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Philippine Landscapes—Rare and Beyond Compare

by Mara Sugue

I was once asked about my opinion regarding the Philippine travel industry. My answer was, “It’s good, but it could be better. I really wish the Philippine travel industry would stop associating our destinations with other places.”

That’s why I had to catch myself when my first thought after seeing the beautiful view from Mt. Kapigpiglatan was that it looked like New Zealand—but what was wrong with that? New Zealand is beautiful, and so are the mountains in my country. The hills are lush, with green grass spanning the endless horizon, and there are cows everywhere! The only thing missing? Well, the Philippines isn’t actually New Zealand.

I don’t think that continuously likening our destinations to those in other countries does justice to our own country. It’s as if we’re implying that our landscapes need validation by being compared to more popular or well-known places abroad. We never see popular cities like New York or Tokyo being compared to other places to validate their appeal. So, why should we do that with our own destinations?

Such was the case when I decided to climb Mt. Kapigpiglatan. One of the reasons why I chose to climb this mountain is because I kept seeing social media posts saying it has “Bukidnon vibes.” For those of you who don’t know, Bukidnon is a province in the Philippines known for its stunning mountains and picturesque landscapes. Truthfully enough, Mt. Kapigpiglatan did look like the Bukidnon I saw in photos.

When I climbed Mt. Kapigpiglatan, a sense of familiarity struck me. The rolling hills and lush greenery echoed the images I’d seen of Bukidnon. However, as I continued my ascent, I discovered that Mt. Kapigpiglatan wasn’t merely a scenic mountain. In fact, its name alone suggested a distinctive personality.

Before my hike, I did some research and found that the name Kapigpiglatan was derived from the Ilocano word piglat, meaning scar (or peklat in Tagalog). Locals claim that Mt. Kapigpiglatan was historically used for grazing. It was also a hunting ground for deer and wild boars. The rain-carved scars on the mountain are thought to be the result of livestock bathing and wild boar activity.

The name is just one of the many factors that made the trail unique. Aside from some assaults, the talahib that lined the path made the journey both challenging and special. The occasional sight of cow dung on the trail was also a reminder of the area’s history as a former grazing land. Even the relentless heat was distinctly Filipino—a reminder of our country’s tropical essence.

The sun beat down with an intensity that might have been unbearable elsewhere, but here, it added to the experience. It was in these moments, sweating under the tropical sun and pushing through the talahiban, that I realized that Mt. Kapigpiglatan was not just ”like” Bukidnon or New Zealand. It was uniquely itself—a place with its own story, its own spirit, and its own raw allure.

As I reached the top of the mountain, the view of Zambales spread out before me. Like many other mountains in our country, Mt. Kapigpiglatan deserves to be appreciated on its own merits. The mountain was no stand-in for any other place. It’s a piece of the Philippines that deserves to be appreciated for exactly what it is, without the need for comparisons to other places.

So, why compare our country to other places when we already have our own breathtaking beauty? The Philippines is extraordinarily beautiful, and it’s time we honor it as such.

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