HISTORY OF CAGSAWA

Cagsawa Ruins Park is a historic site in Barangay Busay, Daraga, Albay, in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. It was once home to a 16th-century Franciscan church, standing as a witness to the town of Cagsawa’s rise and tragic fall.  

The town was first established in 1587 but was burned down by Dutch pirates in 1636. Determined to rebuild, Fr. Francisco Blanco oversaw the church’s reconstruction in 1724. However, on February 1, 1814, Mayon Volcano unleashed its most violent eruption in recorded history. Seeking safety, around 1,200 people took refuge inside the church, but the disaster claimed many lives and left the structure in ruins. Over time, most of the church disappeared, except for its iconic bell tower, which still stands today as a haunting reminder of the town’s tragic past.  

Despite the risks of living near an active volcano, survivors resettled in nearby areas, refusing to abandon their home. Today, Cagsawa Ruins Park is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Albay and the Philippines. Managed by the local government of Daraga, it is preserved as both a cultural landmark and a solemn reminder of nature’s unpredictable power. 

WHAT MAKES CAGSAWA RUINS PARK WORTH VISITING?