Cagsawa Ruins Bloom with Flowers Amidst COVID-19

While the rest of the world has almost come to a halt, the province of Albay is flourishing more than ever. Just last month, a beautiful sunflower farm in Barangay Salugan, Camalig made the headlines. More recently, Cagsawa Ruins blossomed with vibrant flowers of different kinds.

Also read: 8 Flower Fields in the Philippines That Will Take Your Breath Away

The Cagsawa Ruins flowers

On 6 Jul 2020, Albay local Rocky Evans Llona spotted a picturesque landscape in Daraga, Albay: the Cagsawa Ruins blooming with flowers, with the famous Mayon Volcano towering in the background. Below are some of the photos Llona took.

Also read: Bicolano Traveller Shows the Underrated Beauty of Sorsogon

After three months of being closed to the public due to COVID-19, the famous Cagsawa Ruins finally started welcoming local tourists in June. 

For safety precautions, the landmark now has temperature scanners and a footbath upon entry. Before going in, tourists must log their names for contact tracing. The management limits tourists to up to 100 people only.

You may tour around the Cagsawa Ruins from 6am to 6pm every day; all tourists must practice social distancing while inside.

Aside from the Cagsawa Ruins flowers, the tourist destination also has various activities such as fish feeding and ATV rides. 

About the Cagsawa Ruins

What we now know as the Cagsawa Ruins is actually what’s left of the 16th-century Franciscan church that Fr. Francisco Blanco rebuilt in 1724. The original Cagsawa church, which was built in 1587, was burned down by Dutch colonisers in 1636. 

On 1 Feb 1814, the Mayon Volcano erupted and razed the whole Cagsawa town — including the rebuilt Cagsawa church — to the ground. 

Despite, and seemingly because of, the calamities the Cagsawa Ruins endured through the years, we now recognise it as one of our national cultural treasures. Tourists look at the magnificent historical landmark and remember the resilience of Bicol and its people. 

Have you ever been to Cagsawa Ruins? Feel free to share your photos with us in the comments section. Or, you can also tag us on Instagram for a chance to get featured!

All photos credited to Rocky Evans Llona.