Municipal Tourism and Cultural Heritage Office

Created through Municipal Ordinance Number 2016-10, primarily the implementing arm for the programs, project and activities related to tourism and cultural heritage including the promotions and marketing of the tourism industries and the protection and conservation of the heritage sites and cultural assets of the municipality.

 Vision

THE MUNICIPAL TOURISM AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OFFICE (MTCHO) shall promote the culture of tourism among local residents and develop responsible community-based tourism and cultural heritage programs leading to inclusive growth, socio-economic development and good image of the municipality.

Mission

To implement an inclusive and sustainable tourism and cultural heritage programs by:

• Good governance;
• Promoting local culture and developing the tourism industries;
• Spreading the benefits of tourism and cultural heritage with the support, assistance and cooperation of both the private and public sector; and
• Ensuring the safe, convenient, enjoyable stay of the visitors.

Camalig Historical Profile

Recent archeological findings within the municipality show that Camalig had been inhabited by people with developed social attributes of cultural, religious, social, political and economic relationship and organizations as early as the years 200 BC to 900 AD, the period referred to as the early Iron Age in the Philippines.

According to Father Cayetano Sanchez, an OFM who made researches on Bicol History at the Franciscan archives in Pastrana, Spain, in 1569, a Spanish Fleet led by Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman came to Bicol Region accidentally as they were scouting the neighboring island in search for food supplies badly needed by Legazpi’s soldiers stationed in Panay. From Sorsogon, de Guzman ventured northward inland and went as far as Camalig where they came upon a thriving and prosperous agricultural settlement (rancheria) whose inhabitants kept their farm products in little hut with grass roofs and without walls called KAMALIG, in local language. After a brief rest in Camalig, de Guzman and his men went back to Panay. So, it is easy to deduce then, that Camalig got its name from these native huts used for storing harvests or crops.

Location

Southern part of Mayon Volcano
Daraga on the East
Guinobatan on the West
Jovellar on the South
Mayon Volcano on the North

Region 
Bicol Region (Region V)

Province 
Albay

District
Second Congressional District

Number of Barangays
7 urban barangays, 43 rural barangays

Land Area
13, 088 hectares

Population
60, 319 as of 2009

Major Industry 
Agriculture, Handicraft Making, Candy Making, Pinangat
Making, Cement Production, Coco-coir Processing, Food
Processing, Dairy Products & Garments Industry

Banking Facilities 
1 Rural Bank, 1 Credit Cooperative

Transportation 
Jeepneys, Tricycles & Motorcycles

Communication 
5 Telecommunication Networks: Bayantel, Digitel, Globe,
Smart & Sun Cell; 2 Cable Networks: DCTV & Tripinvision

Power
Albay Power and Energy Corp. (APEC)

Camalig Tourism Activities/Tours:

1. ATV Ride to 1978 Mayon Lava Wall
2. Heritage Walk to St. John the Baptist Church and Spanish-American Colonial Houses
3. Pinangat Making and Culinary Tour
4. Cave Hopping at Hoyop-hoyopan Cave, Solong Cave and Manilao Cave
5. Tunnel Hopping, ATV Ride, Camping, Biking, Kite Flying at Quituinan Hills
6. Trekking at Quitinday Green Hills Formation Reserve
7. Boating and Fishing at Sumlang Lake
8. Factory Site Visit, Product Demos and Pasalubong Shopping

3D/2N CAMALIG HERITAGE ENCOUNTER  

Discover Camalig!  magayon, ma-ogma,masiram!

(Glimpse of the Colonial Built Structures, Taste the Native Delicacies, Buy our Locally-Made Products, Enjoy More Thrilling Activities plus Friendly-Loving People)

DAY 1 (Camalig Heritage Tour)

0700H                Legazpi City Airport to Camalig

0800H               Check-In and Breakfast at the Hotel

0930H                St. John the Baptist Church

1000H                Heritage Walk to Spanish-American Colonial Houses

1100H                 Balsa Boating and Fishing at Sumlang Lake

1200H                Lunch at the Restaurant

1330H                ATV Ride to 1978 Mayon Lava Wall

1630H                Kamalig Gallery

1730H                Night Encounter at Quituinan Hills (Dinner on top of hill, Stargazing, Bon Fire)

DAY 2 (Eco-Adventure Tour)

0700H                Early Breakfast

0800H                Horseback Riding and Tunnel Hopping at Quituinan Hills

1000H                Pinangat Cooking at (Pinangat Maker Facility)

1200H                 Lunch at the Restaurant

1300H                Spelunking at Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

1500H                Trekking at Quitinday Green Hills Formation Reserve

1700H                Pasalubong Shopping at Camalig Pasalubong Center and Abaca Product Making at NCI

1830H                Dinner at the Restaurant

1930H                Wholesome Massage

DAY 3 (AGRI-ETHNO ECO VILLAGE)

0700H                Early Breakfast and check-out

0800H                Agri-Ethno Eco Village (Albay OTOP Familiarization)

1000H                Depart to Legazpi City Airport

OPTIONAL TOUR PACKAGES:

• Camalig Culinaria Immersion (Pinangat Making and Pilinut Candy Making)
• Calabidongan Cave Exploration

For Assistance:

CAMALIG TOURISM PROMOTION SECTION

Camalig Tourism and Pasalubong Center
Barangay 2, Camalig, Albay / 09276213315

The Camalig History Book entitled Camalig: Albay’s Cabecera of Christian Evangelization by Danilo Madrid Gerona is the first book written on the history of the town, it provides a comprehensive narrative which traces its epic journey from a vibrant cabecera of the Franciscan missions in Albay in the late sixteenth century, to an opulent abaca trading center in the nineteenth century, culminating in the post war era.

With sources drawn from the major archives in Spain and the Philippines, this book serves as a solid foundation for in-depth studies of scholars on the various aspects of the past.

The book constitutes as one of the foremost legacies in the preservation and promotion of the town’s rich heritage through the initiative of Mayor Caloy Baldo and the Local Government Unit of Camalig.

The Camalig Pasalubong Center housed all the products locally made in Camalig for availment of the public. It serves as a display center of all the Camalig made products and gallery of artworks made by the Camalig artists. It is located at the Camalig Tourism and Pasalubong Center, Barangay 2, Camalig, Albay.

Exhibitors:

1. Natural Carpet Industries
2. SIMOR Handicrafts
3. Juboken Enterprises
4. The Rains Handicraft and Delicacies
5. Noveno’s Pilinut Candies
6. Bicol Shirt City
7. Bikol Sikat Handicraft

 Pasalubong Center Facebook Page