I enjoyed so much pinangat - a regional delicacy of fish or shrimp, wrapped in taro leaves and simmered in coconut milk - like it was just a regular takeout meal, for something like five days in a row. In the town of Camalig, where specialists reside, pinangat is an emblem of the local foodways.

Highly recommend a visit to the National Museum in Daraga for its Bicol geology exhibit, then hopping on an ATV through hardened lava-scapes and rocky streams to the base of Mayon Volcano.

I’ve been blessed with opportunities to travel across the Philippines, and I always visit the local church, simply because they continue to be the core of many communities. Daraga Church, in my opinion, has one of the best views. Looking out those arched doors at a jeepney full of people and chickens in cages strapped to the roof, with Mayon’s peak hidden behind thick clouds, lives forever in my head.

On my final day in Albay, while I waited on the ferry at the port in Tabaco, the goddess of Mayon finally showed her beauty. I’m enchanted, and want to dive into the incredibly rich folklore surrounding Mount Mayon, in the Bicol region’s many fascinating languages.