The Mayon Volcano in the province of Albay in the Bicol Region is a famous tourist landmark in the Philippines and is the most active volcano in the country, with over 50 eruptions in the past 400 years. The 2,463-meter high Mayon is a classified as a composite volcano whose symmetric cone came about from alternate pyroclastic and lava flows. It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean and is a nominee in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition.[1]
The Magayon Festival is a reliving of the folk legend of Mayon Volcano that is held annually in Albay in May. According to folklore, Mayon rose from the grave of Daragang Magayon, literally meaning beautiful maiden, a beautiful princess named Magayon who was in love with Panganoron but was forced into a wedding with the spurned suitor, Paratuga. When Pangaronon appeared during the ceremony, Magayon rushed towards him but was killed, and so was Panganoron when he lifted her body. The lovers were buried together with all her possessions including the wedding gifts, and the burial mound continuously rose over time and eventually transformed into the volcano.[2]
People from the province believe that the spirit of Paratuga causes the occasional eruption of the volcano, which is due to his desire to exhume Magayon’s grave and force out all of the precious metals and stones that was given to her as wedding gifts. On the other hand, the spirit of Panganoron is seen as wandering above the volcano’s peak in the form of clouds, that usually disperse into raindrops as if grieving for the death of the loved one, and also keeping the vegetation on the volcano’s slopes fresh all the year round.[3]
The Magayon Festival is a feast with its own identity that celebrates life and its abundance and blessings, and blends Catholic beliefs with traditional ways of living in Albay. Activities lined up for the event typically include cultural showcases, trade fairs, travel and tourism exhibits and sports contests. A regional cooking competition, with categories for students, homemakers and professional chefs and focusing on creative dishes that use native Bicol produce like coconut, pili and hot pepper, is held on May 13-15. The festivities also feature a Mayon Marathon, an eco-camp activity at Mayon Volcano National Park for the youth, and a hiking activity for young people with the Bicol Federation of Mountaineers to make them aware of the environment. Songwriting and chorale competitions and the Search for Mutya ng Magayon and the Mr & Ms Bikini Summit also take place. The Magayon festival promotes tourism in Albay, which also has fine beaches, diving and snorkeling locations, historical Spanish-era churches and sites and ancestral houses.[4]
The 15th Magayon Festival was held in Legazpi City, Albay in April 2011 and was led by Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda and the Department of Tourism Region V. The majestic Mayon Volcano served as the postcard-perfect backdrop anywhere one turns to in Legazpi City, and one is filled with awe when such a presence of belligerence and beauty is viewed for the first time.[5]
Gov. Salceda opened the festival on April 1 at the Penaranda Park, which had the Silyab sa Magayon” fireworks display and the “Concierto sa Magayon” concert with comic host Ate Shawie and the 6 Cycle Mind band. The Mutya ng Magayon pageant night, the 9th Gayon Bicol Festival of Festivals Showdown and the 2011 Magayon Mr. & Ms. Bikini Fashionista attracted huge crowds.[6]
Senator Antonio Trillanes visited his hometown in Albay in time for the month-long festival and also consulted with local officials and his constituents. This is the senator’s first visit to Bicolandia since coming out from detention in December 2010, where he spoke at the cultural celebration and led the Samahang Magdalo convention in Legazpi City, which had at least 15 chapters from the region.[7]
[1] “Mayon Volcano”, WikiPilipinas, 4 March 2010, <http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Mount_Mayon> [accessed 26 May 2011]
[3] Anastacio C. Canciller, “The Legend of Mount Mayon”, Magayon Festival 2010, 13 September 2007, <http://magayonfestival.albay.gov.ph/legend%20of%20mt%20mayon.html> [accessed 26 May 2011]
[4] “Magayon Festival – A Celebration of Life and Its Abundance of Blessings”, PhilippineFiestas.com,
23 June 2009, <http://www.philippinefiestas.com/tag/magayon-festival/> [accessed 26 May 2011]
[5] Reinerio A. Alba, “Magayon Festival” mb.com.ph, 22 May 2011,
<http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/319342/magayon-festival> [accessed 26 May 2011]
[6] ibid
[7] “Trillanes Graces 15th Magayon Festival”, Senate of the Philippines, 1 April 2011, <http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2011/0401_trillanes1.asp> [accessed 26 May 2011]
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