My first return visit  to my father's birthplace after 27 years couldn't have been any better.  Unbeknown to me at the time, an Alert Level 3 [a major eruption is imminent any day] was issued by PHILVOCS as I was about to board a PAL flight from Manila to the Legaspi City Airport, a small regional airport situated right by the foot of the volcano.

On board, I noticed a news team from the Associated Press Philippines - two videographers and a reporter - were also on the flight.  I found out from one of them that our flight has been given approval to take a special fly-by route around the volcano so they can do some footage shots. Thus, I found out that once again, I was about to fly into a place where an active volcano is nearby (the 1st time was when I flew to Portland, Oregon -- I found that Mount St. Helen had just had her major catastrophic eruption).

What transpired was a personal account of an event that I've only imagined since I was a child.  I reminisced how my father often proudly told us stories about Mayon Volcano and her antics and eruption patterns as well as her myths.  Spiritual thoughts came to mind that my departed father may be collaborating with mother nature to welcome me on my return visit to this place since we left when I was a child.  I figured he may be sending me message to affirm that his stories were true.  What better way to show off Mayon to his photographer-son.

I began to sense that I was in for more than just a vacation; pure adrenaline rushed into me.  I started to do my own aerial video filming as we approached and circled the awakened volcano.  What I thought would be a laid back, three-day visit became days and sleepless nights of volcano watch - observing and documenting as much as I could the powerful event from various vantage points.  The video footage cannot duplicate  the fullness of the experience.  To witness it in person was the only way you could feel, smell, and see the powerful event.

It was eerie and exciting to see nature's way of bringing beauty and power together.  I should have been more fearful for my safety.  Instead, I was awed and captivated.  Local and international volcanologists have been watching her closely for the past two years.  I happened to be there in perfect timing!  Teasingly, many relatives of mine would later tell me that Magayon (ancient name of Mayon), was just waiting for me before erupting again.  I wondered if it was mere luck or if there was some other mystical explanation?

Teary eyed, I was silently smiling as our plane flew around and nearer the rim, I thought of my father and thanked him for arranging such an magnificent show.  God bless his soul!

• Starting around Wednesday, 3 AM local time, 14 major eruption sequences were recorded.
• Approximately 60,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes, clearing a six (6) Km perimeter around the volcano.
• The Alert Level was raised to Level 5 [which, loosely translated to "the shit is about to hit the fan!"].
• Although no deaths were directly attributed to the eruptions, lava and ash flows, a few died of causes with inference to the eruptions ( 1 person thought it was the end of the world and committed suicide; two died from heart attacks).
• With Alert Level 5, flights in and out of Legaspi Airport were cancelled or grounded indefinitely.  My nephew Beam Agcaoili, whom I met up with in Legaspi (and who was my expert tour guide who diligently drove me around town) have left to head back to Naga a day earlier.
• My pre-booked PAL flight to Manila was no exception to the grounding rules. To get to the Saturday afternoon wedding I was to attend in Manila, I hired a local Tamaraw FX driver to take me for an expensive 10-hour ride to Manila.  that itself was another adventure.   I would have been stranded for a few days or more otherwise.