Bill to rename Mt. Manunggal filed

CEBU, Philippines - Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. has filed House Bill No. 4125 which will change the name of Mount Manunggal in barangay Magsaysay, municipality of Balamban, Cebu to “Mount Ramon F. Magsaysay.”

This is to honor former President Ramon Magsaysay, known to have served the country as a great leader and champion of the masses.

Mount Manunggal is the crash site of the plane, “Mt. Pinatubo,” which was taking Magsaysay out of Cebu on March 17, 1957.

According to Alcover, the incident brought the “untimely demise of the most beloved president of the Philippines and cut short an administration that, perhaps, for the first time, truly put the interest of the masses, the common tao, above all else.”

An annual trek is held to commemorate his death.

In filing the bill, Alcover of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Partylist, said that the word “Manunggal” sounds like, and could easily be associated with, “Manananggal” which, in Filipino folklore, is a creature who can cut its body in half from its waist and preys on human heart.

“This possibility that Mount Manunggal could be mistakenly associated with a pejorative word might have an unintended consequence on the significance of Mount Manunggal to Philippine history or even to the name of the man intimately connected with the place,” Alcover said.

Alcover said that the pro-poor agenda of Magsaysay administration earned him the title, “The Champion of the Masses” but unfortunately, while doing his rounds in the country to feel the pulse of the masses and listen to their concerns, he lost his life.

“Therefore, to immortalize the legacy of a great leader that has captured the heart of the Filipino people, it is high time to change the name of Mount Manunggal, where President Ramon Magsaysay lost his life while in a tour of duty, to “Mount Ramon F. Magsaysay” for his honor,” Alcover said.

Alcover earlier planned that once the bill is approved into law, ANAD will adopt the place as tourist destination and spend for its environmental protection.

Mt. Manunggal is located in Barangay Magsaysay, Balamban, and rises to a height of 1,003 meters above sea level.

It is accessible through many trails but the trail from Tagba-o and Cantipla in Tabunan, Cebu City is the main route from which the yearly Pres. Ramon Magsaysay Death Anniversary Climb is held.

Mt. Manunggal is within the enclave of the Central Cebu National Park and is protected by Republic Act 8457, otherwise known as the “Central Cebu Protected Landscape Act”; which also covers the Mananga-Kotkot-Lusaran river system, the Sudlon National Park and the watersheds of Buhisan, Mananga and Lusaran.

The trail to Mt. Manunggal from the jump-off point at the river that separates Cebu City from Balamban is quite steep and could be achieved in about four to seven hours for first-timers, and about two to three hours for those familiar with its terrain. (FREEMAN)