| Location | Libmanan, Camarines Sur or Magallanes, Sorsogon, Philippines |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 12°50′N 123°51′E / 12.833°N 123.850°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Part of a series on the |
| Pre-colonial history of the Philippines |
|---|
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| See also: History of the Philippines |
Ibalon, or Ibalong, is the ancient name of the Bicol Region in the Philippines. The center of settlement is believed to be either beside the Bicol River at present-day Libmanan, Camarines Sur[1] (as based on the Ibalong Epic) or in Magallanes, Sorsogon, Philippines, renowned as one of the first Spanish settlements in the island of Luzon. At some point, the name Ibalong was also used by the Spanish to refer to the entire Bicol Peninsula and, to some extent the entire island of Luzon.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
At present, the Epic of Ibalong, at the present times, is being celebrated by Legazpi City in Albay. The Ibalong Festival celebrates the epic story of the Kingdom of Ibalong with three legendary heroes, namely Baltog, Handyong, Bantong and other ancient heroes. People parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes to imitate the appearance of the heroes and the villains, portraying the classic battles that made their way into the history of Bicol. The Ibalong Festival aims to express warmth and goodwill to all people; visitors and tourists are encouraged to celebrate with the Bicolanos.
- ^ Salazar, Zeus A. (September 2004). Liktao at Epiko: Ang Takip ng Tapayang Libingan ng Libmanan, Camarines Sur. Philippines: Palimbagan ng Lahi. ISBN 9719205067.
- ^ Abella, D. (1954). Bikol Annals: A Collection of Vignettes of Philippine History. Manila.
- ^ Dery, L. C. (1991). From Ibalon to Sorsogon : A Historical Survey of Sorsogon Province to 1905. Quezon City: New Day Publishers.
- ^ Espinas, M. (1996). The Ibalong : The Bikol Folk Epic-fragment. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House.
- ^ Mallari, F. (1990). Ibalon Under Storm and Siege : Essays on Bicol History: 1565-1860. Cagayan de Oro City.
- ^ Owen, N. (1999). The Bikol blend : Bikolanos and Their History. Quezon City: New Day Publishers.
- ^ Prado, M. G. (1981). Ibalon : Ethnohistory of the Bikol Region. Legazpi City: AMS Press.
- ^ Reyes, J. C. (January–February 1979). The Ibalen Epic - A Window to Bicols Pre-history. Boletin Eclesiastico de Filipinas v. 53 nos. 590-591, pp. 61-92.