Dateline Ibalon

30/05/2026

From the hearty warmth of a freshly served sinigang to the comforting hum of neighborhood chikaan, carinderias are the true heartbeat of Filipino food culture.

​More than just an affordable spot for lunch, these humble roadside eateries preserve our rich culinary heritage and bring communities together, one turo-turo at a time. Dive into this beautiful tribute to the unsung heroes of our daily dining.

​Read more:

Carinderias—those unassuming roadside eateries with steaming kalderos, tin pitchers, bottles of sawsawan (Filipino dipping sauces) and the unmistakable aroma of home—are among the most democratic s…

29/05/2026

"Many places in the Bikol Region lost their historical meanings as soon as they were Christianized... Our stories were orally transmitted and were lost when the storyteller died."

​Preserving our history means keeping these stories alive. This Heritage Month of May, we are proud to share the "Albay Heritage Series" by the multi-awarded Bikolano writer and historian, Abdon M. Balde, Jr.

​In this opening installment, Balde explores:
- Part 1: Where the Bikol Region Got its Name (The story of the meandering river)
- Part 2: How Our Ancestors Lived (Life along the riverbanks and the evolution of our dialects)
- Part 3: The Rituals of Ancient Bikolanos (From the Atang harvest offerings to the Halia full moon ritual)
- Part 4: The Culture of Our Ancestors (Our gold, garments, literature, and music)

​Take a step back into our deep historical roots. Read the complete article here...

In celebration of the Heritage Month of May, the author compiled this 40-part Albay Heritage Series which he uploaded daily on his page. With his kind permission, we are posting this serie…

28/05/2026

Celine Murillo from Sosogon has emerged as one of the Philippines' most compelling voices on social media for biodiversity and the environment. She blends storytelling and science to awaken renewed interest in the country's flora and fauna. She recently showcased the flowers of native Philippine trees in the context of Flores de Mayo. The featured imontage shows selected flowers of trees endemic in the Bicol Region: bagawak-morado, banaba, katmon, mapilig, narra, and tayabak (jade vine). (photos by Celine Murillo)

Learn more about Celine's continuing work and advocacy... https://dateline-ibalon.com/2025/12/celine-murillo-a-remarkable-green-fluencer/

27/05/2026

Columnist and journalist Conrado de Quiros (b. May 27, 1951 - d. Nov. 6, 2023) wrote “He was always hurrying home,” a personal and poignant tribute to Jesse M. Robredo. It was first published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 22, 2012, a few days after Jesse’s tragic plane crash. We thank Tita de Quiros, Conrad’s dear spouse, for permitting us to re-publish this article in remembrance of Jesse M. Robredo (b. May 27, 1958 – d. August 18, 2012). The featured header photo is courtesy of Kaya Natin.

Both born on the same day, Conrad wrote about how he first met Jesse. Read more...

The late Conrado de Quiros wrote “He was always hurrying home,” a personal and poignant tribute to Jesse M. Robredo. It was first published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 22, …

27/05/2026

"We want Filipinos to eat more Philippine-made chocolates because what we make is truly delicious—and truly ours." — Lala Ouradnik

​In Camarines Sur, Crave Cacao Orchard is doing more than just manufacturing chocolate—it’s lifting up an entire agricultural community. What started as a personal passion for Lala Ouradnik has grown into a thriving enterprise and an ATI-certified Learning Site for Agriculture, helping over 100 registered smallholder farmers master post-harvest quality and gain direct market access.

​Combined with Bicol's rich volcanic soil and native pili trees, this tree-to-bar movement is setting a new gold standard for ethical, sustainable, and traceable Philippine chocolate.

​Dive into this Dateline Ibalon feature to see how Bicolano farmers are taking their rightful place on the world stage...

Bicol is entering a moment of agricultural transformation. Long known for its pili orchards, fiery cuisine, and volcanic landscapes, the region is emerging as one of the Philippines’ most promising…

26/05/2026

View of the majestic Three Crosses on top of the 117-step legendary Bulalacao Hill in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. From a distance, one can glimpse at the on-going construction of the structures of the most unique replica of the Most Holy Rosary, the largest in the world, gradually shaping up through the generous contributions of donors around the globe.

The Marian World Mission aims to open the Sanctuary to international pilgrims by its target date May 13, 2027, the 110th anniversary of her apparitions at Fatima, Portugal.

During this month of May, visit the Marian World Mission Sanctuary located in Libmanan, Camarines Sur... https://dateline-ibalon.com/2023/09/marian-world-mission-sanctuary-armando-remo-jr/

23/05/2026

On May 17, 2024, Dateline Ibalon's Jojo De Jesus (thanks to his son Bumper) was invited by the Asian Staffers at Princeton University in New Jersey to its Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month online event. May is Asian/Pacific American, a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

He spoke about how the Filipino identity evolved out of our historical and cultural connections with our Asian neighbors and with Spain and Mexico during the Galleon Trade.

During the open forum, there was a lively discussion on the audience's favorite Filipino food and where to find Filipino restaurants and stores in the New Jersey neighborhoods.

(Image credit: Working at Princeton)

Re-posting the 18-minute presentation... https://dateline-ibalon.com/2024/05/exploring-the-philippines-virtually-a-presentation-to-the-asian-staffers-at-princeton-university-jojo-de-jesus/

21/05/2026

The Peñafrancia de Mayo (Peñafrancia May Festival) is a vibrant Marian celebration in Naga City. It bridges the Catholic Church's traditional Month of Mary and the historical origins of the devotion, commemorating the discovery of the original image in Spain by Simón Vela on May 19, 1434.

The origin of the devotion traces back to the 15th century in Paris, France. A nobleman named Simón Vela gave up his riches and spent five years searching for a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary after hearing a divine voice. On May 19, 1434, he finally uncovered the hidden statue buried under rocks in the Peña de Francia mountains of Salamanca, Spain.

Read more...

May, the Month of Mary For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of May to honor Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, and Mother of the Church – not just a day but the entire month…

21/05/2026

We must continue to fight for heritage and the rich history of Naga City.

Re-posting this urgent call for support... https://dateline-ibalon.com/2026/02/the-movement-to-protect-naga-citys-remaining-cultural-properties-judge-soliman-m-santos-jr-retd/

20/05/2026

A historic musical homecoming in Albay!

​The Manila Symphony Orchestra brought world-class artistry to Legazpi City on May 16 through its "Symphonic Explorations 2026" initiative. From hands-on workshops with local students at Mariners' Polytechnic to an unforgettable "Symphony by the Sea" at Sawangan Park, the music truly united the community. The highlight of the evening was the performance of Lolo Poten's iconic "Sarung Banggi" to commemorate his May 19 birth anniversary.

​The journey concluded with a deeply moving, sacred offering at the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Salvation in Joroan, Tiwi, on May 17, featuring a historic premiere of the devotional hymn "Gozos ki Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Medley."

​Read more about this incredible celebration of music, and community spirit...

The Manila Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Explorations 2026 unfolded in Albay as a landmark celebration of music and community spirit, bringing world‑class symphonic artistry to Legazpi City and th…