Legazpi, Albay

Legazpi Ciudad nin Legazpi (Bikol)
—  Component City  —
City of Legazpi
Seal
Nickname(s): Gateway City of Bicol City of Fun and Adventure
Map of Albay showing the location of Legazpi City
Legazpi Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°08′N 123°44′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Albay
District	2nd district
Founded	1616
Cityhood	June 12, 1959
Barangays	70
Government
• Mayor	Geraldine Rosal (Lakas–CMD)
Area
• Total	153.70 km2 (59.34 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	182,201
• Density	Bad rounding here1,200/km2 (Bad rounding here3,100/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4500
Dialing code	52
Income class	2nd class; partially urban
Website	www.legazpicity.gov.ph

The port City of Legazpi (Bikol: Ciudad nin Legazpi; Spanish: Ciudad de Legazpi; Filipino: Lungsod ng Legazpi) is a component city and capital of the province of Albay in the Philippines. It is the largest city in the Bicol Region with a population of 182,201 and is the regional administrative center.

Mayon Volcano, one of the Philippines' most popular icons and tourist destinations, is partly within the city's borders. Legazpi is located on the east or Pacific coast of Albay province, specifically on Albay Gulf. The city comprises two historically distinct districts: Legazpi Port, which was the original site of the pre-Hispanic settlement called Sawangan, and now the city's main business district, and Albay District, which was the administrative headquarters during the Spanish and American colonial periods, and where the city hall and provincial capitol are still located.

Legazpi's nickname is the "City of Fun and Adventure".

History

Origin of Name

Legazpi was named after Miguel López de Legazpi, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Philippine islands in 1565, and whose family name came from Legazpi, a town in Guipuzcoa, Spain.

Foundation

Legazpi was originally a fishing settlement called Sawangan (present-day Legazpi Port) whose inhabitants were mostly fishermen and farmers.

In 1587, Franciscan friars of the Doctrina de Cagsawa began to convert the area's population to Christianity and in 1616 founded a separate town and parish a few kilometers inland, called Albay. Its first parish priest built a small chapel and established the “Mission de San Gregorio Magno de Sawangan.” Eventually, Sawangan was absorbed by Albay, which later gave its name to the entire province.

On September 22, 1856, through a Spanish Royal Decree, the name Legazpi was officially adopted and the settlement was expanded to include the visitas of Lamba, Rawis and Bigaa. The newly expanded and independent town of Legazpi was officially inaugurated on October 23, 1856.

The progress of two centuries was destroyed by the eruption of Mayon Volcano on February 1, 1814. The people evacuated to Makalaya (now Taysan) and on the decree of the Gobierno Superior on October 1, 1829, prohibiting the founding of another town they finally settled in Taytay (Bagumbayan). In 1818, Sawangan, then already known as the town of Albay, was separated from Cagsawa and was made the capital of Partido de Ibalon (the old name of Albay Province).

Some of the people, however, remained in the old town (former Sawangan or Albay Viejo) and established a new settlement. Instead of their former patron saint, St. Gregory the Great, which had also been transferred to Albay, they adopted St. Raphael, the Archangel and transformed the ermita (shrine/chapel) into a church.

Having attained economic progress, autonomy and prosperity, Legazpi was declared open to world trade by the Royal Cedula of May 18, 1872.

Legazpi was first declared a city under the Becerra Law of 1892. The new city comprised the municipalities of Legazpi, Albay Nuevo, and Daraga under the Ayuntamiento de Albay. The first set of officials - Alcalde, Teniente de Alcalde, Sindico, Secretario and Regidores (councilor) - took office in 1898.

Philippine-American War

The city witnessed heavy fighting during the Philippine-American War and under the leadership of Simeon Ola, Albay was the last province in Luzon to surrender to the American troops in 1904. A monument in Legazpi Port commemorates Ola's last stand.

American Colonial Era

Following their occupation of the city in 1900, the American colonizers cancelled the Legazpi's city status. In 1908 after the war's conclusion, the Americans split Legazpi into two separate towns, Legazpi Port and Albay District, which became the provincial capital of Albay. In 1922, the town of Daraga was further split from the then municipality of Albay.

World War II

In 1941 and 1942, Japanese troops landed and occupied the city during the Second World War. Throughout the Japanese occupation, Bicolano resistance continued in the hills and mountains south of Legazpi. In January 1945, American and Filipino liberation forces supported by Bicolano guerrillas liberated Legazpi City from the Japanese Imperial Army. However, the city suffered extensive aerial bombardment from US aircraft and many old buildings were destroyed.

Independent Philippines

Legazpi became a city for the second time on July 18, 1948, when Daraga and Legazpi were combined to constitute its territory under Republic Act No. 306; at that time, President Elpidio Quirino commissioned Jose Arboleda as the first City Mayor. But on June 8, 1954, Republic Act No. 993 was approved, recreating the two towns (Daraga and Legazpi) and the city was dissolved.

Finally, on June 12, 1959, Legazpi became a city for the third time under Republic Act no. 2234. Amendments were introduced under R.A. 5525. Presidential Decree 125 issued on February 23, 1973, declared the town of Daraga as part of the territorial jurisdiction of the city. This decree, however, was not implemented with the onset of the Integrated Reorganization Plan, which involved the restructuring of local governments.

Barangays

Legazpi City is politically subdivided into 70 barangays.

• Bgy. 1 – EM's Barrio
• Bgy. 2 – EM's Barrio South
• Bgy. 3 – EM's Barrio East
• Bgy. 4 – Sagpon
• Bgy. 5 – Sagmin
• Bgy. 6 – Bañadero
• Bgy. 7 – Baño
• Bgy. 8 – Bagumbayan
• Bgy. 9 – Pinaric
• Bgy. 10 – Cabugao
• Bgy. 11 – Maoyod
• Bgy. 12 – Tula-tula
• Bgy. 13 – Ilawod West
• Bgy. 14 – Ilawod
• Bgy. 15 – Ilawod East
• Bgy. 16 – Kawit-East Washington Drive
• Bgy. 17 – Rizal Sreet., Ilawod
• Bgy. 18 – Cabagñan West
• Bgy. 19 – Cabagñan
• Bgy. 20 – Cabagñan East
• Bgy. 21 – Binanuahan West
• Bgy. 22 – Binanuahan East
• Bgy. 23 – Imperial Court Subd.
• Bgy. 24 – Rizal
• Bgy. 25 – Lapu-lapu
• Bgy. 26 – Dinagaan
• Bgy. 27 – Victory Village South
• Bgy. 28 – Victory Village North
• Bgy. 29 – Sabang
• Bgy. 30 – Pigcale
• Bgy. 31 – Centro-Baybay
• Bgy. 32 – San Roque
• Bgy. 33 – PNR-Peñaranda St.-Iraya
• Bgy. 34 – Oro Site-Magallanes St.
• Bgy. 35 – Tinago
• Bgy. 36 – Kapantawan
• Bgy. 37 – Bitano
• Bgy. 38 – Gogon
• Bgy. 39 – Bonot
• Bgy. 40 – Cruzada
• Bgy. 41 – Bogtong
• Bgy. 42 – Rawis
• Bgy. 43 – Tamaoyan
• Bgy. 44 – Pawa
• Bgy. 45 – Dita
• Bgy. 46 – San Joaquin
• Bgy. 47 – Arimbay
• Bgy. 48 – Bagong Abre
• Bgy. 49 – Bigaa
• Bgy. 50 – Padang
• Bgy. 51 – Buyuan
• Bgy. 52 – Matanag
• Bgy. 53 – Bonga
• Bgy. 54 – Mabinit
• Bgy. 55 – Estanza
• Bgy. 56 – Taysan
• Bgy. 57 – Dap-dap
• Bgy. 58 – Buragwis
• Bgy. 59 – Puro
• Bgy. 60 – Lamba
• Bgy. 61 – Maslog
• Bgy. 62 – Homapon
• Bgy. 63 – Mariawa
• Bgy. 64 – Bagacay
• Bgy. 65 – Imalnod
• Bgy. 66 – Banquerohan
• Bgy. 67 – Bariis
• Bgy. 68 – San Francisco
• Bgy. 69 – Buenavista
• Bgy. 70 – Cagbacong

Climate

Legazpi City features a tropical rainforest climate with copious amount of rainfall throughout the course of the year. Legazpi has noticeable wetter and drier periods of the year. However, the city’s driest month, April, still sees on average, over 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of precipitation per year. Similar to many other cities with this climate, temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, with a mean annual average of 26.9 °C (80.4 °F). Owing to the strength of the northeast monsoon (locally know as the "amihan") and persistent easterly trade winds, Legazpi rarely gets as hot as Metro Manila and temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F) are uncommon. The coolest month is January with a daily mean of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) and the hottest months are jointly May and June with a daily mean of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F). The all time record high temperature was 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) on May 27, 1968 and the all time record low temperature was 13.9 °C (57.0 °F) on February 28, 1971.

Climate data for Legazpi
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	32.7 (90.9)	33.7 (92.7)	35 (95)	36.5 (97.7)	37.7 (99.9)	37.6 (99.7)	36.6 (97.9)	36.9 (98.4)	36 (97)	35.3 (95.5)	34.4 (93.9)	33.2 (91.8)	37.7 (99.9)
Average high °C (°F)	28.6 (83.5)	29.1 (84.4)	30.0 (86)	31.3 (88.3)	32.3 (90.1)	32.0 (89.6)	31.5 (88.7)	31.6 (88.9)	31.5 (88.7)	31.0 (87.8)	30.1 (86.2)	29.0 (84.2)	30.7 (87.3)
Average low °C (°F)	22.4 (72.3)	22.2 (72)	23.2 (73.8)	24.2 (75.6)	24.8 (76.6)	24.5 (76.1)	24.2 (75.6)	24.3 (75.7)	24.1 (75.4)	23.8 (74.8)	23.7 (74.7)	23.7 (74.7)	23.2 (73.8)
Record low °C (°F)	17 (63)	13.9 (57)	17 (63)	16.7 (62.1)	17.1 (62.8)	18.9 (66)	15.8 (60.4)	19.4 (66.9)	19.0 (66.2)	17.2 (63)	17.9 (64.2)	16.7 (62.1)	13.9 (57)
Rainfall mm (inches)	296.9 (11.689)	195.6 (7.701)	192.6 (7.583)	151.2 (5.953)	181.3 (7.138)	240.9 (9.484)	239.4 (9.425)	178.3 (7.02)	216.3 (8.516)	264.0 (10.394)	484.6 (19.079)	458.6 (18.055)	3,099.7 (122.035)
Avg. rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm)	19	15	15	15	14	16	17	16	17	20	22	22	208
% humidity	79	74	72	68	67	68	78	78	80	81	84	84	70
Mean monthly sunshine hours	155	168	217	240	279	210	186	186	186	180	157	149	2,313
Source #1: PAGASA
Source #2: World Climate Guide (sunshine data).

Demographics

Street scene with Legazpi City Hall

Population census of Legazpi
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1995	141,657	—
2000	157,010	2.08%
2007	179,481	1.93%
2010	182,201	0.5%
Source: National Statistics Office

Religion

The city is the ecclesiastical seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi with the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Great (Legazpi Cathedral) as its church. Like most Filipinos, the vast majority of the city's residents are Roman Catholics. The city was visited by Pope John Paul II in February 1981.

Economy

In 2006, Legazpi City was recognized as one of the most competitive cities in the Philippines by the Asian Institute of Management. Also, it was recently cited as the most business-friendly city for the whole South Luzon by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry(PCCI)

Banking

Numerous banks have established several branches in the city. The Legazpi Savings bank which originated from the city is the biggest rural bank in Bicol.

Shopping Malls

Landco Corporation established the Pacific Mall, the first major mall in the Philippines in Legazpi City back in 2001. Metro Gaisano is the anchor department store and supermarket of Pacific Mall. It has undergone 3 major expansions and is considered to be the biggest mall in Bicol. The Landco Business Park is the location of the Pacific Mall Legazpi.

The Embarcadero de Legazpi is Sunwest Corporations first foray into the malling business. Embarcadero de Legazpi is a premier waterfront development in the Legazpi City harbor that is emerging as a world-class lifestyle hub both for tourists and the locals. It has become Bicol region’s premier urban mall and shopping center that gives you an array of lifestyle options –whether for dining, shopping, or entertainment. It is opening doors for new investments –bringing in stores and brands that never found its way to this small coastal city. More than venues for dining, shopping, and entertainment, Embarcadero is home to one-of-a-kind adventures like water sports. It is not your typical mall as partygoers can enjoy parasailing, Jet Ski, paddle boat, water jeep, and even helicopter rides for a panoramic view of Mayon Volcano and the cityscape. Embarcadero also hosts the first Puregold in Bicol. Duty Free is soon set to open.

LCC is set to open its Forum Mall at the site of Legazpi's old public market. LKY is aso set to construct its Bridgeway Mall in front of Pacific Mall. Ayala Corporation is under negotiations for land acquisitions in the city.

Business Process Outsourcing

Legazpi was cited as one of best places for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) outside Metro Manila. The city ity has advanced to the 10 next wave cities in the country’s Business Process Outsourcing industry list of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP).

The city currently has two IT park—the Embarcadero de Legazpi and the Legazpi Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Park that are both highly conducive for outsourcing businesses.The two facilities offer about 8,000 call center seats that could provide jobs to some 24,000 agents in three-shifts. Pioneering the business in the city is the Incubation Center of Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc. (SLTCFI) which is an extension of Embarcadero’s P1.8-billion IT Park, the very first IT ecozone in the Bicol region inaugurated in July 2009.

Sutherland and an Australian BPO Company is now open for their own respective call centers in the city.

Places of interest

• The Albay Park and Wildlife, located along Binitayan Road, is a picnic grove and a zoological park combined.
• Camp Simeon A. Ola is the seat of the Police Regional Office 5 for the Bicol Region. Named after the General Simeon Ola, a hero during the Philippine Revolution, the camp is open to the public as a culture and a heritage park.
• The Embarcadero is a major waterfront development in Legazpi fronting the main harbor of Legazpi with views towards Mayon Volcano. It consists of retail spaces, restaurants, markets, a major civic space and landmark lighthouse.
• The Japanese Tunnel is an L-shaped tunnel used as an arsenal by the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II. It measures 40 metres (130 ft) long and around 7 feet (2.1 m) deep below the ground. The tunnel is located in Brgy. EM's Barrio South in the Albay District.
• Kapuntukan Hill (also known as the Sleeping Lion Hill) is located at the point south of the Port of Legazpi. A scenic view of the Embarcadero, the Legazpi Port District, Albay Gulf with Mayon in the backdrop can be viewed from the top of the hill.
• The Legazpi City Museum showcases the heritage and culture of the city. It is currently the only public museum in the Bicol Region.
• Liberty Bell is a bronze bell installed in 1945 by the American liberation forces at the Peñaranda Park, in front of Albay Provincial Capitol. It is enclosed with a dome-shaped concrete structure with this inscription, “Whenever oppression knocks at your door, feel free to ring this bell”.
• Ligñon Hill Nature Park (pron. /li-NYON/), located off Binitayan Road behind Albay Park and Wildlife, is one of the best places to view Mayon Volcano and Legazpi City. This 143-metre (469 ft) high volcanic hill located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)southeast of the volcano’s summit is the highest location in the downtown area and towers over the adjacent Legazpi Airport. A winding road takes visitors to the observation station on top. The park includes nature trails, ziplines, view decks On the southwestern slope, located is the monitoring station of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) station where any activities of Mayon are monitored.
• The Magayon Art Gallery at the lobby of the Albay Provincial Capitol serves as the avenue for artists to show off their visual creations
• Rizal Park is located in front of Saint Raphael Church on Peñaranda Street It’s dominating features are the fountain located at the center of the park, and the monument of Jose Rizal, the country's national hero, sculpted by National Artist Napoleon Abueva in 1966.
• The Legazpi Boulevard is one of the newest attractions in the city and is poised to become the new industrial commercial strip of the city as well as the site of the new urban district. The Legazpi Boulevard is the second longest boulevard in the country, after Roxas Boulevard in Metro Manila.

Festivals

• The Ibalong Festival is among the renowned non-religious festivals in Bicol, and is celebrated in the month of August. The epic story of Ibalong, a Bicolano legendary hero and other ancient heroes is the theme of the Ibalong Festival. People involved in this clamorous merriment, parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes to imitate the appearances of the heroes and the villains, portraying the classic battles that made its way into the history of Bicol. Continuing the joyful event up to the present time, the Ibalong Festival aims to express warmth and goodwill to all people; visitors and tourists are always encouraged to celebrate with the Bicolanos.

However, the present location of the ancient settlement of Ibalong is in Magallanes, Sorsogon.

• Legazpi is also home to the annual Magayon Festival of Albay which is held throughout the month of April.

Monuments

• The Legazpi Heroes Memorial Pylon at the intersection of Quezon and Rizal Streets, is a 16-metre (52 ft) high monument built to commemorate the defeat of Filipino fighters by American forces in 1900. The city went through raids by Dutch and Muslim pirates before the arrival of the Spanish and was the sight of a much bloody battle during the Philippine-American War and World War II.

• The General Simeon Ola statue is located at Bicol Heritage Park located inside the police camp named in his honor, Camp Simeon A. Ola.

• The Jose Maria Peñaranda Monument was built as a tribute to the late Governor of Albay who served from 1834-1843. It is located at the Peñaranda Park.

• The Headless Monument was constructed as a dedication to the unknown heroes who died and shed their blood during the Japanese military occupation of Legazpi City in World War II. The memorial is located within the city's Post Office Compound in Barangay Lapu-Lapu,

• Places of interest
• 

  The almost symmetrical cone of Mayon Volcano

• 

  Rizal Street, the four-lane main thoroughfare of Legazpi City

• 

  Peñaranda Park, the main plaza in the Albay District

• 

  Ligñon Hill Nature Park

• 

  The statue of General Ola at the Bicol Heritage Park

Sports and recreation

Legazpi City has two air-conditioned arenas, the Albay Astrodome and the newly renovated Ibalong Centrum for Recreation (ICR). These arenas served as venues for Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games in the past. Apart from these, other private sports stadiums are located at the Aquinas University, Divine Word College of Legazpi and St. Agnes Academy.

The Bicol/Legazpi Convention Center is proposed to be built in the Legazpi Boulevard.

Media

Philippine Long Distance Telelphone Co (PLDT) Bayantel and Digitel has provides wired telephone/ DSL services . Wi-MAX (4G), 3G/HSDPA / 2G mobile facilities are served by Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular. Tripinvision, ESTV and DCTV provides cable TV services in the city.

Legazpi City has a growing list of AM, FM and TV Stations:

AM Stations:

• 729 kHz DZGB
• 828 kHz DWZR
• 864 kHz DZRC
• 927 kHz DZLG
• 1008 kHz DWBS-AM (catholic/news)
• 1080 kHz DWRL-AM
• 1125 kHz DWAS-AM (Christian/religious)

FM Stations:

• 89.9 MHz DWFX (FoxFM) - Classic Hits
• 91.5 MHz DWML (Magik) - hot adult contemporary
• 92.3 MHz DWQA (Home Radio) - adult contemporary
• 93.9 MHz DWRD (MOR) - hot adult contemporary
• 94.7 MHz DWBS-FM (Spirit FM) -urban adult contemporary
• 95.5 MHz DWRC (RadioCity) - hot adult contemporary
• 96.3 MHz DWCW (Campus Radio) - hot adult contemporary
• 97.1 MHz DWGB-FM (OK-FM) - Top40/adult contemporary
• 98.7 MHz DWWL (WoW FM)
• 99.5 MHz DWCM (Love Radio) - hot adult contemporary
• 105.9 MHz DZCA-FM - community radio

TV Stations:

• Channel 4 ABS-CBN
• Channel 6 PBN (ABC5 affiliate)
• Channel 8 NBN
• Channel 12 GMA
• Channel 21 SBN/TALK TV
• Channel 23 Studio 23
• Channel 27 GMA News TV

Transportation

Legazpi Airport

Legazpi is the center of transportation in the Bicol Region, being strategically located in the middle of the region, between to other major cities in Bicol and is colloquially considered as the "Gateway to South Luzon". Legazpi also hosts the most modern airports, seaports and transport terminals in the region.

By air

The city is served by Legazpi Airport, which is the busiest Domestic Airport in Luzon and with its runway of 2,280 metres (7,480 ft), it is capable of handling international aircraft. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air has three flights each daily from Manila. Cebu Pacific's third flight route is Manila-Legazpi-Cebu. Both Cebu Pacific and PAL use Airbus A319s and A320s. Zest Air and AirPhil Express also have a daily flights. AirPhil also has flights to from Legazpi to Cebu and an international flight to Incheon, South Korea is also proposed.

By land

Legazpi can be reached through land transport (by bus) from Manila in about 10 hours, two hours less if the new Andaya Highway route is taken. The city has the one of the most modern van and transport terminals in the country. More than 10 bus companies operate daily transport to and from Manila to Legazpi which makes the city very accessible to commuters and tourists alike.

By train

As of March 2012, The 10 1/2-hour Mayon Limited started traveling between Manila and Ligao, about 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Legazpi. That service would extend to Legazpi in late 2012.

By water

The Legazpi International Seaport is nearing completion and is set to open in late 2012 or early 2013. It is the second international seaport in Albay, after Tabaco's International Seaport.

Education

Tertiary education

The city has two universities: Aquinas University of Legazpi (AUL), the sister school of The Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and the state-run Bicol University (BU).

Aside from AUL, and BU, Legazpi is also the host of the following educational institutions:

Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL) is a Catholic school of higher learning run by the Society of the Divine Word. The Ago Medical Educational Center Bicol Christian College of Medicine in Albay district is the first and only school of medicine in the Bicol Region. Mariners' Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) is the only maritime institute in Legazpi City. SL Technological College Foundation Inc. along Quezon Avenue, is the first in the city to offer business process outsourcing (BPO) services and support.

Manila-based computer schools AMA Computer University and STI College have established branches in the city. Computer Arts and Technological College, formerly CATS, is located on Balintawak Street in the Albay District. Singapore-based Informatics Computer Institute is located on Rizal Street.

Secondary and primary education

St. Agnes' Academy (Academia de Sta. Inés)

Saint Agnes Academy on Rizal Street was founded in 1912 and is considered as the oldest private Catholic school in Albay. It is a sister school of Manila's St. Scholastica's College, which is also established by the Missionary Benedictines Sisters. The school celebrated its centennial year in July 2012.

Another school that offers primary and secondary education is Legazpi Hope Christian School (LHCS), located at St. Vincent Village, Cabangan, Legazpi City. The school caters to the growing Filipino-Chinese community of the city.

Saint Raphael Academy, formerly Saint Raphael Parochial School, on Aguinaldo Street was founded in 1949 by Monsgr. Nicanor B. Bellez and was turned over to the Augustinian Recollect Sisters in 1956. It celebrated its 60th year of existence in the city in 2009.

Aquinas University High School is considered to have one of the best High School Education in Bicol and has recently opened its new building in Rawis, Legazpi last June 2012.

Other high school institutions in the city are Legazpi City High School, Cat College, Divine Word High School and SL BPO High School.

Health care

Legazpi City is the location of the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hosptal.

Other Health care institutions in Legazpi providing general care:

• Ago Medical Center
• Ibalong Medical Plaza
• Aquinas University Hospital
• Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH)
• Estevez General Hospital
• Dr. Esteban Ante Memorial Hospital
• Albay Doctors Hospital

Notable Legazpeños

• Baba Parma - TV/Print Ad & Fashion model, PMAP member/officer
• Celia Rodriguez - TV & movie actress
• Cindy Kurleto - Actress, VJ, TV Host, TV, Print & Ramp model
• Dina Bonnevie- model, TV and movie actress
• Edna Diaz - model, TV and movie actress
• Emmanuel Mago - Model, Mr. Philippines-World
• Georgina Sandico - Binibining Pilipinas- International (1999)
• Irene Cortes - former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines / First Female Dean of the UP College of Law
• Melody Gersbach - Binibining Pilipinas-International (2009)
• Merlinda Carullo Bobis - contemporary Filipino writer and academic in Australia
• Janelle Quintana Manahan - teen actress / Best New Female Artist (19th Aliw Awards) nominee
• Maria Muriel Moral - Binibining Pilipinas-Maja International (1988); Mrs. Philippines-Universe (2010); Mrs. Intelligence Title Winner at the 2010 Mrs. Universe Pageant held in Lithuania; International Winner and Multi-Awardee: Best in National Costume Award and Miss Maja Simpatica Award at the 1988 Miss Maja International Pageant /Competition held in Puerto Rico
• Dr. Micheline Zonia Intia-Manalastas, Ph.D- Director of the University of Santo Tomas Admissions Office; Former Director of the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, the oldest Printing Press in the Philippines and in Asia
• Fr. Nolan A. Que - Radio & TV Host, writer, Parish Priest
• Roderick Paulate- TV & movie Actor
• Rev. Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, O.P., S.T.D. - Former Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical, and Royal University of Santo Tomas and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba; Former Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education; Former President of the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines and the International Council of Universities of Saint Thomas Aquinas; Founding President of the Network of Dominican Schools, Colleges and Universities in the Philippines.
• Shawnaleh A. Brauner - Model & Mutya ng Pilipinas-Globe
• Cheryl Diaz-Meyer - 2004 Pulitzer-Prize Winner, Free-lance Photograph
• Wenzel Ryan Ortiz Reyes - Youngest Filipino to be certified as Chartered Accountant
• Vicente Fernandez Baltazar III - Youngest Elected Barangay Captain in the City of Legazpi at the age of 20 and presently the ABC(association of barangay captain) Representative of the Legazpi City and Ex-officio Member/City Councilor (2010 to Present). Former Sangguniang Kabataan President and Ex-officio Member/City Councilor of Legazpi City year 2007-2010

Sister cities

• Bacolod, Philippines
• Butuan, Philippines
• Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
• Chōshi, Chiba, Japan
• Legazpi, Spain

External links

• Travel Guide: Legazpi City
• Legazpi City Tourism Council
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Tourist Information Website
• Bicolano Radio Stations Online
• MOR 93.9 FM Legazpi