Bicol Region

Bicol Region is famous for its spice cuisine.



Bicolanos is very good in cooking spicy dishes and eating as well.
And when go to Bicol region, I had taste the bicol express. the red chili pepper is very good for the combination of different vegetables and coconut milk.Even though it's very spicy dish.you should try this dish.

This is the history of bicol express that I had search on internet.

History of the Bicol Express

The original Bicol Express was the last opened part of the Dagupan-Legazpi Railway known as Philippine National Railway (PNR). The first railroads had been built 1875 by a royal decree issued by King Alfonso XII of Spain. A first concession for the construction of a railway line from Manila to Dagupan was granted to Don Edmundo Sykes of the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan on June 1, 1887. So the first railway line led from Manila northwards to Dagupan. The railway was 195 kilometers long at the time of its opening on November 24, 1892. The maiden voyage of the Bicol Express was on September 13, 1931. The track from Dagupan to Legaspi was completely connected on May 8, 1938. Later the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan became the Manila Railway Company. It was nationalized and its assets were acquired by the Philippine government, which expanded the rail network, only to have most of those improvements lost during World War II. Of the 1,140 route-kilometers before the war, only 452 route-kilometers were operational after it. The extensive damage to the system took several years to repair. During the 1950s the Manila Rail Company fleet of trains was converted from steam to diesel engines. Natural calamities such as the 1973 and 1975 floods disrupted services and forced the closure of several parts of the northern main lines. PNR used to operate over 479 km of route from La Union up to Bicol. However, continued neglect in past decades reduced PNR's efficiency and railroad coverage. Persistent problems with informal settlers in the 1990s contributed further to PNR's decline. On November 12, 2004 a train derailed in a ravine in Quezon province south of Manila. 10 passengers were killed and over 100 people injured. On September 27 and Typhoon Milenyo (Cat.3) on November 30 in 2006 caused severe damage to the network, resulting in the suspension of the Manila-Bicol services. PNR needed 5 years to repair all the tracks and overhaul the rotten machines. On May 22, 2011, a test run from Tutuban to Naga proved successful. On June 29, 2011, the Bicol Express from Manila to Naga startet in a new era. On March 13, 2012 PNR extended the network from Naga City to Ligao. There are only 20 miles left until the train arrives in legazpi City. How to cook Bicol Express? Ingredients 800g pork belly, diced (small) 1/2 cup dried shrimps or 3 tbsp  (shrimp paste) 6-10 finger chillies, julienned 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 red onion, chopped 3 cups coconut milk salt freshly ground black pepper Method 1. In a pan sauté garlic and onions. 2. Add the pork belly stir fry for a couple of minutes. 3. Add the 2 cups of coconut milk and dried shrimps then bring to a boil and simmer in medium heat for 20 minutes or until the coconut milk had reduced to a thick oily gravy. 4. Add the chillies and add the second can of coconut milk and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. 5. Add salt and pepper to taste.  its very enjoy to eat Bicol express together with you family.