Camarines Sur History
Profile of Camarines Sur Province (Geography)
Location –> Bicol Region, Philippines (See map below)
Neighboring Provinces –> Camarines Norte, Quezon and Albay
Capital –> Pili
Area –> 5,497.03 km2 (2,122.42 sq mi)
Population –> 1,952,544 (2015 census)
Terrain –> Mostly flat with hills and mountains in the west and east
Industries –> Agriculture, Tourism
Major Products –> Rice, Coconut, Corn, Abaca, Banana
People/Language –> Bicolano
Cities –> Naga and Iriga
Municipalities (Towns) –> Baao, Balatan, Bato, Bombon, Buhi, Bula, Cabusao, Calabanga, Camaligan, Canaman, Caramoan, Del Gallego, Gainza, Garchitorena, Goa, Lagonoy, Libmanan, Lupi, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Nabua, Ocampo, Pamplona, Pasacao, Pili, Presentacion, Ragay, Sagnay, San Fernando, San Jose, Sipocot, Siruma, Tigaon, Tinambac
Government Officials
Governor –> Miguel Luis “Migs” Villafuerte
Vice Governor –> Imelda Papin
Predecessor –> Fortunato Peña
Representative (1st District) –> Michael John Duavit (Caretaker)
Predecessor –> Marissa Andaya (died July 5, 2020)
Predecessor –> Rolando G. Andaya, Jr.
Representative (2nd District) –> Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte
Representative (3rd District) –> Gabriel “Gabby” Bordado
Representative (4th District) –> Arnulf “Arnie” Fuentebella
Representative (5th District) –> Jocelyn Fortuno
Predecessor –> Salvio B. Fortuno
Provincial Board Members (Sangguniang Panlalawigan or SP)
Trixie Maquiling – 1st District
Romulo Hernandez – 2nd District
Alexander James Jaucian
Angel Naval – 3rd District
Nelson Julia
Gerard Pilapil – 4th District
Emmanuel Llaguno
Emmanuel Noble – 5th District
Wilfredo Julio Oliva
Ruperto Alfelor
Camarines Sur History
Long before the coming of the Spaniards, the area now covered by Camarines Sur were settled by the Isarog-Agta and Iraya-Agta who lived near or around the mountains. The Spaniards explored the area in the second part of the 16th century establishing the Bicol province. Later, this huge area was divided into two: Camarines and Ibalon (now Sorsogon and Albay).
The name Camarines is believed to have derived from the local term kamalig which means small nipa or bamboo-made huts and Hispanized into camarins referring to small rice granaries which were ubiquitous in the area. The territory of what is now Camarines Sur underwent partitions and re-partitions until it was finally established through Act 2809, the law passed by the Philippine Congress on March 3, 1919 to split Ambos Camarines into Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.
Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo ignited the Philippine Revolution in Camarines Sur but it was General Vicente Lukban who organized the revolutionary government in the area. The province was occupied by the Americans since 1900 until 1942 and the Japanese invaded the locality in 1942. Wenceslao Q. Vinzons organized guerrillas against the Japanese but he was soon captured.
On June 6, 1955, the capital of Camarines Sur was transferred from Naga City to the adjoining town of Pili by virtue of Republic Act 1336.
Go here to see all the famous people in Camarines Sur Province.
Go here to see all the candidates and results of the 2019 election in Camarines Sur.
Read the history of Camarines Sur in Tagalog here.
Economy of Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur is a major rice producing province in the country. other agricultural products are abaca, pili nuts, corn, fish, poultry, egg, and livestock.
In recent years, the province rose to become one of the top-most visited areas in the country particularly in the Caramoan Peninsula where one episodes of the “Survivor US” was filmed. Moreover, the provincial government built world-class facilities for water and other sports and now sportsmen and women visit the province to join some of the games being played there.
In the town of Pasacao, there is a large coconut oil mill, the only one found in the province.
RELATED: Profile of Palawan Province
See also: List of Philippine Provinces and Capital by Region