Blog your way around any Bicol topics and informations
Mt. Mayon is seen all over the province of Albay. Let me share the view I get whenever I’m home in Tiwi, Albay.
A thing of beauty that I’ll never get tired of.
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In 1814, Mayon Volcano erupted, with lava cascading down its slopes. The townspeople fled to the Cagsawa church, in hopes that they would be out of harm’s way.
At that time lava flows buried the town of Cagsawa and 1,200 people perished. Only the bell tower of the town’s church remained above the new surface and now stands as a memorial.
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An electric generation project with geothermal energy as source. It is designed to generate more than 227 megawatts, operated jointly by NPC/NEA and Union Oil (USA).
Located in Tiwi, Albay mostly visited for its high educational values.
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A site which serves as a strong reminder of the rich Manila to Acapulco (Mexico) trade routes during the Spanish era. Found along the shores of Buhatan beach at Sto. Domingo, Albay, 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. It is an ideal place for scuba diving, fishing or boating.
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It nestles on the eastern slopes of Mt. Mayon at an altitude of 2,700 ft. An excellent summer resort with almost similar temperature with Baguio at 28 degrees Celsius. 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.
From this height, visitors, see the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the different towns, lakes, villages, fields and other mountains. Accessible through Tabaco, motor vehicles of any type could be used to reach it.
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Catanduanes is known to many as an island paradise. Its clean white sand is very inviting but the sea can get rough sometimes. Puraran Beach is known for its large waves. The surfing season at Puraran Beach, Catanduanes is October.
It has a long string of palm-fringed beaches and deep blue waters against a backdrop of luxuriant grassy mountains, and a totally laid-back rural charm and crowned with jewel-like island. The whole strip of this pearly island of the Pacific is almost untouched, unblemished, and unexplored.
Travel time from Manila to Catanduanes is one hour and 15 minutes with domestic route By Asian Spirit with direct flights daily. The airport on Catanduanes is in the capital Virac.
Take the bus in Cubao or Pasay, Metro Manila terminals and jump off at Tabaco Port. Philtranco Bus covers the 580 kms from Manila to Tabaco Port. The trip is a long one; it will take you all of twelve (12) hours. Once in Tabaco Point you have three ferries to choose from to get yourself to Catanduanes. Ride either MV Eugenia, Star Ferry, or MV Regina Shipping Lines. Travel time is 3 to 3 ½ hours for MV Eugenia or Star Ferry, which dock straight at Virac Seaport. MV Regina takes only 2 ½ hours to reach San Andres Seaport on catanduanes from Tobacco Port. From San Andres to Virac you can either jump on a Jeepney or take a trike, whatever your fancy.
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Another breathtaking scenic beauty the Philippines could offer its tourists is the Mayon Volcano. It is an active volcano and popularly called as the world’s most perfect cone located in Legaspi, Albay, Philippines. Mayon Volcano never failed to attract visitors as it measures 8,189 feet with a base of 10 kilometers with its perfect cone whether seen from a distance or up close. When the volcano erupted, it left wonderful sceneries around it such as natural springs, caves, hills and lakes that have access to the panoramic view of the famous volcano.
Photos from SXC.HU, by DxPsycho
Known as the “Heaven on Earth”, Mayon Skyline nestles at the eastern slopes of the volcano with the altitude of 2,700 feet. Every visitor enjoys the hanging cloud and the pleasant climate as they view the Pacific Ocean and different places around Mayon Volcano National Park where the Mayon Volcano is located. There is also the Cagsawa Ruins, which is a lavish church during the Spanish era and was buried when the volcano erupted on February 1, 1814. The remains of the church serve as a mute testimony of the volcano’s destructive strength and volatile fury. The Cagsawa Ruins Park always gives tourists an unhampered view of Mayon Volcano.
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Nagsurok Cave
Pinanaan Cave
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It was a cold sunday. The plan was to meet at chowking muñoz at 3am. The establishment which is usually open 24 hours was closed that morning, for the holidays i think, so i texted everyone that mercury drug is the new meeting place. i got there some 20 minutes before 3. after 5 or 10 minutes angela showed up. daren, bryan and macky arrived some 30 minutes later. we took the extra time of waiting for mark to buy some stuff like lighter fluids and chips. he arrived with his pops trailing on another car. We had some chit-chats with his dad and after a few fatherly reminders and a tank full of gas, we were on our way to bicol.
i was thinking that it’ll be one hell of a long trip… i was sure i heard mark’s honda odessey saying the same thing. hehe.
we picked up alex and his gf, grace, in the corner of quezon ave and edsa. They were sitting beside ronald mcdonald in a darkened mcdo store. it was already 4:30 and they were already there some 2 hours ago. well the early bird catches the porn, thats what they say. And then we continue on our way. We had an early breakfast at a shell station along the south express way.
After long hours of playing rugby with giant trucks and buses (and having some close calls, whew!) we got to our first pitstop, Naga City. It was around 12 in the afternoon. We were all very ready for a bicol food fest by that time, so we looked for a place called Robertsons, Naga’s version of Robinsons, and got our bellies full with tinolmok and the best of the bicolandia cuisine. After we bought a box of sanmig lights, we were on the road again.
Next stop was the Cagsawa Ruins. It was around 3pm, it rained so after just a couple of photos, we decided to resume our trip to matnog which was our destination that day. I think Mark was already starving that he was driving like we were a friggin ambulance. We were halfway to matnog in less than an hour. We knew we found the X spot when we saw the huge words “You Are Now Leaving The Island Of Luzon”. After a very nice diner, we geared up for Subic Island.
Rommels place is situated just some 30 yards from the beach. Two small bancas were waiting for us, both were still off shore and all of us helped to push ‘em out to sea. That shit was not an easy thing to do, with those huge waves, its like crazy, man. Even boarding the outriggers proved to be a challenge. I remember some locals even warned us that the waves are already dangerous and getting stronger and bigger by the minute. They were right. The pacific ocean waves is really something to be reckoned with. There were no life jackets available and had our banca flipped or something, it could have been one hell of a fight for life. It was “the ride” im telling you. Pretty scary and very thrilling at the same time. We even had a banca race hehe. After some 25 minutes, we got to Subic Island, a secluded speck of land between Sorsogon and Samar. After dinner, cans of beer, bottles of brandy and manong telling us stories about aswangs and stuff, we all dozed off under the bicolana moon.
It was now monday. We spent the morning swimming and riding the huge waves, exploring the island and frustratingly climbing a rock wall for pictures. After tons of photos, we set off for matnog again. The waves were still strong so the ride was still a thriller. We took quick showers and after a nice breakfast courtesy of Rommel’s wonderful grandma, we packed our things up. We said thanks and goodbye to Rommels granny and pretty cousins and we were off. Next, Mt. Bulusan!
We hired a van to take us to Mt. Bulusan jump-off point. When we got there, locals, even the kagawad, advised us not to continue with the planned climb since the weather is really bad and limatiks with surely eat us alive (as how one local had exaggeratedly put it). We all agreed to listen to the local peeps and decided that we will just do a day hike the next morning. But the plan was changed when four mountaineers which have just came down from the mountain arrived. We talked to them and asked them about the situation up there. They suggested we go on with the climb but warned us that its raining very hard and showed us some fresh limatik bites. They said they didnt went to the summit because its really foggy and its raining, no view will ever be seen in that condition. So we changed our game plan.
We’ll go on with the climb and set camp on angingay. And if in the following morning the weather is good, we’ll trek up to the summit. We reached angingay campsite at about 5pm. It was still raining the following day (Tuesday) so we decided to descend rather than to continue up. We took a different route on the way down, leading to Bulusan Lake. We rested a lil in bulusan lake, picture takings, snack and had a chitchat with a french mountaineer. Had our lunch in the town of irosin and the we headed back to rommels place in matnog.
After packing our things and thanking Rommels grandma, we left matnog. We were in the mood for some ice cold beer and a couple of microphones so Rommel took us to New Port beach resort and busted our pipes with cheezy videoke songs haha. Our body needed some rejuvenating from the climb so after the videoke raid and snorkeling in New Port Beach, we blazed the road again and went to San Binon Hot Spring. Bodies were healed but bellies were still aching so after a couple of hours in the hot spring, we were back on the road.
Next stop, Daren’s place in Prieto Diaz for the seafood galore! We arrived there around 9pm. His parents were very warm and generous. We were treated with giant crabs and prawns, laing and octopus dinuguan. God i think we spent almost an hour over the dinner table. hehe. at 12 midnight, we left for Rizal beach, carrying 8 grandes and more giant crabs and prawns. We arrived at Gubat town after some 20 minutes later. Now i understand why rizal beach is one of the most famous beaches of bicol, its fine white sand and very wide shoreline. We coundnt find a nice place to stay at so after some hours we decided to head back to Daren’s place and finish our drinking spree there. And then there was darkness. A lot of snoring.
The next day. We all got up early for there are still lots of adventures to do. We went to Sto. Domingo for the Nagsurok and Pinanaan caves exploration. We explored Nagsurok first. Its entrace was a lil narrow but its one huge cave, man. And it has hundreds of bats living inside along with huge scorpions and spiders. Then it was the Pinanaan cave, a very large cave, its like standing inside a cathedral. On our way back to Darens house, we took a detour and went to one of the largest mangrove forest in the country, the Prieto Diaz Mangrove Forest & Coastal Management. Then we went back to Darens, had a great lunch and packed our stuff.
On our way home, we stopped by Cagsawa Ruins again, to take photos and shop for some pasalubongs. Good thing it wasnt raining anymore. The next stop over was in Naga City, we had a quick dinner at Bryans place. And thats it, we got back here at manila the following morning.
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