Kaogma in Camarines Sur

CEBU, Philippines - Kaogma in Bicolano means “happiness” or “having a good time.” Starting last May 22, Camarines Sur celebrates the Kaogma Festival with 17 events. 

The Kaogma marks the foundation day of Camarines Sur as it celebrates its 431st Foundation Anniversary this year. Camarines was founded on May 27, 1569. Camarines is a Spanish word meaning “warehouse.”

“We shall have a celebration as magnificent, if not more dazzling and spectacular that all past Kaogma Festivals,” said reelectionist Governor Luis Ray Villafuerte.

The nine-day festivities this year include the Tour of CamSur mountain bike race, Burontulan, the 5th National Wakeboarding Championships, CamSur Triathlon, 4 x 4 Isarog Challenge, Motocross, and the Downhill Bike Competition.

There will also be a marathon night of music on May 29 where bands like Rivermaya, Itchyworms, DeLara, Pure Vibracion, Philia, Markus Highway and Bloom Brothers will be performing.

When in Naga City, the most preferred place is Avenue Plaza Hotel. One might say that the construction of this hotel is the work of a visionary. Opened in September 2007, the owners of Avenue Plaza Hotel already envisioned Naga City to be a convention center. Its construction came at a time when Naga City and Camarines Sur were just about spreading its wings into becoming a destination.

The 6,000 square meter facility is complete with the amenities of a five-star hotel including a gym and sauna, boardroom, swimming pool, 24-hour coffee shop, ballroom, business center and commercial center. It has 65 rooms. It has wi-fi facilities and a grand piano. I usually go to Avenue to while my time with my laptop. And also I get the chance to play on their grand piano. The Avenue is a favorite place among the genteel crowd in Naga City.

Cebuanos who are used to the facilities of Waterfront, Marriott, Marco Polo or Shangri-la for conventions or business meetings, will find in Avenue something similar. Hotels in Naga City though are not as expensive as those in Cebu or Manila.

Allan Cu is president of Avenue Plaza Hotel

Avenue Plaza Hotel is located along Magsaysay Avenue which is a quite business district in Naga City. To know more about the hotel, you can visit its website: www.theavenueplazahotel.com.

From Cebu, you can get to Camarines Sur by air that is Cebu-Manila-Naga City through Air Philippines. Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific.