Did you know that Albay has its very own version of Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills? These little-known hills straddle an area stretching from the third district to the second district of Albay. The hills are not as conical and symmetrical as the ones in Bohol, but they are remarkably similar in appearance and are probably of the same limestone composition. Indeed, these hills are a natural attraction and potential tourist destination in Albay just waiting to be discovered and explored.

The city of Legazpi’s tourism industry is expected to receive another boost through the privatization and development of one of the city’s top tourist attractions: Ligñon Hill Nature Park. Tourist arrivals in the city of Legazpi continues to increase as the local government here remains relentless in its pursuit to further strengthen the local tourism industry with the Mayon Volcano, Embarcadero, and the Ligñon Hill Nature Park in the frontline. City Mayor Geraldine Rosal asserts that the surge in local tourism continues to gain more grounds, propelling the city’s burgeoning economy.

Discover and capture Legazpi City’s many facets: from scenic landscapes and seascapes to interesting local life and colors! Join the 2010 Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk in one of the Philippines’ most photogenic cities, on Saturday, July 24, 2010.

This July 2010, unwind, relax and enjoy at the Embarcadero de Legazpi, the City’s premier entertainment and shopping destination. Embarcadero will celebrate the first ever Embarcadero Festival, a two week-long revelry that will be held from July 17 to 31, 2010. Exciting events are lined up for non-stop fun and celebration!

The province of Albay, because of its volcanic origins, is home to beaches with distinct black sands of the deepest ebony color. The black sand is a product of millions of years of natural erosion that pulverized the mighty volcanic rocks into fine-textured sands. Albay’s black sand beaches stretch across the province’s eastern seafront with the best ones found in the towns of Bacacay, Tiwi, Sto. Domingo, and the city of Legazpi.

From April 4-30, 2010, Albay celebrates its annual Magayon Festival. The entire month of April is jam-packed with colorful and exciting events. Check out this year’s Magayon Festival activities. Come and visit Albay! Always Albay, Always Magayon!

The St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church in Oas was founded in 1605 by Franciscan missionaries. Fray Marcos de Lisboa was its first pastor. The first Oas church was made of wood and cogon grass. In 1825, a bigger church with a rectory was built out of volcanic rocks and bricks. The construction of the new church was supervised by Fray Francisco de Anunciacion O. Peñaranda.

The Parish Church of St. Dominic de Guzman is the most prominent landmark in the quaint and picturesque town of Sto. Domingo. Built in 1820, the church is built with massive solid stone walls unsupported by pillars. Two dome-shaped belfries give a graceful symmetry to the church. Since cement was not yet used during the construction of the Sto. Domingo church, massive stone walls were built using a mixture of lime, egg albumin, and “tangguli” (or molasses) that serve as binder and hardener.

The Parish Church of Guinobatan, Albay is dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption. Guinobatan as a parish started as a visita of the Municipality of Camalig in 1672. By 1678, Don Francisco Bagamasbad, Chief of the ‘Tenientes Absolutos’, spearheaded a petition to the Governor-General of the Philippines to elevate the visita into an independent municipality. This effort achieved fruition in 1688 when the request was granted. Rev. Fr. Alfonso de Zafra was the first minister of the Parish of Guinobatan. Soon after, the first Guinobatan church was built.

The church of San Juan Bautista in Tabaco City is one of the most stately religious structures in the province of Albay. According to the Estado Geografico Estadistico Historico written in 1805 by Father De Huerta, the recorded history of the city began in 1587 through the missionary work of the Franciscan Fathers. A church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the city’s patron saint, was first built in Tabaco in 1616 by Fr. Pedro De Alcareso. The construction of the present church started in 1864 and was completed in 1879. The Tabaco Church is unique among Philippine churches because the stones used to build the church bears the distinct marks of the masons.

The Church of St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista) in Camalig is another imposing religious structure in the province of Albay. The church is built entirely out of solid blocks of volcanic rock from Mount Mayon. Christianity was brought to Camalig by Capt. Luis de Guzman together with Father Alonzo Jimenez, an Augustinian priest who came with the Legaspi expedition. Evangelization was started in 1578 by the Augustinian missionaries.