted to abaca became smaller and most have been … Continue reading Abaca Festival, 22-27 May 2023
Top 16 Things To Do in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Our first stay in Bicol Region starts with Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines. We have some friends who live here so we asked for recommendations on possible things to dos, places to visits, restaurants to dine in, and hotels to stay in Naga City. Although Naga City is well known as a Pilgrim City because … Continue reading Top 16 Things To Do in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines