The musings of a wandergeselle about faith, literature, music, dancing, culture, food, travels, art, fashion, photography, life experiences, and everything in-between from journée to journée.
There is something about Mt. Mayon that captivates me. I’m instantly drawn to her beauty just like a magnet. I guess it’s not just the perfect cone that got me hooked, but also the tragic story behind it – of love and death. More about the legend here: “Star-Crossed Lovers: The Story of Magayon and Pangaronon.”
I haven’t seen Mt. Mayon up close in person, and it’s actually one of the items on my bucket list. I don’t want to climb it though, I just want to be close enough to observe all its crevices and cracks and marvel at its beauty.
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These crevices and cracks are proof of centuries of outrage and yet they all made this volcano even more beautiful. It has always been a mystery to me how this perfect cone remained as it is even during the most destructive phases of Mt. Mayon.
And just like us, what was meant for destruction and to be torn apart, God can turn it into a beautiful masterpiece that will showcase His profound greatness. ❤️
P.S. On a practical note, methinks my going near Mayon is a bad idea given my severe allergic rhinitis and the amount of SO2 that the volcano releases every day. I also have eczema, and I’m actually taking Coaltria daily as prescribed by my ENT doctor to prevent any allergy flare-ups. When I stop taking my meds, hives appear on my face, and just recently, a couple of itchy rashes on my arms. When God created the immune system, I think He forgot the right anatomy in mine. lol Ah yes, always the sickly kid in the family – nothing’s new. 😀
P.P.S. But I really, really want to be near Mt. Mayon – as close as I can get. It’s dangerous for me, but I think it will all be worth it. 😍 I don’t know why but I just want to stare at her beauty and touch the grounds surrounding her. Every time we pass by Mayon, we always see the best of her – nothing’s hidden, everything’s bare and raw. And it is what makes her more captivating. ❤️
Circa 2010– From Bulan en route to Manila.
It looks like God also answered my prayer because the LGU of Albay Province (all thanks to Rep. Zaldy Co) is planning on offering to the public a Hot Air Balloon Ride overlooking Mt. Mayon and the Pacific Ocean starting next year. Oh, my heart. I think it fell out. lol I’m just plain excited! 😍
I am praying it will be a yearly event so my husband and I can experience this together. But unfortunately, not in the next 2 years because he won’t be coming home. So, delayed gratification it is. Ah yes, when God teaches patience, you really have no choice but to learn it. 🙏
By the way, to the guys (Bicolano or not) who plan on proposing to their girlfriends, nothing can get more romantic than a hot air balloon marriage proposal. Now is your perfect chance – just make sure she’s not scared of heights. 😀👍
The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.” – Joel 2:25
Thank you so much for any help you could provide, and let’s continue praying for all the affected residents and communities in the area.
***Donations will be accepted untilJanuary 26,2020.
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My husband and I took advantage of Mt. Mayon’s unhidden splendor by capturing a selfie with her. We were on our way to my hometown last December 22, 2019 (my birthday) for the holidays. 🙂
I will be writing two versions of this article – in the vernacular and in English for the convenience of all local and international readers. ❤
The Beauty of Mt. Mayon and Yet One of Nature’s Most Destructible Weapons
Filipino Version
Sabi ko kay Brian, ang hometown ko sa Bicol ay nakakaranas ng sobrang lakas na mga bagyo tuwing Disyembre simula noong bata pa ako. 2 hrs away din kami sa Mt. Mayon, the #1 most active volcano sa buong bansa, at ang Mt. Bulusan ay 30 minutes away lang din. Nakaranas din kami ng matinding ash fall noong tumuga ito. Ngayon, ito ay nananatiling nasa Alert Level 1 simula noong Mayo 5, 2019 samantalang ang Mt. Mayon ay nasa Alert Level 2 simula pa noong March 29, 2018.
Nasa coastal area din kami o malapit sa baybaying dagat na pwedeng makaranas ng tsunami o storm surge at dahil maraming bulkan sa Bicol ang active, madalas din ang lindol. Through these calamities, iisa lang pinatunayan ng Dios, He still reigns supreme – not our government officials, not Science, not man.
Tiwala sa Kanya – God never wants anyone to perish but is being patient for everyone to repent. He does not send calamities nor create conflicts among men to punish, but for people to know who really is God. Neither is He a cruel God who wants His people to suffer.
No, God isn’t like that. Huwag natin kalimutan na satan, God’s enemy, is also in this world at may kinalaman din sya sa ibang nangyayari sa ating mundo and the main culprit of anything sinful.
God, however, already promised that never again will He destroy mankind gaya ng the Great Flood as a punishment. The rainbow He showed to Noah and to us now is a sign of that covenant. Calamities are only one of God’s ways of turning people back to Him at bumalik-loob sa Kanya.
But only because God loves us so much He doesn’t want us to perish when judgment day comes. It is also a reminder who is still in control of this world regardless if we have the most modern, high-powered warfare in the entire universe or the greatest up-to-date technology that man and Science can ever design.
God will and still remain SUPREME at patuloy Nya tayong ire-remind of that.
English Version
I told my husband that my hometown experiences super typhoons every December ever since I was a kid. We are also located 2 hours away from the #1 most active volcano in the Philippines, Mt. Mayon, and also lauded in the world as the only volcano with the perfect cone. There is also another active volcano near our community, Mt. Bulusan, which is only 30 minutes away. We also experienced extreme ash fall during one of its eruptions. According to PHIVOLCS, it is currently on Alert Level 1 since May 5, 2019, while Mt. Mayon is on Alert Level 2 since March 28, 2018.
We are also located in a coastal area wherein there are high chances of a storm surge and tsunamis. Since we have two of the 4 most active volcanoes in the country, we also experience frequent earthquakes. And yet through these calamities, God has proven only one thing, He reigns supreme – not our government officials, not Science, and not man.
Trust in Him – this is what God wants, not wanting anyone to perish but patiently waiting for everyone to repent. He does not send calamities nor create conflicts among men to punish, but for people to know who God truly is. Neither is He a cruel God who wants His people to suffer.
No, God isn’t like that. We mustn’t forget that satan, God’s enemy, is also in this world and is at work. He is also responsible for some of the unfortunate events that took place and the main culprit of anything sinful.
God, however, already promised that never again will He destroy mankind as punishment for our sins such as what happened during the Great Flood. The rainbow He showed to Noah and to us now is a sign of that covenant. Calamities are only one of God’s ways of turning people back to Him.
But only because God loves us so much He doesn’t want us to perish when judgment day comes. It is also a reminder who is still in control of this world regardless if we have the most modern, high-powered warfare in the entire universe or the greatest up-to-date technology that man and Science can ever design.
God will and still remain SUPREME and He will continue to remind us of that every now and then. We can glorify God’s beautiful creations such as volcanoes, and yet they also remind us to submit to His power.
Always a Christian Bicolana,
MT. MAYON TRIVIA
1. Trivia 1
“Some people believe that when the volcano is restive and about to erupt, Magayon is being bothered by Pagtuga, while they believe Pangaronon is embracing Magayon when the volcano is calm…
They also believe that Pangaronon is kissing Magayon when clouds meet at the top of the volcano.”
We all know the extent of a disaster caused by volcanic eruptions. It can instantly wipe out a community, kill thousands of people, and destroy countless properties and livestock. Research, however, proved that living near a volcano also provides some benefits. They are as follows:
Fertile Soil
Minerals & Other Materials For Building Construction
I was born in Bicol, a region located in Southern Luzon, and I’m a Bicolana, which is the term commonly used to refer to local women. For local men and locals in general, we use the term Bicolano. I only transferred to the metro when I took my bachelor’s degree in UP Diliman, but I guess I will always be a nature lover wherever life takes me. I grew up loving nature so much because of this – Bicol offers a vast expanse of luscious flora and fauna, and its rich local biodiversity makes it one of the famous places to visit here in the Philippines for ecotourism.
You can also find the majestic Mt. Mayon volcano in Bicol, which is known all over the world for its perfect cone. Though we are located in the ring of fire housing two active volcanoes, they are actually the few things that made our region a tourist spot. Other must-visit places in our region are the hot and cold springs, which can be found at the foot of the volcanoes such as the ones found near Mt. Bulusan volcano.
Mt. Mayon Volcano in Albay
Hot springs are very common, but I am not sure if you have heard of cold springs in a tropical country – and I mean, ice cold spring.
In this article, I will be featuring one of the cold springs in the province of Sorsogon in Bicol that my family and I visited last May 31, 2015 – the Masacrot Spring.
So, why the name? “Masacrot” is a Bicol term which means “astringent.”
Astringency
Some foods, such as unripe fruits, contain tannins or calcium oxalate that cause an astringent or puckering sensation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Examples include tea, red wine, rhubarb, and unripe persimmons and bananas.
Less exact terms for the astringent sensation are “dry”, “rough”, “harsh” (especially for wine), “tart” (normally referring to sourness), “rubbery”, “hard” or “styptic”.[73]
When referring to wine, dry is the opposite of sweet, and does not refer to astringency. Wines that contain tannins and so cause an astringent sensation are not necessarily classified as “dry,” and “dry” wines are not necessarily astringent.
In the Indian Ayurvedic tradition, one of the six tastes is astringency (kasaaya).[74]
– WIKIPEDIA
They say that the water in Masacrot Spring contains some minerals, which make the water astringent. But it is potable and considered as safe to drink.
Masacrot Spring
The blue-green waters of the pool will captivate you enough to make you want to dive right away regardless if you’re a pro swimmer or not. The pool was hand-carved, and the natural environment surrounding it offers an ambiance perfect for communing with nature. This was the second time we visited Masacrot Spring. I could barely remember anything during our first visit because I was only 5 years old back then. All I could remember was that there’s a very cold pool that exists in this world. 😉
Pristine, crystal blue-green waters.
Hand-carved pool.
Taking a plunge in this cold spring can only be described in one perfect word – invigorating. YES, that is a definite. You literally will get the chill the moment the cold water touches your skin. Though I wouldn’t advise taking a dip in the pool without moving for a long time because it is REALLY that freezing cold.
Locals visit the place during the peak of the summer season when weather temperature rises to as high as 39 degrees Celsius. But let me assure you that nothing is as refreshing as a cold spring dip during the hottest months here in the Philippines.
Masacrot Spring pool.
The bottom of the pool isn’t cemented, and the clay–like soil tends to get slippery so take extra caution when walking around the resort. Some parts of the pool go as deep as 6 feet. So if you are not a swimmer, better rent or bring your own floaters just to be safe.
Don’t forget your swimming floaters. 😉
The cold water is free-flowing too so the water stays clean even if the place is jampacked with visitors during the peak season. They also have a lot of cottages where you and your family can relax, and there are grill stations for cooking barbecues and fish. Now, that makes me hungry. 😀
The perfect summer snack: unripe, sour mangoes with shrimp paste.
Masacrot Spring is located in Bulusan, Sorsogon and if you will be coming from the airport in Legazpi, Albay, it will be a 2-hour drive. There are a lot of options when commuting via public transportation going to the resort, but I suggest renting a van or a jeepney that will take you there and pick you up for a hassle-free vacay for you, your family, and your friends. 🙂
The Journeyman's Moments 