there's more to ALBAY than meets the eye more than just

A Y G O A Y A G O N A N M M

B53 | GROUP 5 FABUNAN JAVATE RELLATA

Photograph by Jonas Hornehøj

The Bicol region was known as Ibalong, variously interpreted to derive form ibalio, "to bring to the other side"; ibalon, "people from the other side" or "people who are hospitable and give visitors gifts to bring home" It was named Ibalon by Juan de Salcedo and his soldiers in 1573. Later on, in April 3, 1574 the place called “Baybayon” became an encomienda assigned by Philippine Governor General Guido de Lavezaris to Juan Guerra. This place would later be called “Baybay”, then “Al Baybay” and later shortened to “Albay.” Albay, near the southeastern tip of the island of Luzon, is at the heart of Kabikolan (the Bikol region); its language, culture, and historical experience under Spanish colonialism were different in many ways from those in Manila and the surrounding Tagalog provinces.

A Y G O A N M adjective

irresistibly beautiful

DID YOU KNOW? The National Museum has declared three (3) churches in Albay as a National Cultural Treasure

CAGSAWA RUINS

DARAGA CHURCH TABACO CHURCH Photographs from Unsplash and Tabaco City Official Website

Catholicism was first introduced to the Bikolanos in 1569. The coming of the Franciscans in 1578 started and sustained the process of Catholic conversion. Cagsawa Church was built by Franciscan friars in 1724 and was administered by Fray Francisco Blanco in the small town of Cagsawa. Aside from the rich history this bell tower possess, it also symbolizes the resiliency of the Bikolanos towards calamities and disastrous events.

CAGSAWA RUINS Daraga, Albay According to the elders residing in Albay, Cagsawa Church was said to have been destroyed first by Dutch pirates in 1636. Then, the eruption of the Mayon Volcano came about and buried the whole town of Cagsawa and its thousands of residents; The only survivor of the eruption was the bell tower which tourists see in Cagsawa Ruins. Old Photograph from Google

OUR LADY OF THE GATE PARISH CHURCH Daraga, Albay

Photographs from ZEN Rooms and Albay LGU

Located on a hilltop with a commanding view of Mayon Volcano, it is one of the most visited churches in Albay. The Daraga Church, as it is popularly known, began to be built in 1773 after the people of Cagsawa were allowed to transfer their town center to avoid the disasters brought by the eruptions of Mt. Mayon and the flooding of Yawa River.

Also known as Nuestra Senora de la Porteria, the church was designed with Baroque-inspired architecture, or which the Provincial Tourism, Culture, and the Arts Office (PTCAO) call, "Churrigueresque" Style.

Developed at the height of Spanish Baroque from the late 17th to the early 18th century, the Churrigueresque style is often described as “Baroque on steroids” because of its florid and detailed ornamentation. This is reflected in Daraga Church with the use of Solomonic or ‘twisted” columns, floral motifs, various Biblical emblems, and even local geometric motifs that add a Bicolano touch to the dialogue of artistic traditions. The idea behind the unique design of the Daraga Church is in its representation as gateway to heaven and refuge of salvation, perhaps owing to the catastrophes experienced by the locals at Cagsawa.

Photograph from Marky Go

According to a study by Besmonte, Tabaco City has immovable tangible heritage that connects them to their past, to a certain degree of cultural value, beliefs, customs, traits, and age-old tradition. St. John the Baptist Church is said to be the first stone church in Tabaco. It was first constructed in 1723 in Cormidal, Tabaco City. However, due to the eruption of the Mayon Volcano in 1814, the church met the same fate as of the town of Cagsawa. It was later rebuilt in 1864-1879 by Fr. Fermin Llorente, who was a former engineer and soldier. Photographs from Tabaco City Official Website

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH Tabaco City, Albay

The architectural design of the 156-year-old church reflect the background of Fr. Llorente as its structure looks like a military fort. The church was also constructed using volcanic stones retrieved from the eruption. Initially, historians claim that the bell tower on the side of the main building served as a baluarte or a watchtower for defense against raiders from the sea. The space located just in front of the church is called the Cristo Rei Park. In the midst of the park, a statue of Christ the King stands, with Christ at the top and six angels surrounding the monument. The strange thing was that it didn't face the same direction as the church, which appears to be how it was built originally (see 1966 photo for reference). Photographs from Tabaco City Official Website

HEADS UP! Aside from the ancestral churches present in the province, it's impossible that you might miss the sight of various monuments and landmarks in Albay that shows the historical features of the province.

GEN. SIMEON OLA Guinobatan, Albay

Photograph from Philippine News

1865-1952

Simeon Ola, used his marginal position as a local police chief under the Spanish to seize a number of rifles and to recruit a band of armed followers in 1898; this was his ticket to a lieutenant's commission in the revolutionary army. He fought against the Americans in the battles of Camalig, Oas, and other parts of Albay, to ensure the freedom of the locals from the hands of the colonizers. It was not long enough when he became General in 1901. Under General Simeon Ola a force of about 1,500 men held out in the hills above Guinobatan for more than a year. Today, Bicolanos honor him as he is celebrated every 2nd of September. The monument above is erected at the heart of his hometown, Guinobatan and in Bicol Heritage Park. The PNP Regional Office Camp was also named after him.

LIGNON HILL

Photograph from Visit Legazpi

Legazpi City, Albay

Lignon Hill served as the garrison of Japanese soldiers during the war. While the hill also houses the PHIVOLCS Observatory at its top, it is also a go-to tourist destination because of the souvenir shops, outdoor activities and the Japanese tunnels present around the hill. Furthermore, Albay reportedly has several historical Japanese tunnels currently explored by local and foreign tourists including the biggest Japanese tunnel uncovered in Mount Kitwinan in Camalig. Lignon Hill is most famous for its view deck that offers a 360-view of the whole city of Legazpi, together with the perfectly-shaped Mayon.

LIGNON HILL Legazpi City, Albay

Photographs from Google and Lakwatserong Bicolano (Facebook)

BATTLE OF LEGAZPI PYLON Legazpi City, Albay

Sitting at the heart of Legazpi City's busiest commercial district is the statue that commemorates the bravery of the 800 soldiers led by Gen. William Kobbe and Col. Antero Reyes against the Americans on January 23, 1900. The monument in the middle of Legazpi City, which stands today on what was a stone bridge over the Fuente de San Rafael immortalize the Battle of Legazpi, to be remembered and celebrated by the Bikolanos for many more years to come. Photograph from Google

BATTLE OF LEGAZPI PYLON Legazpi City, Albay

Photographs from Philippines Tour Guide

PADANG MEMORIAL Legazpi City, Albay

Found in Barangay Padang (Legazpi City). It is said to be the Typhoon Reming Memorial Shrine for those 734 dead, 2,300 injury and 762 missing people when Super typhoon Reming battered the Bicol Region with winds of 190-kilometer on 30th of November, 2006. The cross has an inscription which reads:

To nature’s beauty and wrath; To those who perished & others who survived; You are not forgotten, neither will you ever be. To our individual resilience and communal determination; To our triumph over tragedy; Let this mark the change, not the end of strength, hope and peace. Photograph from Google

References Besmonte, E. (2020). Mapping of the Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Tabaco City, Philippines. Bicol University R&D Journal, 23(1), 47–58. Owen, N. G. (1979). Winding down the War in Albay, 1900-1903. Pacific Historical Review, 48(4), 557–589. doi:10.2307/3638700 The Philippine Star. (2016). Albay’s Cagsawa Ruins declared national treasure. Philstar.Com. https://www.philstar.com/business/scienceand-environment/2015/12/30/1537712/albays-cagsawa-ruins-declarednational-treasure Go, M. R. (2011, September 28). The Historic Church of Daraga Albay. NomadicExperiences.https://www.nomadicexperiences.com/2011/09/hi storic-and-hillside-church-of-daraga.html Government of Albay. (2021, May 3). Albay Heritage Month Feature: St. John the Baptist Church of Tabaco. GOVPH | Province of Albay. https://albay.gov.ph/albay_culture_arts/Albay-Heritage-Mon-7/ Government of Albay. (2021, May 11). Albay Heritage Month Feature: Our Lady of the Gate Church of Daraga. GOVPH | Province of Albay. https://albay.gov.ph/albay_culture_arts/Albay-Heritage-Mon/ Legazpi City. (n.d.). Albay Tourism Weblink. http://rsso05.psa.gov.ph/AlbayTourism/Legazpi%20City/Legaspi%20 City.html Rey, M. V. (2019, September 12). Simeón Ola - Biography Of The Last General In The Phil-Am War. Philippine News. https://philnews.ph/2019/09/12/simeon-ola-biography-of-the-lastgeneral-in-the-phil-am-war/ Umali, J. (1970, January 1). Simeon Ola Was the Last General to Surrender to the Americans. Esquiremag.Ph. https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/simeon-ola-lastgeneral-a2212-20190923-lfrm