Mount Makiling
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Mount Makiling (also known as Mount Maquiling), is an inactive
stratovolcano A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and per ...
located in the provinces of Laguna and
Batangas Batangas, officially the Province of Batangas ( tl, Lalawigan ng Batangas ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region on Luzon. Its capital is the city of Batangas, and is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and La ...
on the island of
Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
,
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. The mountain rises to an elevation of
above mean sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...
and is the highest feature of the
Laguna Volcanic Field The Laguna Volcanic Field, also known as the San Pablo Volcanic Field, is an active volcanic field in the Philippines, located between Laguna de Bay, Mount Banahaw volcano complex and Mount Malepunyo range. It is part of the larger Southweste ...
. The volcano has no recorded historic eruption but volcanism is still evident through geothermal features like mud spring and hot springs. South of the mountain is the Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal Plant. The
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS, ; tl, Surian ng Pilipinas sa Bulkanolohiya at Sismolohiya) is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide information on the activities of volcanoes, earthquakes, and ...
(PHIVOLCS) classifies the volcano as "
Inactive Inactive is a TRPV channel in invertebrates Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a groupin ...
". Mount Makiling is a state-owned forest reserve administered by the
University of the Philippines Los Baños The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB; fil, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Los Baños), also referred to as UP Los Baños or colloquially as Elbi (), is a public research university primarily located in the towns of Los Baños and Bay ...
. Prior to its transfer to the university, the mountain was the first
national park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...
of the Philippines. Mount Makiling National Park was established on February 23, 1933, by ''Proclamation No. 552''. However, it was decommissioned as a national park on June 20, 1963, by ''Republic Act no. 3523'' when it was transferred to the university for use in
forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. Th ...
education and information. The mountain is sacred to many pilgrims and is widely believed to be the home of an '' anito'' named
Maria Makiling Maria Makiling, more properly Mariang Makiling, is a '' diwata'' (anito) or ''lambana'' (fairy) in Philippine mythology, associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna, Philippines. She is the most widely known ''diwata'' in Philippine mythology and ...
. It is one of the most known ''bundok
dambana Indigenous Philippine shrines and sacred grounds are places regarded as holy within the indigenous Philippine folk religions. These places usually serve as grounds for communication with the spirit world, especially to the deities and ancestra ...
s'' in
Calabarzon Calabarzon (), formally known as the Southern Tagalog Mainland, is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region IV-A. The region comprises five provinces: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal; and one highly urban ...
. It was declared as an
ASEAN Heritage Park ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) are selected protected areas in the ASEAN region that are known for their unique biodiversity and ecosystems, wilderness and outstanding values in scenic, cultural, educational, research, recreational and tourism. Its vi ...
in 2013, with the title of "Mount Makiling Forest Reserve".


Legend

Maria Makiling Maria Makiling, more properly Mariang Makiling, is a '' diwata'' (anito) or ''lambana'' (fairy) in Philippine mythology, associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna, Philippines. She is the most widely known ''diwata'' in Philippine mythology and ...
was the protector and guardian of Mount Makiling located in Los Baños, Laguna. Thus, modern sightings of her were even reported. Maria Makiling is a common subject among Filipino artists, ranging from painters and sculptors to
graphic novelists A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
. Prior to the conversion of the natives to Christianity, Maria Makiling was already known as ''Makiling'', an anito sent by
Bathala In the indigenous religion of the ancient Tagalogs, Bathala Maykapal was the transcendent Supreme Being, the originator and ruler of the universe. He is commonly known and referred to in the modern era as Bathala, a term or title which, in ea ...
in Mount Makiling to aid mankind in their daily tasks. The 'Maria' was added by the Spanish in a bid to 'rebrand' her as Catholic and to further subjugate the natives into Spanish imperialism. The contour of the mountain is said to be that of her in a reclining position. In some accounts, Maria Makiling, while serving as an '' anito'' of
Bathala In the indigenous religion of the ancient Tagalogs, Bathala Maykapal was the transcendent Supreme Being, the originator and ruler of the universe. He is commonly known and referred to in the modern era as Bathala, a term or title which, in ea ...
in Mount Makiling, was heartbroken by a mortal man, and thus chose to remain hidden from mortal view thereafter.


History

The following are the proclamations,
Republic Act This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Sources of Philippine laws ;Notes : *Customs may be considered as supplementary source of law, however, customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not be ...
s, and
Executive Order In the United States, an executive order is a directive by the president of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. The legal or constitutional basis for executive orders has multiple sources. Article Two of t ...
s relevant to the Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR): * ''Proclamation No. 106'' (1910) – Makiling Forest Reserve was established with specific boundaries and placed under the Bureau of Forestry by Governor General W. Cameron Forbes to regulate the use of public forest and forest reserves in the Philippines; Makiling Forest Reserve was set aside for the purpose of establishing a forest school and for silvicultural studies. * ''Proclamation No. 60'' (1920) – The reserved was renamed Makiling National Botanic Gardens and placed under the Bureau of Forestry by Proclamation NO. 60 issued by Governor General
Francis B. Harrison Francis Burton Harrison (December 18, 1873 – November 21, 1957) was an American statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives and was appointed governor-general of the Philippines by President of the United States Woodrow ...
primary for scientific studies on plants and animals. * ''Proclamation No. 552'' (1933) – The reserved was renamed the Makiling National Park under the Bureau of Forestry issued by
Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Theodore Roosevelt III ( ), often known as Theodore Jr.Morris, Edmund (1979). ''The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt''. index.While it was President Theodore Roosevelt who was legally named Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the President's fame made it simple ...
to serve as game refuge and for other purposes for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. * ''Proclamation No. 214'' (1937) – Calamba Estate block was added to the Park for forest purposes issued by President
Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina, (; 19 August 1878 – 1 August 1944), also known by his initials MLQ, was a Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier and politician who served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 until his de ...
. * ''Republic Act (RA) 826'' (1952) – Transfer of the administration of the Makiling National Park from the Bureau of Forestry to the Commission of Parks and Wildlife in order to promote effectual planning, development, maintenance and conservation of all national parks, monuments and wildlife in the country. * ''Proclamation No. 692'' (1960) – Administration of the Makiling National Park was transferred from the Commission of Parks and Wildlife to the University of the Philippines (UP) issued by President
Carlos P. Garcia Carlos Polestico Garcia (November 4, 1896 – June 14, 1971) was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist, guerrilla and Commonwealth military leader who was the eighth president of the Philippines. A l ...
for forestry education and research purposes of the College of Forestry, subject to the condition that said land will be conserved and preserved as a national park. * ''Republic Act (RA) 3523'' (1963) – The Makiling National park was disestablished and then ceded, transferred and conveyed to UP issued by Pres. Diosdado Macapagal to serve as the land resource for carrying out a program of public education and information in forestry, with end goal of promoting general public appreciation of forest values. * ''Executive Order (EO) 224'' (1987) – Complete jurisdiction, control and regulation of watershed areas including the Makiling Forest Reserve was given to the National Power Corporation (NPC) issued by President Corazon C. Aquino in support of the country's major program of energy development. * ''Republic Act (RA) 6967'' (1990) – Administration of the Makiling Forest Reserve was finally transferred to UPLB by President Corazon C. Aquino primarily as a training laboratory for the advancement of scientific and technical knowledge on the preservation, conservation and development of forest, flora and fauna and natural resources. * ''Executive Order 121'' (1994) – created a Presidential Commission on Laguna Lake and Mt. Makiling Development to address urgent problems affecting the resources and to formulate a master plan for the development of the lake and the reserve which are seen as integrated ecosystems.


Places of interest

* Makiling National Scout Reservation, a campsite at the foot of Mount Makiling adjacent to U.P. Los Baños, which is being managed by the
Boy Scouts of the Philippines The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) is the national scouting organization of the Philippines in the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The Scout movement was first introduced in the Philippines on 1910 during the American Occup ...
this is the site of the 10th World Scout Jamboree in 1959 and 26th
Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific (APAC) is the part of the world near the western Pacific Ocean. The Asia-Pacific region varies in area depending on context, but it generally includes East Asia, Russian Far East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and Pacific Isla ...
Regional Jamboree in 2009 and 2010. * Mud Springs, a place which was known as ''Natugnos'', is widely accepted albeit erroneously as the volcanic crater of Mount Makiling * National Arts Center, a patch of land at the foot of Mount Makiling adjacent to U.P. Los Baños, which is being managed by the
Cultural Center of the Philippines The Cultural Center of the Philippines ( fil, Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas, or CCP) is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines.Presidential Decree No. ...
and the site of the
Philippine High School for the Arts The Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) is a specialized public high school in the Philippines offering arts-focused education established in 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1287. An attached agency of the Department of Education, it ...
, a special school for young artist scholars * Pook ni Maria Makiling, now closed, was an eco-tourism site adjacent to the Jamboree Site, National Arts Center and U.P. Los Baños *
University of the Philippines, Los Baños A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
* The CCF Mt. Makiling Recreation Center (known as MMRC) is a Christian recreation camp and retreat center owned by CCF and operated by RHI, located at Santo Tomas, Batangas on the slopes of Mt. Makiling. It is the prayer mountain and retreat center of
Christ's Commission Fellowship Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) is a non-denominational church founded by Dr. Peter Tan-Chi, based in the Philippines. Its main worship church is located at the CCF Center in Ortigas East (formerly Frontera Verde), Pasig. History In 1982, ...
.


Geographical features


Rivers and creeks

* Munting River —
Santo Tomas Santo Tomás is Spanish for Saint Thomas. Santo Tomas may also refer to: Places Argentina * Santo Tomás, Buenos Aires, Carlos Casares Partido, Buenos Aires Province * Santo Tomás, Neuquén Colombia * Santo Tomás, Atlantico Cuba ...
* Siam-Siam Creek — Calamba * Sipit Creek — Calamba * Pansipit Creek — Calamba * Pansol Creek — Calamba * Dampalit River — Los Baños * Saran Creek — Los Baños * Pili Creek — Los Baños *
Molawin Creek The Molawin River, also referred to as the Molawin Creek, is one of the many low volume flowing rocky streams crisscrossing the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños and some areas of the town of Los Baños. Molawin Creek crosses ...
— Los Baños * Maitim River — Bay * Calo River — Bay


Maars

* Alligator Lake, Los Baños


Cones

;Named as hills: * La Mesa Hill, Calamba * Mayondon Hill, Los Baños * Sison Hill, Los Baños ;Named as mountains: * Mount Bijiang, Calamba * Mount Camotes, Calamba * Mount Masaia, Calamba * Mount Cabulugan, Bay * Mount Buboy, Calauan * Mount Bulalo, Calauan * Mount Tamlong, Calauan * Mount Olila, Alaminos


Hiking activity

Mt. Makiling is a popular hiking destination. The two major trails begin at the UPLB College of Forestry and Brgy. San Miguel,
Santo Tomas, Batangas Santo Tomas, officially the City of Santo Tomas ('' fil, Lungsod ng Santo Tomas''), is a 1st class component city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 218,500 people. With the continuo ...
. The UPLB trail is more commonly used, taking 4–5 hours to reach the summit (Peak 2). This trail was closed in October 2007 due to trail damage wrought by
Typhoon Xangsane Typhoon Xangsane, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Milenyo, was a typhoon that affected the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand during the 2006 Pacific typhoon season. The name Xangsane was submitted by Laos and means elephant. Xangsane made l ...
in September 2006. The trail was closed again in December 2012 after two students were found drowned in a restricted area on the mountain. The trail was re-opened most recently in March 2013. The second trail, known as Maktrav, starts in Santo Tomas. This route is more difficult and requires 6–7 hours to reach the summit. Both trails are generally established and safe, although throughout the years there have been occasional reports of fatal accidents and injuries, especially on the Santo Tomas side. Climbers also frequently encounter leeches along the way.


See also

* Laguna de Bay *
Laguna Volcanic Field The Laguna Volcanic Field, also known as the San Pablo Volcanic Field, is an active volcanic field in the Philippines, located between Laguna de Bay, Mount Banahaw volcano complex and Mount Malepunyo range. It is part of the larger Southweste ...
* Mount Banahaw * Mounts Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape * Malepunyo Mountain Range


Bibliography

* (includes Makiling) * *


References


External links


Official website of Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems

Mobile website of Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems

https://web.archive.org/web/20161022082815/http://www.macrunners.org/
– Makiling Challenge, the longest running competitive foot race in the province of Laguna, organized by the Makiling Campus Runners.
University of the Philippines Los Baños

University of the Philippines System
{{DEFAULTSORT:Makiling Mountains of the Philippines Volcanoes of Luzon Stratovolcanoes of the Philippines Landforms of Laguna (province) ASEAN heritage parks Tourist attractions in Laguna (province)