{{short description|Provincial anthem of Albay}} {{Infobox anthem |title = Albay Forever |transcription = |type = anthem |alt_title = Albay Sagkod pa Man |en_alt_title = |alt_title_2 = |en_alt_title_2= |image = Seal of Albay.svg |image_size = 100px |caption = |prefix = Provincial |country = [[Albay]] |author = Jose R. Ravalo (original English lyrics) |lyrics_date = 2004 |composer = Jose R. Ravalo |music_date = 2004 |adopted = March 31, 2004 |sound = |sound_title = }} "'''Albay Forever'''" ({{langx|bcl|Albay Sagkod pa Man}}), also known as the '''Albay Hymn''' or the '''Albay Provincial Hymn''', is the official anthem of the province of [[Albay]] in the [[Philippines]].
==History== "Albay Forever" was composed by Jose R. Ravalo of [[Oas, Albay|Oas]],<ref name="condolence" /> who also wrote the song's original English lyrics.<ref name="lyrics" />
The [[Albay Provincial Board|Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay]] officially adopted the song on March 31, 2004, with the passage of Ordinance No. 02-2004.<ref name="ordinance" /> Lyrics in [[Central Bikol]], the largest regional language spoken in the province, were also subsequently adopted.
==Lyrics== {| class="toccolours" cellpadding="10" style="margin:auto;" |- style="background:white;" ! {{big|Original English version <br>''Albay Forever''}}<ref name="lyrics" /><br>{{small|penned by Jose R. Ravalo}} ! {{big|Central Bikol version <br>''Albay Sagkod pa Man''}}<ref name="lyrics" /><br>{{small|translated by The Neighboring Tones Inc.}}
|- ! colspan="2" style="background:gold;"| |- |<poem> There’s a place in [[Bicol Region|Bicol]] that we hold dear Land of beauty and laughter and song Where you see the flowers bloom forever Haven to all the weary throng
Where stands our [[Mayon|Mt. Mayon]] the peerless Awe-inspiring, majestic, grand It’s a place where skies are bluer This is [[Albay]] our own dear land
Thy name we’ll cherish always, No matter where we be. Thy sons shall stand by thee united, Forever and loyal to thee. </poem>
|<poem> May lugar digdi sa Kabikolan Na pano ning mga kaogmahan Mga tawo pobre o mayaman Sarabay sa pag-uswag nin banwaan
An bulkang Mayon samong ladawan Simbolo nin kagayonan Mahal na Diyos dai Mo pabayaan Mahal ming Albay sagkod pa man
Kaming mga Albayano Saen man magduman Dai mi nanggad malilingawan An samuyang dagang tinubuan </poem> |}
The lyrics of the song have been interpreted as a call for Albayanos to love and protect their environment.<ref name="environment" />
==Performance== Singing "Albay Forever" is mandatory whenever there is an official event being held in the province of Albay, alongside the recitation of the provincial pledge, "I Am an Albayano".<ref name="environment" />
During the 2013 Daragang Magayon Festival in [[Legazpi, Albay|Legazpi]], the provincial capital, a two-round contest was held between teams to see who can extract the most [[coconut milk]] out of a pile of coconuts to the tune of the anthem.<ref name="coconut" />
==References== <references>
<ref name="condolence">{{cite act |url = https://sbcouncildaraga.com/product/86-2007-resolution-expressing-sincerest-condolences-to-the-bereaved-family-of-the-late-hon-jose-r-ravalo-of-daraga-albay/ |title = Resolution Expressing Sincerest Condolences To The Bereaved Family Of The Late Hon. Jose R. Ravalo Of Daraga, Albay |legislature = Sangguniang Bayan of Daraga |date = 2007 |index = 86-2007 |type = Resolution }}</ref>
<ref name="ordinance">{{cite web | title=ORDINANCES | url=https://spalbay.com/ordinance.php | publisher=[[Albay Provincial Board|Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay]] | access-date=March 20, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="environment">{{cite news | title=Albay heeds Pope’s climate change call | url=https://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/181549/albay-heeds-pope-s-climate-change-call.html | work=[[Manila Standard]] | date=July 5, 2015 | access-date=March 20, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="lyrics">{{cite book | title=Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School Student Handbook | url=https://docplayer.net/102593572-Department-of-education-region-v-division-of-albay-marcial-o-ranola-memorial-school-guinobatan-albay-student-handbook.html | publisher=Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School | access-date=March 20, 2023 | via=DocPlayer}}</ref>
<ref name="coconut">{{cite news | title=Coconut featured in 2013 Daragang Magayon Festival | url=https://issuu.com/sudaria_publications/docs/bdmay6/4 | work=BusinessDaily | page=4 | date=May 6, 2013 | access-date=March 20, 2023 | via=[[Issuu]]}}</ref>
</references>
==External links== *Videos of the Albay Hymn with lyrics and vocal performances: **{{YouTube|7y-7xyI4JOA|"Albay Forever"}} **{{YouTube|lynMGhyN3PE|"Albay Sagkod pa Man"}}
{{National anthems of Asia}}
[[Category:Culture of Albay]] [[Category:English-language Filipino songs]] [[Category:Asian anthems]] [[Category:Provincial anthems in the Philippines]]