Albay, Philippines, about 538 kilometers southeast of Manila, is one of the provinces in the Bicol Region that is rich in natural resources, and is home to the spectacular Mayon Volcano. Its capital is Legazpi City and the province is bounded by the provinces of Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. Also to the northeast is Lagunoy Gulf. Albay also takes pride of the beauty of its natures where one could appreciate the scenic of the clear waterfalls, meandering rivers, spectacular ancient cave network and lush underwater world.
Albay has an approximate land area of 2,552.6 square kilometers, which makes it the 26th smallest province in the Philippines. It has four main islands and these are: Rapu-Rapu and Batan, both of the municipality of Rapu-Rapu; Cagraray of the municipality of Bacacay, however, with small area as part of Malilipot, and San Miguel, of Tabaco City. Lagunoy Gulf borders the province to the northeast, separating it from the province of Catanduanes.
The province is comprised of the three cities and fifteen municipalities, first congressional district: municipalities of Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay, Sto. Domingo, and the City of Tabaco; second congressional district: municipalities of Rapu-Rapu, Daraga, Camalig, Manito, and Legazpi City; third congressional district: municipalities of Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Oas, Pio Duran, Polangui, and Ligao City.
Languages
The people of Albay are called Albayanos. Bicol is the primary language they speak. However, almost all of the municipalities have their own dialects. These are the Bicolano Viejo, Legazpeño, Daragueño, or Albayanon, Polangueño, Oasnon and others. Mostly of the dialects spoken in the coastal areas in Albay are similar to that spoken in Camarines Sur. Majority of the inhabitants also understand Tagalog and English.
History
Long before westerners arrived at the region, the Bicolanos (the people) already has the culture of their own. The Bicol Region was known as Ibalon, which some writers claimed to have been named possibly after their chieftain-DATU GAT ABAAL, who ruled the inhabited territories from his seat of power at Sawangan on the mouth of Makabalo River, when Juan de Salcedo and his soldiers explored it in 1573. Sawangan, a small settlement by a mangrove swamp, became a town called Albaybay in 1616. The town was first renamed Albay, then Legazpi, as Albay went on to refer to the province.
In 1846, the three islands of Masbate, Ticao, and Burias were separated from Albay. The islands were separated to form the comandancia of Masbate. Albay was then divided into four districts: Iraya, Cordillera or Tobaco, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes. In 1894 and in 1945, Sorsogon and Catanduanes, respectively, were separated from Albay and became separate and independent provinces. The province of Albay was created on March 10, 1917.
In 1570, Spain Christianized the Ibalon locals. The Christianization took place when the group of Legazpi Urdaneta expeditionary force headed by Augustinian friars Fr. Alonzo Jimenez and Fr. Juan Orca landed at the southwestern coast of the western peninsula. The group named the southern part of the place as “TIERRA DE IBALON” and the northern part, “TIERRA DE CAMARINES”.
In 1663, Spanish authorities issued as decree renaming Partido de Ibalon, which comprises the eastern part of the peninsula, as Albay.
Sorsogon used to be part of Albay. However, in 1894, by virtue of a decree, Sorsogon became a province.While Sorsogon was created a separate province, Masbate, in 1908, by virtue of an executive order was made a sub-province of Albay by the American Civil Government. It was October 26, 1945 that Masbate became an independent province by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 687.
Economy
Agriculture is the main industry in Albay. Albay’s main agricultural products are coconut, rice, sugar, and abacá. Handicraft is one of the major sources of income of families in the rural areas. Other sources of livelihood in Albay are the forestry, papermaking, manufacturing of abacá products such as hats, wall decors, bags, mats, and slippers, and fishing for those residing along the coastal areas. The presence of Mayon Volcano draws income for Albay. Because of Mayon Volcano, particularly during its eruption, more tourists visited the province, thereby creating business opportunities to the residents.
Albay has its sea and air ports which give additional income to the government and to its people. The sea ports are the Tabaco City International, Legazpi City National, Pio Duran Provincial, and the Pantao Regional Port. For its airport, it is only in Legazpi City where domestic planes land. Legazpi domestic airport serves as Bicol's gateway to Manila and the Visayas.
