fifth largest cultural-linguistic group in the Philippines, numbering about 4,070,000 in the late 20th century. Their indigenous region is commonly considered to be “Bicolandia,” a region composing part of the Bicol Peninsula and neighbouring islands of southeast Luzon.

The Bicol are largely an agricultural and rural people, producing rice, coconuts, and hemp. Nearly all of them are Roman Catholics. Their language is closely related to others of the central Philippines, all of which belong to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family of languages.