One of the most known symbols of Bicolandia is the beautiful, symmetrical mound of rock and sand called Mt. Mayon. This volcano is indeed a sight to behold – breathtaking, majestic, and yes, dangerous. But you probably do not know these four things that make Mayon more interesting.
The Magayon Folklore
The name Mayon is from the bicol word “magayon” which translates to “beautiful” in Enlgish. Bicolanos know this by heart and. But the folklore behind it is not just talked about too much. “Magayon” is actually the name of a princess who was forced to wed a wicked lover named Pagtuga.
Princess Magayon, or the “beautiful princess” is shown in this artistic illustration. Her tragic story is the interesting narrative behind the beautiful Mayon Volcano. Illustration credits thevolcanoprincess.com
Pagtuga captured Princess Magayon’s father and her hand was the price for his freedom. However, even with an attempted rescue by the princess’ real lover Paganoron, the story still had a tragic ending when both lovers die in the violence that ensued. The place where Magayon was buried is where Mayon stands today, or so the story narrates.
Mayon’s Scary Side
Mt. Mayon is Philippines’ most active volcano. Even present-day Albayanos can attest to this fact. In a span of 400 years the volcano have had 50 eruptions. The first recorded eruption of Mayon was in 1616 as chronicled by the Dutch explorer Joris van Spilbergen.
Mayon Volcano erupting. Horror and fear replaces beauty when she shows her other side. Photo credits R. Madronero
Mayon is known to have huge and extended eruptions, one lasted for 7 full days (imagine that!). This eruption started on the 23d of June 1897. This uninterrupted eruption launched red hot rocks into the air and released a sea of lava that trapped and killed hundreds in the towns of San Roque, Libon, and Bacacay.
The Death Of 1,200
Mayon is no doubt beautiful but like everything in this world, nothing is perfect. Mayon’s weakness would be her fatal wrath expressed through huge eruptions. One of these catastrophic eruptions happened one fateful February day in 1814.
One of Mayon’s early eruptions. This photo captured its 1928 eruption. This volcano might be beautiful but it is also a killer. Photo credits Wikimedia
There were many villages in Albay and CamSur that were destroyed with raining ash, hot stones, and sand spewing from the crater. 12,000 people died in that day making it the deadliest eruption in Mt. Mayon history.
What’s In A Name – Cagsawa Ruins
Many do not know this but before the big Mayon eruption of 1814, Cagsawa was actually a town and Daraga (soon to be a city) a little village. With many people dead in Cagsawa after the huge eruption, people were forced to resettle in Daraga, changing the concentration of population in the area to this very day.
Tha Cagsawa Church framing Mayon Volcano (as always). This photo however shows the church as an intact structure, unlike the iconic photos widely distributed of these two. where the bell tower is the only surviving feature of the church. Photo credits Jenny Exconde
Cagsawa are from the two word “kag” which translates to “owner” and “sawa” which means “python”. Put the two words together and you have a place “owned by snakes”. Legend has it that Cagsawa Church was a haven of snakes and the name just stuck to be later recorded in the annals of history.
There you have it! The next time you visit and look up at Mayon’sperfect cone, be sure not only to be in awe of its ageless beauty but also be reminded of its interesting and violent history.
There is just something special about Small Hotels or Inns in a quiet street, especially those that strive for the comfort of their guests. This is what boutique hotels are known for – small in size but big in offerings and personality.
Enter the Emerald Boutique Hotel in Legazpi City. It is intimate and charming with nicely furnished rooms. What it lacks in luxurious space, it makes up with its unique style, comfort, and service.
The Rooms
The rooms at Emerald Hotel Legazpi have thick, 5-star quality mattresses with anti-bacterial sheets. The toiletries of this small hotel are also beyond the expectations of many people, considering the published rates of its rooms. The toilet and bath are nice and it is complete with rainshower head showers.
Emerald Boutique Hotel’s Standard Room. The comfy mattress says it all. Quality accommodations is here for the price of a budget hotel.
And if it is any consolation, the water that comes out from the faucets (showers too) is treated by the hotel’s own water purification system. Simply put, the water that you take a bath with is safe to drink, comparable to the bottled water you buy from the store.
This is Emerald’s Twin Deluxe Room. Two beds, generous floor space, elegantly furnished toilet and bath, with Cable TV and 24/7 Internet access.
The rooms are all equipped with cable TV and each floor has its own dedicated Internet line. In fact every part of the hotel has a decent WiFi signal, even the lobby, corridors, and outdoor spaces. Some of the third floor rooms have a Mayon view, while some rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors have access to a veranda.
The Location
A 3-minute walk to any direction will get you to the very heart of Legazpi City. Restaurants abound and Jeepneys drive through Rizal St.. These can ferry you through almost all routes in the city.
Emerald Boutique hotel is located right in the heart of Legazpi City. It is just a 3-minute walk to the seat of power of the province of Albay and the local government of Legazpi. Restaurants are also near the hotel. If you fancy roaming around the city the hotel is just a few meters away from one of the of main streets of Legazpi (Rizal St.) where public utility jeepneys pass through driving people in and around the major routes in the city.
Swimming with Whale Sharks in Donsol Bay is a feasible adventure if you are staying at the Emerald Boutique Hotel. Photo by Q Phia via FlickrThe Cagsawa Ruins, a World Heritage Site, is one Jeepney ride from Emerald Hotel Legaspi. Photo by Ayan Villafuerte
Do you want to visit the famous Cagsawa Ruins? One jeepney ride from the hotel is all you need. Do you want to hike up to the top of Lignon Hill and witness the majestic beauty of Mayon? It is just another jeepney ride away from Emerald Hotel Legazpi. This is one of the most important features of the Hotel – its accessibility to the many tourist attractions in the city and beyond.
If you fancy visiting the Cagraray EcoPark then Legazpi City is a convenient jump off point. Photo by Sayson Ballesteros
Emerald is in Legazpi and the city is at the very heart of Albay Province making it a convenient jump-off point to many local attractions like the Vanishing Island in Malilipot, The Mayon Rest House in Tabaco, Vera Falls in Malinao, Kawa-Kawa Hill in Ligao, Danao Lake in Polangui, the Japanese Tunnels in Camalig, and the Cagraray EcoPark, even the Misibis Bay Resort and Casino.
The Vera Falls in Malinao. This is just a short drive away from Legazpi City. Photo credits to the owner
Everything is within reach of Emerald Boutique Hotel and this includes Donsol Bay where the whale sharks or Butanding show up during the summer months.
Dining and Entertainment
The Emerald Bistro Cafe. This is open all day to serve sumptuous meals to hotel guests. Coffee is also available here.
Emerald Boutique Hotel has its own Bistro-Café in the ground floor which serves the guests with the hotel’s complimentary breakfast. It is open from 6:00AM to 10:00PM. The restaurant also offers mouth-watering Bicol gastronomic treats. Gourmet coffee will also be available soon in the Café.
The Emerald Bistro Café opens up to an outdoor space, to “The Garden” which will soon have live acoustic entertainment on the weekends. With the parasols, the open skies, and the comfortable seating, this area will surely be a new favorite hangout area for guests and Legazpi locals.
The Garden, an outdoor space that connects the indoor dining area to the elements outside. You can dine here if you want to.
For those who love to sing their hearts out there is the Emerald KTV rooms. The sound proof rooms are fully equipped with high quality audio-visual equipment ready to provide music and vocals even for the most demanding and seasoned karaoke singers.
People are having so much fun in Emerald’s KTV rooms. This room is sound proof and equipped with top of the line audio visual equipment.
The Videoke rooms can be rented out exclusively for three hours for only Php2500. This rate includes a consumable food package that can fill up the appetite of up to 10 people. Not a bad deal at all.
The Ambiance
Emerald Boutique Hotel’s lobby. This intimate and welcoming space represents the very feel of this charming hotel.
Emerald Boutique Hotel offers intimate accommodation with 30 fully air-conditioned rooms. This gives the hotel a homey feel and with its friendly customer service this hotel delights and delivers. Even with the limitations of its size, the hotel has all the amenities that matter most even to a seasoned traveler.
The hotel’s front desk. That green lighting reflects the emerald standard pursued by this up and coming boutique hotel.
With room rates going for as low as Php1500 per night, the Emerald Boutique Hotel is bound to exceed all your expectations.
