Albay
—  Province  —
Flag Official seal of Albay Seal
Map of the Philippines with Albay highlighted
Coordinates: 13°14′N 123°38′E / 13.233°N 123.633°E / 13.233; 123.633Coordinates: 13°14′N 123°38′E / 13.233°N 123.633°E / 13.233; 123.633
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region (Region V)
Founded	March 10, 1917
Capital	Legazpi
Government
• Type	Province of the Philippines
• Governor	Joey Salceda (Liberal)
• Vice Governor	Harold Imperial (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
Area
• Total	2,565.77 km2 (990.65 sq mi)
Area rank	34th out of 80
Population (2010)
• Total	1,233,432
• Rank	20th out of 80
• Density	480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
• Density rank	10th out of 80
	[1]
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	3
• Municipalities	15
• Barangays	720
• Districts	1st to 4th districts of Albay
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	4500-4517
Spoken languages	Bikol, Albayano, Tagalog
Website	Albay Tourism Website

Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in southeastern Luzon island. The capital of the province is Legazpi City, which is located in the southern foothill of Mayon Volcano, the symbol most associated with the province. This near perfectly-shaped active volcano forms a scenic backdrop to the city of Legazpi and is visible throughout the municipalities and cities of Albay including the surrounding provinces.^[2]

Geography[link]

The near perfectly-shaped Mt. Mayon, serves as the backdrop to the city of Legazpi, Albay.

Albay has a total land area of 2,552.6 square kilometres (985.6 sq mi), which makes it the 26th smallest province. The province is bordered by the provinces of Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. To the northeast, the province lies along Lagonoy Gulf, which separates it from the province of Catanduanes. To the southwest of the province, is Burias Pass with the island of Burias, Masbate located about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) offshore.

Topography[link]

Mayon Volcano with the surrounding towns that has jurisdiction on the volcano.

The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys. On the eastern part of the province is a line of volcanic mountains starting with the northernmost Malinao in Tiwi, followed by Masaraga and Mayon Volcano. Separated by Poliqui Bay is the Pocdol Mountains in the town of Manito.

Mount Mayon, standing at around 2,462 metres (8,077 ft), is the highest elevation in the province. It is the most famous landform in Albay and in the whole Bicol Region. This active volcano falls under the jurisdiction of eight municipalities and cities of Albay, namely Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Legazpi City, Ligao City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, and Tabaco City. The volcano is divided like slices of a pie when viewed from above.

The western coast of the province is mountainous but not as prominent as the eastern range with the highest elevation at around 490 metres (1,610 ft).^[3] Among these mountains are Mount Catburawan in Ligao and Mount Pantao in Oas.

Population[link]

Based on the August 2010 census, Albay has a total population of 1,233,423, which makes it the 20th most populous province in the country. Based on the 2007 census, there are 208,640 households in the province with an average size of 5.22 persons, significantly higher than the national average of 4.99.

Political subdivision[link]

Joey Salceda, Governor of Albay Province

Albay is subdivided into 15 municipalities and three component cities namely Legazpi, Ligao, Tabaco. Seven of them, Daraga, Camalig, Polangui, Guinobatan, Oas, Libon, Tiwi are classified as 1st class municipalities. The province has three representative districts.

Languages[link]

Bikol is the primary language spoken in Albay, being a part of the Bicol Region. It has many dialects, such as Bicolano Viejo, Daragueño, Legazpeño or Albayano, Oasnon and others. The dialects spoken in the coastal areas of the province are similar to the language spoken in Camarines Sur, while those further inland are similar to each other but differ significantly from the coastal dialect. The majority of the inhabitants also understand Tagalog and English.

History[link]

Pre-Hispanic period[link]

Long before the Spaniards arrived, Albay had a thriving civilization. Formerly called Ibat, Albay was once ruled by Gat Ibal, an old chief who also founded the old barangay of Sawangan, now the district of Albay and part of the city of Legazpi.

Spanish colonial period[link]

In July 1569, Luis Enriquez de Guzman, a member of the expedition led by Maestro de Campo Mateo de Saz and Captain Martin de Goiti, led a group which crossed from Burias and Ticao islands and landed on a coastal settlement called Ibalon in what is presently the province of Sorsogon. From this point another expedition was sent to explore the interior and founded the town of Camalig.

In 1573, Juan de Salcedo penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north as he made it as far south as Libon, establishing the settlement of Santiago de Libon. Jose Maria Peñaranda, a military engineer, was made “corregidor” of the province on May 14, 1834. He constructed public buildings and built roads and bridges.

The entire Bicol Peninsula was organized as one province with two divisions, Camarines in the northwest and Ibalon in the southeast. In 1636, the two partidos were separated, and Ibalon became a separate province with Sorsogon as capital. In the 17th century, Moro slave raiders from southern Philippines, ravaged the northeastern coastal areas of the province of Albay.

Mayon Volcano, in one of its most violent eruptions, destroyed the five towns surrounding its base on February 1, 1814. This eruption forced the town of Cagsawa to relocate to its present site, Legazpi.

A decree was issued by Governor-General Narciso Claveria in 1846 separating Masbate, Ticao and Burias from Albay to form the comandancia of Masbate. Albay was then divided into four districts: Iraya, Cordillera or Tabaco, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

Philippine revolution[link]

Glicerio Delgado, a condemned insurecto (insurgent), started revolutionary activities in the province. With a headquarter in the mountain of Guinobatan town, he joined the revolutionary government of Albay as a lieutenant in the infantry.

A unit of the Philippine Militia was then organized by the Spanish military authorities. Mariano Riosa was appointed major of the Tabaco Zone, which comprised all the towns along the seacoast from Albay to Tiwi, while Anacieto Solano was appointed major for the Iraya Zone, which was made up of the towns from Daraga to Libon. Each town was organized into sections of fifty men under the command of a lieutenant.

During the Philippine Revolution on September 22, 1898, the provisional revolutionary government of Albay was formed with Anacieto Solano as provisional president. Major General Vito Belarmino, the appointed military commander, reorganized the Filipino Army in the province.

American colonial period[link]

The sovereignty of the country was transferred to the United States after the Treaty of Paris (1898).^[5] During the Philippine-American War, Brigadier General William Kobbe headed the expedition that landed at the ports of Sorsogon, Bulan and Donsol. From there, the American marched to Legazpi and captured it.

Although a civil government was established in Albay on April 26, 1901, Colonel Harry H. Bandhortz, Commanding Officer of the Constabulary in the Bicol Region, said that General Simeon Ola, with a thousand men, continued to defy American authority after the capture of Belarmino in 1901. Ola was later captured with about six hundred of his men.

World War II[link]

During the Second World War, the Kimura Detachment of the Japanese Imperial Forces occupied Legazpi on December 12, 1941. The region was defended only by the Philippine Constabulary unit under Major Francisco Sandico.^[6]

On 1945, Filipino soldiers of the 5th, 51st, 52nd, 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 5th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was around the liberation and recaptured the province of Albay and helped Bicolano guerrilla fighters and American soldiers defeat the Kimura Detachment of the Japanese Imperial Forces and end in World War II.

Economy[link]

Agriculture is the main industry in Albay, which produces crops like coconut, rice, sugar, and abacá. Handicrafts are the major source of rural income. It continuous to provide fairly large share in the small-scale industries of the province. Forestry and paper-making are another source of livelihood. The manufacture of abacá products like Manila hemp, hats, bags, mats, and slippers is one of the main sources of income in the rural areas. Fishing is the main livelihood along both shores of the province. Tourism because of Mayon Volcano, also draws income for Albay.

Transportation[link]

By water

Albay is the region's principal trans-shipment point with its ports: Tabaco International, Legazpi National, Pio Duran Provincial, and the Pantao Regional Port.

By air

Traveling to the province by air is served by the Legazpi Airport, the province's gateway from Manila and Cebu City in the Visayas. The larger Bicol International Airport is under construction in the municipality of Daraga, west of Legazpi City.

By train

Since March 2012, train service from Manila to Albay and vice versa, has been resumed by the Philippine National Railways. The Mayon Limited is a 10 1/2-hour one-way trip between Manila and Ligao City with the extension to Legazpi under construction (as of May 2012).^[7]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Albay

• New Albay Tourism Promotion Website
• Province of Albay Official Website
• List of active LGU websites in Albay Province
• DILG Albay Provincial Office Directory
• Albay LGU Profiles

	Ragay Gulf	Camarines Sur	Lagonoy Gulf / Catanduanes
	Masbate / Burias Pass		Philippine Sea
		Albay    East
		Sorsogon

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Joey Salceda
Governor of Albay
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2007
Vice Governor	Harold Imperial
Malacañang Chief of Staff
In office February 10, 2007 – March 29, 2007
President	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Mike Defensor
Succeeded by	Post abolished
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Albay's Third District
In office June 30, 1998 – February 10, 2007
Preceded by	Romeo Salalima
Succeeded by	Vacant Post later held by Reno G. Lim
Personal details
Born	(1961-10-26) October 26, 1961 (age 50) Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Liberal Party (2010-present)
Other political affiliations	Lakas CMD (1998-2004) KAMPI (2004-2009) Lakas Kampi CMD (2009-2010)
Spouse(s)	Francia G. Salceda
Relations	married
Residence	Legazpi City, Albay

Jose Clemente "Joey" Sarte Salceda (born October 26, 1961^[1]) is the governor of the province of Albay in the Philippines. Prior to that, he was a three-year term representative of the Third District of Albay and was appointed as Presidential Chief of Staff on February 10, 2007 after the resignation of Michael Defensor before he himself resigned on March 29, 2007 to pursue his gubernatorial bid in his province. He is a member of the one of two dominant parties known as the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino,^[2] although it was known that he ran for governor and won as an independent in the 2007 elections.

Biography[link]

Personal Life[link]

He is the son of former Polangui, Albay Mayor Jesus Salceda, Sr. His brother, Jesus "Jesap" S. Salceda, Jr., whose incumbent Polangui, Albay Vice-Mayor. He is married by Brgy. Kagawad Francia G. Salceda.

Organization[link]

Political career[link]

Prior to his stint in the House of Representatives, he was a Congressional Fellow to the late Speaker Ramon Mitra and Chief of Staff to the late Senator Raul Roco. He was voted by foreign fund managers in Asiamoney's Annual Survey as "Best Analyst" in 1995 and "Best Economist" for four consecutive years from 1993 to 1996. Salceda brought to Congress a wealth of experience from the financial markets and the field of economics.

During his term of office, he was able to enact three important measures. He was the principal sponsor and co-author, respectively, of Republic Act No. 8751 or the Countervailing Duty Act, Republic Act No. 8752 or the Anti-Dumping Duty Act, and Republic Act No. 8800 or the Safeguard Measures Act. These measures are critical in allowing the country realize the full benefits of its membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and at the same time protect domestic farmers.

Salceda was also fondly regarded as the "Founding Father of Ligao City" after his successful sponsorship of the measure converting the municipality of Ligao into a component city under Republic Act No. 9008.

In recognition of his economic expertise, he held several key positions in the 11th Congress, a rare feat for a neophyte congressman. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Industry and vice chair of the Committees on Ways and Means and Economic Affairs. He was the lone Lower House representative to the Coordinating Council for Private Sector Participation or CCPSP (formerly the Coordinating Council of the Philippines Assistance Program or CCPAP).

Before joining the legislature, Salceda was the Research Director of UBS Warburg (a division of Swiss Bank Corporation). While with UBS, he was voted among the top five analysts in a 1996 survey of Philippine fund managers. He also served as Research Director of Barings Securities Phils. (now ING Group) for five years. During his term, the Barings research team was voted number one in 12 international surveys of fund managers. He also garnered several awards for his distinguished performance in the field of financial markets research.

On January 18, 2008, Albay Governor Joey Salceda and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Estrella Alabastro relaunched one of the country's four P 18-million upper-air receiving equipment in Albay. The other upper-air receiving stations are in Laoag City, Cebu, and Tanay, Rizal.^[3]

Criticisms[link]

In 2007, jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam accused Salceda of receiving jueteng protection money.^[4] In a statement in 2008, Salceda did not comment on Cam's accusation and instructed the Albay police director, Senior Superintendent Joel Baloro to communicate with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to stop small town lottery (STL) in Albay following allegations that is being used as front for jueteng. Baloro said that there were no organized jueteng in the province and that they were verifying reports whether STL operations were used as a front for jueteng.^[5]

References[link]