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by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

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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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b "Sulu Archipelago rain forests". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2020-08-08.

External links

Media related to Mount Bongao at Wikimedia Commons

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