Rapu-Rapu, the sole island municipality in Albay (JGJ Molina, 2012), is constituted of 34 barangays and has a population of over 36, 920 people, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) 2015 consensus.
The Layag Festival is the town's most celebrated event entwined with different mythology and legends along with the town's hidden gems. The colorful narratives and superstitious beliefs about Rapu-Rapunhons (Rapu-Rapu's local inhabitants), the historical and cultural significance of the Layag Festival in relation to so many folklores attributed to the island, and the historical development of the municipality over the past two centuries will be the focus of this essay.
This literature can intrigue the interest of tourists, particularly those who are enthusiastic fans of indigenous folklore, and aid in achieving more audience engagements, which can considerably boost the community's tourism. The researcher gathered references from various mediums; primary and secondary historical sources from written and non-written sources; additionally, all materials used in this local history paper are from credible sources such as the Albay Tourism E-Data Repositories, Local Government of Rapu-Rapu (LGU - Rapu-Rapu), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and others, to name a few. Furthermore, All of the information contained herein has been carefully chosen, fact-checked, and analyzed. As of this writing, all available data are interpreted using a versimilar approach (internal historical criticism) with the integration of the Annales School and the Historicist approach as the school/s of thought used in the study.
The author's major goal is to provide a solid local history document for other Rapu-Rapunhon students to use in future Rapu-Rapu studies. The lack of public historical and cultural repositories in Rapu-Rapu paved the way for the author's initiative to collect credible sources and develop a digital historical archive that may assist students and professionals alike. In this regard, this material strives to urge Rapu-Rapu residents to protect the town's tangible and intangible cultural and socio-historical treasures. Meanwhile, the target audience of this article includes visitors, historicists, cultural development communities/groups, learners, professionals, and many other interested readers who will find this material compelling. Finally, this article may also assist enhance tourism in Rapu-Rapu.