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Mount Madja-as is a large
dormant volcano A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates a ...
, is the highest peak in the island of
Panay Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of and has a total population of 4,542,926 as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City o ...
in the
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 ...
and second highest mountain in
Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao ...
, after
Mount Kanlaon Kanlaon, also known as Mount Kanlaon and Kanlaon Volcano ( hil, Bolkang Kanglaon; ceb, Bolkang Kanglaon; fil, Bulkang Kanlaon), is an Active volcano, active stratovolcano and the highest mountain on the island of Negros Island, Negros in the P ...
in
Negros Negros is the fourth largest and third most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of . Negros is one of the many islands of the Visayas, in the central part of the country. The predominant inhabitants of the island region a ...
. With an elevation of 6,946 feet (2,117 meters) above sea level, making it 61st-highest peak of an island in the world and the 9th-most prominent mountain in the Philippines. The mountain is most famous for its crown shyness forest,
mossy forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...
,
sea of clouds A sea of clouds is an overcast layer of clouds, as viewed from above, with a relatively uniform top which shows undulations of very different lengths resembling waves on the sea. A sea of fog is formed from stratus clouds or fog and does not sh ...
and rich for its diverse
flora and fauna In biology, an organism () is any living system that functions as an individual entity. All organisms are composed of cells (cell theory). Organisms are classified by taxonomy into groups such as multicellular animals, plants, and fungi; ...
and 14
waterfalls A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...
down to its slopes. Located in
Culasi, Antique Culasi, officially the Municipality of Culasi ( krj, Banwa kang Culasi; hil, Banwa sang Culasi; tl, Bayan ng Culasi), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44, ...
, dominating the landscape for miles around as far as 76 kilometers, the view of the mountain is still visible from
Kalibo, Aklan Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Kalibo''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Kalibo''; tgl, Bayan ng Kalibo), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the Province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...
, overlooking to the southwest. Mount Madja-as summit is covered by a
mossy forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...
. It is the highest peak of the
Central Panay Mountain Range Central Panay Mountain Range is the longest and largest mountain range in the island of Panay and Western Visayas in the Philippines. With a total length of long north–south and width east–west. Mount Madja-as is the highest point with a ...
, the longest and the largest mountain range in Panay island and
Western Visayas Western Visayas ( hil, Kabisay-an Nakatundan; tl, Kanlurang Kabisayaan or ''Kanlurang Visayas'') is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimara ...
. Madja-as is technically one of the most challenging mountain to climb in
Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao ...
, alongside
Mount Baloy Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
,
Mount Nangtud Mount Nangtud is the second highest peak on the island of Panay, in the Philippines and third highest mountain in the Visayas, after Mount Kanlaon and Mount Madja-as. With an elevation of above sea level, it is located in Jamindan, Capiz sharin ...
and
Mount Kanlaon Kanlaon, also known as Mount Kanlaon and Kanlaon Volcano ( hil, Bolkang Kanglaon; ceb, Bolkang Kanglaon; fil, Bulkang Kanlaon), is an Active volcano, active stratovolcano and the highest mountain on the island of Negros Island, Negros in the P ...
. The Panipiason Trail is technically most difficult in Madja-as, located in Panipiason,
Madalag, Aklan Madalag, officially the Municipality of Madalag ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Madalag''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Madalag''; tl, Bayan ng Madalag), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is Aklan's largest municipality by ...
and the easiest route are Flores trail and Alojipan trail, located in
Culasi, Antique Culasi, officially the Municipality of Culasi ( krj, Banwa kang Culasi; hil, Banwa sang Culasi; tl, Bayan ng Culasi), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44, ...
.


History

The mountain has been regarded as one of the most sacred abodes in the
Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao ...
since ancient times, as it is said to have been the repository of Sidapa's ancient sacred tree that is used to measure mortal lives. In mythology, the god of meteors, Bulalakaw, and supreme goddess of the Hiligaynon, Kanlaon, are said to have lived in the mountain prior to their change of abode. Pandaki, god of second chances, is also said to occasionally visit the mountain.


Geography

Its summit is above sea level, and it is covered by misty forest. Madja-as in
Kinaray-a The Karay-a language ( krj, label=none, Kinaray-a, krj, label=none, Binisayâ nga Kinaray-a or krj, label=none, Hinaraya; en, Harayan) is an Austronesian regional language in the Philippines spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique, Il ...
, means "mataas", "high" or "lofty". The name of the mountain is also associated with the Kedatuan of
Madja-as The Confederation of Madya-as was a legendary pre-colonial supra-baranganic polity on the island of Panay in the Philippines. It was mentioned in Pedro Monteclaro's book titled Maragtas. It was supposedly created by Datu Sumakwel to exercis ...
, a royal state confederation in Panay which existed from 1200 AD to 1569 AD. It is located in the town of
Culasi Culasi, officially the Municipality of Culasi ( krj, Banwa kang Culasi; hil, Banwa sang Culasi; tl, Bayan ng Culasi), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44, ...
in
Antique Province Antique, officially the Province of Antique (; krj, Probinsya kang Antique; hil, Probinsya sang Antique; tl, Probinsya ng Antique), is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is San Jose de Buenavista, t ...
. The legendary mountain of Madia-as has been part of Antiqueño's culture, history and literature. It has a total of 14
waterfalls A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...
and the source of four major
river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
s in Northern Antique, the mighty Dalanas River, Tibiao River,
Bacong River Bacong, officially the Municipality of Bacong, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 41,207 people. Bacong was the hometown of the Visayan hero of the ...
, Mali-ao River and the neighboring province of
Aklan Aklan, officially the Province of Aklan ( Akeanon: ''Probinsya it Akean'' k'ɣan hil, Kapuoran sang Aklan; tl, Lalawigan ng Aklan), is a province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Its capital is Kalibo. The province is situated ...
the tributary of
Aklan River The Aklan River is the longest river in the province of Aklan, Philippines, and third-longest river on Panay island (after the Panay River in Capiz and Jalaur River in Iloilo). Its drainage basin is the third largest in Panay. The river source i ...
the Madalag River and Dumarayray River. One can see some of the biggest waterfalls like white strands in the slopes of the mountain. To the southeast face Mount Madia-as facing to its neighboring rival, the 6,804 ft (2,074 m)
Mount Nangtud Mount Nangtud is the second highest peak on the island of Panay, in the Philippines and third highest mountain in the Visayas, after Mount Kanlaon and Mount Madja-as. With an elevation of above sea level, it is located in Jamindan, Capiz sharin ...
the second highest peak in
Panay Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of and has a total population of 4,542,926 as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City o ...
separated by Dalanas and Kigas River from Mount Madia-as.


Mythology

According to Visayan mythology, the mountain is home to Sidapa, the handsome and robust god of death and war who wore a crown made of golden horns. Sidapa is believed to possess a very tall tree where he measures the lives of all the new-born, and places a mark on the tree. When the person's stature equals the mark provided, the person dies immediately. Afterwards, Sidapa will reap the ''kalag'' (soul) of a person and bring it to Magwayen, who in turn brings the soul to ''Salud'' or ''Saad'' (place of the dead). Sidapa is said to determine the life force of a person by using magical trees in his mountain home. Bulalakaw, the god of meteors, also lived in the mountain. Sidapa and Bulalakaw are known to be good friends. Bulalakaw later chose to dwell in the sky to formally take on the role as god of meteors. Pandaki, the god of second chances, is said to occasionally visit Sidapa, who he is very fond of and loyal to. The supreme goddess, Kanlaon, is believed to have lived in Mount Madia-as for some time as well, however, she later transferred her abode to
Mount Kanlaon Kanlaon, also known as Mount Kanlaon and Kanlaon Volcano ( hil, Bolkang Kanglaon; ceb, Bolkang Kanglaon; fil, Bulkang Kanlaon), is an Active volcano, active stratovolcano and the highest mountain on the island of Negros Island, Negros in the P ...
in Negros island after the Hiligaynon epic heroes Kan and Laon slayed the dragon-like monster that lived in Mount Kanlaon.Isabelo de los Reyes y Florentino, ''Las Islas Visayas en la Época de la Conquista'' (Segunda edición), Manila: 1889, Tipo-Litografía de Chofké y C.a, p. 41.
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Popular media

On March 28, 2021, Mount Madja-as was featured on
GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...
evening show weekend,
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho ''Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho'' (International title: ''One at Heart, Jessica Soho'' / ) also known as ''KMJS'', is a Philippine television news magazine show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by Jessica Soho, it premiered on November 7, 2004 on the ...
. Featuring Mount Madjaas summit and sea of clouds, Bonzai mossy forest and crown shyness forest, the ''Enchanted'' Bantang River, pitcher plants, orchids and Madjaas trail. On February 25, 2021, Mount Madja-as went viral for the first time on social media after
ABS-CBN News ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs, known on-air as ABS-CBN News (formerly known as ''ABS-CBN News and Public Affairs'' and later ''ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs''), is the news and current affairs production and distribution divisi ...
posted some photos of the mossy and enchanted crown shyness forest covering Mount Madja-as summit, shared by the mountaineer ''Ompz Felicio''.


Hiking Activities

Hiking to the summit of Mount Madja-as is 2 to 3 days hikes via ''Flores Trail,'' with 8/9 difficulty. one of the most challenging and toughest mountain to climb in the
Visayas The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao ...
. The jump off start at Barangay Flores in
Culasi, Antique Culasi, officially the Municipality of Culasi ( krj, Banwa kang Culasi; hil, Banwa sang Culasi; tl, Bayan ng Culasi), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44, ...
. To the ''East-Face'' of Madja-as, is the hardest and technically most difficult to climb, the '' Panipiason Trail'' in
Madalag, Aklan Madalag, officially the Municipality of Madalag ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Madalag''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Madalag''; tl, Bayan ng Madalag), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is Aklan's largest municipality by ...
. Josue Alejo, known as " ''tatay Josue'' " he was a legendary lead guide to the summit of Mount Madjaas.


2003 disappearance

In March 2003 a solo hiker identified as Elyovic Gutierrez, from Cavite, disappeared, seemingly without a trace in Mount Madja-as, as he was descending from the mountain. The search lasted for weeks by the local government and rescue helicopter and his fate remains unknown.


Point of interest

1. ''Mount Madja-as summit'' 2. ''Mount Madja-as crown shyness forest'' 3. ''Mount Madja-as Sea of clouds'' 4. ''Mount Madja-as mossy forest'' 5.''The Enchanted'' " ''Bantang River'' " 6.''Libug Falls'' 7.''Sitio Kamandiga'' 8.''Barangay Flores'' 9.''Barangay Alojipan'' 10.''Dinawan Lake (Tinagong Dagat)'' 11.''Mount Madja-as Pine trees'' 12.'' Mount Madjaas Pitcher plant''


References

{{coord, 11.3892, 122.1629, format=dms, type:mountain_region:PH, display=title Mountains of the Philippines Landforms of Antique (province) Volcanoes of the Philippines