I Left my heart in Bicol: Meeting Mayon for the first time

My recent trip to Bicol, Legazpi will always have a special

My recent trip to Bicol, Legazpi will always have a special place in my heart. I originally planned this getaway hoping to finally see the iconic Mayon Volcano up close, but life had something bigger in store for me. This wasn’t just another trip, it became the moment where distance finally turned into presence, and where I finally met you, the person I’ve been dying to see for months.

Before coming to Bicol, I kept hearing the same warning from friends: “Don’t expect too much. Mayon is usually hiding behind the clouds.” I lowered my expectations, thinking I might only see a faint outline of her perfect cone. But when I arrived, the skies proved everyone wrong. The weather was unbelievably clear, the air felt gentle, and there she was! Mayon in her full glory. No clouds, no trace of shyness, just a flawless and breathtaking view.

Standing there and seeing Mayon for the first time felt unreal. She looked like a painting brought to life, so symmetrical, so majestic, so impossibly perfect. I felt lucky, truly lucky, to witness her revealing her “naked self” that day. It felt like the universe aligned everything just for me.

But as stunning as Mayon was, she wasn’t the only reason my heart was full. What made this trip unforgettable was you. After months of distance, calls, and messages, we finally got to close the space between us. I finally heard your voice beside me instead of through a phone. I finally got to look at you without a screen in between. And that feeling, seeing you in person for the first time, was something I can never put into exact words.

Being with you made Bicol feel even more magical. Every place we visited, every meal we shared, every laugh, every quiet moment... everything felt sweeter because it was with you. All those nights of longing, all the waiting, all the hopes… they all made sense the moment I saw you standing in front of me.

You made the trip unforgettable in a way Mayon alone never could. You made the city feel warmer, the days shorter, and the nights softer. For the first time in a long time, I felt a kind of happiness that was both overwhelming and comforting at the same time.

And when it was time to leave, I felt something heavy in my chest. Because walking away from Bicol also meant walking away from you. It was like leaving behind a chapter I didn’t want to end. And as dramatic as it sounds, I truly left my heart in Bicol.. because that’s where I last held you, laughed with you, and felt the distance disappear for a moment.

This trip reminded me that sometimes, life gives you more than what you planned for. I came to see Mayon… but I ended up finding something even more beautiful. I found memories, I found magic, and I found you—in the most unexpected but perfect way.