Coffee table book shows there is more in Almasor

COVER of “Soul of the South,” Almasor (Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon) coffee table book NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

LEGAZPI City—To further promote Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon provinces  in Bicol region, the Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon (Almasor) Tourism Alliance launched on Sept. 8 “Soul of the South,” a coffee table book showing photos of the three provinces’ attractions.

Almasor was formed in March 2012 as a tourism strategy of the three provincial governments for a stronger and cohesive tourism campaign.

“We made this book so other people can see that there are more to see (in the Bicol provinces) especially the emerging destinations,” said Dorothy Fernandez-Colle, head of the Albay Tourism office in an interview here Sept. 17.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, Almasor convenor, said the book gives an “ecological foretaste” that “far exceeds” what any grouping of provinces in the Philippines could offer. He said Almasor is “at par” with the best the rest of the world has to offer.

Almasor in Spanish means “Soul Sister,” but Salceda said that “phonetically, Soul of the South will do … as they (the three provinces) once belonged to the territorial boundaries of Albay before and during the Spanish colonization period.”

Made through the efforts of photographers, artists and writers, Soul of the South was launched during the last day of the three-day Philippine Travel Mart held from Sept. 6 to 8 at SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

Among the many photos shown in the 100-page book, which took four months to complete, were Mayon Volcano and Misibis Bay in Albay; Bulusan Lake and Subic Beach in Sorsogon; and Fazenda de Esperanza (Farm of Hope) and Catandayagan Falls in Masbate.

Other photos seen in the book are beautiful caves, scenic beaches, waterfalls, islands and old churches.

Salceda said that with this book, he hoped that “our words and images may entice the reader to come to Almasor and have real fun in the best that our people and places and cultural heritage could offer.”

The book is being given out for free. Copies are available upon request at the Albay Provincial Tourism Office in Legazpi City.