Heaven is a place on earth and sometimes it settles on the highest peak of Misamis Oriental – in Dunque Hill or also known as Mt. Sinai.
Dunque Hill stands as the highest point in Misamis Oriental with its height being more or less 2,600 feet above sea level. Due to its high elevation, a thick, cloud-like fog sometimes envelopes the entire hill when temperatures drop which makes it literally feel like a mystical and heavenly place.
This heaven-like atmosphere has attracted the attention of Catholic devotees and now they use it as one of the places where they commemorate the death of Jesus Christ, thus, effectively giving it the name Mt. Sinai.
“The place is so solemn and you can imagine the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as he went up to the Mt. Calvary where he was crucified,” one of the devotees noted.
The solemn and tranquil atmosphere has not only captured the attention of Catholic devotees only. Soon after, various hikers, trekkers, and bikers were starting to climb the steep Dunque Hill just to be able to witness its profound beauty and experience first-hand the calming atmosphere.
Both devotees and regular visitors of the hill climb it to be able to catch the rumored sea of clouds that appears every once in a while.
As a result of the increasing popularity of Mt. Sinai (Dunque Hill), posts that point the way to the actual hill have been erected everywhere and background props such as pseudo-nests were added at the top to make photos look more fun and Instagram-worthy.
As a tribute to the actual Mt. Sinai, statues have also been placed at the top containing the Ten Commandments, a reference to Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God in the mountain. A small chapel was also build onsite for religious pilgrims doing the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week particularly on Good Friday.
Mt. Sinai gets very crowded especially during the Holy Week when Catholic devotees would be performing the Stations of the Cross on the hill. The hill has also adopted a serene atmosphere that makes it even feel holier than it already is. It is most serene during sunrise or sunset when the sun’s rays would break through the clouds creating a “holy light” effect.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
HOW TO GET THERE?
NOTE: Before going to the site, visit the Municipal Tourism Office of Manticao to get proper guidance at 0907-443-7442 or email mariairene51@yahoo.com.
Exact location: Brgy. Upper Malubog, Manticao, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao
The nearest populated barangay, Barangay Tuod, is located more or less 8 kilometers from Mt. Sinai. It would be best to make your way to this Barangay and then just ask the locals for directions going to the hill. You will know you’re close once you see posts saying “Mt. Sinai” that point to its location.
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