What Legazpi Looks Like When You Actually Ride Through It

The belfry at Cagsawa Ruins, Daraga, Albay, is one of the most photographed structures in the Philippines. You have seen it. The lone tower against the cone of Mayon Volcano, framed by green grass and postcard light. What the photos do not show is the surrounding chaos of souvenir stalls, the midday haze that flattens everything, and the fact that most people spend twenty minutes there and leave.