INTERESTING PLACES IN ALBAY

Albay province is very rich in historical sites, educational places and recreational venues. This is the Home of the famous and most active Mayon Volcano. But aside from Mayon there is the famous Cagsawa Ruins, Lignon Hills and so many others. In its capital city alone, Legazpi City, two days is not enough to visit all the beautiful places here. Read More: http://balance31.blogspot.com/2012/03/legazpi-city-what-to-do-and-where-to-go.html

St. John the Baptist /

Camalig / Tabaco Church

Photo from: http://simple-joys-of-midlife.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html

The Saint John the Baptist Parish Church commonly known as Tabaco Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in the municipality of Tabaco, Albay, Philippines under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi.

The church of Tabaco was founded by the Franciscans under the advocacy of Saint John the Baptist and became an independent parish in 1616. It was also declared a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines.

The church is built out of dark volcanic soil and stones found in the area. One unusual characteristic of the church is the presence of mason’s marks on stones used for the construction of the church building, a rare feature in the Philippines. Its unusual floor plan contains compartments for which there is currently no explanation. It is known for its beautiful and bell tower embedded with rococo designs. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabaco_Church

Sumlang Lake

Photo from: http://lakbaybuhay.com/sumlang-lake/

Other events included a balsa race at the scenic Sumlang Lake, one of the town’s newest tourist attractions, with the picturesque Mayon Volcano in the background.

Sumlang is a nine-hectare swamp which was excavated by the villagers through a bayanihan system to create a man-made lagoon where visitors can cruise aboard a bamboo raft with Napa’s furniture creations. Read More: http://choosephils.herokuapp.com/do/festivals/3180/camalig-culture-cuisine-and-countryside/

Vanishing Island

Photo from: http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=22863

Aptly named the Vanishing Island, this sandbar off Malilipot in Albay province in the Bicol region, is just a 30-minute boat ride from the province’s main Tabaco port, right in the middle of Lagonoy Gulf. The sandbar, depending on the tide timetable, usually shows itself at about 10am, exposing its marine residents like the star fish and shoal of clownfish. It’s a great playground for families with kids. At low tide, the gulf sometimes empties out. Your surroundings are nothing but the quaint neighboring villages in Malilipot, and on a clear day, you get a fantastic view of stunning Mt. Mayon. The sandbar is pristine with perfectly clear shallow waters. Read More: http://www.archipelago.com.ph/story/take-me-tothe-vanishing-island