CHARACTERISTICS OF AN

AUTHENTIC BIKOLANO

Prepared by: • Brian Steven Lim• Jay Kenneth Rances• Nelmer Borbe

Bicolanos Bicolanos are people who live in the

southeastern peninsula of Luzon, containing the six provinces of Bicol.

Their language is referred to as Bikol or Bicolano. The Bicolano language is very fragmented, and its dialects are mutually incomprehensible to speakers of other Bicolano dialects.

They made up the fifth largest ethnolinguistic group in the country.

Geography The Bicol region, or Bicolandia as it is sometimes called, is

southeast of Manila, surrounded by the Pacific to the east, the Samar Sea to the southeast, the Sibuyan Sea to the southwest, and Quezon Province to the north.

The area's six provinces, including the two separate island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate, contain several volcanic mountains, including Mount Bulusan, Mount Isarog, and the iconic Mount Mayon, but most Bicolanos live in the lowland valleys around these mountains, leaving the hillsides and summits to other ethnic groups.

The western and southern provinces of Bicol, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Albay differ from much of the rest of the country in not having distinct wet and dry seasons, while the eastern and northern regions of Sorsogon. Catanduanes, and Masbate arc more typical in receiving extremely heavy rains between November and January; the remainder of the year is also fairly wet in these regions.

History When they arrived in the Philippines about

3000 B.C.E. the Austronesian speakers would probably have met small bands of people who had already been residing on the islands for approximately 20,000 years. The hunting and gathering AETA peoples, as they are now called, probably lived in the most productive areas of the country, the coastlines, valleys, and lower hills, in very small, impermanent settlements. With the ability to grow their own crops the incoming Austronesians could maintain significantly higher population densities than the Aeta and thus pushed the hunter-gatherers into the more marginal highland forests and mountaintops, where they still live today.

B.C.E. 3000 The initial migration of the Austronesian

speakers, including the ancestors of the bicolanos, to the

Philippines. C.E. 1569 Luis Enriques de Guzman names the

Bicol region Ibalon. Father Alonzo Jimenez learns Bicol,

writes a catechism. In this language, and begins the process of

converting the locals to Catholicism. 1649 Samar's Sumuroy Revolt sees the

participation of Bicolanos from Sorsogon; at the same time the

residents of the Camarines also rise up against the Spanish.

1669 Spanish missionary Father Pedro Espellargas of Bacon invents a knife that allows abaca or Manila hemp to

be harvested and stripped much more easily. leading to a new product for the colonial economy.

1754 Bacon and Bulan are destroyed by the Moros and the townspeople are captured. Moro raids in Bicol continue for more than 100 years.

1762-64 The British occupy Manila and the people of the Camarines rise up against them several times.

1898 Governor Zaidin surrenders In Naga City and Bicol attains independence from Spain.

1900-01 Many Blcolanos participate In the war against the United States.

1901-13 The Moro Wars against the United States move more Moros north into Bicol

1941 The Japanese occupy the Philippines during World War II.

1944 The United States retakes the Philippines. 1945 The Philippines attain Independence from the

United States.

Culture The Austronesian migrants to the Philippines

arrived bearing several domesticated plants, including rice, the contemporary staple crop in the Bicol region; domesticated pigs, dogs, and chickens; and a lifestyle built around the agricultural calendar.

Contemporary Bicolanos continue to be largely agricultural people, with that sector of the economy providing about 60 percent of the regional gross domestic product (GDP). In addition to rice, corn, sweet potatoes, cassava, and coconuts are grown both for subsistence and for sale. Other cash crops include abaca or Manila hemp, coffee, cocoa, and calamansi.

With its extensive coastlines, Bicol also provides fish for both domestic consumption and sale on the local and national markets. Thirty percent of the regional GDP is derived from the service industry, mostly catering to the many tourists who travel to Bicol for the coastlines and mountains.

A small industrial sector contributes about 10 percent. Several abaca industries dominate this sector of the economy.

One of the most important legacies of the Spanish colonial period in Bicol is Roman Catholicism; the Christian Trinity has replaced the local creator god Gugurang and church attendance remains very high to this day. However, this is not to say that some indigenous beliefs and practices have not survived into the 21st century.

In addition, many evil spirits, witches, and supernatural monsters continue to haunt the imagination of many Bicolanos, even the well-educated, and ancestor worship retains its place in most families through the offering of food and other gifts at important times of the year.

The Bicolano culture is primarily noted for the prominent use of chili peppers and gata (coconut milk) in its food. A classic example is the Bicol Express, a well-loved dish using siling labuyo (native small chillies) and the aforementioned gata.

Traits The traits of the Bicolano are a by-product of various

foreign and domestic regional influences that have been assimilated into its indigenous culture in the course of its history.1. Bikolano is deeply religious - The most

distinctive and visible evidence of their faith is exemplified in their devotion to the Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of Bicolandia whom every Bicolano affectionately regards as his celestial mother and intimately addresses as "Ina". Such religiosity, perhaps, explains the Bikolanos attitude towards natural calamities. Bikolanos have patiently suffered the ravages of natural calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. These three are regular destructive visitors of the region. Their faith is one of their strength to overcome such problems.

2. Bicolanos are friendly and sweet - Bikolanos are rated best in friendliness. This sociability is manifested during social celebrations and local fiestas. Its typical way of socialization is thru drinking. It is because in drinking that discussions and camaraderie are established with lesser inhibitions and formality. This earned them the repute of being hospitable. Men are very sweet when it comes to courtship and are often into serious relationship, we even have this dance called "pantomina" which depicts Bicolanos sweetness and sincerity in wooing his love one.

3. Bicolanos are close family ties - Bicolanos are well-known for the close family ties. Many Bicolano live near their family for most of their lives, even as independent adults. In this setup, the children are living with their parent even after their marriage. This may continue until they have their own children. You can see three families living in the same house together with their parents.

4. Bicolanos talk a lot - Bicolanos start to talk the time they woke up and end before they sleep. They chat 24/7 with no endless issues. Some of these issues are the life, success, problems of others and even politics. Chatting serves as their “libangan” and “palipas oras”. This trait has of course disadvantages. Some even say “kapag tsismosa ka dae kang asensuhan”.

References https://books.google.com.ph/books?

id=pCiNqFj3MQsC&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=culture+of+the+bicolanos&source=bl&ots=Z4sRs_2CH1&sig=CbumwnV8vGO_NPdHcKKotMQz2ng&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1ueSc2d_QAhXCQpQKHSbaA544FBDoAQhGMAc#v=onepage&q=culture%20of%20the%20bicolanos&f=false

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Bicolano_people

http://goturismoateneo.blogspot.com/2012/10/bicolano-traits.html