Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in southeastern Luzon Island.

The capital of the province isLegazpi City, the regional

administrative center of Bicol region, which is located in the southern foothill of Mayon Volcano, the symbol most associated with the province. This nearly perfectly
shaped active volcano forms a scenic backdrop to the city of Legazpi and is visible throughout the municipalities and cities of Albay including the surrounding
provinces.[3]
Contents
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1 History

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1.3 Philippine revolution

1.4 American colonial period
1.5 World War II

2.1 Topography
2.2 Transportation
2.3 Political subdivision

3 Demographics

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1.2 Spanish colonial period

2 Geography

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1.1 Pre-Hispanic period

3.1 Religion
3.2 Languages

4 Economy
5 References
6 External links

History[edit]
Pre-Hispanic period[edit]
Long before the Spaniards arrived, Albay had a thriving civilization. Formerly called Ibat, and then Libog, Albay was once ruled by Gat Ibal, an old chief who also
founded the old barangay of Sawangan, now the district of Albay and part of the city of Legazpi.

Spanish colonial period[edit]

In July 1569, Luis Enriquez de Guzman, a member of the expedition led by Maestro de Campo Mateo de Saz and Captain Martin de Goiti, led a group which
crossed from Burias and Ticao islands and landed on a coastal settlement called Ibalon in what is now the province of Sorsogon. From this point another
expedition was sent to explore the interior and founded the town of Camalig.
In 1573, Juan de Salcedo penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north as far south as Libon, establishing the settlement of Santiago de Libon. Jose Maria
Pearanda, a military engineer, was made corregidor of the province on May 14, 1834. He constructed public buildings and built roads and bridges.
The entire Bicol Peninsula was organized as one province with two divisions, Camarines in the northwest and Ibalon in the southeast. In 1636, the two partidos
were separated, and Ibalon became a separate province with Sorsogon as capital. In the 17th century, Moro slave raiders from southern Philippines ravaged the
northeastern coastal areas of the province of Albay.[4]
Mayon Volcano, in one of its most violent eruptions, destroyed the five towns surrounding its base on February 1, 1814. This eruption forced the town of Cagsawa
to relocate to its present site, Legazpi.
A decree was issued by Governor-General Narciso Claveria in 1846 separating Masbate, Ticao and Burias from Albay to form the comandancia of Masbate. Albay
was then divided into four districts: Iraya, Cordillera or Tabaco, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

Philippine revolution[edit]
Glicerio Delgado, a condemned insurecto (insurgent), started revolutionary activities in the province. With a headquarters in the mountain of Guinobatan town, he
joined the revolutionary government of Albay as a lieutenant in the infantry.
A unit of the Philippine Militia was then organized by the Spanish military authorities. Mariano Riosa was appointed major of the Tabaco Zone, which comprised all
the towns along the seacoast from Albay to Tiwi, while Anacieto Solano was appointed major for the Iraya Zone, which was made up of the towns from Daraga to
Libon. Each town was organized into sections of fifty men under the command of a lieutenant.
During the Philippine Revolution on September 22, 1898, the provisional revolutionary government of Albay was formed with Anacieto Solano as provisional
president. Major General Vito Belarmino, the appointed military commander, reorganized the Filipino Army in the province.

American colonial period[edit]

The sovereignty of the country was transferred to the United States after the Treaty of Paris (1898).[5] During the Philippine-American War, Brigadier General
William Kobbe headed the expedition that landed at the ports of Sorsogon, Bulan and Donsol. From there, the Americans marched to Legazpi and captured it.
Although a civil government was established in Albay on April 26, 1901, Colonel Harry H. Bandhortz, Commanding Officer of the Constabulary in the Bicol Region,
said that General Simeon Ola, with a thousand men, continued to defy American authority after the capture of Belarmino in 1901. Ola was later captured with
about six hundred of his men.

World War II[edit]

During the Second World War, the Kimura Detachment of the Japanese Imperial Forces occupied Legazpi on December 12, 1941. The region was defended only
by the Philippine Constabulary unit under the command of Major Francisco Sandico.[6]
During the Japanese Occupation, the military general headquarters of the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines remained active from 1942 to 1946, and the 5th
Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was established from 1944 to 1946 and stationed in Albay. Then came the clearing operations and anti-Japanese
insurgency in Bicol Peninsula, helped by the local Bicolano resistance. Some Bicolano guerrilla groups invaded around the province of Albay during the Japanese
Insurgencies between 1942 to 1944, and were supported by local Filipino troops under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and pre-war Philippine Constabulary
5th Infantry Regiments attacking the enemy soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army. In the aftermath of three years of siege and conflicts, many Bicolano guerrillas
were forced to retreat by the Japanese around the province before liberation in 1945 by Allied forces.
In 1945, Filipino soldiers of the 5th, 51st, 52nd, 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 5th Infantry Regiment of
the Philippine Constabulary participated in the liberation, recaptured the province of Albay and helped Bicolano guerrilla fighters and American soldiers defeat the
Kimura Detachment of the Japanese Imperial Forces. A major role in the resistance and liberation of Albay was played by Major Faustino Martinez Flor of the
Philippine Army's Bicol Brigades unit. The Bicol Brigades were assisted by the U.S. Navy through Major Faustino Flor's eldest brother Julian Martinez Flor (1901
1990), who had joined the U.S. Navy in 1919 as a machinist in the Overhaul and Repair Dept. at the North Island Naval Air Station. Eventually Julian Flor became
a Warrant Officer, and retired in 1935, returning to the Philippines. A few years later, when Japan invaded the Philippines, the U.S. Navy reinstated Julian Flor
back into service to assist his younger brother Major Faustino M. Flor, and the Philippine Armies "Bicol Brigades." Their base of operations was the Sto. Domingo
Church, where the Flor's maternal great-grandfather was buried in July 1873. The Flor brothers, especially Major Faustino, are still held in high regard by the
people in Bicol, Albay. After the war ended, U.S. President Harry S. Truman and Naval Secretary James Forrestal personally awarded a Bronze Star, and a Purple
Heart to Julian Flor for his "heroic achievement for his planning, and execution of Guerrilla activities mainly in the Bicol Province, but also in Cavite, and Leyte Gulf.
Julian Flor is credited for surviving and escaping a Japanese military camp, saving 4 downed American airmen, and stealing vital papers which revealed various
strategic Japanese military plans."[7][8][9][10][11]

Geography[edit]

The nearly perfectly shaped Mayon Volcano dominates the geography of Albay.

Albay has a total land area of 2,554.06 square kilometres (986.13 sq mi),[1] which makes it the 26th smallest province. The province is bordered by the provinces
of Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. To the northeast, the province lies along Lagonoy Gulf, which separates it from
the province of Catanduanes. To the southwest of the province is Burias Pass with the island of Burias,Masbate located about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) offshore.

Topography[edit]
The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys. On the eastern part of the province is a line of volcanic mountains starting with the
northernmost Malinao in Tiwi, followed by Masaraga and Mayon Volcano. Separated by Poliqui Bay is thePocdol Mountains in the town of Manito.
Mount Mayon, standing at around 2,462 metres (8,077 ft), is the highest elevation in the province. It is the most famous landform in Albay and in the whole Bicol
Region. This active volcano falls under the jurisdiction of eight municipalities and cities of Albay, namely Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Legazpi City, Ligao City,
Malilipot, Santo Domingo, and Tabaco City.

The western coast of the province is mountainous but not as prominent as the eastern range with the highest elevation at around 490 metres (1,610 ft).[12] Among
these mountains are Mount Catburawan in Ligao and Mount Pantao in Oas.

Transportation[edit]
By water
Albay is the region's principal trans-shipment point with its ports: Tabaco International, Legazpi National, Pio Duran Provincial, and the Pantao
Regional Port.

The runway of Legazpi Airport.

By air
Traveling to the province by air is served by the Legazpi Airport, the province's gateway from Manila and Cebu City in the Visayas. The larger Bicol
International Airport is under construction in the municipality of Daraga, west of Legazpi City.

A PNR train in Ligao railway station.

By train
In March 2012, train service between Manila to Albay was resumed by the Philippine National Railways. TheMayon Limited is a 10 1/2-hour one-way
trip between Manila and Ligao City with the extension to Legazpi under construction (as of May 2012).[13]

Political subdivision[edit]
Albay is subdivided into 18 municipalities and three component cities namely Legazpi, Ligao, Tabaco.

City/Municipality

No. of

Area[14]

Population[15]

Income class[14]

Mayor

Barangays[14]

(km2)

(2010)

(2007)

(20102013)

Bacacay

56

122.13

65,724

2nd

Tobias Betito

Camalig

50

130.90

63,585

1st

Carlos Irwin G. Baldo

Daraga

54

118.64

115,804

1st

Gerry R. Jaucian

Guinobatan

44

244.43

75,967

1st

Juan M. Garcia II

City/Municipality

Jovellar

Legazpi City
(capital)

No. of

Area[14]

Population[15]

Income class[14]

Mayor

Barangays[14]

(km2)

(2010)

(2007)

(20102013)

23

105.40

16,899

4th

Jorem Archangel

70

153.70

182,201

2nd

Noel Rosal

Libon

47

222.76

71,527

1st

Agnes P. Dycoco

Ligao City

55

246.75

104,914

4th

Linda P. Gonzales

Malilipot

18

44.13

35,567

4th

Roli Volante

10

Malinao

29

107.50

42,770

3rd

Avelino C. Ceriola

11

Manito

15

107.40

22,819

4th

Cesar S. Daep

12

Oas

53

263.61

64,785

1st

Gregorio H. Ricarte

13

Pio Duran

33

133.70

45,028

3rd

14

Polangui

44

145.30

82,307

1st

Cherilie Mella-Sampal

15

Rapu-Rapu

34

155.30

35,875

3rd

Nora Oate

16

Santo Domingo

23

51.22

32,414

4th

Herbie Aguas

17

Tabaco City

47

117.14

125,083

4th

Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro

18

Tiwi

25

105.76

50,163

1st

Leo Templado

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Albay

Year

1990

Pop. % p.a.

903,785

1995

1,005,315 +2.01%

2000

1,090,907 +1.77%

2007

1,190,823 +1.22%

2010

1,233,432 +1.29%

Source: National Statistics Office [2]

Based on the May 2010 census, Albay has a total population of 1,233,423, which makes it the 20th most populous province in the country.
Based on the 2007 census, there are 208,640 households in the province with an average size of 5.22 persons, significantly higher than the
national average of 4.99.

Religion[edit]
Catholicism is the predominant religion in the province affiliated by 97% of Albay population. Each town has its own fiesta for their patrons and
patronesses. Other religious denominations are Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), other protestant churches such as Baptist, Methodist, other Evangelical
Christians, Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witnesses as well as Islam.

Languages[edit]
Albay is home to several languages and host to different native languages of Bicol Region. Out of seven Bikol languages (except Bisakol,
which is Visayan), only Pandan Bikol of northern Catanduanes is not used or which the origin is not from Albay. The languages in the province
is very diverse which includes the languages of Albay Bikol group which comprises the languages of West Miraya, East Miraya, Libon and
Buhinon. Of the four Albay Bikol languages, Buhinon is the only one not used in Albay but rather in Buhi, Camarines Sur. Rinconada Bikol is a
minority language in the province and used by people in barangays of Libon and Polangui that are near the boundary of Bato and Iriga Cityin
Camarines Sur. Another primary language used in the province is Central Bikol which is the mother tongue of the population on the eastern
coast of Bicol peninsula. Both Albay Bikol languages and Rinconada Bikol are members of Inland Bikol group of languages while Central Bikol
is a language member of Coastal Bikol. The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon dialect of Central Bikol is spoken in Legaspi City, Tabaco City and
neighboring municipalities on the east side of Albay, and some parts of Sorsogon City.
The majority of the inhabitants also understand English, Tagalog and Modern Filipino.

Economy[edit]
The province is the second most progressive province in the Bicol Region (after Catanduanes). The 2009 report of HDN (Human Development
Network) which is a link of United nations HDI (Human Development Index) listed the province ranked 2nd in the region or ranked 41st among
Philippine Provinces HDI's (excluding Metro Manila) at 0.518 HDI value.
Agriculture is the main industry in Albay, which produces crops like coconut, rice, sugar, and abac. Handicrafts are the major source of rural
income and comprises a fairly large share in the small-scale industries of the province. Forestry, cement production and paper-making are
other sources of livelihood. The manufacture of abac products such asManila hemp, hats, bags, mats, furniture, home decors,[16] and slippers
is one of the main sources of income in the rural areas. Production of abaca fiber experienced a boom from the late 1800s until the American
period.[17] Fishing is the main livelihood along both shores of the province. Tourism, especially related to Mayon Volcano, also creates income
for Albay. For the year 2013, Albay had a total of 339,445 foreign tourist arrivals.[18]