| Albay Wedding Destinations
Albay - Land of the Most
Perfect Cone
Located between Camarines
Sur and Sorsogon, the province hosts the main attraction in
the whole Bicolandia region, Mayon Volcano. Aside from this
natural wonder, Albay offers its visitors several natural, historical,
man-made and cultural spectacles. Add to that the unique and
palatable delicacies which use either chili or coconut milk
as main ingredient.
Demographics
1. Population – 1,190,823(as
of 2007 Census)
2. Land Area – 2,552.6 sq. km
3. Capital – Legazpi City
4. Language/Dialect – Bikol, English, and Filipino
5. Divisions
Cities (3)
- Legazpi City
- Tabaco City
- Ligao City
Municipalities (15)
- Bacacay
- Camalig
- Daraga
- Guinobatan
- Jovellar
- Libon
- Malilipot
- Malinao
- Manito
- Oas
- Pio Duran
- Polangui
- Rapu-Rapu
- Santo Domingo
- Tiwi
Famous For ...
Mayon Volcano
This near to perfect cone shape volcano has become the most
popular landmark for Albay and the whole Bicolandia. It is considered
by some as more beautiful than the Mt. Fuji in Japan.
Cagsawa Ruins
The place offers the most beautiful view of Mayon Volcano. The
ruins are what were left of the Cagsawa Church when Mayon Volcano
erupted back in 1814.
Pili Nuts
Whether served as pili nut brittle in caramelized sugar, or
placed on top of macaroons or taffy, pili nuts is one the most
popular pasalubongs brought by visiting tourists.
Delectable foods
Albay cooks offers an array of mouthwatering cuisine that may
be challenging for unaccustomed taste buds
1. Bicol Express (pork and chilies in coconut cream)
2. Laing (taro leaves with coconut leaves)
3. Pinangat (sardines with coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves)
4. Latik (cooked sweet coconut milk used as toppings for ricecakes)
5. Cocido (fish soup, usually Lapu-lapu)
Places of Interest
Cultural
Magayon Art Gallery
Location: Albay Provincial Capitol, Legazpi City, Albay
This is the only contemporary art gallery in the province. The
gallery houses various visual art made by local artists.
Legazpi Museum
Location: Legazpi City, Albay
Historical and archeological relics of the city’s gentry
are artfully displayed here for public viewing. It also serves
as an art gallery for Bicolano artists.
Philippine National
Museum
Location: Daraga, Albay
Managed by the National Museum, it contains geological and archeological
finds from the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur,
and Masbate.
Historical
Liberty Bell
Location: Peñaranda Park, Legazpi City, Albay
Constructed by the Americans in 1945, this dome-shaped structure
with an ancient bell inside serves as a symbol of liberation
of the people of Albay from Japanese oppression.
Headless Monument
Location: Lapu-Lapu St., Legazpi City, Albay
The monument was constructed in honor of the unsung heroes who
offered their lives for freedom during the World War II.
Spanish Galleon Wreck
Site
Location: Buhatan beach, Sto. Domingo, Albay
The wreck site serves as a proof of the constant galleon trade
between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico. This galleon was wrought
by a strong typhoon during one of its voyages. Scuba diving,
fishing, and boating are common activities in the site.
Legazpi Albay Gulf
Landing
Location: Legazpi City, Albay
The monument was built in 1995 in line with the 50th Anniversary
of the Landing of the Allied American Forces in the city, which
paved the way to the liberation of the city from Japanese forces.
Natural
Mayon Volcano
Location: Daraga, Albay
Mayon rises 2,462 m (8, 189 ft) above sea level and has a base
circumference of 62.8km (40mi). Its name was taken from the
Bicolano word magayon, which mean beautiful. Mayon Volcano was
one of the nominees for the New 7 Wonders of Nature but did
not manage to reach the second level of nomination.
Pototan Cave
Location: Barangay Tinucawan, Batan Island, Rapu-rapu, Albay
Its cave entrance is shaped like a yawning mouth, about 30 ft
high and 20 ft. wide. Once inside, an underground river that
spans around 12 ft high calmly flows into the different chambers
and passageways.
Calabidongan Cave
Location: Camalig, Albay
Literally, “cave of the bats”, explorers have to
trek, cross over brooks and river before reaching the cave mouth
and swim across a seven-foot lagoon called lizard’s gate.
There is grotto-like formation inside which astounds visitors.
Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave
Location: Camalig, Albay
This cave is said to be the primitive habitat of the natives
of the province before the arrival of the Spaniards. The connected
to Calabidongan Cave.
Minaroso Cave
Location: Brgy. Villahermosa, Batan Island, Rapu-rapu, Albay
Minaroso is an unexplored natural cavern. It is a haven of seabirds
and swallows and believed to be an ancient burial site of the
early Bicolanos.
Black Sand Beaches
Location: Coastal area of Bacacay, Sto. Domingo, and Tiwi, Albay
Black sand beaches are formed due to the natural erosion of
volcanic rock which evolved from ground lava. The black sand
is usually a little grainy but easy to walk on. Local folks
believe that it has therapeutic benefits.
Vera Falls
Location: Mt. Malinao, Malinao, Albay
The path towards the falls is a snake-like trail along tree-filled
rivers. Visitors are welcomed with a crystal blue lagoon covered
under a forest canopy.
Busay Falls
Location: Malilipot, Albay
Hidden from the world, it is considered as one of the highest
waterfalls in the country because of its seven-tiered cascading
white foam which plunges approximately 91 meters from its highest
point, and the last 40m cascade is visible from a clear shallow
pool at the bottom.
Religious
Our Lady of the Gate
Church
Location: Daraga, Albay
This church was built on top of a hill by Franciscan Missionaries
in 1773. The church is very distinct from other churches in
the country because of its rich baroque architectural designs
carefully carved on volcanic rocks and its façade that
has archeological relics of “santos” and rare religious
seals ingeniously carved throughout the entire face of the church,
even up to the belfry.
Saint John The Baptist
Parishi.
Location: Camalig, Albay
The church is made from volcanic stones. Built in 1842, it took
the residents of Camalig six years to complete the whole structure.
Nuestra Señora
De Salvacion
Location: Brgy. Joroan, Tiwi, Albay
Every 3rd Saturday of August, thousands of pilgrims flock to
this small church in Joroan to pay homage to the miraculous
image of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion, Albay’s Patroness.
San Juan Bautista
Church
Location: Tabaco City
Declared by the National Museum as one of the National Cultural
Treasures, this church was built by the secular clergy in 19th
century. The church has compartments that were used for unknown
purposes until now.
Festivals
Magayon Festival
Place: All over Albay
Date: April 1 - 30
The feast recalls the legend of Mayon Volcano which came about
from the tragic love story of the legend of Daragang Magayon
and Panganoron whose fatal deaths gave birth to the volcano.
The festival is filled with activities such as beauty contests,
fireworks display, trade fair, street dancing competition, and
concerts.
Ibalong Festival
Place: Legazpi City, Albay
Date: Second week of October
A week-long festivity recounting the brave exploits of the heroes
of Ibalong or prehistoric Bicol. The festival is highlighted
by a street parade recreating the classic battles between heroes
and beasts of Ibalong.
Sarung Banggi Festival
Place: May 18 - 25
Date: Sto. Domingo, Albay
An annual fun-filled eight-day summer festivity immortalizing
the timeless love song Sarung Banggi, and a tribute to its composer,
Potenciano V. Gregorio. The fiesta showcases several cultural
and religious activities such as street procession, food and
sports fest, beauty search, folksong fest, agro-industrial fair
and more. |
