To further strengthen Albay’s position in the tourism market and boost the province’s sports programs, the provincial government is planning to host the 2012 Palarong Pambansa. Albay will be hosting a series of sports activities to built its capacity to host the nationwide sports tilt. On December 2010, Albay will host the Bicol SCUAA Meet with Bicol University as the main venue. The province will also host the Palarong Bicol in February 2011 sponsored by the Albay DepEd.

The Sangguniang Panlunsod here has conducted its inaugural session last Tuesday (July 13) at Ibalong Conference Room, commencing with a Thanksgiving Mass presided by Msgr. Ramon Tronqued, followed by the election of officers and committee chairmanship of the city council.

The Aquinas University of Legazpi Chorale will compete at the upcoming 6th World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China from July 20 to 26, 2010. The World Choir Games is the largest choir competition in the world. Organized by Musica Mundi and INTERKULTUR Foundation, the World Choir Games is a biennial event that gathers the best choirs from around the world. The AUL Chorale will represent the Philippines along with the Miriam College High School Glee Club and the Kammerchor Manila.

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.

Albay is all set to host the first ever National Rescue and Disaster Response Competition on July 26-31, 2010 sponsored by the provincial government of Albay and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). The 1st NRDRC is a nationwide skills competition that will test the readiness of the country’s rescuers and disaster officials in the worst disaster scenarios including water rescue, collapsed building scenario, earthquake and fire scenario.

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 City Government of Legazpi is expected to open its modern P43-million Sanitary Landfill Facility located in Barangay Banquerohan in August this year. The open dump site will be closed after the opening of the sanitary landfill.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to resume regular trips to the Bicol Region by Friday next week, PNR officials told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Tuesday. The PNR halted its daily train trips to the Bicol province after the San Cristobal bridge here was destroyed when typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” battered Southern Luzon one after the other in 2006. Now, with a newly constructed 50-meter bridge taking the place of the devastated San Cristobal bridge, the Bicol Train service, from Manila to Ligao, Albay will soon resume.

Low-cost carrier Airphil Express (formerly Air Philippines) returns to Legazpi City with a brand new A320 jet service. Airphil Express will fly daily from Manila to Legazpi and vice versa starting October 28, 2010. Designated as 2P 918, the flight will depart Manila at 9:25am and arrive at Legazpi at 10:25am. the return flight will depart Legazpi at 10:55 am and arrive in Manila at 11:55am. The new Airbus A320 planes can accommodate 177 passengers.

The City of Legazpi is all set to celebrate the 51st anniversary of its cityhood today, June 12, 2010. Legazpi was proclaimed a city for the third and last time on June 12, 1959 with a new charter under Republic Act No. 2234. The city government of Legazpi, together with the provincial government of Albay, will also celebrate the 112th Independence Day of the Republic of the Philippines. The celebrations will commence with a Holy Mass at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral, Old Albay District at 7 am.

The city of Legazpi’s SmokeFree Campaign won the 1st Red Orchid Award under the LGU category together with Calauag, Quezon in CALABARZON, Maasin City in Eastern Visayas, Talisayan in Northern Mindanao and Davao City in the Davao Region. The Red Orchid award is given to tobacco-free DOH offices, DOH hospitals and local government units. The awarding was held in conjunction with the celebration of World No Tobacco Day. The Red Orchid Award was recieved Mayor Noel Rosal, Mayor-Elect Gie Rosal, Smoke-free committee chair Rose Olarte-Orbita and City Health Officer Dr. Fulbert Gillego.