AI illustration
Mayon legend Daragang Magayon
People in Albay tell how Mayon Volcano rose from the grave of Daragang Magayon, a beautiful young woman. In the common telling, two suitors, Ulap and Pagtuga, fight over her and both she and Ulap die. Names and details change from teller to teller.
Folklore is retold; versions differ.
Sources: Wikipedia: Mayon (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikidata (CC0)
The story
Mayon Volcano rises about 2,463 meters in Albay, in southeast Luzon. It is an active volcano with an almost perfect cone. Its name comes from Daragang Magayon, which means "beautiful lady" in Bikol. Eight cities and towns share the mountain. In 1938 it became the first national park of the Philippines, and since 2000 it is the Mayon Volcano Natural Park.
In the story, a young woman named Magayon is loved by more than one man. The volcano is said to grow from her burial place. Wikipedia tells one version with lovers named Magayon and Panganoron. In another common telling, the suitors are Ulap and Pagtuga, and both Magayon and Ulap die. Tellers also say that the Bikolano god Gugurang later made the mountain his home and keeps the sacred fire of Ibalon there.
The volcano has also hurt people. On 1 February 1814, its worst recorded eruption buried the town of Cagsawa and killed about 1,200 people. Only the bell tower of the church remains today.