Albay lies at the southern tip of Luzon and at the center of the Bicol region. Bounded on the north by Camarines Sur, on the south by Sorsogon, on the west by Marinduque and on the northeast by Catanduanes. During the exploration of Juan de Salcedo in 1573, the province and its neighboring areas were known as 'Ibalon'.
A small settlement by a mangrove swamp was a town called Albaybay (meaning "by the bay"). The town was first renamed Albay, then Legaspi, as Albay went on to refer to the province.
Agriculture dominates most of Albay's land area. Their major products include coconut, rice, abaca and corn. The province is also rich in mineral deposits like gold, copper, iron, mercury and deposits of coal, marble, ceramic clay, perlite, silica, guano and phosphates. Lying around the province is a mass of fishing grounds that contain a selection of fish species like scad, tuna, siganid, anchovy and mackarel. Aside from farming and fishing industries, the Albaynons are good in handicraft making. Some of their famous products are Sinamay and Pinolpog, fabrics woven from abaca hemp and the mats made from pandan.
Bicolano cuisine is famous for its rich and spicy dishes, which are mostly cooked using coconut milk called gata and spiced with a very hot, local variety of chili called siling labuyo. Well known Bicolano specialties are Bicol Express (a very hot dish cooked in coconut milk with green chilies), Pinangat (fish or shrimp wrapped in gabi or yam leaves and cooked in coconut milk), Laing (gabi leaves and stalks boiled into a stew with ginger, chili and coconut milk) and Ginataang Langka (young jackfruit stewed in coconut milk with shrimp paste called bagoong).
Legazpi, the capital of Albay Province, is best known for its surrounding attractions, in particular, the majestic Mayon Volcano. Mayon is world renowned for its perfectly symmetrical cone, which billows smoke daily, a reminder that the volcano still erupts at frequent intervals. The buried remains of Cagsawa, with only the church steeple still standing, are proofs of the strong powers of this beautiful, but dangerous wonder of nature.
Historical sites found in the province are the Battle of Legazpi Trylon, Jose Ignacio Paua Monument, Old Albay, Simeon Ola Monument, Guinobatan and the Andres Bonifacio monument in Sto. Domingo. The National Museum in Cagsawa contains geological finds from Mayon.
Notable ancient churches include Our Lady of the Gate in Daraga, St. John the Baptist in Camalig and St. Rose in Bacacay.
Other attractions in the area include the Hoyop-Hoyopan, Calibidongan and Pototan Caves, the surfing beach at Sto. Domingo, Busay Falls and the Tiwi Hot Springs. San Miguel and Rapu-Rapu Islands are among the lesser known, but unspoiled dives sites in the country.
Albay also celebrates its own festivities. The Karangahan Festival is celebrated in May is a grand Albayano celebration as an expression of wealth brought about by a good harvest. Katalingkasan Festival, held every July 21-25, is celebrated in conjunction with the town fiesta of Libon. Bicol Food Festival is a feast of the famous Bicol cuisine. Bancathon is a water sport activity participated in by fisherman from the different municipalities of Albay.
Bicol is served by three airlines: Philippines Airline, Air Philippines and Asian Spirit. PAL flies to Legazpi City only: Air Philippines serves Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Masbate. Asian Spirit flies to Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Masbate. By land, major bus companies offering aircon accommodation ply the Manila to Bicol-Visayas-Mindanao route. Bicol is also served by Philippine National Railway, the only railway in the country, plying daily from Manila up to Legazpi City, Albay.
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