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South Luzon / Legazpi City

Most tourists come to Legazpi just to see and maybe climb the renown Mayon Volcano. Other attractions are Kapuntukan Hill, Puro Beach and the Tourism Month Festival of May.

Legazpi City, 545km (338mi) from Manila, is the largest city in South Luzon. It serves as the national government center for region 5 (which covers the provinces of Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate). In spite of its size and politi-cal importance, the city itself in 1988 ap-pears less dynamic than its sister city to the north, Naga. The reason might be the severe damage it sustained from Typhoon Sisang in November, 1987. Some practical consequences of the damage are the lack of full electrical and telephone services in the area. Also some of the resorts have had to close down due to damage by Sisang.

The city began at a place called Sawangan, now the Legazpi Port district, and was populated by fishermen and farmers. Under the Spanish the area was under the civil and spirtual administration of Franciscan friars. By Royal Decree the town was named in honor of Miguel Lopez de Lagazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines, September 22, 1856.

It changed status from city to municipality several times during its history. Today, Legazpi City has 70 barangays and a population (1988 est.) of 119,369.

Amenities in Legazpi City: