Call it Disaster Tourism, the latest craze in Philippine Tourism, as the brewing explosion of Mayon Volcano is now attracting foreign tourists who wanted to see an exploding volcano up close and personal.

Update: Mayon Volcano "exploded" on May 7, 2013 as a result of rain water getting in contact with hot magma/lava inside the volcano setting off some sort of a pressure cooker explosion.

Latest Mayon Volcano Explosion Videos on YouTube:





Being the adventurous and curious type, Tutubi also wanted to see for himself the majestic Mayon Volcano exploding but doesn't have the time and resources to go there as well as personal reasons holding him back.

For those who are in Legazpi City, the best view of Mayon Volcano might be on Lignon Hill near Legazpi Airport.

Philippine Military is there to secure the lava flow paths to ensure a zero-casualty explosion but there are always the pasaway types who ignore safety warnings and endanger the lives of others who come to their rescue.

Updated: May 2013

Labels: Albay, Bicol Region, Volcanoes

The hotel nearest to Legazpi Airport is practically walking distance from the Legazpi Airport and located within the airport site itself with the restaurant also serving great food at an affordable price while just outside the hotel is an unobstructed view of Mayon Volcano and Lignon Hill. Tutubi and his "sidekick" checked in at the hotel and here's his experience.

It was raining when Tutubi checked in at Legaspi Airport Hotel, got booked a junior suite for the two of them and rested for a while. It so happened that a celebration was being held at the airport bar where the videoke machine was at full blast that Tutubi can't concentrate on what he's doing, even sleep.

The junior suite has three beds that translates to just P333.33/person/night (about $7), quite affordable actually, suitable for budget travelers

He complained to the front desk person and requested to be transferred to another room but was informed there was no vacancy for a similar room. An upgraded room was offered but for an additional price but Tutubi haggled that it wasn't his fault and that he can't wait for 11pm for the party to stop and for him to rest. The hotel staff acquiesced to his request and transferred them to the executive room at no extra charge (thus he got free use of the big washroom with bath tub)


Legazpi Airport Hotel's executive room, upgraded from junior suite at no extra cost
the sala set and TV with Angelina Jolie on screen :P


Legazpi Airport Restaurant:

Recommend longganiza Guinobatan with rice and egg for P75 plus Bicol specialties of Laing and Bicol Express (it's not on the menu but ask for them and they shall be given unto you)

Legaspi Airport Hotel Review:

This is a highly-recommended hotel in Legazpi City from a price/convenience and service advantage. Walking distance from Legazpi Airport terminal exit making it the nearest hotel to Legazpi Airport. The staff were nice and courteous, clean rooms, nice food and cheap too. The hotel location is perfect for those booked for an early morning flight to Manila or those who came from Donsol Whale Sharks interaction down south.

Legazpi Airport Hotel
Address: Airport Site, Legazpi City
Contact Numbers: +63.52.481.0232; +63.52.820.0504

Legazpi Airport Hotel Room rates:

aircon room: PhP700.00
aircon room: (double) PhP800.00
Junior Suite PhP900.00
family room PhP1,000.00
executive room PhP1,200.00

extra bed PhP150.00
Extra Person: PhP100.00

Notes:

Please call the published telephone numbers for reservations, bookings, inquiries and other requests. No official website as of posting time. There's wifi Internet available but inquire at the ffront desk on how to access.
The nearest pension house to Legaspi Airport is Vista Al Mayon Pension House which is a tricycle ride away. The other hotel that Tutubi stayed at couple of years ago was at Legazpi Tourist Inn but it's near the city center.

Labels: Accommodations, Albay, Bicol Region, Hotels and Resorts, Legazpi City

Mayon volcano, the pride of Bicolanos, with it's almost perfect cone shape is really magnificent when seen on clear, cloudless days with the crater visible. It's usually early mornings when you can see her "naked." There's also an "advisory" to first time travelers to Legazpi City that first-timers to Bicol won't be able to catch sight of the Daragang Magayon that has spawned various legends and epics.

a Cebu Pacific aircraft unloading passengers at Legaspi Airport. On the background's the almost perfect cone of Mayon Volcano and part of Lignon Hill


The Legend of Daragang Magayon:

Legend of Mayon Volcano tells about a beautiful young lady named Magayon who's beauty was so famous she was wooed by rich and powerful people.

Magayon, with all her suitors, however, fell in love with a warrior named Handiong, who came from an enemy tribe of Magayon's.

When their families learned of their love for each other, they tried to separate them and fought a bitter, bloody tribal war.

To end the conflict, the lovers just decided to commit suicide together rather than separating but were buried separately by their respective tribes.

As time passed, a volcano with a perfect cone emerged out of the place where Magayon was buried that locals called it Daragang Magayon (means beautiful lady in Bicolano)

To highlight the beautiful volcano, the Magayon festival is celebrated all month of April in Legazpi City. Tutubi was there on the last day of March and he doesn't have information on Magayon Festival schedule of activities.

How to catch a magnificent view of Mayon Volcano:

Mayon Volcano, if you want to see it's full beauty, is usually not covered by clouds early in the morning (usually but not always, so don't take Tutubi's word on this) so be there early in the morning as in around daybreak up to around 7am (and also to catch the "golden lighting" perfect for landscape photos)

Book an early morning flight to Legazpi City through PAL, Cebu Pacific or ZestAir and request to be seated on the left window side (the A column). Avoid the middle rows so as not to be obstructed by the airplane wing. You can do this by checking it early or booking online with Cebu Pacific using the seat selector feature for a small fee (Cebu Pacific Sure seats will be given away if you failed to check in 45 minutes before ETD). Tutubi always try to book seat 2A up to 8A so as to be one of the first to deplane also.

Flight time to Legaspi from Manila is just about 45 minutes so don't sleep or you'll miss it. Be ready with your binoculars or cameras, snap a picture in haste just before the fasten your seatbelt sign is switched on indicating you need to switch off all electronic devices, including your camera, in preparation for landing.

See this picture of Mayon Volcano taken in 2005 on a Philippine Airlines shortly before landing...

Mt. Mayon is green during the rainy season

Mayon volcano crater tip up close using digital zoom (Canon Ixus 30)

Isn't Mayon volcano really Magayon? It's more beautiful than the snow-capped Mt. Fuji of Japan, the most photographed mountain on earth. Don't wish for Mayon to have snow though for the drastic change in weather would be disastrous in tropical Philippines.

tags: ang alamat ng mayon, legend of Mt. Mayon, alamat ng bulkang mayon

Related Post:
Legazpi Airport

Labels: Albay, Bicol, Folklore, Legends, Volcanoes

The airport at the foot of Mayon Volcano in Legazpi City servicing not just the province of Albay but the entire Bicol Region. It's in this airport where tourists wishing to commune with butanding (whale sharks) of Donsol, Sorsogon pass by to get to the tourist town.

a Cebu Pacific aircraft unloading passengers at Legaspi Airport. On the background's the almost perfect cone of Mayon Volcano and part of Lignon Hill

Legazpi Airport Information:

Flights to Legazpi from Manila are offered by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and ZestAir(formerly Asian Spirit) with airline offices inside the airport compound. (guess which airline offers the cheapest flights to Legazpi?)

Legaspi Airport Terminal Fee:PhP30.00



From Legazpi Airport to your destination:

There are no taxis in Legazpi, only tricycles that can be hired for PhP50.00/trip to vans and bus terminals where you can ride vans and buses to the Albay towns of Bacacay, Nabua, Tiwi; Sorsogon City, Pilar, Donsol in Sorsogon; Naga City (Camarines Sur) and also back to Manila.

There are vans for hire available though the Legazpi Tourism officers at the airport. Tutubi was quoted a van to Donsol for PhP1500.00 good for 10 people (one way) and willing to wait in Donsol back to Legazpi. (Van to Donsol fare is currently PhP60.00/head plus the two tricycle rides: one from the airport and another to a Donsol resort ). The same V-Hire also quoted PhP2,200.00 for a six hour Legazpi City Tour covering 16 tourist spots in Albay.

Contact Numbers:

PROVINCIAL TOURISM & CULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
Albay Tourism Bldg., Albay Astrodome Complex,
Capt. F. Aquende Drive, Legazpi City, 4500 Albay, Philippines
Tel. No.: +63.52.820.6314; +63.52.820.6316
Fax: +63.52.820.6315
e-mail: albaytourism@gmail.com

Related Post:
Donsol Whale Sharks

Labels: Airports, Albay, Bicol Region, Volcanoes

The headlines today tell of trouble brewing in the Bicol peninsula where Mayon Volcano is exhibiting signs of restiveness and spewing sulfur and lava much to the delight of curious on-lookers looking for a dangerous thrill

Will just share photos i took last year when I went, on moments notice, to Legazpi City for undercover work for a day.

Yes, just for a day. But while on board a taxi from NAIA Terminal 2 I got a call ordering me to return to Legazpi the morrow and stayed there for 3 more days :(
oh well...

Cagsawa church belfry: what remained of the village of Cagsawa after the big explosion of 1814


mayon volcano 33,000 feet high in the sky: Isn't she really magayon?



using the extreme "telephoto" of my super P&S camera i got this picture of the crater



sorry, but that was just using digital zoom- something I rarely use. Born of my frustration not able to photograph the sight then.

Pics taken sometime last October 2005 when Mayon started acting up but manifested only now and waiting for an imminent explosion.

Here's a tip: when flying to L.A. i.e. Legazpi, Albay, request to be seated window side to the left and just wait for this view to appear outside your window. That's if the Daragang Magayon will show up.

Best time to see the almost perfect cone is early in the morning where no clouds will obstruct your view. Don't be like Wikimapia with this picture below



Up to a an adventure like Mayon Volcano crater trek? You my drive up to the now abandoned Mayon Resthouse, 1/3 of the way then trek uphill for 6 hours and another 5 hours downhill.

Related Posts:

Mt. Pinatubo Crater Trek
Taal Volcano

Labels: Albay, Bicol, Bicol Region, Legazpi City, Luzon, Volcanoes