Cagsawa Ruins: A Powerful Story Written In Ash And Rain

You don’t expect to feel haunted on a bright Saturday morning. And yet, there I was at the Cagsawa Ruins, standing under a dark, cloudless sky, with the past rising quietly from the ground.

You’ve seen it on postcards, calendars, and fridge magnets.

But no one tells you how quiet it gets when you’re standing there.

And that was something I didn’t expect from one of the most popular and iconic tourist attractions in the Philippines.

Of all the places I’ve visited, this one surprised me the most. 

And it was not because of how it looked, but because of how it made me feel.

They say over a thousand people died on this exact site. 

But it wasn’t the ashes and history that haunted me at the Cagsawa Ruins.

It was the way the ruins reflected my timeline.

So what exactly makes the Cagsawa Ruins different?

And did I find something here?

Something more than just a scenic view in Albay?

My Cagsawa Ruins experience 

I went to Albay not just to admire the picture-perfect view of Mayon Volcano.

I took a trip that weekend because I needed space from people, deadlines, and endless online pings.

But the Universe, in its strange, poetic cruelty, doesn’t always give you what you want.

Sometimes, it gives you what you need.

The thing is, we travel to escape.

But sometimes, the place we end up in reflects the chaos we try to leave behind.

And the places we run to reflect the storms we’re trying to outrun.

This time, it was the Cagsawa Ruins.

Arriving at the Cagsawa Ruins 

The moment we arrived at the Cagsawa Ruins, I felt the buzz of a well-loved tourist site.

There was life, color, and movement.

There were locals selling pili nuts, keychains, and Mayon Volcano shirts.

And there were tour guides offering different packages and activities in the Cagsawa Ruins.

It was the kind of organized chaos you’d expect from a place printed on every Filipino calendar, fridge magnet, and elementary textbook.

It was loud, but not overwhelming.

Alive, but not frantic.

And strangely enough, it was quieter than the noise I left behind online.

We made our way past the parking lot and went inside one of the shops so I could change.

Earlier, my clothes were soaked from the Cagsawa Ruins ATV adventure under a sudden downpour.

It was the kind of rain that makes you feel alive for a few minutes and somewhat sleepy for the rest of the day.

Then came the gate, where we paid the Cagsawa Ruins entrance fee.

And that’s when I saw it.

The belfry.

Haunting. 

Beautiful. 

Still.

Unfortunately for us, the cloudy skies were pouring that day.

And that means we wouldn’t get that trademark view of Mount Mayon from Cagsawa Runs.

The skies were bright sunny earlier that day, but suddenly they turned gray in a few minutes.

Strangely, even without the picture-perfect Mayon Volcano in the background, the ruins still looked beautiful.

No volcano. 

No dramatic skyline.

It was just this lone tower rising from the ground like a memory that refuses to be erased.

The rain wouldn’t stop that day 

It rained cats and dogs when we arrived at the Cagsawa Ruins.

And yet, I kept whispering to myself: the rain will end.

It’s my mantra not just for hikes or long drives or moody weather, but for everything that feels too heavy.

Every time I go through challenges, I pull out that quiet reminder from a deep corner of my head.

This too shall pass. The rain will end.

But that day at Cagsawa?

It didn’t feel like it would.

The sky kept crying and the dark, heavy clouds wouldn’t part.

We waited patiently, hoping for a break in the downpour, so we could take pictures of the bell tower at the Cagsawa Ruins.

And hopefully, we’d also get that trademark shot of Mayon Volcano.

But that daydream seemed impossible at that moment.

Still, I wouldn’t let the rain ruin my day.

As always, I’d find ways to make the most out of every situation.

As they say, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.

And this time, it came in the form of something strange, cold, and fiery: chili ice cream. 

It came in different spice levels. 

Mine was in the first level, with a sweet, creamy start and a unique aftertaste that I couldn’t describe in words.

It was confusing, unexpected, and strangely addictive.

It was pretty much like the feelings I was still trying to process that day.

Waiting for the rain to stop at the Cagsawa Ruins 

I had mixed emotions while waiting for the rain to stop that day.

Happy because I was finally face-to-face with a landmark I’d only seen in textbooks and childhood dreams.

A little disappointed because the experience wasn’t the kind I imagined.

It was messy, damp, and foggy.

And yet, I was strangely optimistic.

I was hoping that maybe the Universe would give us a break.

And perhaps, we’d get a glimpse of Mount Mayon, a small reward for our patience.

But it didn’t.

The rain kept falling.

The clouds kept hiding what we came here for.

While waiting, I checked my phone and saw a bunch of notifications from different social media channels.

Soon, I realized something.

The thing is, we don’t always get what we want from the places we visit.

But we always get what we need, even if it comes in gray skies and quiet disappointment.

Not every trip ends with perfect photos.

Not every story has a beautiful or fairytale-like ending that gets likes.

And perhaps that’s the point.

Because while everyone was waiting for Mayon to show up, I was starting to see something else.

It wasn’t a volcano or a surreal view.

But it was the quiet ache from scrolling through a Facebook timeline filled with outrage, judgment, and chaos disguised as connection.

The rain temporarily stopped at the Cagsawa Ruins

Finally, the rain slowed down.

Without wasting any moment, we ran to the ruins to snap photos of the area.

Occasionally, Mount Mayon would show up.

With thick clouds surrounding the volcano, it wasn’t the perfect cone that I hoped to see.

Even so, it was a moment of bliss for me.

Slowly, the crowds came in.

Tourists came in bunches, and were happy to finally take pictures of the Cagsawa Ruins.

They posed beside the ruins, with peace signs, heart fingers, and viral TikTok dances.

It was loud, and yet the belfry remained quiet.

It was like it was used to the noise, and had seen worse.

And that’s when it hit me.

In a way, Cagsawa was a lot like the internet nowadays.

It was once a town full of life, but is now a graveyard of forgotten stories.

Back in 1814, Mount Mayon erupted and destroyed almost everything.

These days, it’s not the volcanic eruptions we fear.

Don’t get me wrong.

They are powerful forces of nature, and can change our lives in the blink of an eye.

But it’s digital ones that most people fear nowadays.

It only takes a single post, misstep, or misunderstood joke to create a virtual eruption.

The ruthless online culture 

They say Mount Mayon is beautiful, but ruthless.

And that’s exactly what today’s internet feels like.

I stood before the belfry of the Cagsawa Ruins.

And for a moment, I didn’t see ruins.

I saw a reflection not of the volcano, but of us.

We’ve become digital volcanoes.

We erupt online without warning, spewing hate like lava, burning people down with a few taps and clicks.

We burn people without knowing the whole story.

And we reduce human beings to headlines, usernames, and screenshots.

And the worst part?

We think we’re doing the world a favor.

One mistake, one comment, one old post taken out of context, and suddenly, someone’s entire life is buried beneath ash.

They get cancelled.

Their name erased.

Their story was rewritten by strangers who never even knew them.

We idolize outrage and hate.

We worship being “right.”

We become fans of cancel culture like it’s entertainment.

We cheer when someone falls, as if destruction makes us noble.

As I explored the Cagsawa Ruins, I saw the other remnants of the old church.

Then, somewhere between Mount Mayon and the Cagsawa Ruins, I saw our generation.

I saw our need to be loud, our obsession with being right, and our loyalty to outrage disguised as morality.

And here’s the thing.

We don’t always cancel to correct people.

Sometimes, we cancel to belong, to feel powerful, and to be seen.

But it’s inherently wrong to tear someone down just to feel a little taller.

There’s nothing noble about mistaking cruelty for courage.

The worst part is, the lava of hate comes fast.

But the healing? 

That takes years.

Sometimes, it never even begins.

Exploring the Cagsawa Ruins

We wanted to take pictures of the belfry at the Cagsawa Ruins.

However, there was a long line of tourists waiting for their turn to pose in front of the belfry.

So, we went and explored the area, and discovered a tiny, resort-like place with ponds, and selfie spots.

We went inside, paid the small entrance fee, and once again waited for Mount Mayon to show up.

There were binoculars that we used to see the scars of Mount Mayon.

Using the binoculars, we saw some unique features of this volcano.

We also spent time feeding the fish, and taking pictures of the area with Mount Mayon in the backdrop.

Soon after, we met a fellow Bisaya who was disappointed with the foggy terrain.

He said they took a long ride from Metro Manila to Albay.

They eventually left the area.

And later on, I realized we had to stop waiting for something that may never happen. 

I wanted to see Mount Mayon from the Cagsawa Ruins in its full glory.

But I wouldn’t sacrifice anything or lose the opportunity to explore Albay just because a sight that may not appear.

Then, it reminded me of one of the biggest problems in our country: fanaticism.

If you want to stay sane and live a peaceful life in these crazy, hateful times, don’t idolize a politician.

And if ever you admire a public servant, keep it to yourself.

These days, people are so closed-minded and stuck in narrow perspectives.

They choose to be blind, and see things from one point of view.

Not everything is black and white.

If they come across factual, reliable information that challenges their beliefs, they’ll call it fake news.

But if they see actual fake news that supports their views, they’ll call it the truth.

Strange, isn’t it?

And if your views don’t match theirs, they’ll call you a traitor of the nation, or just plain dumb.

They will call you “bobo,” “bayaran,” or “kalaban ng bayan.”

And all this rage?

All this hate?

It makes you wonder.

Wasn’t the internet supposed to make us smarter?

Maybe what we really need, more than perfect views or perfect leaders, is a little more silence, and a little more listening.

Snapping photos of the bell tower at the Cagsawa Ruins 

We’ve made a decision to move on and head to the next stop of our Albay day tour.

But before leaving, there was one more thing we had to do: take a picture of the belfry.

Thankfully, there were no lines when we arrived at the area since it began to rain again.

So we moved in closer, and stood in front of the belfry.

The sky behind it was a moody gray.

It was the kind of background that doesn’t need filters or edits. 

The photos were raw, real, and strangely fitting.

And the belfry was a quiet reminder, standing in stone.

Because if there’s one thing the the Cagsawa Ruins taught us, it’s this:

In a world obsessed with being right, sometimes silence is the only thing left standing.

Although it’s a popular attraction, the ruins never craved the spotlight.

They don’t speak. 

They don’t perform.

They simply endure. Quietly.

Cagsawa is broken, but still standing.

It’s buried, but still remembered.

And maybe that’s what we needed to see.

We need to learn that even after the worst eruptions, and after the world forgets your name, there’s still a chance to stand.

You may not be whole again, and definitely not unscarred.

But it’s still you.

If Cagsawa can rise from the ashes, perhaps we can too.

Even if the internet tries to bury us, we can still find our footing again, and even become a better version of ourselves.

How much is the entrance fee in Cagsawa?

The entrance fee to the Cagsawa Ruins is 35 pesos per person.

How to get to the Cagsawa Ruins?

The best and most convenient way to get to the Cagsawa ruins is to take a tricycle tour. It’s affordable and takes you to several attractions in the area, including Quitinday Hills And Nature Park. If you want to take this route, contact sir Alvin at 09171104386. You can also send a message through his Facebook profile.

Why are Cagsawa Ruins famous?

The Cagsawa Ruins are famous for their dramatic history and iconic view. In 1814, Mount Mayon erupted and buried the town of Cagsawa. Only the church’s bell tower survived. Today, the ruins, set against the stunning backdrop of Mayon Volcano, stand as a powerful symbol of resilience and nature’s force.

What is the famous church near Mayon Volcano?

The Daraga Church (also known as Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church) is the famous church near Mayon Volcano. The church is known for its striking Baroque architecture, made from volcanic rocks, and its historical significance.