Mt. Manmanoc, Abra (2,024+) | Deep into the Tingguian’s Stronghold
Malibcong, Abra: The journey to Mt. Manmanoc is already an adventure in itself. Deep into the most remote and unexplored parts of the Cordillera region is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered by fellow adventurers.
MT. MANMANOC (Traverse)
Jump-off point: Barangay Mataragan, Malibcong, Abra
Exit point: Barangay Pacgued, Malibcong Abra
Elevation: 2024/2046 MASL (subject to verification)
Days Required / Hours to Summit: 2-3 days / 6-8 hours
Specs: Major climb, difficulty 7/9
Trail class: 1-3
Trail distance: 19 kilometers (STRAVA recorded)
Features: virgin pine forests, mossy forests, rice paddies, local villages
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Malibcong: The Long Road Ahead
Reaching Malibcong, mainly, the Barangays of Mataragan and Pacgued is no easy feat. But as they all say, difficult roads lead to awesome destinations.
After a 10-hour trip from Manila, we reached Bangued, Abra for a final supply run.
Right after, we then continued on an almost three-hour trip going to Malibcong Poblacion passing through the towns of Tayum, Langalilang, and Licuan-Baay.
Malibcong is a municipality located in the province of Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines. It is situated in the eastern part of Abra, bordered by the municipalities of Bucay and Licuan-Baay to the west, the province of Kalinga to the east, and the municipalities of Bucloc and Boliney to the south.
The town of Malibcong is known for its beautiful natural attractions, such as the Malibcong Rice Terraces and several waterfalls and unnamed peaks.
Moreover, the Tingguians primarily engage in agriculture, with rice, corn, and root crops being the main crops grown in the area. The town also has a small-scale mining industry, particularly for gold and copper.
Mataragan: Into the Mabaka Stronghold
From the Poblacion, we were met by the tourism officer of Malibcong who assisted us on this trip. We then chartered a monster jeepney that will take us to the remote Barangay of Mataragan, around twenty kilometers away.
Where the paved road ends, the adventure begins. We opted to ride on top of the jeep as the dust clouds are thick along the way. This is probably one of the most thrilling dirt roads we’ve been into to date.
Fertile valleys upon layers and layers of Cordillera mountains, pristine flowing rivers, and thick pine forests welcomed us throughout the two-hour journey.
These fertile lands are tilled and sowed for centuries by the Tingguians. Also, the Mabaka Tribe, one of the major subgroups, are the ones who guided and welcomed us on this hike.
The Trail Less Traveled
We started the hike late in the afternoon, passing through rice fields, and small communities like Sitio Matalibeng (810m) and Sitio Putol (870m), under the scorching heat of the midday sun.
As the rice fields abruptly ended, a small section of fern fronds and thicket ensued which after a few minutes led us to the start of the Pine Forest.
The Pine Forest here directly rivals that of the mountains in Benguet and Mountain Province, the chilly breeze and the scent of pine accompanied us. One thing that stood out in this steep section of Mt. Manmanoc is the absence of trails carved into the mountain.
There’s no actual trail to follow, the migratory footpaths of the locals end at the water source near the foot of the mountain which makes these forests relatively untouched!
As the dawn approached, we reached a small cliff where we witnessed the expansive views of the mountains of Abra accompanied by the setting sun. What a way to cap off a long tiring day!
The campsite from that point is just a few minutes away, we set up camp and had dinner by the bonfire before calling it a day.
Manmanoc: Summit Push
The following morning, we started the summit assault which led us into a slippery river trail before entering a mossy forest.
The trail to the summit of Mt. Manmanoc is known for its steep and untouched forested trails that ensue into a mossy forest before reaching the summit.
The last section was challenging, but we still managed to arrive early. Also, we had to wait for the sunrise for almost an hour just a few meters from the view deck.
The view deck or as they call the helipad, was really a place where personnel and supplies were dropped off by helicopters. The area was once used as a resting area by the military when insurgencies were still active.
At the view deck of Mt. Manmanoc, hikers are rewarded with panoramic views of the Cordillera mountain range and the surrounding forests and valleys. The area is also home to diverse flora and fauna, including endemic species that can only be found in the region. Sadly, we didn’t had any clearing at all.
The real summit was a few minutes away. Moreover, the summit is filled with bonsai trees filled with moss and there are no viewpoints here.
A trail blocked by a log is said to bring you to the other summit which if you traverse will lead you to the municipality of Conner in Apayao province.
The Lofty Territory of Eagles
Mt. Manmanoc at 2,046 MASL is acknowledged as the rooftop of Abra province by the locals as the summit still lies inside the province. However, online maps say that Mt. Bangbanglang (2,467MASL) is the highest but is under the jurisdiction of Abra and Kalinga.
The mountain is said to be named as such as they tell the story of a large eagle called “Mammanok” who would often be sighted in the mountain. True enough, we saw two Philippine Eagles circling in the sky when we were in Brgy. Pacgued.
Also, according to one of our guides, Manmanoc means lofty in Tingguian.
Our visit to Malibcong was short but filled with memorable moments highlighted by the warm hospitality of the people we were able to meet and the preserved culture and way of life of the Mabaka tribe.
Itinerary and Expenses
Mt. Manmanoc (2,024+) Malibcong, Abra
Overnight Hike
DAY 01
1900 Meet-up in Manila
Day 02
0500 Bangued
0725 Depart for Malibcong
1020 Poblacion
1100 Monster Jeep
1300 Brgy. Mataragan 650 MASL
1415 Start Hike
1430 Sitio Matalibeng Km 1.8 810 MASL
1445 Sitio Putol Km. 2.8 870 MASL
1600 Watersource Km. 5.3 1070 MASL
1800 Campsite Km. 8.24 1600MASL
DAY 03
0230 Wakeup call
0315 Start summit assault
0445 Mt. Manmanoc Viewdeck Km. 11.36 2016 MASL, wait for sunrise
0620 Mt. Manmanoc Summit 2037 MASL Km 12.0
0700 Start Descent
0800 Campsite, breakfast, break camp
1115 Descend Back
1300 Brgy. Pacgued end of the hike
1630 Monster Jeep back to Poblacion
1900 Poblacion, Malibcong, tidy up
2100 Depart for Manila
How to Get There
- Manmanoc is located in Malibcong, Abra. Its major jump-off points are in Brgy. Mataragan and Brgy.Pacgued, some 25 kilometers away (2 hours) from Malibcong Poblacion.
- From Manila, take any bus bound for Bangued, Abra. (10hrs travel time, 406kms)
- Upon arrival in Bangued, charter a jeep/van to go to the municipality of Malibcong. Also, you can have your final supply run Bangued as there are no markets along the way going to Malibcong. (80.5kms, 2hrs travel time)
- Upon registration at Poblacion, continue the journey to Brgy. Mataragan on a 19.55-kilometer-long rough road. This will take you around 2 hours to reach the jump-off point. Currently, there are no roads visible in Google Maps or Waze.
- At Brgy. Mataragan, register and secure your guides (1000php/2 days – 1:2 Guide to Hiker ratio).
- We were hosted by Nox Taurus on this trip at 4500php/head, including all transport from Manila-Abra-Manila, fees, and camp meals.
- Contact the Tourism Office in advance if planning to hike Mt. Manmanoc.
- For more information and details, you may contact Malibcong Tourism HERE.
Mt. Manmanoc, Abra (2,024+) | Deep into the Tingguian’s Stronghold
Updated May 02, 2023
