AI illustration
Alamat ng Mt. Pulag
The Ibaloi and nearby peoples regard Mount Pulag as the home of the tinmongao spirits. They also hold it as the resting place of souls. At 2,928 meters it is the highest peak in Luzon.
Folklore is retold; versions differ.
Sources: Wikipedia: Mount Pulag (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikidata (CC0)
The story
Mount Pulag rises to 2,928 meters on the border of Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya, and it is the highest peak in Luzon. People say the whole mountain is home to the tinmongao, spirits of the place, and that it is where Ibaloi souls are said to rest.
The Ibaloi of Benguet have a long tradition of mummifying their dead and placing them in caves. The Kabayan mummy caves lie near the mountain and are listed as national cultural treasures. Other groups also live on the slopes, including the Kalanguya, Kankanaey, Karao and Ifugao. Beliefs about the mountain differ from one community to the next.
Today most visitors know Pulag for its sea of clouds at dawn and its clear night sky. The area became a national park in 1987. The old belief gives a second reason for care. For local families, it is a burial place and a spirit home, not only a view.