One of the best places to view Daraga and Legaspi City is the Lignon Hill (pronounced as /li-NYON/). This 143-meter high cinder-cone hill located 11 kilometers southeast of the volcano’s summit is the highest location in the city’s downtown area and towers over the adjacent Legaspi Airport.

A long and uphill road crawls up the sides of Lignon Hill, I’m not afraid to heights but the road is very steep. This is where the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has a permanent station to observe Mayon Volcano and surrounding areas.

I’ve been to Bicol many times but I hardly notice Lignon Hill, I thought it was just an ordinary hill. If only I knew that this is the best place to take pictures, I supposed I’ve been here long time ago. It was a good idea that my brother insisted to go up there on our way home from Tiwi, Albay. I admit, I was mesmerized to see the beauty of Legaspi when I was up there. I saw the Legaspi Airport’s runway from end to another end, the Kapuntukan Hill also known as “The Sleeping Lion”, Gaisano Mall among others. You could watch the video clip I took.