Del Monte Field (active 1941–1942) was a heavy bomber airfield of the Far East Air Force (FEAF) of the United States Army Air Forces , located in Mindanao in the Philippines . The airfield was located in a meadow of a Del Monte Corporation pineapple plantation.
92-659: Del Monte Airfield was first selected in September 1941 as an emergency landing strip on Mindanao, capable of landing four-engine B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers during the May to October wet season. It was built on a natural meadow on the Del Monte Pineapple Corporation plantation along the Sayre Highway , in the municipality of Maluko (now Manolo Fortich ) of Bukidnon Province in northern Mindanao. The población of
184-399: A tropical rainforest climate with copious amount of rainfall throughout the year. Legazpi has noticeably wetter and drier periods of the year. However, the city's driest month, April, still sees on average of over 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of precipitation per month. Similar to many other cities with this climate, temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, with
276-640: A Highly Urbanized City (HUC). The city is composed of two districts, Legazpi Port and the Old Albay District. Mayon Volcano , one of the Philippines' most popular icons and tourist destinations, is partly within the city's borders. In 2018, Legazpi was ranked first in overall competitiveness among component cities by the National Competitiveness Council . The city also ranked first in infrastructure and second in economic dynamism . In
368-654: A cannery in Hawaii and, in the 1920s, added canneries in Florida and the Midwest , as well as in the Philippines . After WWII, it constructed or purchased more facilities overseas. These multinational operations made the name California Packing Corporation obsolete, and in June 1967, the corporation adopted the name of its leading brand to become Del Monte Corporation. In 1972, Del Monte became
460-460: A fast-growing tourism industry with focus on adventure tourism . The city government is promoting Legazpi as an ideal location for ICT - BPO businesses. In 2014, Legazpi's locally generated income reached Php338.2 million, with total income (including IRA ) at Php711.1 million. In the same year, Legazpi ranked first among cities in Bicol in terms of tax collection efficiency. Legazpi City
552-551: A federally appointed wage board, following public hearings". In 2023, there were deaths reported on a Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya. A 2024 report said that there was evidence of human rights violations on the farm. Legaspi, Luzon Legazpi (IPA: [lɛˈgaspɪ] ), officially the City of Legazpi ( Central Bikol : Syudad nin Legazpi ; Filipino : Lungsod ng Legazpi ),
644-654: A list of ICT hubs beyond Metro Manila identified by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines and the Department of Science and Technology , based on a set of criteria such as worker supply, telecom infrastructure and other factors needed to sustain the BPO industry. Legazpi is aiming to attract more BPO firms to put up offices in the city. As of 2015 , BPO companies in Legazpi include One Half Philippines. The city currently has one IT park,
736-453: A mean annual average of 26.9 °C (80.4 °F). The coolest month is January with a daily mean of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) and the hottest months are jointly May and June with a daily mean of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F). The all-time record high temperature was 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) on May 27, 1968, and the all-time record low temperature was 13.9 °C (57.0 °F) on February 28, 1971. Because of its geographical location on
828-473: A permanent 1000-room evacuation center in Barangay Homapon for citizens living within the "eight-kilometer extended danger zone" near the volcano Mayon . According to the 2020 census, the population of Legazpi is 209,533 people, with a density of 1,400/km or 3,600/sq mi. Legazpi had an average annual population growth of 1.86% between 2000 and 2007 according to the 2010 census. About 58 percent of
920-508: A strong defense of the city. The American troops, headed by Brig. Gen. W.A. Kobbe , encountered heavy resistance from the Filipino forces who gallantly engaged them in a bloody fight on San Rafael Bridge that resulted in the death of 172 Filipinos including Reyes, who used only bolos . Another 12 Filipinos were injured while the American forces suffered only 12 injured infantrymen. To commemorate
1012-563: A total of 47 banks, with volume of bank deposits at Php35.4 billion. Legazpi Savings Bank, a thrift bank based in the city with eleven branches around the Bicol Region, was acquired by Robinsons Bank in 2012. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also has a branch in the city, along Rizal Street in Barangay Cabangan. Legazpi is recognized as one of the 'next wave cities' for business process outsourcing (BPO) . The next wave cities are
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#17328552911321104-505: Is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Albay , Philippines . According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 209,533. Legazpi is the regional center and largest city of the Bicol Region and in Albay, in terms of population. It is the region's center of tourism, education, health services, commerce and transportation in the Bicol Region. The city is applying for
1196-805: Is also home to a number of retail establishments. Liberty Commercial Center, Inc. (LCC), a homegrown Albayano company established in nearby Tabaco City in 1945, operates a major mall (LCC Mall Legazpi), three supermarkets and five Expressmarts (grocery stores) in the city. Another notable mall is Pacific Mall Legazpi, the first full-sized mall in Bicol. Other malls in Legazpi include Embarcadero de Legazpi, A. Bichara Silverscreens and Entertainment Center, 101 Shopping Mall, Yashano Mall and Gregorian Mall. The city has also attracted investments from national retail chains including Metro Gaisano , SM Savemore , Robinsons Supermarket, Puregold , Ministop and 7-Eleven . Ayala Malls recently opened its Ayala Malls Legazpi – Liberty City Center . Meanwhile, SM City Legazpi ,
1288-513: Is an American food production and distribution company and subsidiary of NutriAsia , headquartered in Walnut Creek , California. Del Monte Foods is one of the largest producers, distributors and marketers of branded processed food for the U.S. retail market, generating approximately $ 1.73 billion of annual sales. Its portfolio of brands includes Del Monte, S&W, Contadina , College Inn, Kitchen Basics, Joyba, and Take Root. Greg Longstreet
1380-420: Is classified as rural (18,431.66 hectares) while 10 percent is classified as urban (2,005.39 hectares). Legazpi's topography is generally plain on the northeastern areas, with slopes ranging from five to fifteen degrees. The southern areas have mostly rolling to hilly terrain. In the city's coastal areas, the terrain varies from plain (north) to hilly (south). Legazpi is criss-crossed by several rivers including
1472-813: Is now Albay had a thriving civilization before the Spanish arrived. The Spanish explorers found densely populated settlements with an abundance of gold and provisions in the southern Bicol peninsula. Ancient inhabitants practiced rice cultivation, made fine gold jewelry and possessed silk, suggesting trade with China. American anthropologist Henry Otley Beyer found jars, stone tools and shells from 100 to 500 BC in Sorsogon and Albay. Meanwhile, ancient burial jars and pottery were also found in Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave in Camalig . Other evidences of pre-Hispanic civilization include
1564-417: Is the current Chief Executive Officer of Del Monte Foods. Several Del Monte products hold the number one or two market share position. The company also produces, distributes and markets private-label food. In 2014, Del Monte Foods, Inc. was acquired by the Philippines' Campos Group-owned Del Monte Pacific Limited in an acquisition deal that cost US$ 1.67 billion. The pet food division of Del Monte Foods, Inc.
1656-560: Is the ecclesiastical seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi . Poverty incidence of Legazpi Source: Philippine Statistics Authority Legazpi is a major economic hub in the Bicol Region . Economic activities in the city include agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, services, manufacturing and mining. Major sources of income include rice, root crops, and coconut. The city exports coconut oil , copra cake , perlite , and abaca products. The city also has
1748-613: Is to develop more pro-active and disaster resilient communities. Specific disaster preparedness strategies in Albay and Legazpi include preemptive evacuation, 'zero casualty' policy, re-planning of the city's land use, mangrove reforestation, and the establishment of the Climate Change Academy as a training center for disaster risk management, evaluation of climate risk hazards and adaptive capabilities, planning, and programming. On March 12, 2018, Mayor Noel E. Rosal announced his administration's proposed plan to construct
1840-476: The Bicol Region . In 1936, Don Antonio Regidor, who was born in Spain on November 24, 1891 pioneered Bicol Region ’s pilinut industry. He founded Central Pilinut Candy at Old Albay District, Barangay Pinaric, Legazpi City, Albay. In 2023, "Albay Pilinut Candy" is managed by his grandchild Audrey Rose Battung-Deocareza. [1] There were 5,055 business establishments in Legazpi as of 2014 . Most of these are located in
1932-515: The Doctrina de Cagsawa began to convert the area's population to Christianity . The village of Sawangan became more populous and progressive and the first parish priest, Fray Francisco de Santa Ana, OFM, built a wooden chapel with St. Gregory the Great as patron. Sawangan then became an independent parish and was called Misión de San Gregorio Magno de Sawangan . A bigger and more imposing church replaced
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#17328552911322024-840: The Mataas shell scoop , which dates back to the Late Neolithic Period , found in Cagraray Island . The Mataas shell scoop was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines . Legazpi was originally a fishing settlement called Sawangan that occupied the mangrove swamps that is now the Legazpi Port, inhabited by fisher folk and farmers. In 1569, a Spanish expedition dispatched by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi led by Luis Enriquez de Guzman and Augustinian friar Alonso Jimenez first set foot in Albay. They arrived on
2116-483: The 16 B-17s of the 14th and 93d Bombardment Squadrons from Clark to Del Monte. Since there were no barracks built at Del Monte yet, and intending to remain only 72 hours, the bombers were filled with tents, cots, blankets and rations. The men also took only what they needed, some toiletries and a few changes of uniform. The aircraft flew down singly on the night of 5–6 December, circling at the end of their 4-hour flight before being permitted to land at dawn (5 December in
2208-510: The 16th century. The nearby Sula Channel was used as a sanctuary by galleons during storms because of its sheltered inlet. In 1873, Legazpi was made a port of entry by a Royal Decree earlier issued in Madrid on May 18, 1872, and later promulgated by Governor-General Juan Alaminos y Vivar on December 3, 1874. Legazpi was declared a city for the first time under the Becerra Law of 1892. In 1894,
2300-511: The 17th. On Thursday, March 26, 1942, Del Monte was again used to evacuate Philippine President, Manuel Quezon, his family, doctors, chaplain, and senior staff. Two B-17's had flown up from Australia and arrived at 8:45pm and departed again at 11pm for Australia. On April 8, 1942, the air echelons of the 24th Pursuit Group along with the remaining Army Air Corps flying operations in the Philippines were withdrawn from Luzon and transferred to Del Monte with whatever aircraft were left to carry on
2392-533: The 1880s an Oakland, California foods distributor used the Del Monte name to market a premium blend of coffee that had been prepared for the hotel. By 1892, the firm expanded its business and selected Del Monte as the brand name for its new line of canned peaches . In 1898, the California Fruit Canners Association (CFCA) formed when 18 West Coast canning companies merged. The Del Monte brand
2484-560: The 24th, 3 B-17's based at Del Monte bombed the airfield and shipping at Davao on the southeast coast of Mindanao before flying to Australia. On March 16, 1942, Del Monte was later used to evacuate General MacArthur , his family, and senior staff from the Philippines, leaving before midnight. The evacuation party had arrived by PT boat from Corregidor and on March 16, four B-17 Flying Fortresses from Australia flew up to Del Monte: B-17E 41-2408, B-17E 41-2429, B-17E 41-2434 and B-17E 41-2447 and evacuated them to Batchelor Field, arriving on
2576-453: The Academia de Santa Ines campus. Legazpi became a city for the second time on July 18, 1948, when Daraga and Legazpi were combined to constitute its territory under Republic Act No. 306; at that time, President Elpidio Quirino appointed Jose R. Arboleda as the first city mayor. But on June 8, 1954, Republic Act No. 993 was approved, recreating the two towns (Daraga and Legazpi) and the city
2668-639: The Americans split Legazpi into two separate towns, Legazpi and Albay (now Old Albay District), which became the provincial capital of Albay. In 1922, the town of Daraga was further split from the then municipality of Albay. On December 12, 1941, a few days after the attack on Pearl Harbor , Legazpi was occupied by forces of the Imperial Japanese Army , the purpose of which was to obtain control of local airstrips which could be used as forward bases by fighter aircraft for operations in central Luzon. Throughout
2760-521: The B-17s was able to make its way back to Del Monte; the others had to crash-land short of their base. The Japanese lost at most 4 fighters. Under these conditions, it was evident that the remaining heavy bombers could not operate efficiently in the Philippines. General Brereton therefore requested authority on December 15 to move the B-17s to Darwin in northwest Australia , 1,500 miles away, where they could be based safely and serviced properly. His intention
2852-604: The Chief of Staff on 29 November, called ultimately for more bomber bases in the Visayas to accommodate three additional groups, but since funds for construction of runways for such bases could not be immediately allocated, he agreed to use the field at Del Monte. On 21 November Col. Harold H. George , acting in place of FEAF commander Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton while he was in Australia trying to arrange support bases for his air force, sent
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2944-507: The Del Monte brand in the United States. Lotte Chilsung , a South Korean beverage company, partnered with Del Monte Juice Products in 1982. Japan-based Kikkoman acquired Del Monte Asia in 1989. US-based Del Monte Foods retains the rights to the Del Monte brand, which is licensed by other entities around the world. The Del Monte brand in Canada was retained by Nabisco when the rest of
3036-494: The Del Monte company, built for their light aircraft, is about two miles south of the wartime airfield. Both #1 (Main) and #2 (Fighter) fields have become rice paddies and cornfields, a dirt road being the only trace of their wartime purpose. As of October 2013, The Del Monte Airfield is closed to general aviation, but ultralight aircraft, paramotor aircraft from paramotor flying school of Kampo Juan eco resort, and radio-controlled aircraft enthusiasts from nearby Cagayan de Oro city use
3128-574: The Embarcadero IT Park, which offers about 8,000 call center seats that could provide jobs to some 24,000 agents in three shifts. Pioneering the business in the city is the Incubation Center of Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc. (SLTCFI), which is an extension of Embarcadero's P1.8-billion IT Park, the very first IT ecozone in the Bicol region inaugurated in July 2009. As of 2015 ,
3220-507: The Indian subcontinent and Myanmar). In 1990, the European division was subject to a management buyout and Hawaiian Punch was sold to Procter & Gamble . Del Monte sold part of its Philippines division in 1991 and the remainder in 1996. In 1993, Del Monte's dried fruit division was sold to Yorkshire Food Group. In 1996, Del Monte sold its pudding division to Kraft . In 1996, Del Monte Mexico
3312-507: The Japanese invasion of the Philippines at Legaspi, Luzon by sending 3 of a group of 6 Del Monte-based B-17s, ordered to attack the landing force. They attacked a Japanese minesweeper and a transport, thought to be a destroyer, with meager results, and 9 naval aircraft based on the Legaspi strip. The unescorted bombers were no match for the Japanese fighters and soon beat a hasty retreat. Only one of
3404-490: The Japanese occupation, resistance by Bicolano and local troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army continued in the hills and mountains south of Legazpi. In January 1945, American and Filipino liberation forces, supported by Bicolano guerrillas, liberated Legazpi. However, the city suffered extensive aerial bombardment from US aircraft and many old buildings were destroyed including the old St. Raphael church and
3496-716: The Lorenzo family) became joint owners. Del Monte Pacific Limited (headquartered in Singapore ) became the parent company and publicly traded in 1999. Cirio acquired Del Monte International in 2001. In 2005, Macondray and Cirio sold their controlling stakes in Del Monte Pacific Limited to Philippine company NutriAsia , the maker of UFC , Mang Tomas , Datu Puti and Silver Swan . In 2014, Del Monte Pacific Limited acquired Del Monte Foods. The Del Monte brand in South America
3588-615: The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) as a model locality in implementing risk reduction management practices in the Philippines. On the provincial level, Albay has institutionalized disaster preparedness and disaster response by creating the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) in 1995. The APSEMO is tasked to design and implement a disaster risk management and reduction program. Its main objective
3680-421: The Philippines (1942) and after the destruction of Clark and Nichols Fields on Luzon in the first days of the war, the Japanese flew extensive reconnaissance missions to discover the remaining American aircraft in the Philippines. They had been unable to find the Del Monte field, but it was only a question of time before this last haven would be discovered and destroyed as were the airfields on Luzon. Moreover, it
3772-865: The S&;W brand of processed fruit, vegetable, tomato and specialty sauce products. On September 28, 2004, the site of Del Monte's former Plant No. 1 in San Francisco was dedicated as Del Monte Square. It was once the world's largest fruit and vegetable cannery. In 2006, Del Monte became the second largest pet foods company upon divesting its US infant feeding business and US retail private label soup and gravy businesses and acquiring two key pet brands. The company sold its Soup and Infant Feeding business in April 2006 to TreeHouse Foods , Inc. Del Monte bought Meow Mix in May 2006, and acquired Milk-Bone in July of that year from Kraft Foods . Also in 2006, Faribault Foods acquired
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3864-610: The Spanish Minister of the Ultramar promulgated a decree creating the combined city government (ayunamiento) of Legazpi, a merger of the towns of Albay (now Old Albay District) and Daraga with the territories of the former. On September 22, 1898, the Civil Governor of Albay, Angel Bascaran y Federic and the Spanish residents evacuated Albay. Subsequently, a revolutionary junta was organized by Don Anacieto Solano who later turned over
3956-668: The Tibu, Macabalo and Yawa rivers with a number of swampy areas, particularly in the urban district. To mitigate flooding in these low-lying areas, the local government has built an urban drainage and flood control system consisting of dikes, canals, sea walls and three pumping stations located in Barangays San Roque, Bay-Bay and Victory Village. Legazpi is politically subdivided into 70 barangays . Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios . Currently, there are 45 urban barangays and 25 rural barangays. Legazpi City features
4048-459: The United States) at Del Monte No. 1, just completed the day before. Materiel to support the arrival of the 7th BG was not scheduled to leave Luzon until 10 December. On 8 December, the initial Japanese attack on Clark Field caught most of the remainder of the 19th Bombardment Group on the ground. The bomber and fighter sweeps on the field destroyed most of the aircraft. In the ensuing Battle of
4140-410: The adjacent villages of Lamba, Rawis and Bigaa. In another decree, Montero named the town Legazpi, which was formally established on October 22 of the same year, in honor of no less than Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Governor General, who landed in the town's territories years before. The port of Legazpi served as anchorage for ships sailing to Nueva España (Mexico) beginning in the latter part of
4232-535: The airfield with the approval of the Del Monte management. The Gen. Douglas MacArthur Landmark was erected by the Rotary Club of Northern Bukidnon in Barangay Dicklum to mark the site of Del Monte Field. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Del Monte Foods Del Monte Foods Inc. ( trading as Del Monte Foods )
4324-571: The beatification of St. Lorenzo Ruiz was held, the Pope also visited Baguio , Bacolod , Iloilo , Bataan , Cebu , and Davao . The Pope held a mass dedicated to farmers at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral . Legazpi is on the eastern portion of the province of Albay bounded on the north by the municipality of Santo Domingo , on the east by Albay Gulf , on the west by the municipality of Daraga , and on
4416-454: The biggest locator in Embarcadero IT Park is Sutherland Global Services. There are 141 residential subdivisions and housing sites (132 privately owned, 9 government owned) in Legazpi. National and local real estate developers have also invested in the city. These include Vista Land (Camella Legazpi), Deca Homes, and Sunwestville Realty and Development Corp. (Eco Homes Bayshores Condominium). In 2015, Taft Property Ventures Development Corp.,
4508-423: The business was sold. Nabisco merged with Kraft Foods in 2000. In 2006 Kraft sold Del Monte and other underperforming assets to Sun Capital Partners and EG Capital. ConAgra Foods acquired Del Monte Canada in 2012. In 2018, Del Monte Canada was acquired by Bonduelle . Del Monte's Central American and Caribbean operations were sold to local investors in 1996. Del Monte Europe (including African operations)
4600-534: The chapel during the tenure of Fray Martin del Espiritu OFM in 1636 and Sawangan continued to thrive despite the Moro raids in the 1700s, a super typhoon in 1742, an earthquake in 1811, and other calamities. Sawangan was created a visita regular in 1605 and elevated as an independent town in 1616. On February 1, 1814, a catastrophic eruption of Mt. Mayon partially destroyed Sawangan and buried Cagsawa , Budiao and Camalig. The parish priest of Sawangan, Fray Pedro Licup, urged
4692-571: The city's central business district, the Legazpi Port District. Landco Business Park, the first master-planned commercial business district in the Bicol Region, opened in 2001. Thriving industries in Legazpi include coconut oil milling and production (Legaspi Oil Company – CIIF), construction aggregate quarrying, 'pinukpok' ( abaca fabric) production in Barangay Banquerohan, and organic fertilizer manufacturing. To further boost
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#17328552911324784-401: The city's population or 105,853 live in areas classified as urban while 42 percent or 76,348 live in rural areas. The city has a population density of 9 people per hectare (54 people per hectare in urban areas and 4 people per hectare in rural areas). Daytime population in Legazpi is estimated to reach 350,000 due to the daily influx of students, workers, entrepreneurs, and tourists. Legazpi is
4876-409: The coastal settlement called Ibalon in present-day Magallanes, Sorsogon after exploring the islands of Masbate , Ticao and Burias and proceeded inland as far as present-day Camalig, Albay . In July 1573, the conquistador Juan de Salcedo , grandson of Governor-General Legazpi, led another expedition from the north. They founded Villa Santiago de Libon (present-day Libon, Albay ) and reached
4968-530: The command to General Vicente Lukban , General-in-chief of Operations of the revolutionary government in the southern region. On January 23, 1900, American forces composed of three infantry companies equipped with powerful rifles and cannon landed on the shores of Albay Gulf to conquer Legazpi. They were met by 800 revolutionary Filipino troops headed by General Jose Ignacio Paua , Col. Antero Reyes, Captain Alvaro Nepomuceno, and Policarpio Pergone who put up
5060-470: The company announced it had been acquired by an investor group led by funds affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and with PediaBears Wholesome Foods, Vestar Capital Partners and Centerview Partners. The stock was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange prior to the start of trading on March 9, 2011. On February 19, 2014, Philippines based food producer Del Monte Pacific Limited completed
5152-503: The company, and nearly tripled Del Monte Foods' size. Del Monte subsequently established an East Coast headquarters in Pittsburgh , home of Heinz, and in 2021 moved their headquarters to Penn Center West. Del Monte acquired the worldwide rights to the SunFresh brand, a brand of premium citrus and tropical fruits, in 2000. In March of the following year, it acquired the worldwide rights to
5244-450: The day the B-25s again attacked Davao, bombing the dock area. The advancing Japanese forced their return to Australia. In addition to the raids, they brought out a number of important military and diplomatic personnel who had gathered at Del Monte to await evacuation. The last of the 24th Pursuit Group's aircraft were captured or destroyed by enemy forces on or about May 1, 1942 when the airfield
5336-409: The eastern coast of the Philippines and the close proximity of Mayon Volcano , Legazpi is vulnerable to typhoons , sea level rise and volcanic eruptions . To mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the city's resilience against disasters, the city government has adopted a disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategy. The City Government of Legazpi was recognized by
5428-470: The establishment of new towns. The new settlement in Taytay grew larger and eventually became a township. Binanuahan was declared a visita or tributary of Taytay and the combined town became known as Albay Nuevo. In 1839, the settlers in Taytay started to erect a stone church designed by Gobernadorcillo Don Jose Ma. de Peñaranda, an architect, in consultation with Fray Jose Yagres, OFM. The structure would become
5520-588: The fight. In April 1942, a group of 7 B-25s and 3 B-17s from Australia returned to Del Monte for the Royce Mission , to attack the Japanese on three bombing missions. On April 12, B-25s hit the harbor and shipping at Cebu, Cebu Island while B-17s carried out single-bomber strikes against Cebu harbor and Nichols Field on Luzon. On 13 April B-25s hit targets in the Philippines for the second consecutive day. The B-25s took off just after midnight and bombed shipping at Cebu and installations at Davao on Mindanao. Later in
5612-686: The first major US food processor to voluntarily adopt nutritional labeling on all its food products. Del Monte became part of R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. (later RJR Nabisco, Inc.) in 1979. After being acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 1988, RJR Nabisco sold several Del Monte divisions. The fresh fruit business was sold to Polly Peck . RJR Nabisco retained Del Monte Canada and Venezuela. The remaining food processing divisions, known as Del Monte Foods, were sold to Merrill Lynch , Citicorp Venture Capital , and Kikkoman in 1989. Kikkoman separately acquired Del Monte brand in Asia (excluding Philippines,
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#17328552911325704-483: The heavy bombers had to remain aloft during the daylight hours to avoid destruction on the ground. They dodged back and forth between Mindanao and Luzon, playing a game of hide-and-seek that wore out men as well as planes. B-17s flying from Del Monte Airfield became the first United States aircraft to engage in offensive action against the Japanese. On December 14, 1941, the American Army Air Forces reacted to
5796-553: The local economy, the city government is promoting the establishment of information technology (IT) parks and industrial estates such as the Embarcadero IT Park in Barangay Victory Village, City Light Industrial Park (CLIP) in Barangay Bogtong, Legazpi City Special Economic Zone in Barangay Banquerohan, Bicol Regional Agro-Industrial Center (BRAIC) and First Legazpi Industrial Estate, both in Barangay Homapon. The city
5888-466: The morning of 4 December, after the only operational FEAF radar site detected Japanese weather reconnaissance flights on several successive nights, MacArthur's headquarters ordered the 19th BG to be moved out of range of direct attack. However Brereton decided to send only half of the 35 B-17s at Clark Field to Del Monte because the latter could accommodate only six squadrons and the 7th BG was expected to arrive soon. Orders were issued on 5 December to move
5980-627: The most populous city in the province of Albay and in the Bicol Region. It comprises 14.8% of the total population of Albay. The main language spoken is Central Bikol . In addition, English and Filipino /Tagalog are also widely used and spoken. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the city. Other religious denominations include Iglesia ni Cristo , Members Church of God International , Orthodoxy , Protestant churches such as Baptist , Methodist , Evangelical Christians , Seventh-day Adventist Church , Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , Jehovah's Witnesses , and Islam . The city
6072-442: The newly arrived 5th Air Base Group to Del Monte in two inter-island steamers to hurry construction. Work on the field was rushed and by 5 December it was able to accommodate heavy bombers. Two runways were built: No. 1 (main runway) and No. 2 (pursuit). A golf course was used as a third auxiliary strip. Additional dispersal airstrips were built over the next few months at Dalirig near Del Monte, Malaybalay, Maramag, and Valencia. On
6164-446: The perpetual license of S&W branded dry soaked beans for North America from Del Monte. In June 2008, Del Monte announced the sale of its seafood division, StarKist , to South Korea -based Dongwon Enterprise Company. Dongwon purchased the business for $ 363 million. Del Monte stated that StarKist was no longer a good fit for the company and that they would be concentrating on pet food and higher margin produce. On March 8, 2011,
6256-550: The present Cathedral of San Gregorio Magno in the Old Albay District. Meanwhile, those who returned to Sawangan established an ermita or chapel dedicated to the Archangel Raphael , whom they adopted as patron saint. This became the present church of St. Raphael the Archangel in the Legazpi Port district. On July 17, 1856, Governor General Ramon Montero signed a decree creating the township of Pueblo Viejo, out of Binanuahan and
6348-654: The purchase of Del Monte's consumer food business, for US$ 1.675 billion. The remaining company consisted of the pet food division and was renamed Big Heart Pet Brands . In 2015, Del Monte Foods acquired Sager Creek, owner of the Vegetable, Freshlike, Popeye, Trappley's and Allen's brands of canned vegetables. Del Monte Foods sold the Sager Creek brands to McCall Farms in 2017. Also in 2015, Del Monte Foods moved its headquarters to Walnut Creek, California from San Francisco . Del Monte Foods markets packaged food products under
6440-422: The real estate arm of Gaisano Group , announced that it is building a condominium in Legazpi. Located on the southern foothills of the scenic Mount Mayon , the city has a flourishing tourism industry. The province of Albay, whose center of trade and commerce is in the city, recorded a 66 percent growth rate in tourist arrivals for 2013. In the same year, the city had a total of 263,568 foreign tourist arrivals,
6532-419: The residents to transfer to Makalaya (present-day Barangay Taysan) located on the slopes of Mt. Bariw. However, many residents decided to return to the lowlands and settled in Taytay (present-day Barangay Bagumbayan). Other survivors opted to return to the original location of Sawangan and established Binanuahan (Banuang Gurang) despite a decree by the Gobierno Superior signed on October 1, 1829, which prohibited
6624-487: The restructuring of local governments. On September 24, 1972, then President Ferdinand Marcos designated Legazpi as the administrative center of Bicol Region through the Integrated Reorganization Plan of 1972, the implementing framework of Presidential Decree No. 1. Pope John Paul II visited Legazpi on February 21, 1981, during his first apostolic journey to the Philippines. Aside from Manila where
6716-540: The rural municipality was nearby. The airfield was established as part of the build-up of United States military forces in the Philippines due to the rising tensions with the Japanese Empire . In mid-November 1941, with the creation of the FEAF, General Douglas MacArthur approved the expansion of Del Monte into a heavy bomber base for the 7th Bombardment Group , projected to arrive in early December. His plans, MacArthur told
6808-694: The same year, Legazpi was also named "most business-friendly city" in the component city category by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The city of Legazpi was named after Miguel López de Legazpi , the Basque Spanish conquistador who officially annexed the Philippine Islands to the Spanish Empire in 1565, and whose surname came from a town in Gipuzkoa , Spain . The area that
6900-495: The second and largest SM Supermall in Bicol and the 71st in the Philippines, is located beside the Legazpi City Bus Terminal and opened on September 14, 2018. The city has two public markets: Legazpi City Public Market, a recipient of the 'Huwarang Palengke Award' in 2006, and Old Albay Public Market. The Ibalong Pasalubong Center has shops selling souvenirs and local handicrafts. As of December 2017, Legazpi had
6992-399: The settlement of Albaybay, whose name was subsequently shortened to 'Albay' or Pueblo de Albay . In 1616, Pueblo de Albay served as the capital of Partido de Ibalon, which included present-day Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, parts of Camarines Sur and the islands of Catanduanes , Ticao and Burias. Spanish religious missionaries governed the settlement in the 1580s. In 1587, Franciscan friars of
7084-430: The south by the municipalities of Manito, Albay and Pilar and Castilla, Sorsogon . The city is located 527 kilometres (327 mi) south of Manila. From north to south, the city spans approximately 29 kilometers; from east to west, the narrowest portion is about 3 kilometers (urban district) while the widest is about 15 kilometers (southeast area). Legazpi has a total land area of 20,437 hectares, 90 percent of which
7176-409: The valiant efforts of the revolutionary troops, a monument was built on the site of the former San Rafael Bridge. The swampy area where the bridge was located was reclaimed during the early 20th century and is now the intersection of Rizal Street and Quezon Avenue. Following their occupation of the city in 1900, the American occupiers cancelled Legazpi's city status. In 1908, after the war's conclusion,
7268-620: Was abandoned by the United States, leaving its facilities to the Japanese invaders. The complex was not used by the United States or Philippine Commonwealth armed forces during the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) , and the airfields were returned to the Del Monte Pineapple Corporation. MacArthur evacuation memorial at the site of the Del Monte Field, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Philippines, The present-day airstrip of
7360-644: Was accused of opposing efforts by the United States Congress to apply the continental minimum wage to the lower-paying tuna packing plants in American Samoa . On January 16, 2007, Melissa Murphy Brown, spokesperson for Del Monte, stated that the application would "severely cripple the local economy." She also stated that "For over 50 years, the Federal Department of Labor has provided that wages in U.S. territories, including American Samoa, be set by
7452-466: Was accused of profiting from the South African apartheid regime after sardines used in some of the company's products were found to have been sourced from the coast of Namibia, which was under South African control at the time. The revelation caused uproar among international civil rights organizations, with some activists calling for a boycott of Del Monte products. In January 2007, Del Monte Foods
7544-418: Was becoming increasingly difficult to service the B-17s with the inadequate facilities at Del Monte. There were no spare parts, engines, or propellers for the B-17s in the Philippines; damaged B-17s had to be cannibalized to keep the bombers flying. The only tools were those in the possession of the crews. The men who worked on the planes all night often got no rest the next day because of air alerts. On some days
7636-524: Was discovered by the Japanese on December 18, 1941 and attacked the following day by Japanese planes based on the carrier Ryujo . On December 22, 1941, 9 B-17's from Batchelor Field near Darwin, Northern Territory , Australia , attacked shipping in Davao Bay, Mindanao Island and landed at Del Monte. The next day 4 B-17s took off from Del Monte after midnight and bombed enemy shipping in Lingayen Gulf . On
7728-407: Was dissolved. Finally, on June 12, 1959, Legazpi became a city for the third time under Republic Act no. 2234. Amendments were introduced under R.A. 5525. Presidential Decree 125 issued on February 23, 1973, declared the town of Daraga as part of the territorial jurisdiction of the city. This decree, however, was not implemented with the onset of the Integrated Reorganization Plan, which involved
7820-487: Was not part of the deal and continued to operate as a separate company under the name Big Heart Pet Brands, Inc. The J.M. Smucker Company acquired Big Heart Pet Brands in 2015 for $ 5.8 billion. In the 1870s and 1880s, California became a major producer of fruits and vegetables. The Hotel Del Monte was a famous resort hotel on the Monterey Peninsula which first built what is now Pebble Beach Golf Links . In
7912-699: Was one of several brands marketed by the new company. It introduced the Del Monte Shield in 1909. Under the leadership of George Newell Armsby , in 1916, CFCA added Alaska Packers Association, Central California Canneries, two canners, and Griffin & Skelley, a food brokerage house, incorporating itself as California Packing Corporation , or Calpak, and began selling its products under the Del Monte and Sunkist brands. The new company grew to operate more than 60 canneries in Washington , Oregon , Idaho , Utah and Alaska . In 1917, it acquired pineapple farms and
8004-687: Was recognized as the most business-friendly city in Southern Luzon in 2007 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2014, the city was ranked second among the top three livable cities in the Philippines in the Livable Cities Design Challenge organized by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation . The Department of Agriculture -Bicol's data notes that 90% of Philippines' pili plantation-production comes from
8096-505: Was retained by Nabisco when the rest of the business was sold. Del Monte Foods reacquired Del Monte South America from Nabisco in 1998. Fresh Del Monte Produce was created in 1989 when RJR Nabisco sold the fresh fruit division of Del Monte Foods to Polly Peck . Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh purchased Fresh Del Monte in 1996. The company went public in 1997. Del Monte Dried Fruit was sold to Yorkshire Food Group in 1993. Yorkshire's US division became Premier Valley Foods. Premier Valley Foods
8188-595: Was sold to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst ; the Central American and Caribbean operations were also sold. Texas Pacific Group acquired Del Monte in 1997. Del Monte acquired Contadina from Nestlé in 1997 and reacquired Del Monte Venezuela from Nabisco in 1998. Del Monte Foods again became a publicly traded company in 1999, and in 2002, it purchased several brands from US food giant Heinz in an all-stock transaction that left Heinz shareholders with 74.5% of Del Monte and original Del Monte shareholders with 25.5% of
8280-405: Was sold to a group led by Brent Enterprises in 2003. Premier Valley was later acquired by Sunsweet Growers . A 1953 Alcoa Aluminum advertisement featured a Del Monte Ketchup bottle with the caption "you mean a woman can open it?" The ad, which is sometimes mistakenly attributed to Del Monte, has been seen as a symbol of casual sexism in the United States during the 1950s. In 1977, Del Monte
8372-685: Was subject to a management buyout in 1990 and renamed Del Monte International. Cirio acquired Del Monte International in 2001. After Cirio's bankruptcy, Del Monte Europe was acquired by Fresh Del Monte Produce . In 1996, Del Monte Mexico was sold to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst . It later became part of Hicks Muse holding International Home Foods , which was acquired by ConAgra Foods in 2000. Del Monte sold stakes in Del Monte Philippines to Kikkoman and Del Monte International in 1991. In 1996, Del Monte and Kikkoman sold their stakes and Del Monte International and Macondray & Co., Inc. (owned by
8464-422: Was to operate from fields near Darwin, using Del Monte as an advance base from which to strike enemy targets in the Philippines. The planes were immediately prepared for the long flight southward, and on December 15 the first group of B-17s left Del Monte airfield. By the following evening ten of the bombers had reached Batchelor Field outside Darwin. They had left Mindanao none too soon, as the complex of airfields
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