Mt. Mayon

The Philippines’ most popular active volcano is Mt. Mayon also known as Mayon Volcano. It is stratvolcano similar to Mt. Apo only that it is active. Mt. Mayon is located in the province of Albay in Bicol region. It forms the northern boundary of Legazpi City. Local folklore refers Mt. Mayon as Bulkang Magayon which is after the legendary heroine Daragang Magayon (which means Lady Beautiful).

Mt. Mayon is the Philippines’ most active volcano and is considered to be the world’s most perfectly formed volcano because of its symmetrical cone. The current cone was formed through pyroclastic and lava flows from past eruptions. The upper slopes of the volcano are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and are capped by a small summit crater. Its sides are layers of lava and other volcanic material. Mt. Mayon rises 8,077 ft above the gulf.

Mt. Mayon has undergone forty-nine eruptions in recorded history and the first recorded major eruption was in 1616. The most destructive eruption of Mayon occurred on February 1, 1814 which buried the town of Cagsawa. During that time, Mt. Mayon was belching dark ash and eventually bombarding the town with tephra. Trees were burned; rivers were certainly damaged and 2,200 Albay locals perished in what is considered to be the most lethal eruption in Mayon’s history. Now, only the bell tower of the town’s church remained.

Mt. Taal

Taal Volcano is an active volcano located about 70-km south of Manila inside a lake, it was formed through one major eruption at the center of a lake, and since the lake itself is the crater of a prehistoric volcano, and within the lake, other eruptions have occurred producing more craters and micro-lakes. The vista from the rim is unrivaled.

Although the Taal Volcano has not erupted since 1977, it has erupted 33 times and these were notable enough to earn it a tag by the UN on the list of the world’s Decade Volcanoes. Many people still travel to the area to see the magnificent sites set to a backdrop of vegetation and wildlife in Batangas City and are willing to pay the cost and risk for a rent house to take in the views of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape in its true glory.

One area that tourists enjoy visiting immensely as part of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape is Crater Lake where many enjoy bathing. Unfortunately the sudden influx of tourists recently has led to a decline in the aquatic fish who call the area home and conservationists are beginning to take action. However, there will soon be a large tree planting along the beaches of Taal Lake to combat the problem along with Volcano Island. Additionally, an area will be deemed a protected area to encourage friendly eco-tourism to keep the area ripe and environmentally diverse for years to come.

The lake and its environs is home to many species of flora and fauna a number of which are endemic to the lake like the “Tawilis” (Sardinella tawilis), the only fresh water sardine in the world and the Taal Lake Seasnake (Hydrophis semperi or known to locals as Duhol), the only freshwater sea snake in the world. The snake still has salt glands to eliminate excess salt, despite being in a freshwater habitat. Other endemic forms include blue green algae, diatom, ostracod, sponge, reptile and fishes. There are many other species, which until now have yet to be documented, and whose natural histories have not been fully studied.

Mt. Pinatubo

Kanlaon Volcano, or Mount Kanlaon (also spelled Canlaon), is a stratovolcano on Negros island in the Philippines. It is found between the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in the Visayas region (10°24.7’N, 123°7.9’E), approximately 36 km southeast of Bacolod City. Mt. Kanlaon is the highest point in Negros Island. … and a base diameter of 30 km.

Physical features:

Kanlaon has an elevation of 2,435 meters and a base diameter of 30 km and is dotted with pyroclastic cones and craters. The summit of Kanlaon contains a broad elongated northern caldera with a crater lake. A smaller but more active crater lies in the south.

The volcano has three hot springs on its slopes: Mambucal Hot Springs on the northwest, Bucalan Hot Spring, Bungol Hot Spring. Its adjacent volcanic edifices are Mt. Silay and Mt. Mandalagan, north of Kanlaon.

Laon is the name of an ancient Hiligaynon goddess. During pre-Hispanic times, the natives worshiped her as their Supreme Ruler. Kanlaon is derived from the old Visayan words ka which means for and Laon. The mountain is said to be where Laon made her presence to the people.

In ancient times, native priests (babaylan) would climb up the mountain and do rituals every good harvest season or when there is a special ceremony. They would also offer gifts as a sign of respect. Canlaon City now stands beside the mountain.

Eruptions
The most active volcano in central Philippines, Kanlaon has erupted 25 times since 1886. Eruptions are typically phreatic explosions of small-to-moderate size that produce minor ashfalls near the volcano.

On August 10, 1996, Kanlaon erupted without warning, killing British student Julian Green and Filipinos Noel Tragico and Neil Perez, who were among 24 mountainclimbers who were trapped near the summit. The authorities rescued the 17 others, including 10 Belgians, another Briton and six Filipinos. The 17 were identified as Belgians Frederick Carraso, Philipp Couche, Caroline La Grange, Sophie La Benne, Darmien Gaitan, David Ryckaert, Florence De Corte, Jean Francois Ossengeld, Caroline Verlinde and Delthme Ferrant, Briton Gordon Cole and Filipinos Pepito Ibrado, Wovi Villanueva and Albert Devarras.

One of the Belgians, Caroline Verlinde, said she and her group were about to leave a site near the crater rim when the eruption began. “Suddenly it ejected ash and stones. I ran to a tree for cover and saw my friends being hit by falling stones,” she told journalists. She said their Filipino guide told them the smoke billowing out from the crater “was just ordinary.”

Kanlaon is one of the 22 active volcanoes in the Philippines. The 21 others are Babuyan Claro, Banahaw, Biliran, Bud Dajo, Mount Bulusan, Cagua, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Hibok-Hibok, Iraya, Mount Iriga, Leonard Kniaseff, Makaturing, Matutum, Mayon, Musuan, Mount Parker (Cotabato), Pinatubo, Ragang, Smith Volcano, Taal. They are all part of the so-called “Pacific ring of fire.” It is a favorite spot for mountain climbers and is surrounded by the Mt. Kanla-on National Park.

Mt. Kanlaon

Kanlaon Volcano, or Mount Kanlaon (also spelled Canlaon), is a stratovolcano on Negros island in the Philippines. It is found between the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in the Visayas region (10°24.7’N, 123°7.9’E), approximately 36 km southeast of Bacolod City. Mt. Kanlaon is the highest point in Negros Island. … and a base diameter of 30 km.

Physical features:

Kanlaon has an elevation of 2,435 meters and a base diameter of 30 km and is dotted with pyroclastic cones and craters. The summit of Kanlaon contains a broad elongated northern caldera with a crater lake. A smaller but more active crater lies in the south.

The volcano has three hot springs on its slopes: Mambucal Hot Springs on the northwest, Bucalan Hot Spring, Bungol Hot Spring. Its adjacent volcanic edifices are Mt. Silay and Mt. Mandalagan, north of Kanlaon.

Laon is the name of an ancient Hiligaynon goddess. During pre-Hispanic times, the natives worshiped her as their Supreme Ruler. Kanlaon is derived from the old Visayan words ka which means for and Laon. The mountain is said to be where Laon made her presence to the people.

In ancient times, native priests (babaylan) would climb up the mountain and do rituals every good harvest season or when there is a special ceremony. They would also offer gifts as a sign of respect. Canlaon City now stands beside the mountain.

Eruptions
The most active volcano in central Philippines, Kanlaon has erupted 25 times since 1886. Eruptions are typically phreatic explosions of small-to-moderate size that produce minor ashfalls near the volcano.

On August 10, 1996, Kanlaon erupted without warning, killing British student Julian Green and Filipinos Noel Tragico and Neil Perez, who were among 24 mountainclimbers who were trapped near the summit. The authorities rescued the 17 others, including 10 Belgians, another Briton and six Filipinos. The 17 were identified as Belgians Frederick Carraso, Philipp Couche, Caroline La Grange, Sophie La Benne, Darmien Gaitan, David Ryckaert, Florence De Corte, Jean Francois Ossengeld, Caroline Verlinde and Delthme Ferrant, Briton Gordon Cole and Filipinos Pepito Ibrado, Wovi Villanueva and Albert Devarras.

One of the Belgians, Caroline Verlinde, said she and her group were about to leave a site near the crater rim when the eruption began. “Suddenly it ejected ash and stones. I ran to a tree for cover and saw my friends being hit by falling stones,” she told journalists. She said their Filipino guide told them the smoke billowing out from the crater “was just ordinary.”

Kanlaon is one of the 22 active volcanoes in the Philippines. The 21 others are Babuyan Claro, Banahaw, Biliran, Bud Dajo, Mount Bulusan, Cagua, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Hibok-Hibok, Iraya, Mount Iriga, Leonard Kniaseff, Makaturing, Matutum, Mayon, Musuan, Mount Parker (Cotabato), Pinatubo, Ragang, Smith Volcano, Taal. They are all part of the so-called “Pacific ring of fire.” It is a favorite spot for mountain climbers and is surrounded by the Mt. Kanla-on National Park.

Mt. Bulusan

Mt. Bulusan may not appear as majectic as Mt. Mayon but mountaineers will experience a more challenging climb than struggling with the rocky terrains of Mayon. It has abundant rain forest that is maintaining the presence of some of the wildest animals in the country. Wildlife is rich in the area where nights can be filled with roaring sounds of owls and presence of deers and boars at daytime. At night, darkness is brightened by the sprinkling lights of fireflies. Thus climbing Mt. Bulusan does not only invigorates a mountaineer’s obsession for heights, it also promises surprising encounters with wild animals and peculiar vegetation.

Mt Bulusan is located in the inner district of Sorsogon where a jeepney takes you to its town and a trycicle to its entry site, Bulusan Lake- a lake oftenly mistaken as the volcano’s main crater. It is in fact a body of emerald green water by the peripheral crater surrounded by a densed gathering of trees and lush tropical plants. If not planning to hike farther to the volcano’s summit, a refreshing one hour walk around this lake is a worth-trying activity. And consider it as the beginning of a more interesting adventure if moving farther ahead. Expect challenging sights of thicker dense forest on the way that surprisingly emmerge to an open field of towering grass carpeting the surroundings towards the old crater valley called Agingay. This hike promises an extreme jungle experience but without the threat of distressing incidents.

Trekkers can camp overnight or leave the same day but caution should be maintained, this volcano is still active. Be sure to wear thick hiking boots, long pants and jackets to protect from unexpected presence of leeches and stingy insects. Taking at least one guide is highly advised.

On the way back, you will pass by tiny roads heading to some falls and hot springs with varying temperatures for a short healing bath.