Butanding in Donsol, Sorsogon

BUTANDING

Swimming with a Whale Shark, locally known as Butanding (scientific name: Rhincodon typus) is the epitome of wildlife encounters – an experience of a lifetime, a nature enthusiast or ecotour fanatic cannot afford to miss.
	And such a singular experience is offered, nowhere else, but in the waters off Sorsogon Province, particularly in the towns of Donsol, Pilar, Castilla and Magallanes, where one can watch or interact with a Butanding, or even several – some 10 to 15 of them at any one time on lucky days. Such a phenomenon cannot be found in other parts of the country, or even in other parts of the world.s
	In fact, Donsol is now dubbed by enormously awed and satisfied tourists as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.  It is in the waters off Donsol where such a phenomenally large number of Whale Sharks congregate, cavort and caper. These gentle giants of the sea – considered the largest fishes in the world, measuring from 15 ft. to as long as 40 ft. in length, have been observed to converge in the waters off Donsol starting sometime during the months of October and November, and peaks in the months of February to May.

The Butandings, featuring silvery polka dots all over its huge body, feeding only on plankton and krill, are harmless, gentle, friendly and playful, allowing humans to swim, play and interact with them, as they ponderously glide alongside seacraft.

And then, the gentle giants quietly disappear. Nobody knows yet where they go during the rest of the year. But the seasoned Donsol fisherman assures, the Butandings sill surely be back again sometime in October, November or December for the start of another wholesome ecotourism adventure – the incomparable Whale Shark/Butanding Interaction. Only in Sorsogon

Contact either the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council in Sorsogon City, or any of the Municipal Tourism Councils in Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Magallanes, or any of the coastal towns in whose waters this large pod of Whale Sharks also congregate. You may also contact the local government or municipal office for information. Attend a Butanding interaction briefing and wait until you are assigned an accredited boat and boat crew, including a Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO). The BIO is your official group leader whose instructions should be strictly followed WHAT TO BRING: Packed food and water, sun protection apparel and lotions, snorkeling gear, and underwater or video cameras, minus artificial underwater illumination devices or gadgets. WHERE TO STAY: You have the option to stay in any of the hotels, pensions or lodging houses in Sorsogon City, or at small pensions and lodging houses, or resort cottages in Donsol, Pilar, Castilla or Magallanes. There are also accredited home-stay facilities in Donsol that are comfortable, clean and homey. Restaurants, fast food chains, cafes, small eateries and food stalls are available in Sorsogon City as well as in Donsol and the other towns. Ask your BIO to guide you to local food shops offering clean and safe food, and sanitary facilities. As much as possible, eat only in accredited food shops. Seafood is abundant, which you can cook yourself al fresco on the white sand beaches along your route. WARNING: Don’t throw waste around. Pollution will not only drive away the Butanding forever from our waters, but also destroy our environment. We must all work together to manage this most precious natural resource sustainably and compassionately. Protect the Butanding and the environment for the future. AFTER INTERACTION: Fill up your Butanding Interaction Research Form which were distributed to you during your briefing. Submit this to your BIO.

	Do not touch or ride the Whale Shark.
	Do not restrict the movement of the Whale Shark, or impede its natural path.
	Maintain a distance of 3 meters from the head or body of the Whale Shark, and 4 meters from its tail.
	Do not use flash photography.
	Do not use SCUBA gear, scooters, jet skis or any other motorized underwater propulsion machines.
	A maximum of six (6) swimmers per Whale Shark is allowed, and only one (1) boat per Whale Shark.

Butanding in Donsol, Sorsogon

BUTANDING

Swimming with a Whale Shark, locally known as Butanding (scientific name: Rhincodon typus) is the epitome of wildlife encounters – an experience of a lifetime, a nature enthusiast or ecotour fanatic cannot afford to miss.
	And such a singular experience is offered, nowhere else, but in the waters off Sorsogon Province, particularly in the towns of Donsol, Pilar, Castilla and Magallanes, where one can watch or interact with a Butanding, or even several – some 10 to 15 of them at any one time on lucky days. Such a phenomenon cannot be found in other parts of the country, or even in other parts of the world.s
	In fact, Donsol is now dubbed by enormously awed and satisfied tourists as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.  It is in the waters off Donsol where such a phenomenally large number of Whale Sharks congregate, cavort and caper. These gentle giants of the sea – considered the largest fishes in the world, measuring from 15 ft. to as long as 40 ft. in length, have been observed to converge in the waters off Donsol starting sometime during the months of October and November, and peaks in the months of February to May.

The Butandings, featuring silvery polka dots all over its huge body, feeding only on plankton and krill, are harmless, gentle, friendly and playful, allowing humans to swim, play and interact with them, as they ponderously glide alongside seacraft.

And then, the gentle giants quietly disappear. Nobody knows yet where they go during the rest of the year. But the seasoned Donsol fisherman assures, the Butandings sill surely be back again sometime in October, November or December for the start of another wholesome ecotourism adventure – the incomparable Whale Shark/Butanding Interaction. Only in Sorsogon

Contact either the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council in Sorsogon City, or any of the Municipal Tourism Councils in Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Magallanes, or any of the coastal towns in whose waters this large pod of Whale Sharks also congregate. You may also contact the local government or municipal office for information. Attend a Butanding interaction briefing and wait until you are assigned an accredited boat and boat crew, including a Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO). The BIO is your official group leader whose instructions should be strictly followed WHAT TO BRING: Packed food and water, sun protection apparel and lotions, snorkeling gear, and underwater or video cameras, minus artificial underwater illumination devices or gadgets. WHERE TO STAY: You have the option to stay in any of the hotels, pensions or lodging houses in Sorsogon City, or at small pensions and lodging houses, or resort cottages in Donsol, Pilar, Castilla or Magallanes. There are also accredited home-stay facilities in Donsol that are comfortable, clean and homey. Restaurants, fast food chains, cafes, small eateries and food stalls are available in Sorsogon City as well as in Donsol and the other towns. Ask your BIO to guide you to local food shops offering clean and safe food, and sanitary facilities. As much as possible, eat only in accredited food shops. Seafood is abundant, which you can cook yourself al fresco on the white sand beaches along your route. WARNING: Don’t throw waste around. Pollution will not only drive away the Butanding forever from our waters, but also destroy our environment. We must all work together to manage this most precious natural resource sustainably and compassionately. Protect the Butanding and the environment for the future. AFTER INTERACTION: Fill up your Butanding Interaction Research Form which were distributed to you during your briefing. Submit this to your BIO.

	Do not touch or ride the Whale Shark.
	Do not restrict the movement of the Whale Shark, or impede its natural path.
	Maintain a distance of 3 meters from the head or body of the Whale Shark, and 4 meters from its tail.
	Do not use flash photography.
	Do not use SCUBA gear, scooters, jet skis or any other motorized underwater propulsion machines.
	A maximum of six (6) swimmers per Whale Shark is allowed, and only one (1) boat per Whale Shark.

Cagsawa Ruins & Church

CAGSAWA RUINS & CHURCH

The Cagsawa Ruins (also spelled as Kagsawa or Cagsaua) are the remnants of an 18th century Franciscan church, the Cagsawa church, built in 1724 and destroyed by the 1814 eruption of the Mayon Volcano. They are located in Barangay Busay, Cagsawa, in themunicipality of Daraga, Albay, Philippines.

The ruins, currently protected in a park overseen by the municipal government of Daraga and the National Museum of the Philippines, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area.They are considered symbolic of the dangers of living in close proximity with the Mayon Volcano.

The Cagsawa ruins are located 2.2 km (1.4 mi) from the town of Daraga and are approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) from the city of Legazpi. They are also 3.3 km (2.1 mi) from the Legazpi Airport and a 55-minute flight from Manila.By bus, the location is five to six hours away from Manila.

The baroque church of Cagsawa was built after 1724 by Franciscan friars under Fray Francisco Blanco in the small town of Cagsawa (spelled as Cagsaua during the Hispanic occupation of the Philippines). It was supposed to replace an earlier church built in 1636 that had been burned down by Dutch pirates.

It was destroyed during the most destructive eruption of the nearby Mayon Volcano in February 1, 1814. The eruption killed an estimated 1,200 people in the surrounding areas and buried the town of Cagsawa (among others) under several hundred million cubic meters of ash. Hundreds of inhabitants of the town of Cagsawa purportedly sought refuge in the church, but were also killed by either pyroclastic flows or lahar. Only thebelfry and some parts of the convent survive today, though parts of the crumbling facade were still standing long after the 1814 eruption as attested by photographs. It is believed that the facade of the structure collapsed due to earthquakes in the 1950's.

Survivors of the 1814 eruption resettled into the nearby Daraga, then a mere barrio of destroyed Cagsawa, and decided to merge the two.The Cagsawa church should not be confused with the intact church of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria (locally known as the Daraga church), built in 1773 and also located in the municipality of Daraga.

CAGSAWA MUSEUM

The ruins of the Cagsawa church are now the site of the Cagsawa Ruins Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Albay. It is also the site of the Cagsawa Branch of the National Museum of the Philippines (also known simply as the Cagsawa National Museum). The museum was formally inaugurated on October 30, 1992 on land donated by the municipality of Daraga. It is the third largest regional branch of the National Museum. It contains photographs of the volcanic eruptions of Mount Mayon as well as geological and archeological exhibits.

Cagsawa was also subjected to the Super Typhoon Durian (designated Typhoon Reming by PAGASA) in 2006. The ruins were unharmed even as the typhoon devastated the surrounding countryside with mudslides and lahar that killed at least 1,266 people.The incident is similar to another catastrophe in the same region in 1825, shortly after the 1814 Mayon eruption.

Bicol Region: Lingñon Hills

Bicol Region: Lingñon Hills: "Lingñon Hill is a hill (more like a small mountain) beside Mayon Volcano mainly ... Considering we didn't know that cars weren't allowed t..."

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Hoyop-hoyopan Cave in Albay

One of the well known beautiful spot in Bicol region and tourist attraction is the hoyop –hoyopan cave of Cotmon , Camalig, Albay ( 11.8 km from the town proper ). One of the three caves in Camalig Albay, hoyop – hoypan is the most popular and accessible. The word hoyop – hoyopan was derived from bicolano word “hoyop” or its eternal whispering breeze. It is a three storey cave and if you will try to explore the entire cave you will spend 11 hours according to the tourist guide. It is said that it was develop during Marcos regime, the said cave has its disco place which was built in honor to the First Lady Imelda Marcos. 

One of the well known beautiful spot in Bicol region and tourist attraction is thehoyop –hoyopan cave of Cotmon , Camalig, Albay