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I
SUPPOSE it was the perfect time than any to travel to
Albay, especially given that Tourism Secretary Joseph
“Ace” Durano is batting for Mayon Volcano to be among
the “New 7 Wonders of Nature.” It would be my second
time in Albay, and I just couldn’t take enough photos of
the grand volcano with its sweeping curvaceous slope
ending in a near-perfect cone.
As soon
as she came into view as our plane was descending into
Albay, I started clicking away on my trusty camera-phone
through the plane’s window, and again as I got out into
the Legazpi airport tarmac, then everywhere else we
went. I have so many photos of Mount Mayon: its enormity
shrouded in clouds, a breathtaking one with a clear view
of its entire magnificence, and—past sunset—its brooding
figure looming in the darkening horizon.
OUR Lady of the Gate Parish
Church, otherwise known as Daraga Church, was built in
the 18th century after the Mayon Volcano erupted and
buried the Cagsawa Church. Its baroque architecture was
common of churches of the era.
In a
way, I envy the residents of Albay for having the
volcano in their midst. I mean, how cool it must be to
wake up every morning with Mayon visible through your
bedroom window, or have coffee and breakfast while
gazing at it from your kitchen? Even the locals say they
are constantly awed by her presence, and never get tired
of looking at her.
Of
course, I’m sure the people living around the volcano’s
6-kilometer permanent danger zone have a different view
of Mayon, gripped by sheer terror when she rumbles and
growls, and then spews off her anger and spite at the
world. They then pack up their belongings in a rush and
flee, heavy with worry if their houses and farms will
survive yet another of her legendary tantrums.
Fireworks and parties
BUT even
then, as the international news media reported during
the volcano’s last fiery eruption in 2000, those who
lived at a distance emerged from their homes and
gathered with friends and neighbors every evening
watching the fireworks display and lava flows, as if
there was a party. If I had been living there, I
probably would have even held a wine-and-cheese party on
my patio.
And she
is, just like any woman, a jealous one. After I whored
it for the camera using Mayon as my backdrop, she had a
minieruption the day we were leaving for Manila, as if
to say, “How dare you make me a bit player in your photo
shoot? Good riddance, bitch!”
Can you
tell I had so much fun in Albay? And it wasn’t just
because of Mayon. There are simply so many wonderful
sights to behold in that province alone—and in the
entire Bicol region, I’m told—that I’ve been nagging my
friends for us to hold a New Year’s Eve party there. I
think it would be just wild: imagine if Mayon started
belching smoke and lava...wow, how’s that for real
fireworks!
Luckily,
the 40-room Hotel Venezia—a city hotel now managed by
HSAI Raintree Management Co.—has been refurbished
offering a fabulous home away from home. It provides the
same quality of amenities and service as can be found in
other HSAI Raintree-managed properties like Discovery
Suites along ADB Avenue in Pasig, Discovery Country
Suites in Tagaytay City, and Discovery Shores in Boracay.
Excellent staff and service
THE
hotel’s guest rooms are not your usual found in most
provincial city hotels. I looooved the double bed and
the linens in our junior suite because I slept so
soundly and comfortably that I didn’t want to get up
anymore. Even the duvet was so warm and had that homely
feel, you know? It’s the same secure feeling you get
with your favorite blankie despite it having been washed
20,000 times over.
The
bathroom was also spotlessly clean every day, it was so
refreshing to come home to after a long day. And we did
work our tails off that weekend, interviewing the
supercute but very energetic and efficient Secretary
Durano past 10 pm for our Bicol stories!
A COMFORTABLE and luxurious
stay at the Hotel Venezia, the only one of its class in
Legazpi City, Albay. -- PHOTO
BY OLIVER TAM
(As an
aside, I must say Secretary Durano truly impresses. For
one, he is so pleasant and approachable, he has no airs
of self-importance that he travels without a battalion
of security aides in tow unlike other Cabinet
secretaries–you know who you are. He has an answer for
any tourism question you throw at him, because he
obviously takes time to study the issues. He is doing
such a great job promoting the Philippines despite a
limited budget, unlike his other colleagues who are just
plain porma. And, as my gay friends say it, he’s so
mabango-looking pa! Gosh, if I were President Arroyo,
I’d like to keep this one at my side all the time. By
the way, Secretary Durano did miss the Beijing Olympics
opening just to be in Albay to inaugurate Hotel Venezia
and its sister resort Discover Bay Misibis. Such
dedication...no wonder the public recently rated Durano
as among the top Cabinet secretaries.)
Back to
Hotel Venezia....While the food choices at its Café San
Marco are still limited, and the occasional lapses in
housekeeping that can only be attributed to the fact
that it’s basically still a new hotel, I’d still
recommend visitors to stay there because it does have
excellent facilities. Also, the good-looking staff is a
lovely reason as any to check out the hotel. (Hi, Blu!)
Okay, there’s also the cold, citrusy-scented face towels
as well to welcome you from your forays outside the
hotel. They are just invigorating! the towels, not the
precious staff, ha.
Beauties
within reach, but...
THANKFULLY, the province of Albay is tiny enough that
you can visit many of its favored tourist spots that are
just within reach of the capital of Legazpi City.
Using
the hotel as our “hub,” we ventured forth to a few
touristy sites, but also made a few interesting
discoveries on our own, especially in terms of Bicolano
cuisine (more of that in a future story).
We went
to the Our Lady of the Gate Parish, otherwise known as
the Daraga Church, and marveled at its baroque
architecture; and the Cagsawa Ruins, where the old
church’s belfry still stands and took plenty of photos
with Mount Mayon in the background. We sat admiring
Busay Falls and envied the locals swimming in its cool
refreshing waters; became disappointed at the altar
supposedly made of volcanic rock at St. Raphael’s Church
because the rock was hidden from view; and explored a
tunnel in Liñgon Hill, which was carved out during World
War II and where the Japanese military supposedly hid
their ammunition.
The
problem with Albay’s tourist spots, just like any other
found in the country, is that they suffer from the lack
of funds to build the necessary infrastructure and
facilities to enjoin more visitors. In Busay Falls, for
example, there is just a rinky-dink smelly outhouse with
no flushable toilet and no water to relieve yourself.
As for
Liñgon Hill, I cannot help but think we can have our own
Cuchi Tunnels-like tour right there, but there are not
enough lights to make exploration a safe and pleasant
experience. Mercifully, the municipal government has
issued an ordinance to ban vehicles going up the hill to
keep the air clean of smoke belchers and keep its roads
smoothly paved. But it has no ordinance to charge an
entrance fee for the area, which I think is necessary
for the place’s upkeep. (Charge that to local
politicking, as usual.)
Aside
from its natural wonders, Albay is so accessible to the
nearby provinces, you can use it as a base to travel
throughout the Bicol region, or attend the various
festivals therein. There is the Virgen Peñafrancia
Festival in Naga City in September; butanding (whaleshark)
spotting in Donsol, Sorsogon; and wakeboarding in
Camarines Sur, just to name a few.
Albay is
just one of the many reasons Filipinos should start
taking a fresh look at their own backyards for a
pleasant and exciting holiday. Now, if we can only get
the airlines to lower their fares....
***Vote for Mount Mayon for its inclusion on the “New 7
Wonders of Nature” list. This grand lady deserves our
respect. Cast your vote at
www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/index/. For
reservations at Hotel Venezia, call 683-8222, locals
3880/3881 (Manila) or (052) 481-0877/481-0888/820-0888 (Legazpi
City). Philippine Airlines (www.philippineairlines.com)
and Cebu Pacific (www.cebupacificair.com) fly daily to
Legazpi City. |
