HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

HISTORY

Long before the Spaniards arrived in 1569, Albay had a thriving civilization and a rich culture. The land was fertile, lush vegetation covered the plains and the mountains. The earth yielded minerals, including gold.

In July 1569, Luis Enriquez de Guzman, a member of the Spanish expedition led by Legazpi, and the Augustinian Fray Alonso Jimenez landed in the southeastern side of the region, in a town called Gibalong and travelled by land until they reached the town of Camalig, now almost in the heart of Albay and at the foot of Mayon Volcano.

Catholicism was first introduced to the Bikolanos in 1569. The coming of the Franciscans in 1578 started a systematic and sustained process of Catholic conversion.

In 1572, Juan de Salcedo, in search of gold, penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north and made it as far south as Libon, establishing the very first settlement called Santiago de Libon. In 1574, the Spanish adventurers in Bikol returned to Manila with over 4,000 ounces of gold. They believed they have found the land of “El Dorado.”

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.”

The development of Albay was largely the work of Jose Maria Peñaranda, the governor of Albay from 1834 to 1843. His monument stands in a plaza bearing his name in front of the Provincial Capitol.

tHE MAJESTIC MAYON VOLCANO

A nearly-perfect cone shaped volcano dominating mostly the scope of Bicol, Albay. It  is the most iconic tourist spot in our region, an active volcano that erupted numerous times since the old age. Witnessing as how the lava flows beneath its base is considered a lucky to foresaw such once-in-a-blue-moon event 

GEOGRAPHY

Bicol Region is located in the southernmost tip of Luzon, which lies at 123 to 126 degrees longitude and 12 to 14 degrees latitude or generally at the mid-section of the country. 

TOPOGRAPHY

The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys. Aside from Mayon Volcano, it has two other major peaks: Mount Masaraga and Mount Malinao.

The western coast of the province is mountainous but not as prominent as the eastern range with the highest elevation at around 490 meters (1,610 ft.). Among these mountains are Mount Catburawan in Ligao and Mount Pantao in Oas & Libon.