Mt. Manunggal proposal Pablo John: I was never consulted

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia yesterday said he cannot support yet the proposal to change the name of Mount Manunggal in Balamban town, which is under his district, as he still has to consult the people there.

Garcia told reporters that he just heard about the proposal and it was not mentioned to him by the proponent, a fellow Cebuano lawmaker, Rep. Pastor Alocover, Jr. of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) Partylist.

“I just wish that I had been consulted first because that’s within my district. I just heard the proposal. If I had agreed then I would have filed it if I agree,” Garcia said.

Alcover has filed House Bill No. 4125 seeking to change the name of Mount Manunggal in Barangay Magsaysay, Balamban, Cebu to “Mount Ramon F. Magsaysay” in honor of 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.

However, Garcia stressed that both names, “Manunggal and Magsaysay” are historic.

“While Magsaysay should be honored, I believe we should also honor the long history and tradition surrounding the Mt. Manunggal,” Garcia said.

In filing the bill, Alcover said that the word “Manunggal” sounds like, and could easily be associated with, “Manananggal” which, in Filipino folklore, is a creature who can separate 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 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. — (FREEMAN)