Peñafrancia Festival 2014

Every September, the Peñafrancia Festival is being celebrated in Naga City, Camarines Sur. So here's the schedule for the 2014 Peñafrancia Festival.

Major Events Schedule

September 11, 2014

7pm - Miss Bicolandia 2014

Venue: Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum

September 11-21, 2014

All day - Bishop Gainza Trade Fair

Venue: Elias Angeles Street. In front of Veterans Bank

September 13, 2014

7am - Regional Band-Majorette-Fancy Drill Competition

Venue: Plaza Quezon

8am - Marian Youth Congress

Venue: Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum

September 14, 2014

5am - 4th Naga City Highland Triathlon

Venue: Metro Naga Sports Complex

3pm - 2nd Regional Cheer and Dance Competition

Venue: Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum

September 17, 2014

7am - Regional BSP-GSP Parade and DXM Competition

September 17-21, 2014

All day - Bicol Travel and Food Expo

Venue: Avenue Hotel Parking Area (Avenue Tent)

September 18, 2014

7am - Civic Parade and Float Competition

Venue: Plaza Quezon

3pm - Peñafrancia Voyadores Festival 2014

Venue: Plaza Quezon

September 19, 2014

6am - Aldaw nin Katalingkasan sa Espanya

Venue: Plaza de Nueva Caceres

7am - Regional Military Parade

Venue: Plaza Quezon

September 20, 2014

6am - Regatta sa Salog

Venue: Reina del Bicol Landing (Dahogan ni Ina)

12pm - Fluvial Procession

Venue: Reina del Bicol Landing (Dahogan ni Ina)

September 21, 2014

All day - Solemnity of Our Lady of Peñafrancia

September 22, 2014

5pm - 2nd Peñafrancia Short Film Festival Awards Night

Venue: Universidad de Sta. Isabel Auditorium

Source: Naga Smiles to the World Facebook page

Quinamanokan Island: There’s no chicken here!

The town of Vinzons in the province of Camarines Norte is famously known for the white sand beach of Calaguas. However, there is a small island located just 15 minutes boat ride from the mainland. It is called the Quinamanokan Island, an undeveloped island with a beige-colored to golden brown sand beach.

Quinamanokan Island

A few months ago, me and my friends was looking for a nearest island to spend our weekend and since we never been to Quinamanokan and it is the nearest from the mainland, we then decided to visit the island. Nagsimula kaming magbyahe from Naga City. We rode a public utility van bound for Daet and then from Daet we rented a tricycle to Barangay Sula. We paid 150 for the tricycle. From the barangay, we rented a boat to Quinamanokan. We agreed for a price of 1,500 pesos for 4 people. The boat travel took us almost an hour because there were huge waves that were hitting our small boat. Usually if the sea is calm, it will only take about 15 minutes to travel from the barangay shore to the island, and it will also cost less dahil hindi na iikot ng medjo malayo ang bangka para umiwas sa mga malalakas na alon.

The Sandbar, the beach facing the mainland Luzon

We arrived at the island around 3pm and we immediately prepared our dinner since there is no electricity in the island. Wala din pala source of fresh water sa isla at buti na lang umulan nung gabi kaya nakapagbanlaw kami ng fresh water. There are also lots of coconuts kaya may pwede din mainom na tubig.

We brought with us 2 tents but we didn’t use our tents because we prefer to sleep at the only hut in the island. The hut also serves as an overnight shelter for fishermen and for the Bantay Kalikasan. By the way, Quinamanokan island is also a marine sanctuary kaya laging may Bantay Kalikasan people na nakabantay dun 24 hours. When we had our overnight stay at the island, madami din kami kasabay na mangingisda na nakisilong sa kubo kaya madami kaming nagsiksikan sa kubo kasi maulan din nung gabi. But what really made our stay in the island exciting were the firelies that dances all night. It was a night of fun kasi naligo kami sa ulan kahit madilim at nanuod din ng mga lumilipad na mga firefly.

the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean

the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean

The rain did stop late at night and naging cloudless din ang sky kaya nakita din namin yung mga bituin at buwan at nakakita din kami ng mga shooting stars. We spend the rest of the evening laughing, wishing upon the stars at nagbilang ng mga shooting stars. It was also a great night because it was also a post birthday celebration for me and a pre-birthday celebration for one of friend.

We woke up early morning to prepare for our departure back to Daet. Around 8am kasi aalis yung night shift na mga Bantay Kalikasan kaya sasabay na kami sa bangka nila pabalik ng Vinzons and then from Vinzons, sasakay na kami papuntang Daet. Now, the reason kung bakit sa Bantay Kalikasan na kami sasabay instead of riding our own rented boat ay dahil yung bangka na nirent namin ay naputulan ng boat propeller habang bumabyahe kami papuntang Quinamanokan kaya after nila kami maihatid sa isla, umalis na din sila pabalik ng mainland para maipaayos ang bangka and they’d just referred us na lang sa mga Bantay Kalikasan para sa bangkang sasakyan namin pabalik ng Vinzons. Hindi naman kami magbabayad ng extra kaya okay lang naman para sa amin.

Before we left the island, I and one my friend decided to walk around the island. Inikot namin ang buong isla and I think it took us about an hour para maikot ang island. The best part of the beach is the one that faces the mainland, kasi yung sa side na nakaharap sa Pacific ay medjo mabato na at maalon pero may mga beach pa naman at same pa din ang kulay ng sand which is beige to golden brown. I tried to check the sanctuary pero masyadong maalon kaya medjo malabo din ang tubig at di ko makita ang ilalim and you will actually need to swim for a 100 meters from the shore para makita ang coral reefs. So after namin magikot at lumangoy ng konti, we then left the island and travelled to Vinzons, and this time we took a different route which is longer because we have to travel via the river in Vinzons. Pagdating namin ng Vinzons, sumakay na kami ng jeep to Daet and then from Daet we then boarded a van bound for Naga City. Ayan lang naman ang kwento ko tungkol sa Quinamanokan, boring noh?hahaha! pinagtyagaan mo naman..hahaha!

Hi and Hello!

Hello there!!! Hi, fellas!! It’s been awhile since the last time that I wrote something in this blog. I think it’s been almost 1 year and 3 months. I’ve been doing a lot these past few months and actually I’ve been busy with my business. It’s not a big business. Maliit lang naman sya na negosyo. I’m into gardening. Patanimtanim ng mga kung ano ano at tapos ibebenta sa mga taong mahiling din sa halaman.hehe! I usually spend my days planting, gardening and taking care of my plants and also doing some freelance jobs online kaya nga ayun medyo masyado akong nawiwili sa maraming bagay kaya I already forgot to write something for my blog. Sooooorrry!! Hehe!

Anyway, marami akong gustong isulat ngayon dito sa blog ko, especially yung mga previous travels ko sa Luzon and Visayas area. In the next few days or weeks, I’ll be writing about my adventure to Romblon, Carabao Island, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Ifugao, Batanes, Calayan, Mercedez, Minalabac, Negros Occidental at marami pang iba. Sobrang dami ng isusulat ko noh?!! Hahaha! But I’m not going to force you to read all those things. May option ka naman eh! Pwede mo naman iclose na lang ang blogsite or pwede mo naman pagtyagaan na basahin ang mga kung ano anong pinagsususulat ko dito sa blog.hahaha!

I have a lot of free time this week because of Typhoon Glenda. Dahil 2 to 3 hours lang ako nakakapaginternet ng dahil sa brownout, madami akong idle time plus madami din oras sa paggagarden. Sa mga resto at café lang kasi ako nakakapaginternet kasi may free wifi and electricity.hahaha!

By the way, I would like to apologize nga pala to people who sent an email or posted comments dito sa blog ko. I wasn’t been able to reply to your questions or suggestions or inquiry or comments. Sobrang dami nga ng email at notification at mukhang late na rin lang ang mga reply ko sa mga tanong nyo.. Sorry talaga…soooooorrrryyyy!!!!!!

I hope you’ll continue reading my blog post even though most of the time mga walang kabuhay buhay at kakwenta kwenta ang mga isinusulat ko.hahaha! Uy, sya nga pala, I’m happy that a lot of people found my blog to be helpful lalo na sa mga information na kailangan nila sa pagtravel sa Pilipinas. Sobrang masaya ako, pramis!

So hanggang dito na lang ako. Uuwi na naman ako sa bahay na walang kuryente. Two weeks ng walang kuryente dito sa Bicol..pfffft! boring! Sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyong Glenda, tayo na’t magmove on agad!!! Yung tipong kakabreak lang sa BF/GF pero kailangan na magmove on agad! Hahaha! That’s it pusit!!!!!!