Legazpi City: The city of fun and adventure

Nightlife is fascinating in Legazpi City, which has lively places where one could go to, like videoke bars, music lounges and night clubs, most of which are found along a major highway in Barangay Bogtong, on the outskirts of the commercial center.

Legazpi City—Mentioning the name of this city, the capital of Albay province in Region 5 (Bicol), is like delivering a postcard with a picture of majestic Mount Mayon to a loved one.

Yes, to be mesmerized by the beauty of the most perfectly cone-shaped volcano in the world is one of the major reasons tourists flock to Legazpi, which has been called the “City of Fun and Adventure.” But one may ask: “What else is there?” Fortunately, the city has a ready answer. In fact, it has several.

First, there are the exotic native foods served by several dining establishments in and around the city, from the spicy “Bikol express” and the mouth-watering pinangat to superbly prepared seafoods.

The best places for these are Guilian’s Seawharf Chef at the Embarcadero de Legazpi mall; Gemma’s Snack House, along F. Aquende Drive; and Waway’s Restaurant and Sambalas Restaurant, both along Peñaranda Street Extension in Barangay Bonot.

For those who couldn’t ignore the meals served by various fast-food chains—McDonald’s, Jollibee, KFC, Max’s Restaurant, ChowKing, Mang Inasal and Greenwich Pizza, among others—these are found inside the gigantic Pacific Mall, at the heart of downtown Legazpi, while several of their branches are scattered throughout the city.

No one could also resist 1st Colonial Grill’s bestselling item: the hot, pink sili ice cream, made from pili nut granules, roasted rice, ground malunggay leaves, lemon juice and chili. It’s a quirky and refreshing, yet mouth-scorching treat: It tastes sweet and creamy, just like any other ice cream, but wait a second or two, and you’ll taste the hotness of the sili in it.

Ligñon Hill

People could take a really good look at Mayon by scaling the Ligñon Hill National Park, a 156-meter peak featuring a carefully designed landscape that has restaurants and shops on its summit.

The hill offers sightseers a panoramic 360-degree view of Legazpi, its neighboring towns of Daraga and Santo Domingo, picturesque Albay Gulf and the imposing southern slope of the volcano.

Up the peak is a 1,180-m zip line that lets visitors travel above 160 m from the ground, with Mayon serving as a backdrop.

A closer encounter with Mayon comes with all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides over lava hills, rolling terrain and shallow streams along the foot of the volcano. ATVs are available for rent at nearby shops.

After they enjoy such rides, visitors can proceed to Legazpi Boulevard and enjoy its cool ambiance while walking leisurely or jogging, as most tourists and residents do around the place in the early morning or late afternoon.

The boulevard—considered the longest outside of Manila and one of the most picturesque seaside roads in the Philippines—stretches from the city’s central business district and port area to its southern villages. It is a favored recreation area, due to the cool, fresh sea breeze that comes from the Albay Gulf.

At night, colorful streetlights make the boulevard terrific to behold. Along the boulevard lies Kapuntukan Hill, a historical landmark that’s also called the “sleeping lion,” where a monument to the great Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi stands near its foot opposite the Embarcadero, a privately owned, P1-billion world-class waterfront lifestyle hub at the city harbor that is the first of its kind in southern Luzon. As Bicol’s premier mall, the Embarcadero redeems the glory days of the city’s port district, which was once the region’s center of economic activity, for Spanish trading galleons used to dock there.

With a gleaming searchlight on top of its shimmering lighthouse and colorful lights reflecting on the seawater, nighttime partygoers are drawn to this newfound haven, where serene nature meets stylish urban living.

One can also visit Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral, known as one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines, which stands at the heart of Legazpi’s Albay District, next to the city hall and the Albay Capitol. The church’s facade has a semicircular arched main entrance with a portico, and is flanked by niches and coupled columns on pedestals supporting the triangular pediments.

Nightlife is fascinating in Legazpi, which has lively places where one could go to, like videoke bars, music lounges and night clubs, most of which are found along a major highway in Barangay Bogtong, on the outskirts of the commercial center. One of the best places to spend the night in is cozy 21st Amendment Restaurant and Bar, where the evening starts with piped-in music that increases in intensity to become danceable as the night progresses.

The restaurant/bar, found on Rizal Street in the Old Albay district, has superb wines and beverages that are matched with impressively prepared appetizers.

Livable, competitive

Indulging in all these activities makes one’s day in Legazpi too short, but before going back home, it’s recommended to buy souvenirs from shops in the futuristic-looking Legazpi Central Terminal, the central public market and downtown malls.

Pili candies of different flavors, hand-made native clothes and beautifully designed abaca handicrafts are among the items for sale.

No need to worry about missing a ride, because Legazpi is Bicol’s center of land transportation. Many bus trips to Metro Manila—and even to parts of the Visayas and Mindanao—originate from this city.

Also worth noting: the Legazpi Domestic Airport caters to at least five daily flights to and from Manila and thrice a week to Cebu and vice-versa.

For sure, this city would beckon visitors to a world of unparalleled bliss, serenity and contentment. Mayor Noel Rosal of Legazpi, whose administration is behind all these developments, said: “Ours is now a highly livable and competitive city, because it offers safety, convenience, livelihood, lifestyle and sustainability that attract people to live, work and play here.”

Indeed, Legazpi has been able to transform itself from nothing special—save for Mayon—into a sparkling metropolis that offers tourists a wide variety of enjoyable activities. It is a world-class city that has received many investments and benefited from massive urban development. PNA

For more information on Legazpi City, visit www.wowlegazpi.com.