Daraga, Albay, Philippines

Our wedding anniversary is coming up  so I am featuring the church where we got married for the second time.  The Lady of the Gate Parish is located in Daraga, Albay.  It's one of the many catholic churches in Bicol Region/Albay Province.  

Sorry for the  poor quality of photos, I scanned them in our printer.

Below is a clear picture that I borrowed from panoramio.com/photo/6423097

Below is a history of the origin of the place's name.

According to Wikepedia ,  the  early settlers of Daraga were traders. The name Daraga came from a kind of tree that grew in abundance in the hill where now stands the Catholic Church with Baroque architecture.

Development

The word "Daraga" historically refers to a maiden – it is the local term for an unmarried woman, not only in the municipality of Daraga, but in the entire Bicol Region. The original settlement of Daraga dates back to 12th century, but it has changed location repeatedly due to the constant threats posed by Mayon Volcano, adopting the names Budiao, Cagsawa, and finally, Daraga.

Daraga evolved to be progressive and prosperous in economy, eventually becoming a first class municipality. The town economy, originally agriculture-based, has rapidly transformed into an eclectic emerging urban system, enjoying the economic opportunities of being located contiguously with the urban center of Legazpi City. It draws trade relations with the island province of Masbate through the nearby Port of Pilar. It is strategically located along the Maharlika Highway, making it accessible from Manila and the Visayas, as well as the other municipalities of eastern Bicol Peninsula.

Happy 9th Anniversary to my DH.