Calabanga is a town of 89,000 people (2020) north of Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Understand

Calabanga is a prosperous municipality in Camarines Sur province. It is a major supplier of fish and other marine products, as well as agricultural products, in the province and in Manila. Mount isarog and Bicol River are popular tourist spots.

History

The town's origins are shrouded in legends and folk tales, but some facts seem to have survived: In 1578 when the Qipayo Roman Catholic mission was established, forming a parish, Calabanga was no more than a neighborhood. At that time, the place had vast forests and swamps and an abundance of wildlife such as monkeys, wild chickens and forest lizards. Since then it grew, and became a town in 1749, when it was separated from Quipayo, which no longer exists except as a historical site. Calabanga keeps developing and is slated to attain city status.

Get in

By plane

There are no flights to Calabanga. However there is an airport 40 minutes away. It is the Naga Airport in Barangay San Jose, Pili.

By land

An 8-hour trip from Manila to Naga City.

By sea

There are daily trips from Cabusao, Tinambac, Siruma, and Sipocot via boat, and Seasonal trips from Mercedes, Daet in Camarines Norte and Camaligan, Canaman and Libmanan.

See

Quipayo Church

• Harubay Falls
• Cates Resort
• Calabanga Nuesta Señora Church
• Quipayo Church
• Calabanga Town Plaza
• San Bernardino

Cabgan Island

• The group of small islets/islands of Kawit, Tanglad, and Cabgan, a few minutes from the shore, are frequently visited by excursionists particularly during summer
• Other places that invite picnickers to its cool and clear water are Tigman, Hinaguianan and Inarihan rivers and private commercial resorts.
• Historical sites worthy to see is the Ladrillo or a brick old church and ruins of Quipayo built sometime in 1578, more than four centuries ago, being the seat of the Catholic mission.
• The Hinulid, Santo Entiero shrine at Santa Salud, is an object of Friday devotion and pilgrimage. Thousands of devotees from Calabanga and other parts of Bicol Region and the country flock to the shrine during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Do

• Explore the new fish pond near Bagacay in Tinambac
• Hike in the Barangay of Harubay
• Fishing

Buy

There are a couple of shopping areas in the town:

• LCC Mall Calabanga
• Angena Trading
• CitiTrends
• Bichara Mall
• Calabanga Town Center (near the market area)

Eat

Top rated:

• Nikko's Kinalas, Santa Cruz Ratay
• Mamay's, Poblacion
• Pizza hut, LCC Mall
• Nilabay: by chef Mosj, Pagatpat
• Mister Donut (2 branches Poblacion)

Drink

There are several bars in the town, including the Barangay of Sabang.

Sleep

• San Bernardino Hotel
• Cates Resort
• Nesting Place
• Sophie's place (Canaman)

Stay healthy

• Calabanga Municipal Hospital
• NM dizon, Sabang
• RHUs
• Bombon Hospital