Side Trip in Albay

Mayon Volcano with its perfect cone shape

Some former co-workers and I decided to take another trip to Bicolandia with Naga as our ultimate decision.

As expected, the journey towards southern Luzon and Bicol all the way from Manila was quite a challenge and before we exhaust ourselves even before reaching our destination, we decided to take it easy and enjoy the ride.

Before we know it, we had made several stops in major landmarks in Legazpi, the capital town of the province of Albay, about 300 kilometers southeast of Manila.

Mayon Volcano

Our first stop, the gorgeous Mayon Volcano.

The requisite jump shot, hahaha

Someone once told me once that you're not really a Filipino if you haven't seen Mayon Volcano at least once in your life. It may be an exaggeration, but this natural wonder is the tallest landmark you will see in an otherwise flat terrain that is Legazpi City. And I must say, it is quite imposing with its natural cone shape.

But make no mistake, this beautiful volcano is one of the most active ones in the country with recorded explosion  at least thrice in the past four years.

It had a very  powerful explosion in 1814, which buried a Franciscan church in the town of Cagsawa located right at the foot of the volcano.

The church, built in 1724 was buried completely except for the bell tower, which has become a major landmark in Albay.


Daraga Church

Also one of the most recognizable landmarks in Legazpi is the Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church or the Nuestra Senora de la Porteria or simply Daraga Church.

Daraga Church

I must admit, I'm not exactly the religious type but this Baroque church built by Franciscan missionaries way back in 1773 is just magnificent.

The fact that it was built on an elevated portion of the city overlooking the ocean and the Mayon volcano, makes it all the more enigmatic.

The church's name is quite mysterious. Our Lady of the Gate? According to the parish website, the Franciscan builders of the church named it after a devout Franciscan lay brother Fray Luis de San Jose who spent most of his life in a convent in Avila, Spain.

According to stories, Fray Luis de San Jose survived a flood through a miracle by the Blessed Virgin. He then spent the rest of his life spreading the devotion to Immaculate Concepcion.

Embarcadero.

We also spent some time at the Embarcadero, the lifestyle, business, tourism and recreational  hub of Legazpi City.

This wharf facing Volcano offers a wide variety of restaurants, souvenir shops, bars, arcade and commercial and IT buildings.


The Embarcadero was really envisioned to be a major stop for anyone who's traveling around Bicolandia.


Tourists heading to Donsol, in the province of Sorsogon for some whale-shark watching and those spending time in the secluded and ultra-posh Misibis Bay Resorts opt stop by Embarcadero for a much-needed break after a long drive.

In the end, what was supposed to be a side trip in Albay turned out to be a major tour on its own. We just couldn't help it.

Embarcadero at Night. Photo courtesy of wowlegazpi.com