HISTORY OF MOUNT APO

The first two attempts to reach Mount Apo’s summit, led by Jose Oyanguren in 1852 and Señor Real in 1870, were unsuccessful. The first recorded successful ascent was led by Don Joaquin Rajal on October 10, 1880. Before the expedition, Rajal had to obtain permission from the Bagobo chieftain, Datu Manig. According to accounts, the Datu initially demanded a human sacrifice to appease the god Mandarangan but later agreed to waive this requirement. The climb began on October 6, 1880, and was completed five days later. Since then, numerous expeditions have followed, with detailed accounts documented by Fr. Miguel Bernad, S.J.

On May 9, 1936, President Manuel L. Quezon declared Mount Apo a national park.

Regarding its name, one theory suggests that "Mt. Apo" is derived from a nobleman named Apong, who was killed while trying to mediate a conflict between two men competing for his daughter Saribu. Another theory links the name to the word "Apo," which means “master” or “grandfather” in various Filipino languages.

WHAT MAKES MOUNT APO WORTH VISITING?