Naga City, Camarines Sur. The Heart of Bicol.

The Heart of Bicol, this is what Naga City is. It is a vibrant city located in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region. I lived in this city for several years and Naga City was my home during my college years. I enjoy staying at this city and this is sort of my second home. This is where most of my friends live and this where I always go when I feel a little bit bored. You know, in Naga City there’s a lot of things to do. You’ll never run out of things to do while you’re in the city. I love this city because it’s a lively city. Most of the things that I want and need are available in this city. There are a lot of shops, malls, restaurants and other business establishments in the city.

Malabsay Falls, Brgy. Panicuason

Malabsay Falls, Brgy. Panicuason

Naga City is one of the oldest cities in the Philippines. In fact, it is one of the earliest Spanish settlements in the Philippines just like Cebu and Manila. Naga City is the third Spanish royal city in the Philippine islands, after Cebu and Manila. There are 3 Naga in the Philippines. One is in Cebu Province and the other one is in Zamboanga Sibugay province. Naga City in Camarines Sur province is considered as the Heart of the Bicolandia since it is strategically located in the center of the Bicol Region. Naga City is also the economic center of the Bicol Region. There are a lot of businesses and economic activities in Naga.

Naga City Public Market

Naga City PNR Station

Naga City is also the educational center of Bicol due to fact that there are a lot of universities and colleges located in Naga. Some of these schools are Ateneo De Naga University, University of Nueva Caceres and Universidad de Sta. Isabel. As a trivia, Universidad de Sta. Isabel is the first normal school for girls in the Philippines. This school was established in 1867.

The city has a lot of tourist destination and one them is the majestic Mt. Isarog, which is also shared amongst several other municipalities in Camarines Sur. One of the destinations in the city is the Malabsay Falls located in Barangay Panicuason, Naga City. A waterfall tucked in the lush forest of Mt. Isarog. An hour hike from Malabsay Falls is another waterfalls called Nabontolan Falls. There’s also a beautiful resort near Malabsay Falls, the Stonehouse Resort. If you don’t want the cold waters of the waterfalls, then you have that option to go to the nearby hotspring called Panicuason Hot Spring Resort. The last time that I got there, the entrance fee was 200 pesos per person and that was a year ago. Barangay Panicuason can be reached from the city proper by riding a jeepney bound for Panicuason. The travel time is about 30 minutes. And then in order to reach Malabsay falls, you’ll need to hike for at least 30 minutes.

Panicuason Hot Spring

There are also several resorts in Naga City. And if you go to the mountain barangays of Naga City, you’ll have several resorts to choose from. A new adventure park in Naga City is now operational. It is the Haciendas de Naga Adventure Park located in Barangay Carolina, Naga City. It is just a 20 minutes jeepney ride from downtown Naga City. The adventure has its pili tree plantation, a zipline, and a 9-hole golf course.

Peñafrancia Shrine

In downtown Naga City, you’ll have plenty of sites to visit and most of them are historical sites. Visit the Naga City Metropolitan Cathedral, the Basilica Minore, the San Francisco Church and the Penafrancia Shrine. Every third week of September, Naga City celebrates the Feast of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, popularly known as the Peñafrancia Festival in honor of Our Lady of Lady of Peñafrancia. This is one of largest religious festival in the Philippines. Hundreds of thousands of devotees and tourists flocks to the city from different parts of the world to witness and experience the fiesta. Most of the devotees flock to Naga City to visit Our Lady of Lady of Peñafrancia.

  

Plaza de Nueva Caceres

Basilica Minore

Basilica Minore

There are also a lot of restaurants and malls in the city. You can hop from one restaurant to another to satisfy your food cravings. The Magsaysay Avenue is one of the places where you can indulge on a food trip. There are a lot of restaurant to choose from. There are bicol cuisine, Filipino and international cuisine.  There are also lot of hotels in this city, and the hotel boom started when Camarines Sur, the CWC and Caramoan started gaining popularity in the tourism sector. And since Naga City is the nearest city from the airport, most tourists will drop by and stay at Naga City upon arrival at CamSur or before going out of Camarines Sur.

Surely, this city won’t disappoint you. And I can say that this city is also the busiest city in the Bicol Region. This is my second home and I love Naga City. So guys, if you’re planning for your next vacation, how about considering Naga City as your next destination.  You’ll surely love Naga City. As what Nagueños always say, “Dagos po kamo sa Maogmang Lugar.” Oh, by the way, dagos means welcome and maogma means happy.hehehehe!

Naga Metropolitan Cathedral

Plaza Quince Martires

Porta Mariae, Naga Metropolitan Cathedral

How to get to Naga City:

By Plane:

Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines have several daily flights to Naga Airport. From Naga Airport, located in the town of Pili, you can ride a bus, jeepney or a taxi bound for Naga City. The airport is about 15 to 30 minutes ride to Naga City. If you’ll be commuting to Naga City from the airport, then ride a pedicab going to the national highway, that’s about 5 to 10 minutes ride, the fare is 10 pesos. From the highway, there are a lot of jeepneys and buses bound for Naga City and you can choose what mode of transportation you want. For buses, the travel time is 20 to 30 minutes and the fare is 10 pesos.

By Bus:

From Manila, there are several buses bound to Bicol region. Ride a bus going to Naga City. There are a number of bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, that have buses bound for Naga City. There are also bus terminals in Pasay City, near Pasay Rotonda. The usual travel time from Metro Manila to Naga City is 8 to 10 hours. The fare ranges from 500 to 1200 pesos for air-conditioned buses and 350 to 500 pesos for non-airconditioned buses.

By Train:

The PNR has a daily train schedule for the Manila-Naga City route. The train departs at Tutuban Station in Manila every 6pm and 8:30pm and arrives at Naga City at around 4am the next day. The usual travel time is 10 to 12 hours. In Naga City, the train departs for Manila at around 6pm and 8:30pm also. 

Malabsay Falls, Naga City. A falls in the city.

Naga City is the center of commerce in Camarines Sur. This is also known as the heart of Bicol. Naga city is an urban center sprawling with different businesses and different people from the nearby towns and cities. But despite its being urbanized, there is still a place in the city where you can enjoy the beauty of nature. Naga City is at the foot of Mt. Isarog and there are several waterfalls located at the Naga City side of Mt. Isarog National Park. If you’re looking for a place to relax and just feel the cold breeze, green scenery and cool mountain waters, then you’ll need not to look far, because there’s a waterfalls just one ride from the city center.

Malabsay Falls

Malabsay Falls is located in the upper barangay of Naga City. It is located in Barangay Panicuason. This barangay is at the foot of Mt. Isarog National Park. It is about 30 minute jeepney ride from the city center. Barangay Panicuason has several waterfalls but the more famous is Malabsay Falls. There’s also Yabu falls, and Nabuntulan falls. There is also a hotspring near Malabsay Falls. So if you’re tired of swimming from the cold water of Malabsay Falls, then you can go to the hotspring and enjoy its warm water.

Malabsay falls resident

So how do you go to Malabsay Falls? If you don’t have a car then you can ride a jeepney bound for Barangay Panicuason. The jeepney terminal is located near the Naga public market. It is near Metrobank and BPI at Padian Street. The jeepney ride from the city center to Barangay Panicuason is 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Tell the driver that you’re heading to Malabsay Falls and they will drop you off at the Girl Scout camp. If there are only few passengers going to Malabsay Falls, then they will just drop you off at the Mt. Isarog Welcome signage which is a 30 minute walk to the Girl Scout camp. From the Girl Scout Camp you’ll need to hike for about an hour to reach the gate of Mt. Isarog National Park. Of course this will also depend on your phase. Kung mabagal kayo at madalas kayo magpahinga kagaya ko, then more than an hour ang paglalakad nyo.hehehe! There are no guides going to Malabsay Falls, but at the Girl Scout camp there are kids who are more than willing to serve as your guide. They don’t have a rate for their service, so it’s up to you how much you will pay for those kids’ service.

the pool at Malabsay Falls

Anyway, upon reaching the gate of Mt. Isarog National Park, you will need to register and pay an entrance fee of 10 pesos. Sometimes, the gatekeeper is staying at a house near the GSP camp so you’ll be ask to pay even before reaching the gate. You might sometimes think that they are extorting you kasi tatawagin ka lang nila at sasabihin na magbayad ka ng 10 pesos. But don’t worry, they are legal, and to make sure that they are also the legal collector ask for a receipt, usually they will give you this small stamp-like paper with the face amount of 10 pesos with the naga city seal. You can also ask for their ID’s since they always wear there IDs.

Malabsay Falls

So after paying the fee at the gate, you turn right to go to Malabsay Falls. If you go left, that’s the trail to the summit and to Nabuntulan Falls. There are concrete staircase leading to Malabsay Falls but most of it are already damaged. The walk from the gate to Malabsay falls is about 15 to 20 minutes. Again, it depends on your phase. Siempre kasama na jan ang pagpapapicture at sightseeing so malamang aabutin kayo ng more than 30 minute sa paglalakad.heheh! The waters at Malabsay Falls is ice-cold. It’s very cold that if you’re not used to swimming in a cold water, you’ll be experiencing muscle cramps. Please be also aware that the pool in Malabsay Falls are deep so if you’re not a good swimmer, better stay at the shallow part of the pool or better cling like a monkey to that mossy rock.hahaha! There are no facilities at Malabsay Falls, no cottages and no store to buy foods so better bring your own food before going to the falls.

Santan flower

After swimming at the falls, if you still have time, how about go to the hotspring nearby. The hotspring is about 2 hours of walk from Malabsay Falls. This is located near the Mt. Isarog welcome signage. Jeepneys pass at the entrance gate when you’re going to the GSP camp and Malabsay Falls. Oh, by the way, on your way to Malabsay Falls, you’ll also pass a resort near the GSP camp. It’s called the Stonehouse Resort. You will mistakenly identify that as a resthouse but it is a resort, however, you’ll need to call and make a reservation at the resort before going there.  The last trip of jeepney going to downtown Naga City is 4pm so better leave Malabsay Falls before 3 pm so that you’ll be able to make it to the last trip of the jeepney. So this summer season, may you enjoy the beauty and coolness of Naga City’s Malabsay Falls.

If you’re coming from Manila:

There are daily flights from Manila to Naga. The plane lands at Naga Airport which is located at the Municipality of Pili. The airport is about 30 minutes bus ride to Naga City. There are also regular bus trip from Manila to Naga City. The travel time for bus is 8 to 10 hours. The PNR train also serve the Manila-Naga City route. The travel time is 12 hours. Upon arrival at Naga City, just tell the driver that you’re going to the Panicuason jeepney terminal. The minimum tricycle fare is 8 pesos.  If you’re coming from Naga City Bus terminal or SM Naga, the fare is also 8 pesos.