Magayon Festival

Magayon Festival is a yearly celebration derived from the legend of the Mayon Volcano to honor the province’s bounty and beauty. The festival is held in Legazpi City of the Albay province on Bicol island.

The most spectacular thing about this festival is that it blends the culture, religion as well as the rich heritage of the locals in Albay, Philippines. For those who have long been fascinated by the culture of the Filipinos, there is no better way to immerse oneself in the lifestyle of locals.

Daragang Magayon Festival

Image courtesy of Billy Lopue

The reason for this celebration dates back to ancient days following the death of the love-struck woman, Daragang Magayon. Folklore has it that the death of the beautiful woman resulted in the creation of the Mayon Volcano. The floating clouds, the locals believe, are symbolic of the spirit of Daragang’s lover.

Little wonder the name of the festival, Magayon Festival, is actually derived from a local word that means ‘beautiful’. During the celebrations, the streets come alive with the presence of diverse cultural events where the locals showcase their traditional way of life.

The great thing about this festival is that it lasts for at least two weeks. It usually begins in the middle of February and closes on the last day of the month. This means you have plenty of time to join in the festivities and meet the locals of the Albay province.

Festivals in the Philippines are known for all sorts of sports competitions, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of those during Magayon Festival. A trail run is usually held on the second day of the festival, and it tends to start really early in the morning. If you want to show everyone just how in shape you are, this is an awesome way to partake in the festivities.

Image courtesy of Billy Lopue

There are also singing competitions, dance competitions, LGBT volleyball tournaments, quiz nights, and talent competitions. But 2020 marks the introduction of a new event to the Magayon festival – a drag race. And that’s not the only racing event; an invitational Motocross competition is also part of this awesome festival.

So, whether you’re looking to run a marathon at 5AM or put your foot down on the gas pedal, there’s plenty of ways you can have fun during the Magayon Festival.

Obviously, it wouldn’t be a true Filipino festival without a street dance competition – that’s another event to look out for. It is usually held towards the end of February, and it includes locals from all over the province in colorful costumes showing off their moves and battling it out for the titles of the best.

Image courtesy of Billy Lopue

For the businessman with great acumen, there are trade fairs too, so you can still transact during your travels. And let’s not forget about one of the best smelling competitions of the festival, aptly named An Eruption Of Flavors. It is an open category cooking competition, which is usually held in the evening of the second day of the festival. It’s an amazing experience for all of you who really feel at home in the kitchen, as it represents a unique opportunity to learn more about Filipino cuisine, and actually trying your hand at it.

Not to mention that it’s mouth-watering for all the onlookers as well, who are forced to breathe in all those delicious cooking scents.

You cannot afford to miss out on the performances by the locals where they reenact the tragic love story of Daragang Magayon. All in all, this is a fascinating festival for the whole family. You may want to take photographs, so carry your camera along. With so much activity to engage in at Magayon Festival, it does not come as a surprise that it is more fun in the Philippines.

How To Get To Legazpi City

The easiest and fastest way to reach Legazpi City from Manila and Cebu City is to fly there. There are local flights every day, and the tickets are fairly inexpensive – it’s an hour-long flight, so you will be there in no time.

This is also the most convenient option since the Legazpi Domestic Airport is actually pretty close to the city center. It is not outside the city as you would expect, but a 30-minute walk from the most popular spots in the city.

It is possible to reach Legazpi City via bus, but we don’t recommend that. It takes more than ten hours from both Manila and Cebu City, and it is just a waste of time. Especially since bus tickets are only some $10-15 cheaper than plane tickets.