Ambos Camarines
In 1569, Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, with Augustinian friar Alonzo Jiménez, reached the present town of Camalig, which was a former ranchería.In 1574, at the height of the Spanish colonization of the islands, Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris mentioned in his letter to the King of Spain, the land of Los Camarines – apparently referring to the area of what is now Camalig, Albay.Later, a Spanish garrison under Captain Pedro de Chávez was set up in present-day Naga, a prosperous ranchería.On May 27, 1579, Governor-General de Sande issued a decree which led to the establishment of a settlement in Camarines where Spanish colonists were urged to reside.In March of the same year, General John M. Bell was made military governor of Southern Luzon.