Discovering Legaspi, Albay

This was supposed to come out in a Travel Magazine. My first contributing piece. Anyway, I don't know what happened. I'd like to thank my cousin Val for being an awesome editor to me :)

Travelling alone to a new place can be a little bit intimidating. When you get there you either explore and get excited over the possibility of new discoveries, or you choose to be safe in the confines of your hotel room and indulge in a good book for some peace and relaxation. Since I was in an adventurous mood, I was feeling ready to visit Legaspi, Albay all on my own. Despite the unfamiliar territory and not knowing anyone from there, I was ready to learn new things, see new places, meet new people and somehow, learn a little more about myself in the process. Little did I know that this trip would bring out my true love for photography and discovery, and in some way redefine my definition of “alone time”.

And I was off! The 55-minute plane ride to Legaspi wasn’t that bad. I love riding airplanes.; they’re fast, there are no traffic jams up in the air, and just the thought of being up, up and away from the ground immediately relaxes me, I always fall asleep even before take-off. Just when we were about to land, I peeped out the window and looked out into the beautiful scenery. Legaspi, here I come!

Truth is, I didn’t know that much about this place, except the fact that the perfectly shaped volcano, Mt. Mayon was somewhere around here. I was told to expect to see some charming old churches and have my fill of Pili nuts, Bicol Express and Laing (both famous dishes from the local cuisine).

I decided to research about my destination and I found out a few things. I found out that there were just so many things to see and do here, so I decided to map out the historic and famous landmarks of Legazpi I would go and see. Of course I didn’t want to just hit the tourist spots, but I had to start somewhere! It is almost like going through a proper coursed meal. Entree first, then main dish then dessert, even in a que sera-sera moment I still like the feeling of being somewhat organized.

First stop: Rizal Shrine

Since he is the national hero of the Philippines, most of the provinces have a shrine or monument dedicated to Jose Rizal. If you ask me, this one looked pretty much the same as the rest of the other monuments dedicated to him. Those that really stand out are the ones in Calamba, Laguna and the Luneta Park in Manila.

Second stop: Headless Monument

This was built and dedicated to the unknown people of Albay who fought in the war during the Japanese occupation. It is Located on Lapu-Lapu St. in Legaspi City, right across the post office, and amidst the hustle and bustle. It acts as a continuing reminder to those around of the heroism of the everyday citizen.

Third stop:

I couldn’t go all the way to Bicol without checking out the majestic Mount Mayon. This incredibly symmetrical volcano may take credit for putting Albay on the map. Currently, it is the Philippines’ most active volcano.

I was brought to the Mayon Skyline where the Mayon Planetarium is located. A nearby café with a couple of adventure sport facilities like, wall climbing, attracted a number of adrenaline junkies and tourists who were taking a rest from their sight-seeing.

Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day, I wasn’t able to see the volcano in all its glory. Nevertheless, the lush scenery that surrounded the area made up for it by providing a calm and serene mood.

On the way down from Mayon Skyline, I asked the driver to pull over a couple of times when I saw possible opportunities to take good photos of Mount Mayon. Despite not being able to take the perfect photo because of the conditions, I was happy to be able to see for myself one of the nominated 7-wonders of the world. I really hope she wins a place.

Fourth Stop: Daraga Church

The Daraga Church is one of the oldest and most historic Baroque Churches in Legaspi. Named Nuestra Seňora de la Portera (Our Lady of the Gate), there are many versions as to how the church came about. Some say that it was built by young maidens, or daraga in the local dialect, after a catastrophic eruption destroyed the town. Apparently, the church was really built by Franciscan missionaries in the year 1773, 40-years before the eruption of Mayon.

As soon as I saw the structure from afar, I was in awe. I’ve always had an unspoken love for old architecture and historic religious sites; churches are at the top of my list. This Church really intrigued me, since I was only allowed to take a peek at what was inside; I couldn’t enter, but I was able to see a glimpse of the interior despite the grid bars that blocked my view. I could see that that day, the church was being set up for a wedding.

Fifth Stop: St. Gregory Cathedral

St. Gregory is the Patron Saint of Albay, so it is fitting that the Cathedral named after him is found at the heart of Legaspi City, near the Peňaranda Park. The cathedral has been renovated to update it from it’s original Spanish style architecture. I chose to hear mass in this church on Saturday night - God spoke to me in Bicolano. Although I couldn’t understand the dialect, I was happy to experience something new.

Sixth Stop Peňaranda Park

The Peňaranda Park is home to the Liberty Bell landmark. This famed bell constructed by Americans on April 1945 symbolizes the liberation of the people of Albay from the Japanese affliction. It’s an ancient bell that is housed in a mini-dome, and the park that was built for it is visited by young and old alike. Unlike most parks that are filled with green fields, this park was mostly concrete with little landscaping. This park is walking distance from the St. Gregory Cathedral, and is the best place to view it. Similar to a plaza or square, the park is centrally located, thus it is easy to spot the Legazpi City Hall, and other buildings connected to the government and business. I noticed that some young locals enjoy using the park as a place to get together and chat with friends.

Seventh and Final Stop : Cagsaua Ruins

The Cagsaua Ruins are remnants of an old Church that was buried due to Mt. Mayon’s explosion in the year 1814. I learned that there was originally a different church built in the same area way back in 1587. However on July 25, 1636, the first church was burned by Dutch citizens who were raiding bordering towns of Legazpi Bay. When I was taking photos, I was reminded of the set of the movie Braveheart. As ironic as it seems, the ruined Church surrounded by wild flowers and grass all around, was a romantic sight. What makes the place even more special is the view of Mt. Mayon that you can see from here. The entrance fee was PHP 10.00.

My adventure had come to an end after 4 short days. It was time for me to head back to Manila but I didn’t go home empty handed. First of all, I now know from personal experience just how beautiful this Filipino province is; something that I’ve heard so many people rave about. The history of the province and the hospitality of the people are mementoes that I will definitely keep close to my heart. Best of all, this trip taught me about more than just my country, but the serenity and peace of Bicol helped me reflect and get to know myself better.