Albay town devotes festival to commemorate fateful 1814 Mayon eruption

By: Alfredo L.Vargas Jr. DARAGA, Albay, Jan. 27 (PNA) -- The local governments of Albay province and Daraga town have teamed up to stage the "Cagsawa Festival" this year which will coincide with the 199th anniversary of the Feb. 1, 1814 catastrophic eruption of Mount Mayon that claimed thousands of lives and buried the whole town. The month-long fesival, now on its second year, will focus on the site of the almost two-century old ruins, just 11 kms from the crater of Mayon Volcano. The team up of the provincial and city governments has elevated the newest festival to the level of other significant celebrations in Albay - the main festival of “Daragang Magayon”, “TabaK” of Tabaco City, “Ibalong” of Legazpi City, “Pulang Angui” of the town of Polangui and the province’s “Magayon” and “Karangahan sa Pasko”. The Cagsawa Festival will also mark how the Albayanos picked up the pieces after the 1814 catastrophe and how the present disaster risk reduction management efficiently arms people with preemptive skills and emergency preparedness in order not to suffer the same sad fate. Today, Albay is a United Nations global model in disaster risk reduction, after rising from the crises of 1814 and other the succeeding disasters. Aside from commemoration of the 1814 Mayon eruption episode, Cagsawa Festival 2013 will also feature this town’s long trek towards change, rehabilitation and growth, said Albay Governor Joey Salceda. (PNA) PDS/ALV/MMG/PJN