Albay TV

08/09/2026

PILAR, SORSOGON — The coastal town of Pilar is gearing up for its annual Parau Festival 2026, a vibrant cultural and religious celebration honoring the municipality's rich seafaring history and its deep devotion to patroness Our Lady of the Pillar.

First launched in 2002, the festival commemorates Pilar's historic legacy, including the 17th-century Spanish shipyard established in the area and its pivotal role in the Manila-Galleon Trade. Carrying the theme "Liwanag, Pag-asa, Pagkakaisa," this year's festivities feature a dynamic lineup of activities including traditional boat races, cultural street dancing, a fun run, beauty pageants, and a mesmerizing parade of lights. The week-long celebration will culminate on October 12 with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Our Lady of the Pillar Shrine.

Pack your bags and visit the beautiful town of Pilar to experience its rich culture, warm hospitality, and historic maritime spirit firsthand!

08/09/2026

Today in History: The Birth of Bishop Nestor Celestial Cariño

📅 September 8, 1938 marks the birth of Nestor Celestial Cariño in Malinao, Albay, Philippines. He dedicated his entire life to the Catholic Church and was ordained as a priest in 1961.

Throughout his remarkable ministry, Bishop Cariño held multiple significant leadership positions, including serving as auxiliary bishop of Legazpi in 1978, bishop of Borongan from 1980 to 1986, and secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) starting in 1986. In the 2000s, he served in Pasig and as auxiliary bishop of Daet before being appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi in 2005 until his retirement in 2007. He left behind a profound legacy of spiritual leadership and devotion until his passing on May 24, 2025.

Proud Son of Albay: Born in Malinao, Albay on September 8, 1938.

National Church Leader: Served as the secretary general of the CBCP starting in 1986.

Shepherd of Legazpi: Appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi in 2005.

💬 Let’s honor his legacy: Drop a respectful prayer or remembrance in the comments below, and share this post to celebrate a notable religious leader from Albay! 👇



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08/09/2026

TODAY IN HISTORY: The Rich Heritage and Curious Origins of Labo, Camarines Norte!

Did you know that the thriving municipality of Labo officially marks its foundation day every September 8? With roots dating back to its early days as "Busig-on" led by Tarik-Kudook, this progressive town got its unique name in 1600 from a classic language mix-up when a Spanish missionary asked for the town's name and a local boatman answered, "Labo po ng tubig"!

Covering more than 25% of Camarines Norte's total land area, Labo is home to majestic peaks like Mt. Labo and rich natural treasures, supporting a vibrant community of over 108,000 residents today.



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Capturing the heart of Albay and Bicolandia, one frame at a time!
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Visit https://albaytv.blogspot.com/

08/09/2026

Happy fiesta, Daraga, Albay!

Nestled in the southwestern part of Albay, Daraga is a first-class municipality renowned for its rich history and strategic significance. Originally settled by Malay migrants as early as the 12th century, the area was later colonized by Spanish missionaries in 1587, becoming part of the Spanish Philippines. The town, then known as Cagsawa, faced a pivotal moment on February 1, 1814, when the violent eruption of Mayon Volcano buried the original settlement under lava and ash, leaving only the iconic Cagsawa Church Bell Tower as a testament to its past.

In 1872, Spanish Governor General Simon de Anda renamed the town Daraga. Over the years, it underwent administrative changes, briefly becoming part of Legazpi City under the Becerra Law of 1892, and later gaining autonomy in 1922. After several reconfigurations, including a brief name change to Locsin in 1959, Daraga was officially reestablished as a municipality in 1954 through Republic Act 993. Its economy evolved from agriculture-based roots to a more diverse and progressive landscape, attaining first-class status in 1999.

Today, Daraga serves as a vital economic and transportation hub, linking urban and rural communities, and acting as the gateway to southern Albay and Sorsogon Province. Its historical landmarks, like the Cagsawa Ruins and Daraga Church, alongside modern infrastructure such as the Bicol International Airport, underscore its importance in regional development. With ongoing growth in trade, industry, and tourism, Daraga continues to forge a prosperous future rooted in its resilient history.

08/09/2026

08/09/2026

Local government delegates from Libon gathered with project stakeholders at the Wyndale Hotel in Brgy. Baligang, Camalig on September 7, 2026, for a high-level consultative meeting regarding the proposed Ranaw Floating and Ground-Mounted Solar Power Project.

The ambitious renewable energy initiative aims to transform the Libon portion of Lake Bato and its surrounding terrain into a major green energy hub. Spearheaded by the Ranaw Solar Energy Corporation (SPV), alongside partners Hansei and HREC, the briefing detailed key infrastructure plans designed to bolster regional power stability and economic growth.

Project Highlights:

Massive Capacity: The facility will feature an 800 MW total capacity, split into a 600 MW floating solar plant covering roughly 600 hectares of Lake Bato (Cluster 1) and a 200 MW ground-mounted solar plant spanning 250 hectares (Cluster 2).

Energy Storage & Yield: Integrated with a robust 1,680 MWhr Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the project is projected to yield an estimated 1,728,000,000 KWHR/year.

Timeline: Construction is anticipated to kick off in the first quarter of 2027, with commercial operations targeted for completion by June 2028.

Grid Connection: The project site sits approximately 6 kilometers from the proposed NGIRCA Iriga Substation, featuring a dedicated 230kV transmission line connection.

Beyond clean energy generation, proponents emphasized that the project will deliver extensive socio-economic benefits to the Municipality of Libon and neighboring areas. These include local employment generation during both construction and operational phases, municipal revenue streams, and incentives designed to uplift host communities.

08/09/2026

Happy Fiesta, Municipality of Calabanga!

08/09/2026

The proposed Sorsogon–Northern Samar Link Bridge—long envisioned as the Matnog–Allen Bridge—has been officially declared feasible with massive economic potential by the global engineering consulting firm T.Y. Lin. Confirmed during Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget hearings by Secretary Vince Dizon, the project marks a monumental step in bridging Luzon and the Visayas.

Originally deemed unimplementable due to the extreme depths of the San Bernardino Strait, the project overcame its primary engineering hurdle through an innovative "island-hopping" layout. Instead of a direct, single-span crossing, international designers devised an alignment passing through San Antonio and Capul islands, successfully shortening the overall route from 28 km to approximately 20 km.

Project Specifications

Design Structure: A series of three long-span cable-stayed bridges:

Bridge 1: Allen to San Antonio Island (Northern Samar)
Bridge 2: San Antonio Island to Capul Island (Northern Samar)
Bridge 3: Capul Island to Matnog (Sorsogon)

Total Length: Around 20 km (projected to be the 2nd longest bridge in the Philippines).

Economic Viability: Boasts an extraordinary 42% Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR), comfortably eclipsing the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 10% threshold and surpassing even the 33% EIRR of the Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge.

Timeline: Comprehensive feasibility assessment targets completion in 2027, with an estimated construction window of 6 years.

Potential Funders: Major international financing institutions including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), South Korea, and JICA have expressed strong interest.

Economic and Strategic Significance

As a vital missing link in the Maharlika Highway network, the bridge will establish a seamless, continuous road connection between Luzon and Eastern Visayas. Beyond cutting travel times and boosting regional trade and tourism, the project represents the fruition of years of legislative advocacy. With technical hurdles cleared and strong international backing, this transformative infrastructure initiative is closer than ever to becoming reality.

07/09/2026

Happy Fiesta, Daraga, Albay!

07/09/2026

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary! 🙏