The Bicol Region comprises the southern part of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago.

[3] The Bicol region was known as Ibalong, variously interpreted to derive from ibalio, "to bring to the other side"; ibalon, "people from the other side" or "people who are hospitable and give visitors gifts to bring home"; or as a corruption of Gibal-ong, a sitio of Magallanes, Sorsogon where the Spaniards first landed in 1567.

No prehistoric animal fossils have been discovered in Bicol and the peopling of the region remains obscure.

The Aeta from Camarines Sur to Sorsogon strongly suggest that aborigines lived there long ago, but earliest evidence is of middle to late Neolithic life.

Records show no sign of Islamic rule nor any authority surpassing the datu (chieftain).

[7] Bicol also has Latin-American settlements and cultural influence mostly from Mexico due to the abundance of chili pepper plantations in the area, as it is Mexican in origin.

[9] However regardless, the region throughout its history has been among the hardest to control by Spanish, American, and Japanese occupants due to heavy resistance among the populace.

The Bicol Region has a population of 6,082,165 as of 2020 census, growing at an average annual rate of 1.29 percent between 2010 and 2015.

This was due to the pull of newly installed infrastructures, particularly roads, and the sporadic growth of trade in strategically situated municipalities that have better economic opportunities.

The majority of the Bicolano people are devout Roman Catholics due to the Spanish conquering the country and converting them to their religion.

The standard form of Rinconada Bikol both in pronunciation and writing is the Sinabukid (Highland) dialect of Iriga variant.

The Catholic church grew in the Bicol Region through the efforts of the bishops from Nueva Caceres (Naga City) from the 17th century until the Philippine Revolution in 1898.

Naga City is the religious center of the Bicol Region and is the seat of one of the oldest dioceses in the Philippines, the ecclesiastical Archdiocese of Caceres.

The largest minority religion in the region is Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) known for its magnificent worship buildings, commonly called chapels or kapilya, with towering spires that dot the Bicol landscape.

Among these deities include: Gugurang, the supreme god who dwells inside of Mount Mayon where he guards and protects the sacred fire in which Aswang, his brother was trying to steal.

Ancient Bikolanos had a rite performed for him called Atang;[16][17] Asuang, the evil god who always try to steal the sacred fire of Mount Mayon from his brother, Gugurang.

;[18] Bulan, the god of the pale moon, he is depicted as a pubescent boy with uncommon comeliness that made savage beast and the vicious mermaids (Magindara) tame.

[19] The Bicolano cuisine is primarily noted for the prominent use of chili peppers and gata (coconut milk) in its food.

A classic example is the gulay na lada, known outside the region as Bicol express, a well-loved dish using siling labuyo (native small chillies) and the aforementioned gata.

On the other hand, Bicolano men are expected to assume the role of becoming the primary source of income and financial support of his family.

Bicolanos are often sweet, regionalistic, friendly, adventurous, puts high importance on education and social status.

[29] Currently, Bicol Region has 13,435 farmers that cultivate 142,405 hectares of pili plantation according the Department of Agriculture-Bicol's data.

[32] The region's tourism industry has been revived by the popularity of Mayon Volcano, the new CamSur Water Sports Complex, whale shark spotting, among others, which consequently increased the number of upscale resorts.

[36] The opening of the Bicol International Airport in Legazpi City was hoped to further boost tourism in the region.

Volcanism is evident by the number of hot springs, crater lakes, and volcanoes that dot the region starting from Mount Labo in Camarines Norte to the Gate Mountains in Matnog, Sorsogon.

The transition period will end with the 2017–2018 school year, which is the graduation date for the first group of students who entered the new educational system.

Private schools are not obliged to abide by a specific date but must open classes no later than the last week of August.

Born in Donsol, Sorsogon to Christian Bicolano teachers but raised in Tawi-Tawi where his parents were sent to teach and he became exposed into Tausug and Sama cultures and converted to Islam at a yong age, which soon earned him a position as a first Commissioner (later Minister) of Muslim Affairs.