The Vast Life: Naga City Tour

Pheng

Jan 31, 2014: Our trip doesn't end in Caramoan Islands. Our van from Sabang to Naga arrived past 12 nn. We went to SM Naga mall and drop our luggages with them before looking for lunch. We saw Kakanon Bikol Eat-All-You-Can buffet for only PhP 165 nett per person which is super-dooper cheap especially for hungry mouths. The buffet selection offers the typical Filipino and Bicolano food (spare ribs, bicol express, laing, lechon paksiw, etc). The food was OK, nothing spectacular, but also not bad. Most of the viands were already cold. The restaurant is opposite bus terminal and beside CBD Plaza Hotel.

After lunch we went to scout for food souvenirs a.k.a "pasalubong". There are souvenirs being sold at Naga Bus Terminal and also at SM Naga. Famous "pasalubong" would be products made out of Pili nuts. After shopping, we claimed our luggages and chartered tricycle to Palm Vivo Inn, which is PHP40 (normally is PHP8 only per passenger).

This is our room from Day1 and Day 3-5. We booked this room at agoda website. The location of this place is not bad but I would prefer to choose hotel near bus / van terminal if ever. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Room is clean with fresh towels, but beds and pillows are hard. There is no shower heater.

We rested for a bit because it was still hot to explore the city by foot. We started the walk tour around 4 PM.

Walking along Elias Angeles Street, we visited Porta Mariae ("Marian Gate"). The Porta Mariae is a triumphal arch in Naga City commemorating the tercentenary of the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Inside is Naga Metropolitan Cathedral and Holy Rosary Minor Seminary Museum.

Naga Metropolitan Cathedral is constructed in 1816 to 1831, the Cathedral was the seat of the Archiodecese of Caceres which encompassed the six Bicol provinces, it is the biggest church in the Region.
It is also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist and informally as Naga Cathedral) is a prominent Latin Rite Roman Catholic cathedral located in Naga City, Camarines Sur was erected of Padia-an when the Diocese of Nueva Caceres was created by a Papal Bull of August 14, 1595.

Holy Rosary Minor Seminary and Museum is the oldest seminary in the Bicol Region, it houses the old paraphernalia, and items used by the old Catholic Church, including the documents of Our Lady of Peñafrancia’s verified devotion, and coronation.

Going towards "Centro", you shall passed by E-Mall, which is short for "Everyday Mall". Nearby eateries are ChicBoy, Jollibee, Bigg's Diner (where we dined on Day 1). San Francisco Church and Plaza Quince Martires are just on-sight.

San Francisco Church was established in 1578, San Francisco Church is the first church in the region built by the Franciscan Friars. The surrender of the Spanish forces to the Bikol revolutionaries took place here.

Originally of bamboo and other light materials, the church was built in this present site on a north-south orientation. Its puerta mayor faced its parish, the pre-colonial pueblo of Naga which lay across the Naga River that at that time curved from its southerly course to a westerly direction before winding southward again alongside present-day Elias Angeles Street.

Plaza Quince Martires was built in honor of the fifteen Bicol martyrs who were executed by the Spanish authorities on January 4, 1887 at Bagumbayan (now Luneta). This monument-cum-park ideally located at downtown Naga was built in honor of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. This is known locally as the center for public debates and discussions as well as family picnic gatherings.

Then moving on to intersection of Elias Angeles and Gen. Luna St is Plaza Rizal.

Walking further Gen Luna Street, you will see Oragon and Naga People's Mall. This place is very busy and is called the "Centro".

And it started to rain so we weren't able to locate Ateneo de Naga. We bought toasted siopao for dinner which is PHP 8 for one mouth-size piece. You will definitely ask for more...