Difference between revisions of "Albay Province, Philippines"

Albay and its surrounding areas were originally known as Ibalon when they were explored by Juan de Salcedo and his soldiers in 1573. A small settlement called Sawangan, situated near a mangrove swamp, was established and later became the town of Albaybay, meaning "by the bay," in 1616. Eventually, the town's name was changed to Albay, while Legaspi was adopted as the name for the town to distinguish it from the province.

In 1846, the territories of Masbate, Ticao, and Burias were separated from Albay to form the comandancia of Masbate. Albay, in turn, was divided into four districts: Iraya, Cordillera or Tobaco, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes. In 1894, Sorsogon became an independent province, followed by Catanduanes in 1945. The province of Albay itself was officially created on March 10, 1917.

Throughout its vibrant history, Albay has experienced both natural and man-made disasters. In 1649, a rebellion erupted among the natives against their recruitment for shipbuilding in Cavite. The devastating eruption of Mayon Volcano in 1814 claimed the lives of 1,200 people and buried the town of Cagsawa. During the early 19th century, the production of hemp for shipping ropes brought great prosperity to Albay, becoming a significant international source of wealth. However, the demand for hemp declined sharply, leading to a downturn in Albay's economy.