Camarines Norte is more than Calaguas and Bagasbas. Here are places off the beaten track to explore:

If the map of the Philippines were a banquet table filled with a variety of cuisines, the Bicol region would be where the cheese section is. Always overlooked, but as every foodie agrees, one should never miss this part of the table. The same philosophy applies to this region situated at the tail end of the island of Luzon. An often unnoticed province belonging to this region, Camarines Norte lies quietly, waiting to be discovered—either by transient itinerants on their way to Mayon Volcano in Legazpi or the whale shark watchers en route to Donsol, Sorsogon. To the few who stop by, Camarines Norte’s tourism trail only consists of the surfing spot in Bagasbas and the Calaguas and Mercedes group of islands, disregarding the fact that hidden among its rustic towns are the many jump-offs to more pristine islands and adventure sites.

The clear blue sky calls for all sorts of outdoor activity. With the calm Taal Lake spread out in front of us, one would think a Zen fishing trip is in order. Nope, it's even better. Because other than the scenic lake, dozens of colorful Hobie Cats—small sailing catamarans made by the Hobie Cat Company—were neatly docked on the shore fronting Taal Lake Yacht Club. These sails and their respective sailing crews were gathered for the Lima Park Hotel 2016 Philippine Hobie National Championships.