Naga City: The place to see and be seen
MANILA, Philippines - Nestled at the heart of Bicol, a region usually battered by typhoons and peppered with active volcanoes, Naga City thrives in many ways than one.
Being almost at the center of the Bicol Peninsula, Naga City deserves to be called “the Heart of Bicolandia” not just because of its location, but also because it is the busiest place in the region when it comes to commerce and trade.
It has become a major distribution hub of various goods supplied to all points of the region. A multi-awarded city in terms of governance, it also boasts a culture rich in history and a wide variety of activities, day or night.
There are many ways to get to the city. A 45-minute plane ride or an eight-hour road trip and, now that the PNR Bicol Express is operational, a 10-hour train ride, all coming from Manila. Surely, there are many options for the not-so adventurous and thrill-seekers alike. But this is just the beginning of what is in store when one sets foot on Naga City.
• Though Naga is 377 kilometers south of Manila, it has a vigorous nightlife that is at par with Metro Manila. Naga’s night crowd starts as early as 7 p.m. and goes home in the wee hours in the morning at around 3 or 4. Band performances are making a buzz in the city’s old Central Business District, where there is a mix of groovy tunes from jazz to rock ‘n roll. And while the bands bring in the beat, a night of sizzling barbeques is smoking along Barlin Street. After getting stuffed and the night just getting started, clubbing at the nearest bar is not a problem, and this can go on until the night drops its curtain for the morning. But if one wants a special night with someone really close, the Heart of Bicolandia can also offer a long row of quiet and cozy fine-dining restaurants.
• Not everyone is well in touch with the nocturnal side of things, but days could still be fun and revealing with the city’s rich history that is still preserved today. The feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is the most popular of all the cultural happenings in the city. Devotees flock not only from the different parts of the Bicol region, but many faithful from other regions join the celebration as well. But that doesn’t stop there. The first university in southern Luzon, University of Nueva Caceres, houses the Bicol Museum with its amazing collection of historical and cultural materials and other artifacts.
• But if one finds a cultural trip during the day still boring and a heightened degree of blood rush is needed or one just wants to get out of the city life and enjoy nature, there are spots near the center of the city where the adventurous and the curious can stroll around. A trip to Caramoan, proud of its white sand beaches and bluish-green water, is ideal for diving and snorkeling. And while combing the beaches, the experience reveals the majestic Bicolandia skyline. Mt. Isarog and Mt. Asog of Camarines Sur stand side by side with the fairest Mt. Mayon like queens of the land. But if one wants to conquer a peak, Mt. Isarog can give the delight of trekking and camping out, with only two days needed to reach the summit and see almost the whole of the region. Another different experience waits at the foot of Mt. Iriga, where Lake Buhi is located, and is known to be the home for the world’s smallest edible fish, locally known as “sinarapan.”
With all these thrilling possibilities in Naga, there is one more thing cooking up in the area. Next month, Naga City smiles to the delegates of the 22nd Philippine Advertising Congress that will happen at the CamSur Watersports Complex on Nov. 16-19, as it launches “Naga Smiles to 22nd Philippine Ad Congress.”
Comprising several exciting activities that mix sports and adventure, entertainment, gastronomic delights and a touch of corporate social responsibility, “Naga Smiles” also aims to highlight not just the city’s numerous business, cultural and lifestyle attractions but also the warmth of Nagueños, its most substantial and important asset.
But a better reason would be how people from Bicol share their hospitality, sweet like the coconut milk and spicily warm like the chilies that are very common in the dishes they serve.
The Heart of Bicolandia sure needs to be seen. It is a place where everyone can meet. It is also a good hub for investment in the region. It is a place that is very livable, where everyone can share a different experience every time they study the place. With this said, Naga City is more than ready for the rush and gush of delegates this November.
For more details about Naga City and “Naga Smiles to 22nd Philippine Ad Congress,” go to www.naga.gov.ph, www.nagasmiles.com and www.nextstepevents.com.
