Mount Bongao
Bud Bongao
Relief map
Highest point
Elevation342 m (1,122 ft)[1]
Prominence342 m (1,122 ft)
Coordinates5°01′07″N 119°44′52″E / 5.01861°N 119.74778°E / 5.01861; 119.74778[1]
Naming
Native nameBud Bongao (Sama)
Geography
Mount Bongao is located in Mindanao
Mount Bongao
Mount Bongao
Mount Bongao is located in Philippines
Mount Bongao
Mount Bongao
CountryPhilippines
RegionBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
ProvinceTawi-Tawi
City/municipalityBongao
Climbing
Easiest routeBarangay Pasiagan [1]

Mount Bongao (famously known as Bud Bongao) is a mountain located on Bongao Island in the province of Tawi-Tawi. It is a mountain formed with six limestone pillars that serves as its six peaks. It is the Philippines' southernmost peak.[2]

Bud Bongao is inside the Bongao Peak Eco-Tourism Park that was inaugurated on July 3, 2017.[3] It is a 250-hectare forest that is one of the last remaining moist forests in the Sulu Archipelago.[4]

The mountain is of spiritual and traditional importance to the indigenous Sama Dilaut people.[5] The mountain is also considered sacred where it is believed that two Islamic preachers[6] who were direct followers of Karim ul-Makhdum, are buried under what is called Tampat Rocks,[4] although the site was already sacred even before Islam arrived. Karim ul-Makhdum brought Islam to the Philippines in the year 1380.[7]

Physical characteristics

Bud Bongao is composed of six limestone pillars that form six of its peaks, which serves as view points for the islands and locations they are named after.[6] These peaks are Bongao, Pajar, Sibutu (summit), Simunul, Tambisan, and Tinondakan.[1]

Biodiversity

Mount Bongao hosts one of the last remaining moist forests in the Sulu Archipelago.[4]

Monkeys endemic to Bud Bongao include Macaca fascicularis.[6] The red dragonfly, orange albatross, mangrove blue flycatcher, Philippine pitta are found on the mountain.[8] Bongao and its surrounding islands—Sanga-Sanga, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi—are also home to the vulnerable Tawi-Tawi forest rat and the Philippine slow loris.[9] The jungle flycatcher was once observed in 1973.[9]

Hiking activity

Aside from being a sacred mountain, Bud Bongao is also famous for hikers. A 3,608-step cobblestone trail[6] has been constructed from the jump-off at Barangay Pasiagan that ends at a view deck constructed on Tambisan Peak. The view deck offers a vantage point overlooking Celebes Sea and Tambisan Island in Sabah at 317 metres (1,040 ft) above sea level.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Malicdem, Ervin (7 June 2017). "Bud Bongao: Trail Data, Peaks and Elevation". 2017 Tawi-Tawi Mapping Expedition: 2–3. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.10845.92647. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  2. ↑ Lasco, Gideon. "Beyond Apo: Seven great hiking destinations in Mindanao". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  3. ↑ "ARMM spent P56 million to boost Bongao Peak tourism". Bureau of Public Information, ARMM Government. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Yan, Gregg (28 April 2014). "Bud Bongao: The sacred mountain of Tawi-Tawi". Rappler. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. ↑ WWF-Philippines 2012-2013 Annual Report (PDF).
  6. 1 2 3 4 Malicdem, Ervin (7 June 2017). "Bud Bongao, Tawi-Tawi's Overwatch and Sacred Peak". Schadow1 Expeditions. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  7. ↑ Jannaral, Julmunir (8 November 2016). "ARMM commemorates 636th Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Day". Manila Times. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  8. ↑ Salvador, Jinggoy I. (2018-05-02). "Salvador: Breathtaking Bud Bongao". Sunstar. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  9. 1 2 "Sulu Archipelago rain forests". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2020-08-08.

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