Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):
October 10, 1880
Don Joaquin Rajal led an expedition and became the first to reach the top of Mt. Apo on October 10, 1880.
Before the climb, Rajal, a Politico-Military Governor of Davao had to ask permission from Datu Manig, a Bagobo chieftain who demanded that a human sacrifice be made to please their god Mandarangan.
The datu later decided not to push through with his demand and allowed Rajal to climb on October 6, 1880.
According to a legend, Mt. Apo was named after Apong, a nobleman who was killed while trying to break up a fight between two of his daughter’s suitors. Apo also means “master” or “grandfather" in Filipino.
Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the country, and is situated between Davao City, Davao del Sur province and Cotabato province.
The peak overlooks the highly-urbanized City of Davao which is 45 kilometres (25 mi) to the northeast, Digos City (25 kilometres) to the southeast, and Kidapawan City (20 kilometres) to the west.
President Manuel L. Quezon signed Proclamation No. 59 declaring Mt. Apo a national park on May 9, 1936. It was followed by Proclamation No. 35 of May 8, 1966, and Proclamation No. 882 of September 24, 1996.
Mt. Apo is home to indigenous tribes that include the Manobos, Bagobo, Ubos, Atas and the Tagacaolo. For generations, they lived and thrived in the mountain which they consider as a holy ground. Mt. Apo is their place of worship, being the burial ground of Apo Sandawa, their great-grandparent.
The mountain provides them with a source of food and medicine, and has become the foundation of their spiritual and cultural way of life.
The stratovolcano is home to 270 bird species, 100 of them endemic, and is also one of the highest land-based biological diversity in terms of flora and fauna per unit area.
(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved
Photo credit: wikipedia.org
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment