Mayon 1814 tragedy reminder of Albay’s resilience

The month-long Cagsawa Festival 2025 in Albay province is more than a cultural celebration; it’s a reminder of Albayanos’ resilience since the 1814 Mayon Volcano eruption that buried Cagsawa town and killed at least 1,200 people.

Speaking at the festival’s kickoff over the weekend at the historic Cagsawa Ruins, Albay Second District Representative Joey Salceda recalled how the tragedy shaped his public service career.  The lessons of the disaster became a hallmark of his advocacy “to avoid disasters by moving people out of harm’s way,” he said.

“The disastrous act of nature cannot be prevented, but it could be avoided,” Salceda said.

During his nine years as Albay governor, Salceda championed a disaster risk reduction management program that pioneered preemptive evacuation and a zero-casualty principle.

“It may look very simple, but the implications are wide and can be extrapolated in many ways,” said Salceda. “One must have a clear objective: Zero casualty.”

Salceda cited a historical account of the decision to build a new church on the Santa Maria hills, now the Church of the Nuestra Señora de la Porteria, or Daraga Church.  This decision saved many lives during the 1814 eruption.

Many residents who remained in the old Cagsawa settlement were buried in lahar along with the church. Only the bell tower remains, now known worldwide as the Cagsawa Ruins, a leading Philippine tourist attraction.

Salceda said the Cagsawa story taught him that the best way to save people is to move them away from danger long before a disaster strikes.

“Whether you’re rich or poor, or whatever station in life you are in, everybody has the human dignity and has the right to survive in the midst of disasters,” said Salceda.

“One must be able to see where the danger is coming from and where it is moving,” he added. “Keep track, anticipate the movement of disasters. There are means and ways of rescuing people, but in Albay, we don’t rescue. We evacuate.”

The festival commemorates three events: the 301st anniversary of the rebuilding of the Cagsawa Church in 1724; the 438th founding anniversary of the church founded by a Franciscan mission; and the 211th anniversary of the 1814 Mayon eruption.