MagayagayangMagallanes

Journey to explore magallanes

Welcome to Magayagayang Magallanes!

About us

history of magallanes

The founding of Magallanes abounds within conflicting versions. One version says that it started with a Spanish settlement somewhere at Gibalon while another version claims at Caditaan but within the provincial jurisdiction of Nueva Caceres. It later became part of Albay Province and was held in that place called Gibalon near the present barangay of Ginangra, celebrated by Fr. Alonso Jimenez. It was here where the Jimenez – Orta Expedition was founded by Bicolanos from the Bicol Region belonging to a single province then, Nueva Caceres, though most elders of the population have their roots from Albay Province which also forms part thereof.

The formal political and administrative creation of Magallanes began from a sitio known as Parina derived from a local hardwood free used in shipbuilding. When the shipbuilding industry made this place progressive, it became known as Visita De Parina because of numerous visitors from other places. During this period, the Chaplain of Pueblo De Casiguran used to hold mass during visits. In 1852, a settler named Don Manuel de Castro from La Curuña, Galicia, Spain requested the Bishop of Nueva Caceres, Msgr. Juan Grijaldo to create Visita de Parina into a barrio with a chaplain. Such request was granted with Rev. Fr. Fernando Ortiz as the first chaplain who named this place as Magallanes after the famous sailor and discoverer, Fernando Magallanes. It however remained under the chaplaincy of Pueblo de Casiguran headed by Rev. Fr. Agustin Aragon.

Magallanes became a municipality on July 16, 1860 separated from Pueblo de Casiguran with Don Manuel de Castro as the first appointed Governadorcillo. It was likewise proclaimed as separate Parish but made final only on January 1, 1864. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish with Rev. Fr. Higino de Castro as first Parish Priest of Magallanes was completely organized on July 16, 1864. Thus, the celebration of Magallanes Foundation Day and the Patronal Town Fiesta are held on the same day, July 16th.

MAGALLEONES FESTIVAL is a festival celebrating Magallanes as a beautiful, peaceful and charming place which is rich in cultural and historical heritage. It seeks to revisit the past, the history, the struggles and the role of its people in the galleon making times of the Spanish colonial period when in the nearby Bagatao Island was regarded the biggest shipyard in the Bikol region. It was called the Royal Astillero of Bagatao where the grandest, largest, costliest, swiftest and much celebrated galleon that ever plied the Pacific during the Manila-Acapulco trade was built. That galleon was christened “Santisima Trinidad y Senora del Buen Fin”.

The Magalleones Festival, furthermore, honors the Patron Saint of Magallanes, “The Lady of Mount Carmel” in her 150th reign as Patroness and protector of the town and its people from all forms of harm and calamities. The people of Magallanes, then and now are a faithfully devoted kind, dutiful and sometimes overly religious because the Catholic faith is deeply embedded in their system. All the barangays as well as the sitios have their own patron saint or patroness which also have their own fiestas. This is a manifestation of the Magalleños enduring and indomitable faith in God.

Uncover place

Popular Destination

GIBALON SHRINE

Gibalon Shrine as well as its vicinity is a historic location with religious significance and was widely believed as the site of the first Christian Mass held in the Island of Luzon in 1569 by Augustinian Priest Pray Alonzo Jiminez.
BUCAL-BUCALAN

Bucal-Bucalan Spring Resort is located along the Provincial Road at Barangay Aguada Sur. It has natural springs, beside a reservoir that collects the spring water at its source. It has two large pools which are sometimes used for training of swimmers.
TINACOS ISLAND

The mythical Tinacos Island just in front of the Magallanes pier, an island that inspired many a myth among the young and old. Without fresh water source, it remains uninhabited up to this day. However, this could be great place of one roaring adventure for the thrill and adventure seeker-types.
MALIJAO

Malijao springs is located at Barangay Bacalon, just off the Magallanes-Juban road and 3 kilometers away from the centro-poblacion. It is a natural spring, where visitors and locals enjoy the cold spring water, especially during scorching summer days.
PAROLA

Parola: Century Lighthouse. A 29-ft white cylindrical iron tower built on 1903-1904 situated on the rocky headland that forms the southern point in the western end of the Bagatao Island.
STA. LOURDES

For the Catholic devotees, there is the Sta. Lourdes Grotto located in Sitio Sta. Lourdes, Behia in Bagatao Island. Where you can get the hang of trekking the over-a-hundred steps of its stairs towards a clear birds eye view of the entire Poblacion area of Magallanes and the Tip of the Mayon Volcano of Albay and the Sorsogon Bay area.