Vivian M.

Sepeda BSED English 3B

Breathtaking Magayon
The scenery of the Mayon Volcano can make anyone stare at it with amazement.
Its name Mayon is truly suited for it, derived from the word “magayon” which means
beautiful when translated from Bicolano. It even has its own legend, saying the Mayon
Volcano grew from a beautiful young lady’s grave, namely Magayon.
It may be the most well-known tourist attraction in Bicol but there are more, that
you can expect when visiting Bicol especially the Bicol delicacies. But if you’re not a
spicy lover then get ready and get your water because it can light your mouth on fire.
First, lets explore other places in the Bicol Region. Cagsawa Ruins is great place
to visit. The view of Mayon Volcano and beautiful. It is amazing to see the power of the
volcano, when you see the destruction, it dealt out. The buildings in Cagsawa had
extremely thick stine walls, but you can also see 8-foot-wide boulders that rained down
on the town and destroyed it. A very beautiful but sobering spot to visit. It is located in
Barangay Busay, Daraga, Albay.
There are many churches in Albay but Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish
Church commonly known as Daraga Church should be on top of your list. The 18th-
century baroque church with its volcanic stone walls has witnessed several historic
events, including the 1814 eruption of Mayon Volcano that left 2,000 people killed.
During World War II, the church was used as the headquarters of the Japanese army.
For one of the best panoramic views of brooding Mt. Mayon and the city, head up
Ligñon Hills. It is a historic hill. It’s steep, but paved, 20 mintues walk up the hill. It offers
fun activities, such as Zipline, Rappelling, Trekking, Hanging Bridge Crossing, Kapit
Tuko (lizard grip) Trailing, and a visit to a Japanese World War II tunnel.At the top you’ll
find a park, a café, an observation deck and a bunch of activities. Ligñon Hill Nature
Park is located in Tiwi Road Barangay 41 Bogtong, Legazpi City.
Located in the town of Jovellar of Albay Province, Quitinday Falls and
Undergorund River recently gained attention via social media and instantly became a
tourism hotspot since then. Originally called as Naglaus Underground River, it features
a cave with a freely flowing called water that falls into a gorge.
The cave is approximately 150 meters long decorated with stalactites,
stalagmites, columns and various rock formations. It can be navigated by riding a
bamboo raft along the underground river that ends on a two-tier smaller cascade.
Claustrophobic may take the easy trail going to the cave’s end.
After all this exploration, the gorgeous scenery has filled our eyes. So, this time
let’s also fill out stomach. When we hear about Bicol, what’s the food that first pops out
of your mind? Surely, it must be Bicol Express. Bicol Express is the ultimate comfort
food and a must try when visiting Bicol. With pork cubes cooked in coconut milk and
chili peppers, it's rich, creamy, spicy and delicious.
Laing or Pinangat, another popular Bicolano delicacy, is a dish that consists of
taro leaves and meat. It is prepared in creamy thick coconut cream spiced with labuyo
chili, lemongrass, garlic, and shrimp paste. Laing is the name of the dish in most parts
of the Philippines, but it is more commonly known as pinangat in the Bicol region where
it originated. However, the name can be confused with pinangat na isda, which is a
different dish made with fish cooked in a slightly sour broth similar to sinigang.
Not every Bicolano dish has to bathe in a pool of coconut milk. Kandingga, for
example, wears that characteristic heat without being drowned out by coconut flavor. The
Bicolano's answer to bopis, the tangy kandingga is a delicacy with Spanish roots, made
with chopped pork lungs and heart (or other types of offal), onions, garlic, vinegar, and
peppers.
The Bicol Region can be a wonderful place for a field trip. It does not only have
scenic landscapes but it also teaches us about our history. It gives us a glimpse of what
happened in the past while also showing our culture.