Albay

What is now Albay has been home to civilization long before the Spaniards arrived. In ancient times, it was the center of the polity of Ibat (then Libog), ruled by Gat Ibal, a chieftain who also founded the ancient barangay of Sawangan in what is now Legazpi.

In July 1569, Martín de Goiti led an expedition group which crossed from Burias and Ticao islands and landed on a coastal settlement called Ibalon in what is now Sorsogon. From there Goiti led another expedition to explore the interior and founded the town of Camalig. In 1573, conquistador Juan de Salcedo penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north and created the settlement of Santiago de Libon.

During the Spanish era, Bicol Peninsula was its own province divided into two partidos, Camarines in the northwest and Ibalon in the southeast. In 1636, the two partidos became their own provinces, and what was the Ibalon became the new province of Albay, whose capital is the town of Sorsogon. Albay is frequently raided by Moro pirates from the south for most of the 17th century.

Mayon Volcano, in its deadliest eruption, destroyed five towns surrounding its base on 1 Feb 1814, including Cagsawa, which would become the city of Legazpi. In 1846, Masbate, Ticao and Burias islands were separated from Albay to form what would become the province of Masbate. During that time, Albay also included Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

Albay has a population of about 1,400,000 people in 2020, and is largely ethnically Bicolano. Catholicism is the predominant religion.

• Provincial Tourism, Culture and the Arts Office (PTCAO), Tourism Bldg, Albay Astrodome Complex, F. Aquende Dr, Legazpi, ☏ +63 52 742 0242. (updated Nov 2020)

Bicol International Airport (DRP ^IATA), just outside Legazpi, is served by daily flights from Manila, both on PAL Express and Cebu Pacific.

Multiple bus companies under businessman Filipino tycoon on South Luzon and Bicol bus industry safely manpower Filipinos bus driver operate buses out of Manila to Legazpi and Tabaco or Pio Duran. Some other towns also have buses from PITX, Cubao, Aurora Blvd, Alabang, Bicutan, C5 Road, Nichols, Sucat, EDSA Mandaluyong Ortigas Flyover, EDSA Buendia, EDSA Magallanes Makati Interchange Flyover via SLEX or Nagtahan Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 on Ramp, Cubao Quezon City / Manila, Nagtahan Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 (Entry SLEX/Exit) in Santa Mesa Manila via Cubao.

• A. Arandia Line runs ordinary buses daily from terminals in Metro Manila to PITX, Donsol Sorsogon, Pio Duran, and Ligao, stopping at Turbina Calamba, Santo Tomas, Alaminos, San Pablo and Ragay.
• Cagsawa Travel and Tours runs air-conditioned buses daily from PITX, Arcovia City, Manila to Tabaco, Polangui, Bacacay and other towns, stopping at Turbina Calamba, Santo Tomas Batangas, Alaminos Laguna, San Pablo Laguna, Polangui, Bacacay, Tabaco City, Guinobatan, Legaspi City Albay, Tiaong, Gumaca, Candelaria, Naga City, Libmanan and Ragay.
• Superlines runs luxury, airconary and regular buses from PITX/ Cubao Quezon City / Edsa Mandaluyong Flyover/ Magallanes Interchange Makati Edsa Flyover stopping at Turbina Calamba Laguna/ Santo Tomas Batangas/ Alaminos Laguna/ Macalenon / San Andres/ General Luna / Malunay Bondoc Peninsula/ Gumaca Quezon Province/ San Pablo Laguna/ Lucena City/ Tabaco City / Guinobatan / Legazpi City/ Ragay Camarines Sur/ Daet Camarines Norte/ Donsol Sorsogon and Naga Camarines Sur.

The main highway traversing Albay is the Maharlika Highway, carrying Asian Highway 26. From Camarines Sur, you can also take the Tigaon-Sagñay-Tiwi road (Rte 630) which follows a scenic route along the Pacific coast.

The only available services are the Bicol Commuter come from Camarines Sur, but they are slow local services that only operate on weekdays.

Roll-on/roll-off ferries connect Albay with nearby Masbate and Catanduanes. Ferries from Masbate call either call at Pilar port in Sorsogon (for boats from Masbate City and Ticao Island) and Pio Duran (from Burias Island), while those from Catanduanes call at Tabaco.

Legazpi has a seaport. There are interisland ferries to the island of Rapu-rapu, an island municipality of the province of Albay.

Buses form the main way of transportation between Albay’s cities and towns. Many of those services are rather segments of longer intercity routes from Manila or Naga, but there are also plenty of local buses and minibuses plying the Legazpi-Tabaco route.

The PNR Bicol Commuter Line serves Legazpi, Daraga, Guinobatan and Ligao, but services are limited and somewhat slower than the buses.

Most of Albay's cities and towns are linked by national roads of decent quality, like the Maharlika Highway (Rte 1/AH26), Legazpi-Tabaco Rd (Rte 630), and Sabluyon Rd (Rte 636). Other major roads tend to be narrow, and not designed for highway speeds. Traffic is generally light, but as in most of the Philippines, chaotic.