It’s really more fun in the Philippines, especially in LA or Legazpi, Albay where I was born and studied until high school. I recently visited my childhood home from August 29 to 31 with my wife, Rachel Salinel, by taking the overnight luxury bus to and from Cubao in Quezon City. We were welcomed in the early morning of August 29 with the beautiful sight of the majestic volcano showing her perfect cone when we passed Ligao City going all the way to Legazpi City.
Legend has it that its name came from ‘magayon‘, a Bicolano word that means beautiful which is more than appropriate to describe how stunning this natural scenery is from every angle (this was taken from the internet).
The Guinness World Records describes Mayon as the Most Conical Volcano: “Mount Mayon (2,463 m; 8,081 ft; 13°15’24″N 123°41’6″E), the most active volcano in the Philippines, is almost perfectly conical, and known to volcanologists as the ‘Perfect Cone’. Situated in Albay on the island of Luzon, Mayon is a stratovolcano (composed of layers of erupted material; strato meaning ‘layers’) with a characteristically small crater peak and steep sides (35º-40°) formed from lava and pyroclastic flows.
In the summer of 1992, I reached the crater with my first cousin Bong Ante Abad. We were part of the official group of mountaineers and adventure-seekers allowed by the Department of Tourism Region V to climb. Actually, the year before we also joined the official summer climb but I only stayed at Camp 2, with an elevation of about 5,900 feet, while Bong joined the group of brave individuals who conquered the crater. I was a little hesitant then because I bought the wrong pair of shoes which was not really for trekking. Bong and I in the early 90s were active members of PAL Mountaineers and we had climbed together Mt. Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon, Mt. Banahaw, a mystic mountain in Laguna and Quezon provinces, as well as traversed the mountain range in Panay island. I had also climbed Mt. Kanlaon in Negros and Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines, in Davao.
To describe the trail of Mayon I found this from the website ‘Guide to the Philippines’ and written by Jessa Tek-Ing which was posted on March 4, 2021:
“Make your trip extra adventurous by trekking up Mayon Volcano. Hire a trusted guide and take the Farmer’s Trail where you will be welcomed by nature at its finest. The entire trail is believed to be formed after the volcano’s eruptions over the years.
Due to the volcano’s activity, climbing to the summit has been prohibited but tourists are now allowed until Camp 2 and beyond to ‘Rabbit’s Ear’. The hike normally takes about 2-3 hours as you traverse through wide grasslands, farms, rivers, and gullies.
It is advisable for beginners to hike until Camp 1 while more experienced visitors may be able to endure reaching Camp 2. Nevertheless, both offer an adventure worth remembering.”
If you are not into trekking then you can try the all-terrain vehicle or ATV Adventure. I had so much fun riding the ATV with my St. Agnes elementary batchmates on May 3, 2013 on the morning of our grand reunion. We took the Mayon lava trail where there was a zipline. There are other trails like the Cagsawa Ruins trail. The ATV Adventure was coordinated by our batchmate Lynne Tabuena Marcellana. Thank you Lynne, really.
We were so fortunate because three days later Mayon had a phreatic explosion on May 6. “Mayon Volcano at 8:00:25 AM today, produced a small phreatic event that lasted about 73 seconds,” advised Phivolcs. According to Wikipedia, a phreatic eruption, also called a phreatic explosion, ultravulcanian eruption or steam-blast eruption, occurs when magma heats ground water or surface water. The extreme temperature of the magma (anywhere from 500 to 1,170 °C [930 to 2,100 °F]) causes near-instantaneous evaporation of water to steam, resulting in an explosion of steam, water, ash, rock, and volcanic bombs.
There is one place along the slopes of the volcano which has remained intact for over 50 years despite the periodic eruptions. It is the Mayon Rest House located at an altitude of 2,802 feet and facing Tabaco City. I had been to the rest house several times during my elementary years, with my last trip in 1996 when I was already working. In March 2006, the Mayon Planetarium and Science Park also known as the Virtual Mayon Simulation and Observatory Facility was inaugurated alongside the rest house. This goes to show that the rest house and the additional facility will not be affected by future eruptions.
I just shared my three experiences related to Mayon Volcano. There are other fun and adventure destinations in Albay . The office in charge for promoting ‘innumerable activities for leisure, fun, relaxation, and travel’ is the Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (PTCAO) which is headed by Dorothy Fernandez Colle. I met her on August 31 upon the request of Governor Noel Ebriega Rosal, whom I met on August 30 which was arranged by my Legazpi-based brother Steve who is an entrepreneur and civic leader. The provincial legal officer, Atty. Peter Leo Ralla, who was present during my courtesy call, accompanied me in the meeting with Dorothy.
Thank you Peter for going out of your way. Peter is a batchmate from St. Agnes, too. It was also nice to see a family friend working with the governor, provincial administrator Rico Buenviaje Salazar. I told Governor Rosal, Dorothy and Peter that I will help promote the province in my own little way in the UAE as an Albayano. I am envisioning Emiratis and other Middle Eastern nationalities diverting their regular holiday destinations to the Philippines.
Just to add on October 7, 2021, then President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated the Bicol International Airport (BIA), located in Daraga, Albay. He said: “The completion of this world-class and state-of-the-art government infrastructure project brings us pride and joy as it will provide better transportation for our people who are traveling to and from the Bicol region.”
So my dear readers and friends Come to LA (Philippines). And to say it in the local dialect – dagos tabi sa Legazpi, Albay.
Note: Art ‘Popoy’ Los Banos and his wife, Rachel Salinel, were in the Philippines for two weeks. They attended their son’s graduation on August 27 at the Ateneo de Manila University. On August 29 they visited several churches and famous landmarks in Albay with Art’s youngest sister Judith and her husband Jonathan Abalos.