Painting: MAYON VOLCANO

Considered to be the most beautiful volcano because of it's symmetry, the perfect cone, so they say, it is also the most active and destructive in the Philippines, having erupted more than 49 times in the last 400 years. It was born 20 million years ago and in the course of time has wrought more than its share of devastation, burying villages, houses, churches and people. Many a climber have met their fate trying to reach its zenith for while it rises gracefully and gradually, the upper slopes to its crater are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and compounded by its unpredictability and shyness hiding behind clouds rendering it invisible. Yet still they come for it's beauty is simply irresistible. The base of the volcano is shared by 8 cities and municipalities like slices of a pie at the southernmost eastern tip of Luzon. The volcano occupies a special place in my life for I was born at it's foot. A place of sublime beauty. On one side is the sparkling water of the Pacific Ocean where the Philippine Trench is located reaching down to the very bottom at a depth of 34,580 ft. and on the other side, the majestic mountain reaching up to the sky at a height of 8,081 ft. It is nature at it's most magical and mystical - inspiring awe, striking fear and instilling devotion all at once.