Where did the Chocolate Hills come from? And no, they weren’t once made of actual chocolate!
This eighth wonder of the world, located in Carmen, Bohol, left out promising memorabilia to its visitors; a sight of giant chocolate truffles before their eyes, and a slight mystery of their strange formation.
In Boholano culture, many legendary tales were told from ancestors that the formation of the hills are far from strange. In fact, there are reasons why they are what they are. As children, they were captivated by these tales. In school, through books, from teachers and parents. They learned stories that explained how various natural wonders came to be, including the Chocolate Hills.
Below are a few different versions of the creation myths that originated the Chocolate Hills:
THE BATTLE OF TWO GIANTS
Once upon a time, in the Visayas Region, there was a flat island mostly covered with rice and corn fields. This oval-shaped landmass, which we now know as BOHOL, is the tenth largest island in the Philippine archipelago. During the rainy seasons, however, the fields and paths would become extremely muddy, making it difficult to walk around.
According to legend, two giants lived on opposite ends of the island, one in the north and the other in the south. One rainy day, when the ground was slick with mud, these giants had a hostile encounter. The villagers, fearing the worst, fled to other parts of the island as the northern giant initiated a mud-throwing battle. As the conflict intensified, it turned into a fierce fistfight, eventually leading to the demise of both giants. The mounds of mud they had thrown at each other remained scattered across the land, forming what we now call the Chocolate Hills.
*This legend may also be a local adaptation of the larger precolonial Visayan creation myth of the Philippine islands.
AROGO & ALUYA: A LOVE STORY
Legend has it that when giants lived among mortals, a gentle giant named Arogo fell deeply in love with a beautiful village girl. Though handsome and admired by many female giants, Arogo was a solitary figure. He often spent his nights sitting quietly by his favorite spot near the river, lost in thought or simply watching the night pass.
One evening, while Arogo was at his usual place, he noticed a stunning girl with hair as dark as the night by the riverbank. Her name was Aluya, and from that moment on, Arogo was captivated by her beauty. Each night, he would return to catch a glimpse of Aluya, who had unknowingly stolen his heart.
Soon, rumors spread that Aluya was to marry a man her parents had chosen for her. Heartbroken and desperate, Arogo kidnapped Aluya the night before her wedding. Despite her screams and struggles, the giant carried her away to his cave.
In his sorrow, Arogo tried to care for Aluya, offering her food and water, but she refused everything, consumed by her own grief. Her sadness was so deep that she eventually passed away, tears still in her eyes. Devastated, Arogo buried her and kept a solemn vigil.
For days, months, and even years, Arogo wept for his lost love. His giant tears fell to the ground, hardening over time and becoming the Chocolate Hills we know today. These hills stand as silent witnesses to the giant’s eternal, unrequited love.
MUDCAKES
The flatlands of Carmen were once a playground for giant children. One day, they started a contest to see who could bake the best mud cakes, gathering mud and “baking” them under coconut shells laid flat on the ground. Before the contest could finish, they were called home. When they returned later, they admired their creations so much that they left them untouched. Over time, these baked mud cakes became what we now know as the Chocolate Hills.
And there you have it, the origin stories of the famous Chocolate Hills. Who knows? One day, one of these tales might spread across the globe and even be adapted into an award-winning Disney film.
Which tale is your favorite? Let us know below the comments.
