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Albay lies at the southern tip of Luzon and at the center of the Bicol region. Bounded on the north by Camarines Sur, on the south by Sorsogon, on the west by Marinduque and on the northeast by Catanduanes. During the exploration of Juan de Salcedo in 1573, the province and its neighboring areas were known as 'Ibalon'.

Albay

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A small settlement by a mangrove swamp was a town called Albaybay (meaning "by the bay"). The town was first renamed Albay, then Legaspi, as Albay went on to refer to the province.

Agriculture dominates most of Albay's land area. Their major products include coconut, rice, abaca and corn. The province is also rich in mineral deposits like gold, copper, iron, mercury and deposits of coal, marble, ceramic clay, perlite, silica, guano and phosphates. Lying around the province is a mass of fishing grounds that contain a selection of fish species like scad, tuna, siganid, anchovy and mackarel. Aside from farming and fishing industries, the Albaynons are good in handicraft making. Some of their famous products are Sinamay and Pinolpog, fabrics woven from abaca hemp and the mats made from pandan.

Bicolano cuisine is famous for its rich and spicy dishes, which are mostly cooked using coconut milk called gata and spiced with a very hot, local variety of chili called siling labuyo. Well known Bicolano specialties are Bicol Express (a very hot dish cooked in coconut milk with green chilies), Pinangat (fish or shrimp wrapped in gabi or yam leaves and cooked in coconut milk), Laing (gabi leaves and stalks boiled into a stew with ginger, chili and coconut milk) and Ginataang Langka (young jackfruit stewed in coconut milk with shrimp paste called bagoong).

Legazpi, the capital of Albay Province, is best known for its surrounding attractions, in particular, the majestic Mayon Volcano. Mayon is world renowned for its perfectly symmetrical cone, which billows smoke daily, a reminder that the volcano still erupts at frequent intervals. The buried remains of Cagsawa, with only the church steeple still standing, are proofs of the strong powers of this beautiful, but dangerous wonder of nature.

Historical sites found in the province are the Battle of Legazpi Trylon, Jose Ignacio Paua Monument, Old Albay, Simeon Ola Monument, Guinobatan and the Andres Bonifacio monument in Sto. Domingo. The National Museum in Cagsawa contains geological finds from Mayon.

Notable ancient churches include Our Lady of the Gate in Daraga, St. John the Baptist in Camalig and St. Rose in Bacacay.

Other attractions in the area include the Hoyop-Hoyopan, Calibidongan and Pototan Caves, the surfing beach at Sto. Domingo, Busay Falls and the Tiwi Hot Springs. San Miguel and Rapu-Rapu Islands are among the lesser known, but unspoiled dives sites in the country.

Albay also celebrates its own festivities. The Karangahan Festival is celebrated in May is a grand Albayano celebration as an expression of wealth brought about by a good harvest. Katalingkasan Festival, held every July 21-25, is celebrated in conjunction with the town fiesta of Libon. Bicol Food Festival is a feast of the famous Bicol cuisine. Bancathon is a water sport activity participated in by fisherman from the different municipalities of Albay.

Bicol is served by three airlines: Philippines Airline, Air Philippines and Asian Spirit. PAL flies to Legazpi City only: Air Philippines serves Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Masbate. Asian Spirit flies to Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Masbate. By land, major bus companies offering aircon accommodation ply the Manila to Bicol-Visayas-Mindanao route. Bicol is also served by Philippine National Railway, the only railway in the country, plying daily from Manila up to Legazpi City, Albay.

FACTS

Region: 5
Capital: Legazpi City
Land Area: 2,553.6 sq. km.
Number of Towns: 17

1. Bacacay
2. Camalig
3. Daraga
4. Guinobatan
5. Joveliar
6. Libon

7. Ligao
8. Malilipot
9. Malinao
10. Manito
11. Oas
12. Pio Duran

13. Polangui
14. Rapu-Rapu
15. Sto. Domingo
16. Towo
17. Tabacco

CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SHRINES

Daraga Catholic Church, Daraga - A magnificent baroque church built in 1773 by the Franciscan missionaries. Its very huge structure is considered above standard. Standing on a massive hilltop, it dominates among the other structures of the town of Daraga.

Camalig Catholic Church, Camalig - A missionary church built out of volcanic rocks.

St. Raphael Church, Legaspi - Has an altar that is a large volcanic rock from Mayon.

HISTORICAL SITES

Ruins of Cagsawa Church - A mute testimony of Mayon´s destructive fury. All that remains of the town buried in the 1814 eruption are a blackened church tower and some walls of the priest’s house and the municipal building.

Cagsawa National Museum - Located beside the Cagsawa ruins showcases Bicol relics, artifacts and historical documents.

Spanish Galleon Wreck Site - A site that serves as a strong reminder of the rich Manila-Acapulco trade routes during the Spanish era. Found along the shores of Buhatan Beach in Sto. Domingo, this galleon relic was wrought by a strong typhoon on its way to Acapulco and crushed on the reefs of Albay Gulf. This historical remains lie at five fathoms under the sea with green transparent water.

Liberty Bell - A dome-shaped structure with an ancient bell inside. Constructed by the Americans on April 1945 as a symbol of liberation of the people of Albay from Japanese oppression. Located at Peñaranda Park in Legazpi City.

Headless Monument -Found at Lapu-Lapu St. in Legazpi City, this monument was constructed as a dedication to the unknown and unsung heroes who died and shed their blood during the Japanese war.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Mayon Volcano - The world's nearly perfect cone, rising to an imposing 8,000 feet above sea level. The volcano remains active to this day, though none of its past eruptions had impaled its majestic beauty. It derived its name from the word "magayon", meaning beautiful. Its name has been regarded as the symbol not only of Albay but also of the Philippines within the Orient.

Mayon Rest House - Nestles on the eastern slopes of Mt Mayon at an altitude of 2,700 ft. An excellent summer resort with almost similar temperature with that of Baguio at 28°C. It is popularly known as "heaven on earth" because of the hanging clouds and the pleasant climate where cool and invigorating air could be experienced.

Kimantong Sky Dive - A long stretch of zigzag road in Daraga that has become a favorite stopover and resting place for motorists as it offers a panoramic view of Daraga and Legaspi especially at night.

Busay Fall - Considered as one of the highest waterfalls in the Philippines because of its seven-tiered cascading white foam. It is estimated to have a total of 800 feet from the top. The first catch basin forms below where hundreds of bathers could refresh from the scorching heat of the summer. It is accessible only by foot trail.

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave - A natural tunnel-like structure in Camalig, Albay. Legend says that these caves were the primitive habitats of the natives in the area. It is one of the most popular attractions in Albay. It could be reached by any type of motor vehicles.

Calabidang Caves - The "caves of the bats", also in Camalig, have an underground stream.

Putsan Beach - The original source of ancient ceramics and potteries industry in the Bicol region until today. Sweeping in a long graceful curve the beautiful white surging surfs of the ocean form a sharp contrast with the jet-black volcanic sands.

Balubagon Boiling Lake - Has a steam pressure described to be stronger than the Tiwi geothermal plant. It has an outlet near the seashore where an erupting geyser can be seen for miles.