Tag: Albay

Mount Mayon Volcano

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Mount Mayon Volcano

When we visited the Philippines in 2013, we travelled around some of the northern provinces of  this wonderful scenic nation. We did not have time to visit the southern provinces; we did not get to visit Albay in the Bicol region, home of the magnificent Mount Mayon volcano.

Mount Mayon is an active stratovolcano which dominates the surrounding countryside. It is 2,463m (8,081ft) high.
Mayon paintingAt a street market in Manila, around Quiapo, we bought a painting souvenir of the volcano. I liked the vivid blue sky in the painting, which now hangs proudly on our bedroom wall. We looked at the painting and resolved to visit the real volcano on our next visit to the Philippines.

 

We returned in February 2016, and based at the family home, we travelled extensively around the northern & south of the  Philippines and one such trip was to Bicol.

We hired a SUV and a friendly helpful driver/guide for a day’s tour  and travelled up a steep twisting road to just above halfway of Mount Mayon.

On each corner of the long winding road, there was a sculpted Catholic Cross to ensure safety whilst driving.

We stopped off for a nice lunch at a friendly deserted restaurant, the weather had closed in and it was quiet, misty and rainy. The top of the volcano not far above us was a shrouded with cloud. The view of the surrounding countryside was amazing then the mist cleared occasionally.

We looked at the observatory and museum which had a slide & movie show about the volcano.

Mayon hid her glory in a cloud cloth for the rest of the day

The next day from our hotel room, nearby Mayon unveiled and we saw the awesome symmetrical cone at its summit shining in the morning sun.

I grabbed my camera and took some photos. Later we did a tour of the countryside and visited the

Cagsawa ruin.

Mayon was a superb backdrop.

DSCN1294

Mayon is active and last erupted in 2006 and the next eruption could come anytime.

With the excellent zoom on my camera, I managed to photograph the cone and vapour gassing out, which looked like steam mixing with passing clouds.

Mayon cone

Mayon with its renowned perfect cone, photo by PH Morton

As we boarded the domestic flight plane back to Manilla, we took our last look at Mount Mayon and had realised our wish to see one of nature’s wonders.

Mount Mayon

 

The Legend of the Mayon Volcano

Philippines

The Mayon volcano located in Albay, Legaspi City, in the Philippines is one of the natural wonders of the world. It is a major tourist attraction because of its perfect cone and its locality.  Many have tried to climb to its peak, many were successful but now and again the Mayon would claim lives like those of unfortunate German tourists this year.

Its scenic beauty has spawn various legends. One of the many versions, my favourite one, is as follows:

The Legend of the Mayon Volcano

Once upon a time there lived a chieftain in Albay who had a beautiful daughter. The daughter was not only fair of face but had the sweetest disposition.  She had the most radiant smile which she bestowed to everyone, young, old, poor and rich alike.

Despite her noble birth, she treated everyone equally because she was a very kind girl by nature. The people called her Magayon, meaning beautiful.

Her beauty and lovely countenance made her a very popular girl – the Crush ng Bayan during her time.

Suitors from far and wide had come to ask for her hand in marriage.

 

But Magayon had already lost her heart to a childhood friend, Matapang who was aptly named because he was very brave; an able swordman.  He was also very charismatic with a handsome visage that girls and women in their village had a soft spot for him.  Matapang, however, had only eyes for Magayon.  Matapang was the son of Magayon’s father’s chief warrior.

Alas, just like any great love stories, this one did not run smooth either because in a neighbouring village lived a chieftain who was rich and powerful. He had a son, Maraut, whom he spoiled to the hilt and therefore the son grew into an overbearing, sneaky and furtive young man.  What he wanted, he got or else there was hell to pay.

During a festivity, he saw the beautiful Magayon and decided he wanted her for himself. He told his father to arrange a marriage to Magayon.

Magayon’s father was given an offer that he can not refused, thus agreed to the marriage of Magayon to Maraut.

Magayon was inconsolable with grief. She ran to Matapang who was equally in despair.

They decided that the only recourse was to run away, it was risky but there was no other choice if they wanted to be together. They agreed to meet up later that day.

Unbeknownst to them, Maraut heard their plan. He had been stalking Magayon for quite some time.

Maraut advised Magayon’s father of the planned elopement.

When Magayon and Matapang met up that night, both the warriors of Magayon’s father and Maraut’s were ready and waiting. Matapang and Magayon ran as fast as they could but to no avail, Matapang went down when shot by an arrow; he died instantly. Poor Magayon ran on until she got entangled in some thorny bushes which was a nest of deadly snakes. She got bitten fatally.

She died in her grieving father’s arms. He buried her right there on the spot where she took her last breath, amidst the sudden thunders and lightnings.

In the morning, Magayon’s grave had grown into a mound with a perfect cone.

 

The people called this mound, Mayon after the beautiful Magayon.

Mayon Volcano, Photo by PH Morton