MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD

LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY – One of the most beautiful wonders of the world is the so-called “perfect cone volcano”, which is the Mayon Volcano. It is an active volcano in Southeastern Luzon, Philippines, dominating the city of Legaspi. Called the World’s most perfect cone, it has a base 80 miles (130 km) in circumference and rises to 7,943 feet (2,421 m) from the shores of Albay Gulf. Popular with climbers and campers, it is the centre of Mayon Volcano National Park (21 square miles [55 square km]). This is one of the Paradise Philippines treasures.

Mayon Volcano is the main landmark of Albay Province, Philippines. It is 10 kilometres (6 mi) from the Gulf of Albay, in the municipalities of Legaspi City, Daraga, Camalig,Guinobatan, Ligao City, Tabaco City, Malilipot, and Santo Domingo (clockwise from Legazpi). It rises 2462 m (8,077 ft) above the gulf.

Mayon Volcano is the Philippines' most active volcano and is considered to be the world's most perfectly formed volcano for its symmetrical cone. It is a basaltic-andesetic volcano. The upper slopes of the volcano are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and are capped by a small summit crater. Its sides are layers of lava and other volcanic material.

Flora and Fauna:














My picture taken at the foot of Mayon Volacano. I was then tasked to monitor the area for possible entry of tourists and hikers in the permanent danger zone along Legazpi City area.

The area is forested from 450 masl to 1,000 masl mostly tree forms and other associated tree ferns. Mossy forest from 800 masl to 1,200 masl. One hundred fifty six (156) species of plants belonging to 36 families are known to occur which includes one (1) dipterocarp species Hopea philippinensis. CITES listed Nepenthes rajali and Cyatheae spp. grows here. Fifty seven (57) species of birds like Otus megalotis (Philippine scops owl), Gallus gallus (Red jungle fowl), Ptilinopus merrily (Merrill�s fruit dove), Loriculus philippinensis (Phil. Hanging Parakeet), Bubophilippinensis (Phil. horned owl), and more than 34 herpetofaunal species and 13 mammalian species have been recorded.

Activities: Mountain climbing/Hiking, camping, bird watching, photography

Amenities: Shade houses, benchesm comfort room, administration building,

ecotrails, and water facilities

The 2009 Mayon Eruption



I would like to share my story about this mayon volcano. Last year, I was asked to transfer to another company to supplement the lack of officer in Charlie Company. “In the meantime”, said to me by my battalion commander, “go to Charlie Company and stay there until Lt. Morales had finished his schooling at Artillery Bde. The Commanding will needing more officers to supervise the troops, especially today that Mayon Volcano is giving signs of eruption in Albay...” So, as an obedient subordinate and responsible officer, I immediately packed my things a board the ship going to Tabaco City. The rough trip in Maqueda Channel always gives me butterflies in my stomach, so I usually take some sleep in the ride. Arriving at Tabaco Port, I asked my commander in C Coy to get me and a little awhile I was at the command post in Cumon, Malinao, Albay. The place is very lonely, with only the soldiers you could humor with. But it took me only few days to adjust in their way of life.


















It was December and as always, all soldiers are expecting for the Christmas break. The personnel sergeant then made the list of breakers and he divided the troops into three groups. (The unit must maintain two-thirds of the total strength for security reasons). We were only two officers present and obviously, we must divide ourselves in order to maintain officer’s presence in the unit. He was to go on the first break and I were to go on the second break. All had divided properly, and their individual’s shares of happiness this Christmas was gotten. It was now the first break.

In the 2nd week of December, the duration also of the first break, Mayon Volcano is showing signs of possible eruption. In line of national strategy to safeguard the people from possible dangers of eruption, the government responded by relocating the inhabitants in the danger zone to safe zone, and my team was tasked to do this, with the help of other units and government offices. I was also tasked to supervise the conducts of checkpoints in the barangays of the possible pathways of lava flow and in the danger zone of Legazpi City, namely: Buyoan, Matanag, Bogna and Mabinit. There comes my tedious experience.

Relocating the people to safe areas is not that simple. First you must let them realize that they are in danger. We must use the persuasive, humane style to encourage the people to leave their places. Imagine how many stubborn people I had talk to just to let them leave their homes. But the harder part is not the "peptalk" part but preventing them to return to their homes. Their poultry and livestocks are at their own places. Even in its strictest form, locals will return to their homes just to feed their poultry. They will always look for a way to enter the zone and visit their homes. And when you caught sight of them again you will again do the basic routine of persuading. It’s really a pain in the ass! Other duties were to control media coverage and information gathering in the area. As much as possible, the information gathered by the media men should not exaggerate the situation; you know how news team works: the worst, the better. I would also need to be on-alert status always, preventing me to check my
life: my health, my happiness, my habits and vices, my sleeping period. But then there’ll be time that we need to sacrifice for the greater good and benefit of the many. This had been my everyday life there in Legazpi until my break had begun.

It not that I always thought it was too difficult to manage such international issue like this one. It had given me some advantages too. I was seen on TV, not only locally but internationally. Wow, am I so famous! It's nice to check my mistah and friends’ text messages crowded in my cellphone inbox, and sayin’ they’d seen me on air. I was able also to communicate with some international media men and they were able to share to me some inputs about the world they had already visited. It’s nice to hear from them the reality of the world we’re living in and get some foods for wit to think of. When I was at my best suit, many people stared at me with admiration because of my status as an officer, and that pleased me very well. Because this is a national emergency, all support was given to me by the national government, so mobility and other jobs are done fast and cool. Lastly, I had never felt this satisfaction in my heart brought by helping my countrymen and the people, and the whole nation as well.

Try to visit Legazpi City and see the grandeur of the finest volcano in the world, Mayon Volcano.

How to get there:

The distance from manila by air is approximately 205 statute miles taking a plane to Legazpi City. Flights are available everyday. It is also accessible by land transportation through the Quirino highway and approximately 553 kilometers or 523 miles away. Journey takes about 8 to 10 hours, aircon buses depart daily from Manila to Legazpi.