ALBAY

- is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Legazpi City and the province bordersCamarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. Also to the northeast is Lagonoy Gulf.

Mayon Volcano is the symbol most associated with the province. This nearly perfectly-shaped active volcano forms a scenic backdrop to the capital city of Legazpi 15 kilometers to the south.

a.RELIGION
The region retains Roman Catholicism as the overwhelming religion of the great majority. The Catholic religion has the highest number of followers than any other area in the Philippines. Fiestas (Feast day of saints) are annual celebrations of parishes, from a simple barrio fiesta honoring a patron associated for good harvest, to a town fiesta honoring a miraculous saint, or a regional one such as the Our Lady of Peafrancia Fiesta, a week-long celebration to honor the Virgin Mary, dubbed as the "Queen Patroness of Bicolandia". It is widely acknowledged that in Luzon, it is Bicol Region that holds the most number of men entering the seminary for Catholic priesthood, or women entering the religious life to become Catholic nuns.

b.PRODUCTS

c.LANGUAGE
Bikol is the primary language spoken in Albay, being a part of the Bicol Region. There are other
dialects spoken in the province, however, such as Bicolano Viejo, Daragueo, Legazpeo or Albayano, Oasnon and others. The dialects spoken in the coastal areas of the province are similar to that spoken in Camarines Sur while those further inland are similar to each other but differs significantly from the coastal dialect. Majority of the inhabitants also understand Tagalog and English.

d.Economy Agriculture is the main industry in Albay, which produces such crops as coconut, rice, sugar, and
abac. Handicrafts are the major source of rural income. It continuous to provide fairly large share in the small-scale industries of the province. Forestry and papermaking are another source of livelihood. The manufacture of abac 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 Mayon Volcano, also draws income for Albay.

e. SONGS
1.SARUNG BANGUI (in Bicol) 2. SARUNG BANGUI (Tagalog version) 3. ANO DAW ITONG NASA GOGON 4. SA CAMATANGAAN NIN BANGUI 5. An Harong Ko Nipa 6. Sa Diclom nin Bangui 7. Lubi-lubi (Bicol song that is different from the Waray song, Lubi-Lubi) 8. Ining Kalibangbang 9. SARO, DUWA, TOLO (new) 10. ISIPON MO SANA 11. PUNAY(with Tagalog translation) 12.BABAENG TAGA-BICOL 13. ILONG PAGKAMOOT 14. BULKAN BULUSAN, MAYON, ISAROG 15. ANG HARONG MI

f.DANCE

Pastores Tubog (Tubog, Oas, Albay) Pastores, meaning shepherd in Spanish, refers to the biblical shepherds who visited the manger the very first Christmas. The scenic barrio of Tubog is home to one of the most spectacular pastores versions. Starting in early December until the Feast of the Three Kings on January 6th, the pastores groups dance to the tune of Pastores a Belen. All dressed in Filipinized Middle Eastern shepherd costumes, the performers go house to house utilizing flower arches and sheep made of bamboo and rice paper to imitate the tending of the sheep.

g. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Sometimes Christian faith is expressed through indigenous forms, and indigenous beliefs may assume a Christian face. Some beliefs and customs related to farming the life cycle, talismans, and divination survive in the consciousness of the contemporary Bicol, even the educated. The prehispanic beliefs in the hierarchy of supernaturals ranging from bad to good s to a limited extend preserved. The common expression "Tabi po, maki-agi po" (Excuse me please, I would like to pass by) acknowledges the invisible world. The Christian God and heavenly host have replaced the supreme god Gugurang and the minor deities, each of whom had a special function. But the darker side inhabited by witches and monsters seem to live on I the minds of some Bicol Christians. So does ancestor worship in some areas; a postharvest thanksgiving ritual, sagurang, is retained by Bicol farmers by way of offering food to the spirits of their ancestors.

Most of the tribal groups are animists, believing in many gods and spirits who control life situations and circumstances. They believe that these deities have human emotions and must be appeased by means of sacrifice and worship. These gods are believed to exist in both living and inanimate objects.

h. POLITICAL SYSTEM Some national executive offices and constitutionally mandated bodies have regional branches in Legaspi. Bicol is served by three Regional Trial courts and four Municipal Circuit Trial Courts. In Congress, Bicol is represented by 11 members (1991): four from Camarines Sur, one from Camarines Norte, two from Masbate, two from Sorsogon, and two from Albay. CCP Encyclopedia of Arts and Literature

CAPIZ
HISTORY
apiz became the second Spanish settlement after Cebu when Captain Diego de Artienda, sent by Legaspi landed the town of Pan-ay and proclaimed it the capital of the province in. The capital was then moved to the present location of Roxas City. Folk history recorded in the Maragtas by Pedro Monteclaro says ten Bornean datus landed at a site now known as San Joaquin town in Iloilo province. They purchased Panay Island from the Aeta, cultivated the land, and renamed the island Madya-as. They divided it into three communities: Irong-irong, Akean (which includes the Capiz area), and Hamtik. It is said that in Capiz in 1570, the Datu Bankayas wife of the Aklan district gave birth to twin daughters. Twin is "Kapid" in the local dialect, so the Spaniards adopted the name Capiz (Kapid) as inadvertently miscommunicated to them by the natives. Capiz, which was part of Aklan in pre-Spanish times, was one of the early settlements of the Malays, centuries before the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines. It was part of the Confederation of Madjaas, formed after the purchase of Panay by the Bornean datus from the Negrito king named Marikudo. When the Spaniards led by Miguel Lpez de Legazpi came to Panay from Cebu in 1569, they found people with tattoos, and so they called it Isla de los Pintados. How the island itself came to be called Panay is uncertain. The Aeta called it Aninipay, after a plant that abounded in the island. Legend has it that Lpez de Legazpi and his men, in search of food, exclaimed upon the island, pan hay en esta isla!. So they established their first settlement in the island at the mouth of the Banica River in Capiz and called it Pan-ay. This was the second Spanish settlement in the Philippines, the first being San Miguel, Cebu. In the same year of 1569 Captain ('Capitan') Diego de Artieda who was sent by Legaspi landed in the Town of Panay and proclaimed it as the capital of the province. Later, they moved the Capital to its present site upon discovering the town of Capiz (not the province, and now Roxas City) which was near the sea and provided docking facilities. In 1942, the region was occupied by the Japanese troops. In 1945, the region was liberated by the joint Filipino and American troops with Filipino guerrillas from the defeated Japanese Imperial forces during Second World War. Capiz and Aklan were united under one province until April 25, 1956, when President Ramon Magsaysay signed into law Republic Act 1414 separating the two entities.

a.CLOTHING

b.ORNAMENTS

c.PRODUCTS

d.LANGUAGE

-Hiligaynon is the dominant dialect spoken in the province.

e.ECONOMIC
Cutflowers Aside from its rich fishing grounds, cutflower cultivation is now gaining popularity among the residents in Roxas City as an agri-based incomegenerating industry. Cottage Industry Numerous home and cottage industries amply augment household incomes, among which are poultry and liverstock raising, handicraft, shellcraft, ceramics, lime processing, garments, farm tools fabrication, furniture and boat making.

f.FESTIVALZ
Sinadya sa Halaran One of Roxas Citys most important annual events is the Sinadya sa Halaran festival. A fusion of two festivals Sinadya (City) and Halaran (Province) which literally means joy in sharing and thanksgiving. It is celebrated on December 4-8 to commemorate the religious activities that embody the true Capiceo spirit. The highlights of the celebration are the Dancing Parade, Higantes, Fluvial Parade, Fireworks display, Mutya sa Halaran beauty pageant, Coronation of the Fiesta Queen, and Agri-Aqua Trade Fair. Balintawakan Festival Pontevedra. Balintawakan is a simple gathering, mostly of senior citizens of Pontevedra, Capiz who are sentimentally bound together to an unwritten commitment to preserve a simple tradition which began long ago and was only interrupted by WWII. Every December 31 people hold a Binayle at the towns public market. Its highlight is the search for Miss Balintawakan as the Festival Queen. The event is capped by a Rigodon de Honor. The Filipino costume called Balintawak is the official attire of the womenfolk participating in the affair.

g.GEOGRAPHY
The Province of Capiz occupies a land area of 2,633 square kilometers, representing 21% of the total land area of Panay. It is composed of 16 municipalities and a city with a total of 472 barangays.

h.DANCE

Ex: Gayong-gayong - Capiz -. In rural gatherings, this dance offers much fun. Gayong is a pet name for Leodegario. According to the legend and to the words of the song, Gayong and Masiong (pet name for Dalmacio) once attended a feast commemorating the death of a townsman. While eating, Masiong choked on a piece of Adobo so he called, "Gayong ! Gayong !" to ask for help to dislodge a bone from the Adobo meal from his throat. In this dance, Masiongs liking for feasts and the consequence of his gluttony are held up to playful ridicule.