:Naga, Camarines Sur

{{Short description|Independent component city in Camarines Sur, Philippines}}

{{About|the independent city in Camarines Sur|the city in Cebu|Naga, Cebu|other uses|Naga (disambiguation)}}

{{Use Philippine English|date=August 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox settlement

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San Francisco Church, Quince Martires Plaza (Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga, Camarines Sur; 04-15-2023).jpg | caption1 = San Francisco Church and Quince Martires Plaza | alt1 = Quince Martires Plaza

| image2 =

Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine (Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga, Camarines Sur; 04-15-2023).jpg | caption2 = Peñafrancia Shrine | alt2 = Façade of Peñafrancia Shrine

| image3 = Original Image-N.S.Penafrancia-2013.jpg | caption3 = Our Lady of Peñafrancia | alt3 = The icon of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in 2013

| image4 = Naga Metropolitan Cathedral (Elias Angeles, Naga, Camarines Sur; 04-15-2023).jpg | caption4 = Naga Metropolitan Cathedral | alt4 = Naga Metropolitan Cathedral in 2023

| image5 = WTNaga EURO A1e.JPG | caption5 = Ateneo de Naga | alt5 = Ateneo de Naga Four Pillars building in 2012

| image6 = An City Hall kan Siyudad nin Naga, Camarines Sur.jpg | caption6 = Naga City Hall | alt6 = The newly-renovated city hall in 2023

| image7 = Refreshing cold water in Malabsay Falls, Panicuason, Camarines Sur, Philippines.jpg | caption7 = Malabsay Falls | alt7 = Malabsay Falls in 2018

| image8 =

Peñafrancia Fluvial Parade Naga City.jpg | caption8 = Peñafrancia Festival | alt8 = Peñafrancia Festival

| image9 =

Penafrancia Basilica Minore, Naga City.jpg | caption9 = Peñafrancia Basilica Minore | alt9 = Peñafrancia Basilica Minore

| image10 =

Holy Rosary Minor Seminary Naga (Elias Angeles, Naga, Camarines Sur; 04-15-2023).jpg | caption10 = Holy Rosary Minor Seminary | alt10 = Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in 2023

}}

| image_caption =

| image_flag = Flag_of_Naga,_Camarines_Sur.png

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| image_seal = Naga City CamSur Seal.svg

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| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the {{PH wikidata|country}}

| coordinates = {{PH wikidata|coordinates}}

| settlement_type = Independent component city

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Philippines

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = {{PH wikidata|region}}

| subdivision_type2 = Province

| subdivision_name2 = Camarines Sur {{small|(geographically only)}}

| nickname = {{ubl|Queen City of Bicol|The Heart of Bicol|An Maogmang Lugar (The Happy Place)|Pilgrim City of Naga|One of the Seven Golden Cities of the Sun}}

| motto = Naga Na, Uswag Pa! (Naga Now, Prosper More!)

| anthem = Heart of Bicol March

| subdivision_type3 = District

| subdivision_name3 = {{PH legislative district}}

| established_title = Founded (as Ciudad de Nueva Caceres)

| established_date = 1575

| established_title1 = Royal City-Charter

| established_date1 = 1595

| established_title2 = Renamed as Naga

| established_date2 = 1919

| established_title3 = Cityhood

| established_date3 = June 18, 1948

| founder = Capt. Pedro de Chavez

| parts_type = Barangays

| parts_style = para

| p1 = {{PH barangay count | {{wikidata|label|raw}} }} (see Barangays)

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Nelson S. Legacion{{cite web |title=Welcome to the City of Naga! |url=http://naga.gov.ph/naga-smiles-2/welcome-to-the-city-of-naga/ |website=Naga City |access-date=July 7, 2019}}

| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor

| leader_name1 = Cecilia V. de Asis

| leader_title2 = Representative

| leader_name2 = Gabriel H. Bordado, Jr.

| leader_title3 = City Council

| leader_name3 = {{PH Town Council

| 1 =

| 2 = Jessie R. Albeus

| 3 = Joselito S. del Rosario

| 4 = Ghiel G. Rosales

| 5 = Melvin Ramon G. Buenafe

| 6 = Gilda Gayle A. Gomez

| 7 = Vidal P. Castillo

| 8 = Jose C. Rañola

| 9 = Jose B. Perez

| 10 = Salvador M. del Castillo

| 11 = Antonio B. Beltran

}}

| leader_title4 = Electorate

| leader_name4 = {{PH wikidata|electorate}} voters (Philippine general election, {{PH wikidata)

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| area_total_km2 = {{PH wikidata|area}}

| area_metro_km2 = 1,342

| area_urban_km2 = 225.79

| population_footnotes = {{PH census|current}}

| population_total = {{PH wikidata|population_total}}

| population_as_of = {{PH wikidata|population_as_of}}

| population_urban = 342,769

| population_metro = 858,414

| population_density_metro_km2 = auto

| population_density_urban_km2 = auto

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| population_blank1_title = Households

| population_blank1 = {{PH wikidata|household}}

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| population_demonym = Nagueño (masculine)
Nagueña (feminine)
Nagueñians (English, unofficial)

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| timezone = PST

| utc_offset = +8

| postal_code_type = ZIP code

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| demographics_type1 = Economy

| demographics1_title1 = {{PH wikidata|income_class_title}}

| demographics1_info1 = 1st city income class (R.A. 11964)

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| demographics1_info2 = {{PH wikidata|poverty_incidence}}% ({{PH wikidata|poverty_incidence_point_in_time}}){{PH wikidata|poverty_incidence_footnotes}}

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| demographics1_info3 = {{increase}} 0.767 ({{fontcolor|Green|High}})

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| demographics1_title7 = IRA

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| demographics1_info9 = {{PH wikidata|expenditure}} {{PH wikidata|expenditure_point_in_time}}

| demographics1_title10 = Liabilities

| demographics1_info10 = {{PH wikidata|liabilities}} {{PH wikidata|liabilities_point_in_time}}

| demographics_type2 = Service provider

| demographics2_title1 = Electricity

| demographics2_info1 = {{PH electricity distribution | {{wikidata|label|raw}} }}

| demographics2_title2 = Water

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| demographics2_title3 = Telecommunications

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| blank_info_sec1 = {{PH wikidata|climate_type}}

| blank1_name_sec1 = Native languages

| blank1_info_sec1 = Central Bikol

| blank2_name_sec1 = Crime index

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| blank1_name_sec2 = Major religions

| blank1_info_sec2 =

| blank2_name_sec2 = Feast date

| blank2_info_sec2 = Third Saturday and Third Sunday of September

| blank3_name_sec2 = Catholic diocese

| blank3_info_sec2 = Archdiocese of Caceres

| blank4_name_sec2 = Patron saint

| blank4_info_sec2 = Our Lady of Peñafrancia

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}}

Naga, officially the City of Naga (Central Bikol: Siyudad nin Naga; Rinconada Bikol: Siyudad ka Naga; {{langx|tl|Lungsod ng Naga}}; {{Langx|es|Ciudad de Nueva Cáceres}}), or the Pilgrim City of Naga, is an independent component city in the Bicol Region. According to the 2020 census, Naga has a population of 209,170 people.{{PH census|current}} It is the most populous city in Camarines Sur and the second most populous city in the Bicol Region, following Legazpi in Albay and the smallest city in Bicol Region in term of land area.

The town was established in 1575 by order of Spanish Governor-General Francisco de Sande. The city, then Nueva Cáceres (New Cáceres), was one of the Spanish royal cities in the Spanish East Indies, along with Manila, Cebu City, and Iloilo City, historically to be the third oldest.{{Cite web|title=The oldest royal city in the Philippines|url=https://naga.gov.ph/|website=City Government of Naga Official Website|access-date=May 19, 2020}}

Geographically and statistically classified, as well as legislatively represented within Camarines Sur, but administratively independent of the provincial government, Naga is considered to be the Bicol Region's trade,{{cite news |last=Perez |first=Jose B. |title=Bicol's Boom Town: Bongat sees bullish Naga |url=http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=19936 |date=February 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132222/http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=19936 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |newspaper=Bicol Mail |url-status=usurped |access-date=February 13, 2019}}{{Google books |plainurl= |id=6Pn0Pfh1Cl0C |page=415 |title=The Philippine Island World: A Physical, Cultural, and Regional Geography }} business, religious, cultural, industrial, commercial,{{cite news |last=Orbita |first=Erlinda Hospicia V. |title=Naga City, the Heart of Bicol: 'An Maogmang Lugar [The Happy Place]' |url=http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/569060/naga-city-heart-bicol-maogmang-lugar |date=April 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123255/http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/569060/naga-city-heart-bicol-maogmang-lugar |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |work=The Philippine Star|access-date=February 24, 2019}} medical,{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://bmc.doh.gov.ph |website=Bicol Medical Center |access-date=February 24, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Bicol Medical Center Modernization |url=http://www.nagacitydeck.com/2013/05/bicol-medical-center-modernization.html |website=Naga City Deck |access-date=February 24, 2019}} educational,{{cite web |title=Education |url=http://naga.gov.ph/ecological-profile/education/ |website=Naga City |access-date=February 25, 2019}}{{cite web | title = Number of Schools in Naga City| publisher= Naga City Government | date = 28 February 2023 | url = https://www2.naga.gov.ph/student-3/educational-institutions-in-naga/ | access-date = 28 February 2023}} and financial center.

Naga is known as the "Queen City of Bicol" due to the historical significance of Naga in the Bicol Region;{{cite news |last=Hermoso |first=Christina I. |title=Naga City set for traslacion |url=http://www.mb.com.ph/naga-city-set-for-traslacion/ |date=September 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429051004/http://www.mb.com.ph/naga-city-set-for-traslacion/ |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |work=Manila Bulletin|access-date=February 26, 2019}} as the "Heart of Bicol",{{cite news |last=Llorin |first=Jean N. |title=Learning from 'The Heart of Bicol' |url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100627-277925/Learning-from-The-Heart-of-Bicol |date=June 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630030827/http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100627-277925/Learning-from-The-Heart-of-Bicol |archive-date=June 30, 2010 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=February 27, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Naga City: Where Bicol's heart is |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/274735/newstv/weekendgetaway/naga-city-where-bicol-s-heart-is |date=September 19, 2012 |work=GMA News|access-date=February 27, 2019}} due to its central geographical location on the Bicol Peninsula; and as "Pilgrim City," since Naga is also the destination of one of the largest Marian pilgrimages in Asia to the shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, an image that is one of the country's most popular objects of devotion.Abella, D. The Bikol Annals. Manila Naga is described as "One of the Seven Golden Cities of the Sun" by Nick Joaquín.{{cite web |title=The Naga We Know to be launched Aug. 31 |url=http://www.panitikan.com.ph/content/naga-we-know-be-launched-aug-31 |date=August 26, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413155143/http://www.panitikan.com.ph/content/naga-we-know-be-launched-aug-31 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |website=Likhaan: The UP Institute of Creative Writing |access-date=April 4, 2019}}

It is one of the two Philippine cities named Naga, the other being in Cebu.

Etymology

File:Lignum nephriticum - cup of Philippine lignum nephriticum, Pterocarpus indicus, and flask containing its fluorescent solution Hi.jpg cup made of narra wood (the namesake of the province) produced opalescent colors when water is poured into it. These wooden cups were a major pre-colonial and colonial industry of Naga.]]

Naga is the native pre-colonial name of the city. It is named after the narra tree (Pterocarpus indicus), which is known as naga in the Bicol language. It was abundant in the region and was part of a pre-colonial industry of wooden cups and bowls made from narra that produced distinctive blue and yellow opalescent colors when water is poured into them (later known to Europeans as lignum nephriticum). During the Spanish colonial era, they were exported to Mexico as luxury goods for their purported diuretic properties via the Manila-Acapulco Galleons, and from there, to Europe. They were often presented as gifts to European nobility.{{cite book|author= Safford, William Edwin|title =Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution|chapter =Lignum nephriticum|location=Washington|publisher =Government Printing Office|year =1916|page=271–298|chapter-url =https://archive.org/download/annualreportofbo1915smitfo/annualreportofbo1915smitfo.pdf|author-link =William Edwin Safford}}{{Cite journal | last1 = Muyskens | first1 = M. | doi = 10.1021/ed083p765 | last2 = Ed Vitz | title = The Fluorescence of Lignum nephriticum: A Flash Back to the Past and a Simple Demonstration of Natural Substance Fluorescence | journal = Journal of Chemical Education | volume = 83 | issue = 5 | pages = 765 | year = 2006 | bibcode = 2006JChEd..83..765M }}

The Jesuit missionary and historian Juan José Delgado (1697-1755) describes the industry in the following:

{{Blockquote

|text=

The city called Nueva Cáceres by the Spaniards bears among the natives the name Naga, on account of the abundance of this tree throughout those provinces of Camarines and Albay, where they carve very curious cups out of it for drinking water. Those made of female naga (pale white wood) are much the better, for this wood tinges the water very quickly to a celestial color, more quickly than the male (reddish wood). These cups are much esteemed in Europe and are regarded as a gift well worthy of any prince. Out of one of these cups they made me drink when I was a child, in Cadiz (Spain), as a remedy for hydropsy and oppilation, and I think that it might have helped me had I not drunk too much.

|author=Juan José Delgado

|title = Biblioteca Histórica Filipina: Historia general sacro-profana, política y natural de las islas del poniente llamadas Filipinas (1751)

|source=

}}

History

=Precolonial era=

The Bicolandia was closely allied with the Kedatuan of Madja-as Confederation, which was located southeast on Panay Island. According to the epic Maragtas, two datus and their followers, who followed Datu Puti, arrived at Taal Lake, with one group later settling around Laguna de Bay, and another group pushing southward into the Bicol Peninsula, placing the Bicolanos between people from Luzon and people from the Visayas. An ancient tomb preserved among the Bicolanos, discovered and examined by anthropologists during the 1920s, refers to some of the same deities and personages mentioned in the Maragtas.G. Nye Steiger, H. Otley Beyer, Conrado Benitez, A History of the Orient, Oxford: 1929, Ginn and Company, p. 122.

=Spanish colonial period=

{{main|Nueva Cáceres}}

File:Claveria visit to NC Feb 16 1845.jpg

In 1573, on his second expedition to this region, the conquistador Juan de Salcedo landed in a settlement named Naga in the native languages, because of the abundance of narra trees (naga in Bikol).

In 1575, Captain Pedro de Chávez, the commander of the garrison left behind by Salcedo, founded on the site of the present business centre (across the river from the original Naga) a Spanish city which he named La Ciudad de Cáceres, in honor of Francisco de Sande, the Governor-General and a native of Cáceres in Spain. Nueva Caceres, had 30 Spanish Households then.[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.530346/2015.530346.jesuits-in_djvu.txt "Jesuits In The Philippines (1581-1768)" Page 59]

"These settlements were much smaller than Manila. In 1582 Manila had

an adult male population of 300 Spaniards; Vigan, 60; Nueva Caceres,

30; Cebu, 70; Arevalo, 20. In 1586 Manila had 329 Spanish men and

youths capable of bearing arms ; the most recently established settlement, Nueva Segovia in Cagayan, had 97; Nueva Caceres, 69; Arevalo, 65; Cavite, 64; Cebu, 63; Villa Fernandina, 19.

It was by this name of "Nueva Cáceres" that it was identified in the papal bull of August 14, 1595, which established the see of Cáceres, together with Cebú and Nueva Segovia, and made it the seat of the new bishopric subject to the Archdiocese of Manila. Nueva Caceres was settled by around 100 Spaniards from Europe{{cite web| url = https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38269/38269-h/38269-h.htm#xd19e3408| title = A History of the Philippines by David P. Barrows| quote = The City of Nueva Caceres, in the Camarines, was founded by Governor La-Sande. It, too, was the seat of a bishopric, and had one hundred Spanish inhabitants.}} and reinforced by migrations from Mexico.

In time, the Spanish city and the native village merged into one community and became popularly known as "Nueva Cáceres", to distinguish it from its namesake in Spain. It had a city government as prescribed by Spanish law, with an ayuntamiento and cabildo of its own. At the beginning of the 17th century, there were only five other ciudades in the Philippines. Nueva Cáceres remained the capital of the Ambos Camarines provinces and later of Camarines Sur province until the formal creation of the independent chartered city of Naga under a sovereign Philippines.

For hundreds of years during the Spanish colonial era, Naga grew to become the center of trade, education, and culture, and the seat of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Bicol.

File:Ang Lungsod ng Naga NHC historical marker.jpg

=Liberation (1898)=

Under the commands of Corporals Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo, revolutionaries planned a revolt against the Spanish on September 18, 1898. Gunfire rang out until 5 a.m., and the remaining Spaniards sought shelter at the convent of San Francisco Church. When the Spaniards could no longer withstand the pressure, they signed a peace treaty at the University of Sta. Isabel, a school. The aforementioned "peace treaty" is displayed at the USI Museum.

File:GLAM Philippines Universidad de Santa Isabel 11.jpg

This revolt marked a turning point in Naga City's history, bringing an end to over 323 years of Spanish rule since the founding of Nueva Cáceres. A city ordinance, passed by the Naga City Government, designates September 19 as Liberation Day in the City of Naga. This is ordinance number 2006-050. The ordinance also outlines activities for commemorating Liberation Day and allocates funds to support them.https://www2.naga.gov.ph/culture-and-heritage-and-naming-of-streets/. Copied 10-06-22.

=American colonial period=

With the advent of American rule, the city was reduced to a municipality. In 1919, it has been renamed as Naga.

= World War II and Japanese occupation =

Naga came under Japanese occupation on December 18, 1941, following the Japanese invasion of Legaspi a few days earlier.{{cite web|title=The First Landings|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-PI/USA-P-PI-6.html|access-date=March 18, 2014}}

On May 1, 1942, the Camp Isarog Guerilllas from Upper Partido, led by Teofila Padua and Faustino Flor, along with other local resistance contingents, stormed the Japanese garrisons in Naga to liberate American and Filipino prisoners from the Naga Provincial Capitol (now the site of Puregold Naga) . After two days of besieging the Naga Provincial Capitol, the guerilla forces liberated Naga from Imperial Japanese forces and released the prisoners. In response, Governor-General Masaharu Homma, on May 5, dispatched 8,000 Japanese soldiers from Manila to relieve the garrison in Naga, prompting the contingents to flee and concede.{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=Bicolmail Web |date=2022-07-29 |title=Remembering World War II in the Philippines |url=https://www.bicolmail.net/single-post/remembering-world-war-ii-in-the-philippines |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=bicolmail |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Rugeria |first=Javier Leonardo |date=2023-01-01 |title=Evidence of Active Resistance Against the Japanese before the Fall of Corregidor: The Case of Luzon, 1941-1942 |url=https://www.academia.edu/113732645 |journal=The Journal of Philippine Local History and Heritage}}

In March of 1945, heavy Allied firebombing from the United States Army Air ForcesFifth Air Force levelled most of Naga’s infrastructure, with only the Cathedral, Capitol, Seminary, Peñafrancia Shrine, and a house north of Naga being left unscathed. This elicited the Japanese garrisons to resort to more stalwart strongholds and to strengthen their local counter-intelligence capabilities.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bicolmail.net/single-post/2018/04/05/world-war-ii-the-bombing-and-liberation-of-naga |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=www.bicolmail.net |title=World War II: The bombing and liberation of Naga |date=April 5, 2018 }}

On April 5, 1945, Allied Intelligience Bureau (AIB) officer Major Russel Barros, in a meeting at Pamukid Central School, San Fernando, organized a local taskforce to liberate Naga. Major Juan Q. Miranda, one of the famed commanders of the Tangcong Vaca Guerilla Unit, was voted as its overall commander. The task force was composed of six other company columns; Capt. Mamerto Sibulo, Lt. Honorato Osio, Lt. Nicolas Penaredondo, all of the Tancong Vaca Guerilla Unit (TVGU); The Blue Eagle under Lt. Felicisimo De Asis; the Philippine Army Air Corps under Lt. Delfin Rosales; and the Blue Eagle under Capt. Serenilla.{{Cite web |last=Novice |first=Narratives Of A. |date=2010-02-08 |title=Narratives of a Novice: The D-Day of Naga City |url=https://narrativesofanovice.blogspot.com/2010/02/d-day-of-naga-city.html |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Narratives of a Novice}}

On April 9, the joint task force recaptured the abandoned garrisons of Ateneo De Naga campus and Naga Provincial Capitol, engaging only then with the encamped Japanese garrison at the Abella residence by the Panganiban Bridge and the MRR-owned Naga Station at Tabuco.

On April 10, the joint task force met heavy resistance at the Manley residence, requisitioned HQ of the Kempeitai in Camarines Sur, by the Colgante Bridge, with the siege lasting all night until the depleted Japanese fortification fled for the Dayangdang Street. On the following day, the guerillas pursued the tactical withdrawal of the Japanese, until the retreat manned the Diaz hardware. A deadlock was File:Wartime in naga.jpg

then set in place between the guerillas and the Japanese for the entire day.

On the next day of the 12th, with the overwhelming firepower of a 50. caliber machine gun however, the contingents forced the Japanese to retreat the hardware onwards toward Palestina and Cadlan and eventually out of the town's premises. Some straying Japanese units retreated to Mt. Isarog via Pacol, consigning them to the U.S Army’s Fifth Cavalry Regiment commencement of mopping up operations afterward.

On April 13, 1945, Naga was officially liberated from Japanese occupation.

File:Naga 1935 skyview photo nkaag sa Wikipedia pinaputi cropped2.jpg

= Postwar era =

After Naga was liberated from the Japanese, Naga began rebuilding. Having suffered only a few casualties, Naga was able to rebuild quickly after the war.

File:5th Cavalry Regiment at the Naga Cathedral, WWII.jpg

==Cityhood==

{{main|Cities of the Philippines}}

After many petitions, Naga once again became a city on June 18, 1948, when it acquired its present city charter; and its city government was inaugurated on December 15 of the same year by virtue of Republic Act No. 305.{{cite web |title=R.A. No. 305, Naga City Charter |url=http://lawph.com/statutes/ra305-naga-city-charter.html |date=1948 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406114354/http://philippinelaw.info/statutes/ra305-naga-city-charter.html |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |website=LawPH.com |access-date=January 10, 2019}}

Geography

Naga is located within the province of Camarines Sur at the southeastern part of Luzon, {{convert|15|km}} from Pili and {{convert|435|km}} southeast of Manila, the nation's capital, and near the center of the Bicol Region.{{cite web | title = Google Maps | url = https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Manila,+Metro+Manila/Naga,+Camarines+Sur/@14.0793282,121.5284983,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x3397ca03571ec38b:0x69d1d5751069c11f!2m2!1d120.9842195!2d14.5995124!1m5!1m1!1s0x33a18cad50331fcb:0x1dd856f8b79915ca!2m2!1d123.1948238!2d13.6217753!3e0 | access-date = 25 February 2023}}

File:Naga River along San Francisco, Naga City, Camarines Sur.jpg

It is surrounded on all sides by forests and by rich agricultural and fishing areas. It has an area of 84.48 km2 and is located on the serpentine and historic Naga River, at the confluence of the Naga and Bikol rivers. Thus, it has always been an ideal place for trade, and as center for schools, church, and government offices. Included its territory is a portion of Mount Isarog, Barangay Panicuason, a declared protected area known as Mount Isarog Natural Park covering 10,090.89 hectares.{{cite web | title = Mount Isarog Natural Park, Sec. 5 a.1, R.A. 11038, An Act Declaring Protected Areas and Providing For Their Management, Amending For This Purpose Republic Act No. 7658, Otherwise Known As The "National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS) Act of 1992" And For Other Purposes. | date = 25 February 2023 | url = https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2018/06/22/republic-act-no-11038 | access-date = 25 February 2023}}

File:Bicol river watershed.png

File:Majestic View of Mount Isarog.jpg

=Climate=

{{Weather box

| location = Naga

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 30.2

| Feb high C = 31.1

| Mar high C = 32.8

| Apr high C = 34.3

| May high C = 34.2

| Jun high C = 32.4

| Jul high C = 31.3

| Aug high C = 30.8

| Sep high C = 31.1

| Oct high C = 31.2

| Nov high C = 31.0

| Dec high C = 30.3

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 25.6

| Feb mean C = 26.1

| Mar mean C = 27.6

| Apr mean C = 29.1

| May mean C = 29.5

| Jun mean C = 28.4

| Jul mean C = 27.7

| Aug mean C = 27.4

| Sep mean C = 27.6

| Oct mean C = 27.3

| Nov mean C = 26.9

| Dec mean C = 26.0

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 20.9

| Feb low C = 21.1

| Mar low C = 22.5

| Apr low C = 24.0

| May low C = 24.8

| Jun low C = 24.4

| Jul low C = 24.1

| Aug low C = 24.0

| Sep low C = 24.0

| Oct low C = 23.5

| Nov low C = 22.8

| Dec low C = 21.6

| year low C =

| Jan precipitation mm = 6.3

| Feb precipitation mm = 3.3

| Mar precipitation mm = 7.1

| Apr precipitation mm = 9.3

| May precipitation mm = 100.4

| Jun precipitation mm = 272.7

| Jul precipitation mm = 341.2

| Aug precipitation mm = 398.3

| Sep precipitation mm = 326.0

| Oct precipitation mm = 230.0

| Nov precipitation mm = 120.4

| Dec precipitation mm = 48.8

| year precipitation mm =

| Jan rain days = 1.0

| Feb rain days = 1.0

| Mar rain days = 1.0

| Apr rain days = 1.0

| May rain days = 7.0

| Jun rain days = 14.0

| Jul rain days = 16.0

| Aug rain days = 19.0

| Sep rain days = 17.0

| Oct rain days = 13.0

| Nov rain days = 9.0

| Dec rain days = 5.0

| date = April 2012}}

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Naga has a tropical savanna climate.

The weather in the city from March to May is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from {{convert|24|to|34|C|F}}. The typhoon season is from June to October, and the weather then is generally rainy. From November to February, the climate is cooler with temperatures ranging from {{convert|22|to|28|C|F}}. The average year-round humidity is 77%.[http://naga.gov.ph/see-naga/plan-your-trip/about-naga/facts-figures/facts-and-figures/ "General Information"]. See Naga – Official Website of Naga City. Retrieved on May 13, 2012.

=Barangays=

Naga is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.{{cite web |title=Municipality/City: NAGA CITY |url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/municipality.asp?muncode=051724000®code=05&provcode=17 |work=PSGC Interactive |publisher=National Statistical Coordination Board |access-date=April 22, 2014 |location=Makati, Philippines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113210308/http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/municipality.asp?muncode=051724000®code=05&provcode=17 |archive-date=November 13, 2015 }} Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

File:Ph fil naga camarines sur.png

class="wikitable sortable"
Barangays

! Class

! Population{{cite web |title=City of Naga |url=https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/barangays/0501724000 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=psa.gov.ph |publisher=Philippine Statistics Authority}}

! Barangay head

Abella

| Urban

| 5,757

| Hon. Apolinario Malana Jr.

Bagumbayan Norte

| Urban

| 2,203

| Hon. Raquel Tutanes

Bagumbayan Sur

| Urban

| 7,867

| Hon. Josephine Camba

Balatas

| Urban

| 11,112

| Hon. Ferdinand De Hitta

Calauag

| Urban

| 11,295

| Hon. Ma. Corazon Peñaflor

Cararayan

| Urban

| 19,692

| Hon. Rodrigo Agravante Jr.

Carolina

| Urban

| 6,870

| Ho. Leoncio Libuit

Concepcion Grande

| Urban

| 11,125

| Hon. Jerrold Rito

Concepcion Pequeña

| Urban

| 25,139

| Hon. Juan Francis Mendoza

Dayangdang

| Urban

| 4,130

| Hon. Julius Cesar Sanchez

Del Rosario

| Urban

| 10,337

| Hon. Jose Peñas III

Dinaga

| Urban

| 344

| Hon. Ma. Cristina Intia

Igualdad Interior

| Urban

| 3,008

| Hon. Angelito Bendiola

Lerma

| Urban

| 1,640

| Hon. Domingo Serrado

Liboton

| Urban

| 3,105

| Hon. Ronald Luntok

Mabolo

| Urban

| 8,125

| Hon. Arthur Matos

Pacol

| Urban

| 14,747

| Hon Ruben Limbo

Panicuason

| Urban

| 3,100

| Hon. Domingo Ramos

Peñafrancia

| Urban

| 4,503

| Hon. Jacky Villafuerte

Sabang

| Urban

| 6,838

| Hon. Cyrus Caballero

San Felipe

| Urban

| 21,098

| Hon. Alfonso Rodriguez

San Francisco

| Urban

| 722

| Hon. Efren Nepomuceno

San Isidro

| Urban

| 3,432

| Hon. Veronica Panganiban

Santa Cruz

| Urban

| 7,135

| Hon. Felix Matias Largo

Tabuco

| Urban

| 4,240

| Hon. Elisa Carmona

Tinago

| Urban

| 2,904

| Hon. Estelita Bautista

Triangulo

| Urban

| 8,702

| Hon. Raymund Arevalo

Demographics

{{Philippine Census

| align= none

| cols = 3

| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}

| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}

| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}

| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}

| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}

| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}

| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}

| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}

| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}

| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}

| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}

| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}

| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}

| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}

| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}

| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}

| 2025 =

| 2030 =

| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

}}

According to the 2020 census, the population of Naga is 209,170 people, with a density of 2,300/km2. Naga had an average annual population growth of 1.29% between 2010 and 2020 according to same census. All populated areas of the city are classified as urban. Naga City has about the same population as Legazpi City (209,533).

=Religion=

==Roman Catholicism==

File:Peñafrancia Basilica Minore.jpg]]

The city is the ecclesiastical seat of the Archdiocese of Caceres, which oversees the Catholic population in the Bicol Region, whose archbishop is the primate of the region. This dominant faith is supported by the presence of old and influential Catholic institutions, from universities to churches run by different religious institutes, notably the Ateneo de Naga University by the Jesuits; the Universidad de Santa Isabel by the Daughters of Charity; the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, which is the oldest cathedral that is still standing in Luzon outside Metro Manila; Peñafrancia Basilica Minore, which is the largest Catholic structure in southern Luzon in terms of size and land area; Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine; the historic San Francisco Church; and Peñafrancia Museum.

==Other Christian faiths==

Protestant denominations in the city include Seventh-day Adventists and Bible Baptists, whose churches are located along Magsaysay Avenue, while other Protestants attend the Methodist Church which is among the old structures along Peñafrancia Avenue.

The Assemblies of God maintains a fast-growing ministry in Naga. Aside from Naga Bethel Church (formerly Naga Bethel Temple), which is located on Felix Plazo Street, other local congregations are Philippians Christian Fellowship (in barangays San Felipe), Gethsemane Christian Ministries (in Carolina), and outreach ministries in other barangays.

The largest minority religion in Naga is Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). INC has several chapels in different barangays in the city, and the local congregation is the largest in the district. It is followed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (formerly known as "Mormon") which has several congregations (wards) with their main church building situated along Panganiban Drive not far from the INC's.

There is also a concentration of Jesus Miracle Crusade ministries in the city.

==Other religions==

File:Taoist Temple along Naga River.jpg

Muslims, Sikhs, and Taoists can also be found in the city.

=Language=

The Coastal Bikol-Central dialect of the Coastal Bikol language is the dominant dialect spoken by the population in Naga.{{cite web |title=Demography |url=http://naga.gov.ph/uncategorized/demography/ |website=Naga City |access-date=April 4, 2019}} Central Standard Bikol is also the basis for other dialects in the Bicol Region.{{cite web |title=Useful Filipino Words – Bicol Translations |url=http://www.camsurguidedelights.com/useful-filipino-words-bicol-translations/ |date=2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427010026/http://www.camsurguidedelights.com/useful-filipino-words-bicol-translations/ |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |website=Cam Sur Guide Delights |access-date=April 4, 2019}} The majority of the city's population can understand and speak English, Filipino, and Tagalog. Because of the influx of people from the Rinconada area that are studying in different universities, Rinconada Bikol can also be heard in different schools and throughout the city. Some Nagueños have varying degrees of proficiency with Rinconada Bikol, since the southern half of Pili, which is the boundary between Rinconada Bikol and Coastal Bikol speakers, is just few kilometers away from Naga. Although the main language is Bikol, and the medium of instruction in school is English, people in Naga usually tell time and count in Spanish.

==Isarog Agta Language==

In 2010, UNESCO released its 3rd volume of Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, where three critically endangered languages were in the Philippines. One of these is the Isarog Agta language, of the Isarog Agta people, who live on Mount Isarog and are one of the original Negrito settlers in the Philippines, belonging to the Aeta people classification but with language and belief systems unique to their own culture and heritage.

Only five Isarog Agta spoke their indigenous language in the year 2000. The language was classified as "Critically Endangered", meaning the youngest speakers are grandparents and older, speak the language partially and infrequently, and hardly pass the language to their children and grandchildren. If the remaining 150 Isarog Agta do not pass their native language to the next generation, it will be extinct within one to two decades.

Economy

{{PH poverty incidence}}

File:WTNaga STAR X1.jpg

Naga is the Bicol Region's center of commerce and industry. Strategically located at the midway of Bicol, Naga is the trade center in Bicol for goods from Luzon and Visayas. Naga was inducted into the “Hall of Fame – Most Business Friendly City” by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry for being a reliable partner to the business community. Consistently, Naga is the No. 1 competitive independent component city of the Philippines from 2015-2016; and 2021-2024.{{cite web | title = 2024 RANKINGS OF COMPONENT CITIES| publisher= Department of Trade and Industry | date = 2024 | url = https://cmci.dti.gov.ph/lgu-profile.php?lgu=Naga%20(CS) | access-date = 23 September 2024}}

The city's economy was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during mid-2020 and was estimated that its assets contracted by around 4% and an unidentified number of small to medium businesses closed. In the 2nd quarter of 2021 following the 11-12% quarterly growth of the country, several businesses in the city reopened. From 2021, the city is experiencing steady economic improvement and growth.

=Business districts=

File:WTNaga EURO C1.JPG

File:Naga City People's Mall (Gen. Luna, Naga, Camarines Sur; 04-15-2023).jpg

Downtown Naga (commonly called "Centro") is located in the southern part of the city. It is bordered on the north by the Naga University Belt and on the south by the historical Naga City People's Mall or simply Naga City Community Supermarket. It encompasses the three public plazas of Naga: The Plaza Quince Martires, The Plaza Quezon, and the Plaza Rizal, which is the center of Central Business District 1 (CBD-1). Downtown Naga is the location of local businesses that sell local delicacies and native products from neighboring municipalities and provinces.

File:IJVSanFranciscoChurch1.jpg

File:Naga Plaza Rizal monument (Elias Angeles, Naga, Camarines Sur; 04-15-2023).jpg

File:Oragon Monument, Naga City, Apr 2024 (1).jpg

A second business district, known as the Central Business District 2 (CBD-2), is located along Panganiban Drive and Roxas, Ninoy, and Cory avenues. It is also the location of several shopping complexes (S&R, Landers, SM, Robinsons and LCC Malls, a central bus terminal and PUV south-bound terminal,{{cite web |title=P2.9M ingreso kan bus terminal cada bulan |trans-title=P2.9 million for the bus terminal |url=http://naga.gov.ph/news/p2-9m-ingreso-kan-bus-terminal-cada-bulan/ |website=Naga City |language=fil |access-date=February 13, 2019}} and the Naga City IT Park, which houses several business process outsourcing offices.

=South Riverfront growth area=

South Riverfront is composed of the whole of Barangay Sabang except those areas that are socialized housing sites or are otherwise excluded by the Naga City land-use plan for commercial or industrial development. It is bordered by CBD-1 (to the east), the Naga River, and the town of Camaligan, Camarines Sur.{{cite web |title=South Riverfront Growth Area |url=http://naga.gov.ph/invest/growth-areas/south-riverfront-growth-area/ |website=City Government of Naga |access-date=January 12, 2019}}

=Magsaysay district=

File:Naga City skyline, Magsaysay Avenue (Naga, Camarines Sur; 04-15-2023).jpg

File:UMAResidencesByALagunsin.jpg

The main road in the city is Magsaysay Avenue, or Boulevard, which runs from Bagumbayan Road (Naga-CalabangaSirumaGarchitorenaPartido North Road), connecting it to Magsaysay district, where accommodations and restaurants catering to travelers are found.Atiyah, Jeremy (2002). [{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=uRX5zMsCeNgC |page=880 }} "Rough Guide to Southeast Asia"], pg. 880. Rough Guides Ltd., London. {{ISBN|1-85828-893-2}}. Businesses are usually open until late at night, with some shops open 24/7. Naga also has its share of fastfood restaurant chains. The city hall and several provincial offices are also located in the district, around the Peñafrancia Basilica.

=Naga City Industrial Park=

A sprawling 25+ hectares of land is the Naga City Export Processing Zone in Barangay Carolina, Naga City (Proclamation No. 299, s. 2023), to cater light manufacturing industries focused on high-value engineering products destined for export. First of its kind in Naga and the Bicol Region, the export processing zone will boost the city's economy, provide employment opportunities, and bolster the country’s export manufacturing sector.

=Banking and finance=

=Shopping malls and Hotels=

File:SM City Naga, August 2023.jpg

File:WTNaga Star A33.JPG

SM City Naga, the first SM Supermall in Bicol Region opened in 2009. LCC Mall Naga arose at Felix Plazo Street, Sabang in 1997, while Nagaland E-Mall, set up in 2004, is in Downtown Naga. Built in 2005, Avenue Square is the region's first "lifestyle center", along Magsaysay Avenue. Metro Mall Naga (2012) is in front of Bicol Medical Center. Later, Robinsons Place Naga opened in 2017. Followed by Vista Mall (2018) along Maharlika Highway, in Barangay Del Rosario. Both S&R Membership Shopping and Landers Superstore which opened in 2023 and 2024, respectively, are located along Roxas Avenue. Leisure hubs abound in the city proper and suburbs but most of which are in Magsaysay Avenue, Dayangdang, and along Roxas Avenue (Diversion Road). There are more than sixty (60) hotels and inns within the city proper, having two 4-star hotels: Avenue Plaza Hotel and Summit Hotel Naga, and ten (10) 3-star hotels.

File:S&R Naga.jpg

File:LandersNaga.jpg

=IT–Business Process outsourcing=

File:Naga City Technology Park, August 2023.jpg

Naga was cited as one of the best places to conduct information technology–business process outsourcing (IT–BPO) activities in the Philippines.{{cite web |url=http://www.curranrecruit.com.au/#!BPO-Hot-spots-in-the-Philippines--looking-beyond-Manila-/c15hi/3CB5CF5C-6C36-44CA-82E0-78C458CE16D9 |title=Curran + Associates :: Home |website=www.curranrecruit.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211133127/http://www.curranrecruit.com.au/ |archive-date=December 11, 2007}}{{cbignore}}

As of 2024, the city currently has several IT parks and centers (registered special eco-zones) — the Naga City IT Park (Triangulo IT Park, Proclamation No. 616, s. 2013), ALDP E-Park, ANR Business Center, and the Robinsons Cybergate Naga.

File:Cybergate Naga.png

Current clients include IBM,{{cite news |work=ABS-CBN News|title=IBM unit to set up BPO facility in Naga City |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/05/21/13/ibm-unit-set-bpo-facility-naga-city |date=May 21, 2013 |publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation |access-date=April 6, 2019}} Quantrics, Concentrix, ProbeCX, Stellar, and Klasp Global Solutions, Inc.

Culture

Naga is considered to be Bicol's cultural center, due to the largest festival in the region, the Peñafrancia Festival, being held in the city.

=Festivals=

==Peñafrancia Festival==

The city celebrates the feast of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia (Our Lady of Peñafrancia), the patroness of the Bicol Region. Starting on the second Friday of September each year, the 10-day feast, the largest Marian devotion in the country. The start of the festival is signalled by a procession (or Translacion) when the centuries-old image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred from its shrine at the Peñafrancia Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia to the 400-year-old Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. Coinciding with nine days of novena prayer at the cathedral, the city celebrates with parades, pageants, street parties, singing contests, exhibits, concerts, and other activities. Finally, on the third Saturday of September, the image is returned, shoulder-borne by so-called voyadores, to the basilica via the historic Naga River. The following day marks the feast day of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, when Pontifical High Masses are celebrated in the basilica, attended by hundreds of thousands of faithful devotees.

==Kamundagan Festival==

Naga celebrates the Kamundagan Festival every Christmas. It begins with the lighting of the Christmas Village in the Plaza Quezon Grandstand.

==Kinalas Festival==

Naga celebrates the Kinalas Festival during its yearly anniversary of chartership or cityhood. It honors local delicacies, including kinalas and siling labuyo, with a food contest.

=Food and delicacies=

Naga is known for some native foods and delicacies.

Kinalas and log-log are noodle soup dishes served Bicol style, similar to mami except for a topping of what looks like a pansit palabok sauce, and the meaty dark soup made from boiling a cow's or a pig's head until the flesh falls off. Kinalas is from the old Bicol word kalas,{{cite encyclopedia |last=Lisboa |first=Maŕcos de |title=Calas |date=1865 |url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/aqa2025.0001.001/90?page=root;rgn=full+text;size=100;view=image;q1=calas |dictionary=Vocabulario de la lengua Bicol: compuesto por Maŕcos de Lisboa |page=89 |language=es |access-date=April 8, 2019}}{{cite encyclopedia |last=Lisboa |first=Maŕcos de |title=Hinglas |date=1865 |url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/aqa2025.0001.001/182?q1=hinglas&view=image&size=150 |dictionary=Vocabulario de la lengua Bicol: compuesto por Maŕcos de Lisboa |page=181 |language=es |access-date=April 6, 2019}} which refers to the "fall off the bone" meat that is placed on top of the noodles. The soup is the broth of beef bone and bone marrow (sometimes skull and brain included) or what Manileños call bulalo.{{cite web |author=Naguenian |title=Kinalas |url=http://kinalasnaga.blogspot.com/ |date=August 23, 2010 |website=Blogspot |access-date=April 8, 2019}} The soup is topped with very tender meat slices that also come from the head. It is usually served hot with an egg, and sprinkled with roasted garlic and spring onions. Kalamansi and patis may be added according to taste. Kinalas is usually paired with Baduya, or with Banana or camote cue.

Other delicacies, such as, buko juice, nata de coco, and pan de Naga are found in the city.{{cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Eduardo |title=The Beneficial Buko Juice |url=http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/2012-05-23-07-46-36/2012-05-24-00-03-06/5588-the-beneficial-buko-juice |date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424040945/http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/2012-05-23-07-46-36/2012-05-24-00-03-06/5588-the-beneficial-buko-juice |archive-date=April 24, 2013 |website=Philippine Council For Health Research And Development |access-date=April 8, 2019}}{{cite web |author=Leah |title=Pan de Naga (Pugon Pandesal) |url=http://leahdeleon.com/2012/10/17/pan-de-naga-pugon-pandesal/ |date=October 17, 2012 |website=The Bright Spot |access-date=April 22, 2019}}

Sports

File:Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum.jpg

The Metro Naga Sports Complex, in Barangay Pacol, has Olympic-sized swimming pools, tennis courts, and a track oval.[http://naga.gov.ph/see-naga/attractions/heritage-tour/ "Heritage Tour"]. See Naga. Retrieved on June 13, 2012.

The Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, formerly the Naga City Coliseum which is renamed in honor of the late DILG secretary and former mayor of Naga, is the largest indoor arena in southern Luzon.

Transportation

=Airport=

File:Naga Airport (WNP).JPG

The city is served by Naga Airport (WNP) located in Barangay San Jose in the neighboring town of Pili. It has a runway of {{convert|1402|m|ft|sp=us}} and thus is capable of handling only small aircraft.

=Railways=

File:WTNaga BAHALANA B47.JPG]]Naga is the regional head office and the center point of the Philippine National Railway's Bicol Line.

Naga, along with adjacent towns and cities from Tagkawayan, Quezon Province to Ligao in Albay, is served daily by the Bicol Express. Naga City to Ligao City, Albay route resumed operations in July 2023, while Naga to Legazpi route resumed in December 2023.

=Roads and bridges=

{{As of|2009|December}}, Naga's total road network is {{convert|185.02|km|mi|sp=us}} in length, of which {{convert|147.67|km|mi|sp=us}} are paved with concrete, {{convert|14.63|km|mi|sp=us}} with asphalt overlay, {{convert|4.10|km|mi|sp=us}} with asphalt, {{convert|11.87|km|mi|sp=us}} are gravel, while {{convert|5.76|km|mi|sp=us}} are dirt. This translates to an increase of {{convert|19.74|km|mi|sp=us}} since 1998.{{cite web |title=Transportation |url=http://naga.gov.ph/ecological-profile/infrastructure-ecological-profile/transportation-2/ |website=Naga City |access-date=February 16, 2019}}

The city is connected to the capital Manila by the Andaya and Maharlika highways.

To spur development in the city, the Toll Regulatory Board declared Toll Road 5 as the extension of South Luzon Expressway.{{cite web|url=https://www.yugatech.com/news/slex-toll-road-5-to-connect-quezon-province-to-sorsogon/|title=SLEX Toll Road 5 to connect Quezon province to Sorsogon|work=YugaTech|date=August 18, 2020|access-date=January 9, 2021}} A {{convert|420|km}}, four-lane expressway starting from the terminal point of the under-construction SLEX Toll Road 4 at Barangay Mayao in Lucena City, Quezon, to Matnog, Sorsogon, near the Matnog Ferry Terminal. On August 25, 2020, San Miguel Corporation announced that it would fund the project, which would reduce travel time from Lucena to Matnog from 9 hours to 5.5 hours.{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/752828/san-miguel-investing-p122b-for-slex-toll-road-5-pasig-river-expressway-projects/story/|title=San Miguel investing P122B for SLEX Toll Road 5, Pasig River Expressway projects|work=GMA News Online|date=August 25, 2020|access-date=January 9, 2021}}

=Public transportation=

File:Bicol Central Station, Naga City, August 2023.jpg

The most common vehicles used for intra-city travel are public utility jeepneys (PUJ), multicabs, tricycles (trikes) and e-trikes, and padyak.

PUJs and multicabs, a total of 300+ units, are a major mode of intra-city transport used by regular commuters.

Trikes are the most used land transport in the city. There are around 1,500 units available for hire while 1,150 are for private use. Concerns with abusive local transport drivers, overcharging and traffic violations are reported and handled by the Naga City Public Safety Office and city transport franchising.

Padyak is commonly used in short distances such as subdivisions and barangay roads transportation. They are generally slow and small, perfect for cul-de-sacs and alleys.

Inter-town trips are served by 400+ filcab vans and 700+ jeepneys, while inter-provincial trips are served by an average of 300+ airconditioned and non-airconditioned buses and 80+ Filcab vans.

Recently, about 50+ taxi units is available in the city. SM City Naga serves are their waiting area for passengers

Public services

=Health care=

Naga is the medical center of the Bicol Region. The largest hospitals include the government-owned Bicol Medical Center (1000-bed capacity by virtue of Republic Act No. 11478), Camarines Sur Medical Center in Bula, Camarines Sur, and the Universidad de Sta Isabel – Mother Seton Hospital, owned and operated by the Daughters of Charity. The Metropolitan Naga Medical District, in Naga, is the only medical district in Bicol.

File:Bicol Medical Center.jpg

Bicol Medical Center (BMC) offers residency programs in anesthesia, otolaryngology, head and neck surgery (ENT), internal medicine, pathology and laboratories, obstetrics & gynecology, orthopedics, pediatrics, radiology, and surgery, among others. It is also a base hospital of the Helen Keller Foundation, where eye specialists from all over the country are trained and later assigned to different parts of the Philippines.[https://bmc.doh.gov.ph/ "Bicol Medical Center"]

File:Naga City General Hospital.jpg

Universidad de Santa Isabel - Mother Seton Hospital (USI – MSH), is the largest private hospital in the region by number of admissions, medical equipment facilities, number of beds available, physical structure, and number of board-certified medical consultants. It is the only private hospital in Bicol offering specialty training programs, accredited by the Philippine Medical Association's component society, in major fields of medicine, such as internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery.[http://msh.dcphilippines.org/ "Universidad de Santa Isabel-Mother Seton Hospital"].

Located in Balatas Development Center, Balatas, Naga City, the Naga City General Hospital (NCGH) [Phase I], was inaugurated last December 12, 2023, to provide top-notch additional medical care and services to Naga City constituents.

The Plaza Medica houses the Naga Endocrine Laboratory (also called the Endolab), a modern hormone laboratory and facility.

Bicol Access Health Centrum is another large hospital located in the city. It houses the Regional Disease Research Center, the first and only in the region.

Several secondary and tertiary hospitals can be found in the city.

=Waste management and disposal=

==Solid waste==

The main pollutants in the city come in the form of solid waste generated daily. Generally, these wastes come from various sources: residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional.

Naga generates approximately 85.8 tons of waste per year, based on the latest 2009 estimates, where agricultural waste makes up a little more than one-fourth (26%) of the total volume. Food waste makes up a slightly smaller share, at 23%. Paper-based materials compose 12%, while other categories contribute smaller percentages.

Solid wastes are disposed of and collected via the city's garbage trucks, which traverse ten routes on a daily basis. Collected wastes are then dumped at the new sanitary landfill in Barangay San Isidro, where they are segregated according to type of waste, and whether biodegradable or non-biodegradable.{{cite web |last=Neola |first=Jason B. |title=Solid Waste Management Office created; also named as Special Concerns Office |url=http://naga.gov.ph/naga-smiles-2/solid-waste-management-office-created-also-named-as-special-concerns-office-2/ |website=Naga City |access-date=February 27, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Waste Management |url=http://naga.gov.ph/ecological-profile/waste-management/ |website=Naga City |access-date=February 27, 2019}}

==Liquid waste==

A study of wastewater treatment facilities is incorporated in the proposed septage management ordinance, where the city will be very strict in forcing compliance with proper waste treatment by housing and establishment owners. The local water-utility agency has made the Metro Naga Water District its local partner in providing septage services, in exchange for adding environmental fees to water bills.

The new wastewater treatment facility of SM City Naga, operational since April 20, 2009, has a capacity of 500 cubic meters per day; but at present, it is treating only around 200.

=Fire safety=

The Naga City Central Fire Station (BFP) is one of the most well equipped fire stations in the country. Other fire stations include Naga Chin Po Tong Fire Brigade, and the Naga White Volunteers.{{cite web |last=Macatangay |first=Ana-Liza S. |title=Naga City kicks off observance of Fire Prevention Month |url=http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=861393921793 |date=March 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223622/http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=861393921793 |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |website=Philippine Information Agency |access-date=April 10, 2019}}

=Police and law enforcement=

The city is the location of two of the largest police stations in the Bicol Region. The historic Naga City Police Station (now Naga City Police Office), which had been the military base of operations of the Guardia Civil in the region, during the time of Spanish rule.{{cite web |title=Naga City Police Station |url=http://naga.gov.ph/see-naga/attractions/naga-city-police-station/ |website=Naga City |access-date=April 10, 2019}}http://r05.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=861357375545{{dead link|date=April 2019|reason=archive snapshot not found}}{{cbignore}} Another police office, located in Barangay Concepcion Grande, is the provincial office of the Philippine National Police for Camarines Sur.{{cite web |last1=Macatangay |first1=Ana-Liza S. |title=PNP CamSur cites outstanding police stations, personnel |url=http://r05.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=861385550341 |work=Philippine Information Agency |access-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140511032639/http://r05.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=861385550341 |archive-date=May 11, 2014 |date=November 28, 2013}}

=New Development Areas and upcoming development areas=

Sta. Cruz Development Area

Balatas New Development Area

File:Balatas New Development Area.jpg

Almeda New Development Area

Naga River Development Area

File:Naga River Development Area.jpg

Education

Naga is the home of the three largest universities in the Bicol Region. The city is also the home of several colleges.

=Tertiary education=

File:WTNaga HMMM A2.JPG

File:WTNaga BAHALANA A13.JPG]]

Ateneo de Naga University is a Jesuit university and the largest Catholic university in the Bicol Region. The school has been accredited by PAASCU since 1979 and is the first university in the Philippines to achieve PAASCU Institutional Accreditation, on top of its Autonomous and Level III status. It is a "center of excellence" in teacher education, and a center of development in business administration, entrepreneurship, and information technology. It has produced animators for the country since it launched its bachelor's degree in animation.

The Universidad de Santa Isabel was inaugurated on April 12, 1869, as a private Catholic university owned and run by the Daughters of Charity and is the "first normal school for women in the Philippines and Southeast Asia and the Heritage and Historical University of Bicol".{{Cite web|url=http://filles-de-la-charite.org/home-2/|title=Formation - Information - Sharing - Prayer... {{!}} Filles de la Charité de Saint Vincent de Paul|language=en-US|access-date=May 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03605a.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul|website=www.newadvent.org|access-date=May 14, 2019}} It was established by six sisters of the order who arrived in the Bicol Region on April 4, 1868, with the Bishop of Caceres, Francisco Gainza, O.P., the founder of Colegio de Santa Isabel.

University of Nueva Caceres was the very first university in Bicol, and is considered to be largest in the region, due to its attendance and size, that offers courses from kindergarten to graduate school. Founded by Dr. Jaime Hernandez in 1948, it has grown to become one of the leading institutions of higher learning in the Philippines. All course offerings are recognized by the government, and the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, and Commerce are accredited by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACU-COA). Its College of Engineering and Architecture is now one of the few regional centers for technological education in the Philippines.{{cite web |title=About UNC |url=http://www.unc.edu.ph/campus/?page_id=750 |date=2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011411/http://www.unc.edu.ph/campus/?page_id=750 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |website=University of Nueva Caceres |access-date=April 11, 2019}}

Technical colleges in the city include the Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (South East Asian University of Technology), Naga College Foundation, Mariner's Polytechnic Colleges Foundation, AMA Computer College, and STI College.{{cite web |title=ACLC College |url=http://www.aclc.edu.ph |website=ACLC College |access-date=April 11, 2019}}[http://www.sti.edu/campuses.asp?id=55 "STI College - Naga"]. STI College. Retrieved on May 13, 2012. Specialized computer schools include Worldtech Resources Institute (WRI), among others.

The country's oldest live-in Christian higher educational institute for the clergy was established in the city in the early part of the 18th century. The Holy Rosary Seminary (El Seminario del Santissimo Rosario), a Roman Catholic seminary run by the Archdiocese of Caceres, has produced 22 bishops, including the first Filipino bishop, Jorge Barlin, and the first Filipino cardinal to work in the Roman Curia, Jose Tomas Sanchez. The seminary has contributed, as well, to the national heritage, through José María Panganiban, Tomás Arejola, and seven of the Fifteen Martyrs of Bicol. On January 29, 1988, the National Historical Institute declared the Holy Rosary Seminary a National Historical Landmark.

=Secondary and primary education=

The government-run Camarines Sur National High School, which was established in 1902, registers over 10,000 enrollees every school year, and it is the biggest secondary school in the region. Among other secondary schools in the city is the Tinago National High School.

Naga City Science High School was established in Naga in 1994. It has pilot curricula, including the Spanish curriculum, which is the third one in the Philippines, and the journalism curriculum, which allows students to receive training and exposure to college-level situations. The school is consistently a champion at the Doon Po Sa Amin national documentary contest.{{cite press release |title=Naga generates best hometown stories |url=https://www1.smart.com.ph/about/newsroom/press-releases/csr-news/2014/02/20/naga-generates-best-hometown-stories |date=February 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213038/https://www1.smart.com.ph/about/newsroom/press-releases/csr-news/2014/02/20/naga-generates-best-hometown-stories |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |website=Smart Communications, Inc. |access-date=April 11, 2019}}

Two schools in the city, Saint Joseph School (SJS) and Naga Hope Christian School (NHCS), cater to Filipino-Chinese students.

Naga Parochial School (NPS) is the largest parochial school in the region; it receives 850 enrollees yearly. It is run by priests of the Archdiocese of Caceres. It is the first PAASCU-accredited parochial school in the Philippines. Some members of the clergy (63 as of 2007 with 3 bishops) assigned to the city are alumni of the school. Well-known personalities—such as the late Raul Roco, Jesse Robredo, Francis Garchitorena, Luis Villafuerte, Jaime Fabregas, Jonathan Dela Paz Zaens, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, and Bishop Jose Rojas—are graduates of NPS.

Private schools—such as Arborvitae Plains Montessori, Inc.; Naga City Montessori School; and the Village Montessori School—can be found in the city. Tutorial and review centers for higher education are also found in the city.

Media

=Television networks=

{{For|the complete lists of the TV and radio stations|List of television and radio stations in Naga, Camarines Sur}}

All of the major television broadcasting channels' regional offices are located in the city. TV5 Network Inc.'s TV5 airs shows via channel 22, GMA Network's channel 7 and GMA News TV channel 28 are also available and the newscast Balitang Bicolandia. ABS-CBN TV, ceased operations prior to COVID-19 pandemic.

=Cable/satellite TV, ISPs, Telcos and Cellular Networks=

The city's cable and satellite TV companies include South Luzon Cable and DCTV Cable Network Naga (Formerly SkyCable Naga).

Internet service providers and Telcos include Globe, PLDT/Smart, DITO, Converge, and DCTV. 5G is available in selected areas.

=Radio stations=

Naga has a number of FM and AM radio stations, some of which operate 24 hours daily.

Notable personalities

  • Andrew E {{ndash}} Filipino singer and rapper
  • Johnny Abarrientos – a Philippine basketball player who played in the PBA from 1993 to 2010. He is currently serving as coach of the team B-Meg Llamados{{Cite web |url=http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/barroca-draws-comparisons-with-abarrientos-as-he-steps-up-for-injury-hit-san-mig |title=Barroca draws comparisons with Abarrientos as he steps up for injury-hit San Mig | PBA | SPIN.PH |access-date=April 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132056/http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/barroca-draws-comparisons-with-abarrientos-as-he-steps-up-for-injury-hit-san-mig |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=dead }}
  • Tomás Arejola – lawyer, legislator, diplomat, political writer and a propagandist during the Spanish colonial period.
  • Joker Arroyo{{cite magazine |last=Chua-Eoan |first=Howard |title=The Philippines – The Joker Was Not Laughing |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965575-1,00.html |date=September 21, 1987 |magazine=Time |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 11, 2019}} – was a statesman and key figure in the EDSA People Power Revolution which evicted then-president Ferdinand Marcos and his family from office. He also served as Congressman of Makati for 9 years, and a member of the Senate for 12 years. Arroyo has received various awards and commendations for his significant contributions to the law profession and public service. Among these are the Philippine Bar Association's Most Distinguished Award for Justice as a "man beholden to no one except to his country" and Senate Resolution No. 100, enacted in the 8th Congress, commending him for his invaluable services to the Filipino people.Toms, S. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4609892.stm "The Philippine name game"], BBC News, January 14, 2006. Accessed last February 21, 2007.Mydans, S. [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40711F739580C7B8DDDA00894DF484D81 "Aquino, Under Pressure, Removes Her Closest Adviser"], The New York Times, September 18, 1987. Accessed last February 21, 2007.Chua-Eoan, H. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312221011/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965575-2,00.html "The Philippines The Joker Was Not Laughing"], Time p. 2, September 21, 1987. Accessed last February 21, 2007.
  • Wally Bayola – is a Filipino comedian, actor, and TV host of Eat Bulaga!
  • Ely Buendia – whose real name is Eleandre Basiño Buendia. He is a Filipino singer, frontman of Eraserheads and Pupil
  • Jose Fabian Cadiz – Filipino politician and vice mayor of Marikina.
  • AJ Dee – whose real name is Angel James Dee III, is an actor and an international competitive swimmer, like his younger brother Enchong Dee.
  • Enchong Dee – whose real name is Ernest Lorenzo Velasquez Dee, is an actor, director and model, and an international competitive swimmer. He is a contract artist of ABS-CBN and has won numerous awards for his work in movies and television. He is the younger brother of AJ Dee, also an actor and swimmer. He came to prominence after starring in his first major TV drama Katorse (2009). He played the role of "Luis" in the Filipino remake Maria La Del Barrio (2011). He also starred in Ina, Kapatid, Anak (2012–13), and Muling Buksan Ang Puso.
  • Amalia Fuentes – Filipina actress
  • Victor Dennis T. Nierva – poet, teacher, journalist, theatre actor, translator, graphic and book designer.
  • Salvador Panelo – former spokesman and chief legal counsel of President Rodrigo Duterte; practicing lawyer known for representing controversial figures.
  • Jesse Robredo – was a Filipino statesman and former mayor of Naga. Robredo was able to transform Naga from being dull and lethargic to being one of the "Most Improved Cities in Asia", as cited by Asiaweek Magazine in 1999. During his time in city hall, Robredo was credited for "dramatically improved stakeholdership and people participation in governance, in the process restoring Naga to its preeminent position as the premier city of Bicol Region." In 1995, in recognition of his skills and competence as a leader and development manager, Robredo was elected president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, the national association of city mayors. Robredo also chaired the Metro Naga Development Council. He served as chairman of the Regional Development Council, the regional planning and coordinative body of Bicol's six provinces and seven cities, from 1992 to 1998.
  • Leni Robredo – wife of Jesse Robredo, former congresswoman of the Third District of Camarines Sur (2013–16), and the 14th Vice President of the Philippines.
  • Raul Roco – was a political figure in the Philippines. He was the standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko, which he founded in 1997 as a vehicle for his presidential bids in 1998 and 2004. He was a then senator and secretary of the Department of Education under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He had a strong following among young voters in the Philippines, due to his efforts to promote honesty and good governance.
  • Tecla San Andres Zigafemale senator in the Philippines notable for being the first woman in the country to top the bar examination for law-degree graduates.{{cite web|title=Tecla San Andres Ziga|url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/tecla_ziga.htm|publisher=Senate of the Philippines|access-date=November 23, 2013}}
  • Adolfo Tito Yllana – catholic Archbishop serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus, and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine

Other personalities include:

  • Baron Geisler, whose mother hails from Naga
  • Jomari Yllana, whose parents hail from Naga
  • Joel Peter Pedrasa, currently one of the managers of Cebuana Pawnshops is dubbed as Mr. Bean of Bicol

Gallery

File:WTNaga EURO B45.JPG|Downtown Naga

File:WTNaga EURO A33.JPG|Avenue Square

File:Naga city hall.JPG|Naga City Hall

File:WTNaga BAHALANA B41.JPG|Plaza Oragon

File:Malabsay Falls.jpg|Malabsay falls at Mt. Isarog, Panicuason

File:WTNaga Lapanak B41.JPG|Plaza de Nueva Caceres

Sister cities

=Local=

=International=

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}