2019-081D

Additional information 2019-081D

Mayon (Central Bicolano: Bulkan Magayon, Tagalog: Bulkang Mayon, Spanish: Monte Mayón), also known as Mayon Volcano or Mount Mayon, also, Magayon (Central Bicolano: Bulkan Magayon; Bulkan Mayong, Tagalog: Bulkang Magayon, Spanish: Monte Magayón), also known as Magayon Volcano or Mount Magayon, is a sacred and active stratovolcano in the province of Albay in Bicol Region, on the large island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is one of the tourist spots in Bicol Region. Renowned for its "perfect cone" because of its symmetric conical shape, the volcano with its surrounding landscape was declared a national park on July 20, 1938, the first in the nation. It was reclassified a Natural Park and renamed as the Mayon Volcano Natural Park in 2000. It is said that the volcano grew from the burial grounds of lovers Magayon and Pangaronon. Thus, the ancient Bicolanos named it after the legendary princess-heroine Daragang Magayon (English: Beautiful Lady). After some time, the volcano was chosen as the abode of the supreme god of the Bicolano people, Gugurang, who also chose Mayon as the repository of the sacred fire of Ibalon. Numerous festivals and rituals are associated with the volcano and its landscape. The volcano is the centerpiece of the Albay Biosphere Reserve, declared by UNESCO in 2016, and is currently being nominated as a World Heritage Site.