LEGAZPI CITY: My Hometown

I spent my formative years in Legazpi, where the famous Mayon Volcano is located. I was a witness of her several eruptions since the 80’s Ironically, it was eerie and exciting to see nature's way of bringing beauty and power together. I felt that I knew this volcano by heart since I was able to explore the top of Mayon Volcano during the college when I joined “On To Mayon” adventure during the 90’s.

It was last Dec 21 6:00 pm when we arrived in Legazpi. Seeing just the tip of the volcano while we are approaching Camalig Albay brings back to me so many happy childhood memories. I reminisced how my father often proudly told us stories about Mayon Volcano and her antics, her myths and eruption patterns (every ten years usually during the year ending with 8’s).

My visit to my hometown will not be complete without catching the beauty of Mayon. I thought I will never see her perfect beauty since it’s rainy season and the cloudy and windy weather conditions made it difficult for me to catch a sight of the entire volcano. It maybe too frustrating especially if you’re just as excited to take pictures of her. Oftentimes, she always hides in haze so I couldn’t catch her perfection.

But sometimes she showed up her “charm” when the weather is good. You just have to be timely to see her full beauty. Mt Mayon does not show itself clearly very often.

Best view of the Mt. Mayon and Legazpi Proper in Tagongtong Hill in Taysan

Actually you can see the volcano at any point of Albay, but the best location is the point near to our place. Our house is located 10 kms away from the volcano and going to Legazpi proper, we passed by the tip of the highest hill in Tagongtong, Taysan where we can see Mt. Mayon, as well as the entire Legazpi proper.

Mayon never seize to amaze me. For me, it is one of the most photogenic and most photographed subject. Every angle has its own characteristic that never fails to show its true beauty.

here's a tip: if you want to shoot Mayon with clear skies, youll most probably have better chances early morning from 6am-7am and you will have a better chance that she will show her true beauty.

In the City proper, I checked out a place called Pier 1 (Brgy. Victory Village) near the wharf. In this part of the city, you can have the full view of the so called Sleeping Lion where the major waterfront development, Embarcadero de Legazpi, is soon to open in March 2009. It will become a destination for both local and international tourists alike. The masterplan maximizes the uniqueness of the location – the site fronts the main harbour of Legazpi with views to the Mount Mayon volcano.

The next tourist hub in Legazpi - Embarcadero

Embarcadero is comprised of retail, restaurants, markets, a major civic space and landmark lighthouse, with a future waterfront hotel and spa. It will “activate” the waterfront creating an attractive and vibrant focus for the city’s leisure and lifestyle activities.

Likewise it will function as a waterfront promenade, with theatrical lighting and performance spaces creating a lively, family friendly environment during the day and at night

Father and son getting a morning splash at the sea port

The place was known before as Victory Village/ Legazpi Port where we seldom visited because of the squatters and the squabbles of gangs in the 80’s, and most of the dwellers were street delinquents.

The famous Sleeping Lion in DapDap, Legazpi City

In 2006, Supertyphoon Reming triggered a massive mudslide and floods in downtown Legazpi. The entire city proper was almost submerged in water reaching to almost 10 feet high. There were big rocks that came from the top of Mayon that rolled down destroying everything in its path. Just imagine, after Reming, companies built rock quarry/grinding plants because of the abundance of rocks and sand and dwellers near the slope of Mt. Mayon prefer to build their own concrete houses in the same affected area. They refused to be relocated.

Reming devastations in Legazpi City in November 2006


Boulders, big rocks and muds can still be seen today in Padang Legazpi City

Despite of the onslaught and massive destructions, the “Buhayon Ta an Legazpi” campaign of its Mayor, Engr. Noel Rosal, was a success. Now, the place is entirely different. The port area is generally clean, progressive and peaceful.