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MOUNT HIBOK-HIBOK VOLCANO
(CATARMAN)
LOCATION: Camiguin Province
ELEVATION: 1,250 meters above sea level
LEVEL: Minor Climb, Level II, Moderate
JUMP OFF POINTS: Camiguin Island
INFORMATION:
Mt. Hibok Hibok, popularized by the Philippine classic movie
"Anak ng Bulkan" where the giant bird Goliat came
from is located in one of the famous island paradise here
in the Philippines, Camiguin Island.
Hibok-Hibok volcano, also called Catarman, has a summit formed
of loose ejectamenta. It has several craters at or near its
crest, some representing shallow lakes. The present crater
area at the northeast slope facing Mambajao was mined for
sulfur before the volcano's activity in 1948. The first recorded
eruption of Hibok-Hibok ocurred in 1827. This was followed
by similar activity in 1862. Both eruptions caused destruction
to arable lands. In January 1871, earthquakes and subterranean
rumbling sounds disturbed the north end of Camiguin Island.
Landslides and fissuring destroyed trees and plantations.
When the swarm of earthquake ceased in April of the same year,
an explosion followed accompanied by a shower of rocks, dust,
and ashes. Destruction was complete within a radius of 3 km
from the new vent. The eruption continued for a week, and
a volcanic dome called Vulcan began to form 3.5 km from the
general area of Hibok-Hibok. After four years of activity,
the lava dome reached a height of 457 m with a base nearly
1.5 kilometers in diameter. Vulcan is quiet at present and
appears to have been unaffected by the activity of the adjacent
Hibok-Hibok. Vulcan's activity has been limited to emission
of small amounts of steam from crevices at the top of the
dome. In 1897, the area occupied by the present dome of Hibok-Hibok
emitted white sulfurous vapors, which ruined agricultural
lands. Sulfuric activity continued up to 1902 when a thunder
storm occurred around the volcano and a new sulfur vent formed
opposite the crest. Frequent subterranean sounds were noted
during the activity, which lasted for 8 to 10 days. The last
activity of Hibok-Hibok started in August 1948, with a series
of earth tremors. In December of 1951, this mountain had a
major eruption that killed 600 people. It was the culmination
though of an eruptive episode which began in 1948. In its
wake, the government created the Commission on Volcanology,
which is the predecessor of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology
and Seismology or PHILVOCS. The landslides and earthquakes
were climaxed by the crater outburst in September 1953. Hibok-Hibok
has been in more or less continuous activity punctuated by
eruptive phases. Cold and hot mud flows, or lahars, had developed,
especially after heavy rains, so that now they pose another
hazard to inhabitants living near the drainage channels of
the volcano.
Climbing Mt. Hibok-hibok is usually done in a single day
(ascent and decent) though you can spend your night on a small
campsite at the summit. Climbing Hibok Hibok is usually done
as a side trip from exploring Camiguin Island. And while in
Camiguin, you may also explore the other 6 mountains wherein
some are being prepared by DENR Camiguin as new hiking destinations.
LEGENDS:
Camiguin Island has a colorful legend as written on the Camiguin
section of this book. And as the locals put it, the volcanic
activities particularly the loud explosions on the island
is attributed to the Princess who became the Island of Camiguin,
calling her lover.
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