Travel | Celebrating 99 Years with Bantayog 2019

Festivals are the culmination of a bountiful harvest thus the celebrations.  The Bantayog Festival is Camarines Norte's month long fiesta, espousing the beautiful province of its resources and its people.  Now its their 14th year of celebrations and it has been growing bigger and bigger each time.  It also marks the 99th founding year of the province thus they want to splurge it this time for a grander one next year, their centennial.

The word Bantayog is translated as monument in English, it serves as a monument to the country's national hero, Jose Rizal.  It is here in Daet that a monument was erected in his honor two years after he was executed in Bagumbayan Luneta in Manila.  Although not being a Bicolano himself, his supporters, the revolutionaries erected the Bantayog as a tribute to his heroism.

The Bantayog Festival is for one month and to commemorate this, the 12 towns of the province will have their own activities.  The towns participating are Basud, Capalonga, Daet, Jose Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Sta. Elena, Talisay and Vinzons.

For tourists like me, aside from their usual tourist attractions, the pristine beaches and its islands, the festivities will add excitement to your trip to Camarines Norte.  From street parades showing cultural history to the presentation of arts and sports, they have it here. 

How to reach Daet, Camarines Norte

By Plane

Take a plane to Naga Airport then take a jeepney going to Naga City, ride a tricycle going to LCC Mall where passenger Vans to Daet are available.  Plane ride takes 45 minutes from Manila and from Naga City to Daet, two hours.

By Bus

From Cubao or Pasay, there are bus companies that will take you to Daet directly.  Fare costs Php500 average and there are first class ones that have their own restroom.  Travel time is 8 hours.