The Pabirik Festival is celebrated every last week of January up to the day of the town fiesta on the second day of February. The highlight of the event is the Pabirik Street Dancing Competition. All schools in Paracale competed showing different representations of how Nuestra Señora De Candelaria defended the town against the Moro invaders.

If you are wondering what is "PABIRIK"? Pabirik is an essential tool used by miners in Paracale. Usually, it is made of strong circular wood. Just look at the photos below. The participants in Street Dancing Competition hold a Pabirik. It is said that the reason why Spaniards colonized Paracale is because of the gold underneath the town.

  

This is the first time in Pabirik Festival to be accompanied by local Cosplayers.

There are stories about the miracles made by Our Lady of Candelaria. On August 29, 1809. 37 Moro tried to invade the town but has no match for the lightning quickness of the Lady Patron. The remaining enemies are swallowed by one huge gulp of seawater.

Mining is like gambling you didn't know if there is gold. Usually, you didn't get anything. Many lives are lost because of mining. Miners sometimes get trapped below the ground or drowned.

Since we started to go to school, learning about the life of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was part of the curriculum. And even until we reach college Jose Rizal life work's still needed to be studied. Reason? Because his life and works inspire Filipinos especially young people whom he said will be the future of our nation.

We all know that Dr. Jose Rizal traveled to places like Europe and some parts of Asia but he has never been to Daet, Camarines Norte. The reason why I am saying this is because the first and oldest monument of Jose Rizal was constructed in Daet, Camarines Norte. The Bikolanos build the monument to honor the late Dr. Jose Rizal. They started to build the monument on December 30, 1898, two years after his execution. The monument was completed after 2 months and the old mortars and boulders from the old Spanish jail were used to be the foundation of the monument.

I've been living in Paracale, Camarines Norte for the past 32 years of my life. I just recently learned that the Oldest Jose Rizal Monument was built in Daet, Camarines Norte a one-hour drive from our place. The monument is located in Freedom Park where a lot of students hang out. I used to pass that area when I visit my mom in her former office and I thought it was just a stone beside the road.

Hope you like my post and thank you for visiting! Come back for more articles to read.

Calaguas - is a group of islands composed of Tinaga Island (Major), Guintina Island (Major), Maculabo Island (Minor) and other minor island.

The Mahabang Buhangin is located at Tinaga Island where tourist are amaze by the beauty of the powdery white sand and the clear waters surrounding it.

After a long year of being away from the Philippines, my friends and I decided to reunite and have a relaxing day at Calaguas. Each of us contributed for the food and the boat that we will be using. The cost of renting a boat is 7k and its capacity is 20 to 25 people. We were just 6 in our barkada but luckily my friend Francis Kevin invited some of his friends from Manila and that lessened our contribution for the transportation

Once you're near the island you'll see the bluish clear water, you'll be entice to dive in the water! Just Be careful because the water is too deep so wait for the boat to be near shore.

Spend your summer vacation in Calaguas.

On the right side of the island, there is this rocky part. This is the the spot where you can get signal. Bring plenty of patience if you plan to txt someone.

This is us having fun with the camera while our friend covered in sand.

I suggest that you bring sun glass and your own tent. You need the sun glass to protect the eyes during noon because the sun rays reflect to the sands causing you eye to get burned by the light. There is no commercial establishment that offers any accommodation that's why you need to bring tents.

You can see to the photos how clear the water is.

 We are just having fun! We take plenty of jump shots this is the one I like.

We are going home! A group picture of my newly found friends. I don't who they are but they become a friend of mine in one day and a half.

These are the remnants of the Franciscan church built in 18^th century. It was destroyed by the devastating eruption of the Mayon Volcano in 1814. In that incident the eruption killed an estimated of 1200 refugees taking shelter in the Church.

 

Everytime we heard the word Mayon Volcano the picture that comes in to our mind is the Cagsawa Ruins. I've been there a lot of times but this is my first time to take photos of Cagsawa Ruins. Unluckily, the beauty of the Mayon Volcano was not visible because of the thick fog surrounding it. Looking inside the the ruin gave me Goosebumps, I don’t know but I felt something was watching me. Tourist can also visit several souvenir shops offering colorful native products such as handbags, shirts and lanterns(Christmas is near). There is also “PASALUBONG” shops available where you can buy Pili nuts, kinunot and others. Going here with your family is a nice way to have a family bonding.

The ruins of the Cagsawa church are now the site of the Cagsawa Ruins Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Albay.