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 municipality of Camalig is making name in terms of tourism and cultural heritage and considered as a fast-growing emerging destination in the province of Albay.

Being known as one of the oldest-founded towns in Bicol Region and the Cabecera of Christian Evangelization or the mission outpost from which most mission settlements in Albay evolved, Camalig is rich of tourist attractions with historical significance namely: the Old St. John the Baptist Church, the ancient Hoyop-hoyopan Cave a rich archeological site that proved the existence of a civilization long before the Spaniards set foot in this town in 1569, the colonial houses reminiscent of Spanish colonialization and the Quituinan Hills with all its Japanese dug tunnels. In addition, Camalig is also famous with eco-tourism sites designed with unique activities frequently visited by tourists such as Sumlang Lake, Quituinday Green Hills, Calabidongan Cave, Binanderahan Manilao Cave and Green Lake and other potential caves. In 2016, the Camalig Tourism and Cultural Heritage Office (CTCHO) – Tourism Promotion Section recorded at least 189,619 same-day visitors (186,491 – domestic; 3,128 – foreign), a great leap from the previous year’s records. Moreover, a total of 10, 257 tourist visited the town in 2016.

An account cannot be complete without mention of “Pinangat,” the culinary wonder which enjoys worldwide popularity. Locally made food delicacies such as marcasotes, puto lanson, inulokan and abaca made carpets, bags, tsinelas and coco-coir products can be found also in Camalig. The establishment of tourism support enterprise in Camalig is fast rising. The local treasury earned approximately 1.5M income out of the registered tourism support services.

The CTCHO made extensive efforts in the development, promotion and marketing of the tourism industry and cultural heritage in Camalig aligned to the town’s tourism and cultural promotions branding as the “Heritage Town of Albay”.

Camalig as a culturally rich town and fast growing tourist-friendly destination proactively engaged in social and economic transformation promised to contribute 300,000 same-day visitors and 20,000 tourist arrivals annually in the province of Albay. We, in the tourism sector shall promote the culture of tourism among local residents and develop responsible and sustainable community-based tourism and cultural heritage programs leading to inclusive growth, socio-economic development and good image of the municipality.

Click to link to view:

Camalig Integrated Tourism and Cultural Heritage Code 

• 2016 Same-Day Visitors Arrival Report
• 2016 Tourist Arrival Report 

TRICYCLE (PARADA) PRESIDENTS CONTACT INFORMATION:

Baltazar Campos
Contact No. 09283535734/ 09103652465
Route (Bariw/Cotmon)

Rustom Muni
Contact No. 09074083193/ 09308895840
Route (Ilawod-Bliss/Quirangay)

COASTER AND VAN RENTALS CONTACT INFORMATION:

Oga Sallan – 09325098705

Jag Layese – 09175749338

Alex Grageda – 09328800280