Albay has produced many famous personalities known locally and abroad. According to Wikipedia, here are a few of the many famous Bicolanos well-respected in their field of expertise.

1.Tecla San Andres Ziga - First woman bar topnotcher in the Philippine History, a Philippine Senator (Albay)

2.Venancio Ziga - Governor (Albay)

3.Victor San Andres Ziga - Second generation politician, an Assemblyman, a Governor (Albay) and a Philippine Senator

4.Raul S. Roco - was a Philippine Senator from Bombon, Camarines Sur, former DepEd Secretary

5.Jorge Barlin - was the first Filipino bishop from Baao, Camarines Sur

Baao, Camarines Sur
6.Francisco Tatad - was a Philippine Senator from Catanduanes7.Gregorio Honasan - is a Philippine Senator

8.Joker Arroyo - is Philippine Senator from Baao, Camarines Sur

9.Francisco “Chiz” Escudero - is a Philippine Senator from Sorsogon

10.Nora Aunor - a celebrity from Iriga City

11.Eddie Garcia - a director and celebrity from Buhi, Camarines Sur

12.Conrado de Quiros - a columnist

13.Ely Buendía - a Filipino music icon, songwriter and musician who gained fame as the lead vocalist in the popular 1990’s Pinoy rock band, The Eraserheads from Naga City

14.Dina Bonnevie - Actress from Magarao, Camarines Sur

15.Rodolfo Noel Lozada - star witness involved in the Philippine National Broadband Network controversy from Ligao, Albay

16.Jayson Fernandez - vocalist for Rivermaya from Camarines Norte

he is the new vocalist of Rivermaya
17.Ricky Lee - prominent scriptwriter from Camarines Norte18.Don Mariano Sasis Maronilla (1840-1908)- an ancestor of the Maronilla clan of Libon, Albay (one of the most prominent clans in the region)

19.Don Felix Maronilla Sr. - father of Felix Maronilla Jr., Landlord, Philantrophist

20.Manuel Calleja Fernandez - born on 16 February 1916 in Libon, Albay. He was a medical practitioner, specializing in dermatology — having worked at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital (1947-1949), UCLA Medical Center (1948) and several other hospitals across Canada and the United States. He served as the President of the University of the Philippines Manila Medical Alumni Association in 1966; and served as a dermatologic surgery consultant at UP PGH’s Dermatology Section. In addition to being affiliated with many associations and foundations, he was a member of Makati Medical Center’s Founders Circle. He also served as Chairman of the Department of Dermatology of MMC. He is the father of Dr. Manuel Ocampo Fernandez (a pioneering cosmetic surgeon who first brought liposuction to the Philippines), Maria Victoria “Vicki” Ocampo Fernandez-Zubiri (the socialite-mother of Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri) and Malu Ocampo Fernandez (the infamous lifestyle writer who enraged millions of OFWs with her 2007 People Asia travel article).

21.Bartolome Seda Fernandez (1892 - 1981) - was the son of Manuel Praxedes Fernandez and Mamerta Seda. A government auditor, Bartolome was assigned to several provinces — Zamboanga, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Capiz, Leyte, Cebu and Iloilo. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, he fled with his family from Iloilo to Leon, where he continued his function as Provincial Auditor to the Civil Resistance Movement, together with the then Governor Tomas Confesor. He was a member of the Emergency Currency Committee — a team tasked to oversee the printing and circulation of emergency notes to be used by the guerilla forces. After the fall of Bataan in 1942, President Manuel Quezon wired the appointment of Bartolome as the Auditor General of Western Visayas, while he was on his way to Australia. In years after the war, President Carlos P. Garcia appointed him to Deputy Auditor General of the Philippines — a position he held until 1961. He married Pilar Maronilla Calleja in 1917. After Pilar’s death in 1946, he remarried — taking Mercedez Guerrero as his bride in 1958. He is the great grandfather of Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

22.Maria Victoria “Vicky” Ocampo Fernandez - the daughter of Makati Medical Center pioneer Dr. Manuel Calleja Fernandez. A graduate of Assumption College, she is a designer and is a partner in Victoria II (a boutique patronized by Manila’s social elite). She was included in the Survivors Issue of People Asia Magazine in 2007, after having triumphed over a brain tumor which necessitated two surgeries and radiation therapy. She is the sister of of Dr. Manuel Ocampo Fernandez (a pioneering cosmetic surgeon who first brought liposuction to the Philippines in 1983) and of Malu Ocampo Fernandez (the infamous lifestyle writer who enraged millions of OFWs with her 2007 People Asia travel article). She is the wife of Bukidnon Governor Joe Zubiri, with whom she has 5 children (the third being Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri).

What is travel without the usual souvenir shopping? Despite the many delightful handicrafts available all over the province, there are other unique items that are one-of-a-kind and specialized in the Albay markets.

LGC Mall looked so much like SM shopping malls
Set forth to the Satellite Market which is a one-stop shop for souvenir items. It offers abaca native bags, rugs, household items, souvenir shirts and key chains among others. Additionally, it sells pili nuts and other food delicacies for the sweet tooth in you. This market is located t Tahao Road across the Legazpi City Terminal. Haggling is definitely a skill to be applied in this shopping spree.If you are looking for locally made machetes or knives, head to the Tabak Market in Tabaco, Albay for a wide variety of knives made by the local people. Here you can find folding knives, samurais, scissors, cockfighting blades and other bladed tools. This market holds clusters of small stalls that offer the same merchandise, and so you can choose and haggle for the best prices.

Native handicrafts in Legaspi, Albay
When in Albay, do not forget to drop by Legazpi Central Market for the cheapest abaca handbags. Here you can choose from a wide variety of handmade bags made of the native material, abaca. You can even haggle for the best priced artistically beautiful abaca handbag.For more local crafts and cheap souvenir shirts, You can buy from the souvenir shops lining outside Cagsawa Ruins Park. Shirts cost P150 each but you can also find bargains for old stocks at P100. The most common t-shirt designs have prints of Mayon Volcano and other landmarks on them.

Philippine festivals happen all-year round. In Albay, it is no exception. Festivals reflect how the locals love to celebrate and party. The best time to go to Albay is to coincide it with a province-wide festival to join in the merry-making.

Magayon Festival happens all month of May, and this fiesta features sports and cultural events and trade fairs. The event’s focus is the stage re-enactment of tragic love story of two legendary characters.

Magayon Festival 2008
Tabak Festival which runs on the last week of March in Tabaco City, Albay, is a week-long activity. It includes a street presentation filled with colourful parades, and it usually coincides with the City’s Foundation Anniversary.Sarung Banggi Festival is another annual May fiesta that immortalizes a timeless love song, Sarung Banggi. It showcases colourful performances of a variety of cultural and religious activities.Every 3rd Saturday of August in Tiwi, the locals celebrate the Pilgrimage to Jordan, which is for the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion, the patroness of Albay. A procession and mass is celebrated on the shores of Sogod Beach.

Albay, Philippines
Lastly, the Katalingkasan Festival is held every 2nd week of July at Libon. This festival features trade fairs, cultural shows and lots of street dancing.Generally, Philippine festivals are commemorated to give praise to their respective patron saints. Apart from the religious aspect of these fiestas, the merriment almost always includes parades and street-dancing. Join in the fun and mingle with the locals.

Apart from being a travel destination, Albay boasts of native delicacies that would surely whet your appetites. Pinangat and Bicol Express are popular Bicolano dishes that use coconut milk as ingredient. The town of Camalig is known to the maker and exporter of these native delicacies. Pinangat is a dish made of shredded young gabi or taro leaves, shrimps, pork and ginger, wrapped in whole taro leaf and cooked in coconut milk until done. Tinilmok is another version of pinangat but the difference is the filling—it is made of sliced young coconut meat and small shrimps. On the other hand, bicol express is an ultra-spicy dish made of chilli and pork cooked in coconut milk. And fortunately for travellers who are hooked at first bite, these delicacies are available in can, bottle or sold frozen along many souvenir shops in the province.

Kinunot
Another Bicolano delicacy is the kinunot. This dish is made from stingray meat and malunggay (horseradish) and is cooked in coconut milk. As with pinangat and bicol express, kinunot is added with chilli and spices for that fiery appeal.Albay also is known to produce its local version of sausages called longganisa of Guinobatan. The local sausage has a distinctive taste of saltiness and sourness. This dish is usually best served for breakfast dipped in vinegar or condiment of you choice. One can buy this cheaply at the Guinobatan market.Most definitely, Albay offers dishes that are generally doused in coconut cream and the added chilli makes it a filling gustatory adventure. One must be brave enough even to try bicol express as its fiery appeal can be truly overwhelming for the unaware eater.