Santo Domingo, ALBAY
Date: OCT 13,
2019
In my final semester at Partido State University, I will be required to submit a thesis before I graduate. My study is all about the volcanic hazard assessment in Goa, Camarines Sur, and I am lucky because one of the best volcanologists on Earth - Mr. Christopher Newhall - lives nearby. I decided to visit him last October 13, 2019, and gathered ideas on how I should present my study.
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| Mr. Christopher Newhall visiting PSU last March 2019 |
Last March 2019, the former seniors decided to organize a seminar about volcanoes. They invited Mr. Christopher Newhall as our guest speaker. He is one of the best volcanologists on the planet, and he is credited for co-creating the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). One of his most notable accomplishments was when he warned the Philippine government about the impending explosion of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, and the mass evacuation before the volcano's climactic eruption saved thousands of lives.
Today, he lives with his wife in Santo Domingo, Albay, managing the Mirisbiris Garden and Nature Center. Since Santo Domingo is located nearby, I decided to visit him and spoke with him about my research. Before I went to Mirisbiris, I sent him an email about our appointment, just to make sure that he will be at home when I arrive.
There are two ways on how to get to Santo Domingo from Goa, Camarines Sur. The first option is to ride a bus bound for Legazpi City, and then transfer to a jeepney bound for Santo Domingo. The second option is to go to Tigaon, Camarines Sur, and ride a jeep bound for Tabaco City, Albay.
I decided to take the first option because it is more convenient and transportation is more reliable. I left Brgy. Buyo at 6:00 AM and went straight to the bus terminal. I rode an ordinary bus bound for Anayan Junction and transferred to a bus bound for Legazpi City. When driving on your own, Santo Domingo can be reached in two hours. When commuting, you had to endure a trip that lasts for five hours. I reached SM Legazpi at 10:00 AM and went inside to eat breakfast.
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| SM Legazpi is conveniently located in front of Legazpi Transport Terminal |
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| There's a lot of people inside the mall because it's Sunday |
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| Mayon Volcano seen from SM Legazpi's Foodcourt |
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| The newly renovated Legazpi Transport Terminal |
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| Mirisbiris roadside signage |
Upon reaching Santo Domingo, I asked the policemen where the blue tricycle bound for Mirisbiris is located, and they pointed me at the back of the municipal hall. There were many passengers that day, and I had to topload. Mirisbiris can be reached in less than 15 minutes after traversing the winding highways.
It was already 11:30 AM when I reached Mirisbiris, and I was greeted by their fancy wooden signage. I went inside and saw a bride posing for her pre-nuptial photos. I was received by Mrs. Glenda Newhall and she offered me a seat at the gazebo while waiting for her husband. Sir Chris arrived a few minutes later, and he invited me to eat lunch with his family and staff. What a generous man!
After eating our lunch, we proceeded to the gazebo and I told him what my thesis is all about. He showed me photos of outcrops that I have to look for and told me what I need to do next. We had a meaningful conversation that lasted for two hours, and he gave me suggestions on how I should present my study. I promised to contact him through email after completing my fieldwork. After our conversation ended, he toured me around the garden and shared stories on how he was able to purchase the property. We also went inside a room filled with books about geology, shells, and fossils. After a quick tour around the area, I thanked Sir Chris for his time and told him that I had to leave. He encouraged to come back whenever I need more information about the research that I am working on.
Going back to Santo Domingo town proper is easy - all I have to do is to wait for a blue tricycle. I had to wait for a few minutes near the Mirisbiris roadside signage, and by 2:30 PM, a tricycle filled with people stopped. I rode the tricycle and the trip lasted for 15 minutes. When we arrived at the town proper, I paid the municipal hall and the church a visit, and then took photos of the landmarks. A jeepney bound for Legazpi City is parked in front of the church, waiting for passengers. The trip back to the city lasted for 30 minutes, and before returning to Goa, I checked SM Legazpi's food court to see if Mayon Volcano is visible. Unfortunately, it's not.
MY ITINERARY:
06:00 Left Brgy. Buyo via habal-habal
(P20)
After eating our lunch, we proceeded to the gazebo and I told him what my thesis is all about. He showed me photos of outcrops that I have to look for and told me what I need to do next. We had a meaningful conversation that lasted for two hours, and he gave me suggestions on how I should present my study. I promised to contact him through email after completing my fieldwork. After our conversation ended, he toured me around the garden and shared stories on how he was able to purchase the property. We also went inside a room filled with books about geology, shells, and fossils. After a quick tour around the area, I thanked Sir Chris for his time and told him that I had to leave. He encouraged to come back whenever I need more information about the research that I am working on.
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| Fish fossil displayed on a glass table |
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| Flowers in the garden |
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| Santo Domingo, Albay Municipal Hall |
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| Santo Domingo Church |
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| Waiting for a tricycle to arrive |
06:15 Left Goa via ordinary bus to Brgy. Anayan (P39/student)
07:30 Ride aircon bus to
Legazpi (P110/student)
10:00 Arrived in Legazpi and eat breakfast (P69)
10:45 Jeepney left for Sto. Domingo (P19)
11:15 Arrived in Sto. Domingo. Ride tricycle to Mirisbiris (P14)
11:30 Arrived in Mirisbiris
12:00 Lunch (FREE)
12:30 Thesis discussion
14:30 Left Mirisbiris via tricycle (P14)
14:45 Back to Sto. Domingo. Ride jeep to Legazpi (P19)
14:45 Back to Sto. Domingo. Ride jeep to Legazpi (P19)
15:15 Merienda at SM Legazpi (P69)
15:30 Left for Brgy. Anayan via bus (P120/student)
19:00 Brgy. Anayan. Ride jeep to
Tigaon (P35)
20:00 Tigaon. Ride bus to Goa (P20)
20:15 Ride habal-habal to Brgy. Buyo (P20)
20:30 HOME
TOTAL EXPENSES: P568
TOTAL EXPENSES: P568
HOW TO GET
THERE?
Directions going to Mirisbiris Garden and Nature Center, Santo Domingo, Albay
FROM GOA, CAMARINES SUR VIA LEGAZPI:
•From Goa Terminal, ride a bus bound for Naga. Tell the conductor to
drop you off at Brgy. Anayan, Pili, Camarines Sur. The fare is P39 for
students, and P50 for regular passengers.
•Once you reached Brgy. Anayan, look for buses bound for Legazpi City,
Albay. The fare is usually P110 for students, and P140 for regular passengers.
•Once you arrived in Legazpi City, look for the jeepney terminal and ride
a jeep bound for Santo Domingo. The fare is P19 for regular passengers.
•You should alight at the Santo Domingo town plaza, and look for the
blue tricycles beside the municipal hall. The fare going to Mirisbiris is P14,
and the trip will last for 15 minutes.
FROM GOA, CAMARINES SUR VIA BICOL 630:
•From Goa Terminal, ride a bus bound for Tigaon. Tell the conductor to
drop you off near the public market, and look for the jeepney bound for Tabaco
City, Albay. These jeepneys usually leave at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 1:30 PM. The fare
is around P100, and the trip lasts for three hours.
•When you reached Tabaco City, Albay, look for the jeepneys bound for
Santo Domingo.
•You should alight at the Santo Domingo town plaza, and look for the
blue tricycles beside the municipal hall. The fare going to Mirisbiris is P14,
and the trip will last for 15 minutes.
FROM NAGA CITY:
•Go to the Naga City Bus Terminal and ride a bus bound for Legazpi City,
Albay.
•Once you arrived in Legazpi City, look for the jeepney terminal and ride
a jeep bound for Santo Domingo. The fare is P19 for regular passengers.
•You should alight at the Santo Domingo town plaza, and look for the
blue tricycles beside the municipal hall. The fare going to Mirisbiris is P14,
and the trip will last for 15 minutes.
FROM CUBAO, METRO MANILA VIA LEGAZPI:
•From Cubao, ride a bus bound for Legazpi City, Albay.
•Once you arrived in Legazpi City, look for the jeepney terminal and ride
a jeep bound for Santo Domingo. The fare is P19 for regular passengers.
•You should alight at the Santo Domingo town plaza, and look for the
blue tricycles beside the municipal hall. The fare going to Mirisbiris is P14,
and the trip will last for 15 minutes.
FROM CUBAO, METRO MANILA VIA TABACO:
•From Cubao, ride a bus bound for Tabaco City, Albay.
•When you reached Tabaco City, Albay, look for the jeepneys bound for
Santo Domingo.
•You should alight at the Santo Domingo town plaza, and look for the
blue tricycles beside the municipal hall. The fare going to Mirisbiris is P14,
and the trip will last for 15 minutes.
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