|
The
CHOCOLATE HILLS
The world-renowned cone-shaped
Chocolate Hills is Nature's expression of beauty, mystery and romance.
Spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, the Chocolate
Hills is the province's signature attraction
 |
. It consists
of approximately 1,268 hay cock hills with heights ranging from 40 to
120 meters. Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered
as a National Geologic Movement. During the summers, the dome-shaped
grass covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown, transforming the
area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate "kisses"
Two of the highest hills
have been developed and provided with facilities such as a restaurant,
hostel and view deck.
|
Chocolate Hills dot the plains of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. There are at
least 1,776 uniform hills that leave visitors no wonder how they came to be.
One could view and even count the hills its 210 feet above the ground view
deck, Climbing the 214 steps of the view deck to the top is a rewarding exercise.
Chocolate Hills is also cited as a Geological Movement of the country and
is also known as the Eight Wonder of the World.
The LEGEND
Legend
has it that when giants live with mortals, a gentle giant fell in love with
a beautiful village girl.
Agoro , the giant was handsome and though a favorite among female giants,
was also a loner. When everything and everybody sleeps, Arogo would sit by
his favorite spot near the river to ponder or just watch the night pass by.
One night while Arogo was by his spot, he noticed a beautiful native girl
with hair as black as the night by the river bank. He instantly fell in love
with Aluya. After that night. Arogo would always wait by his place to take
a glimpse at his beloved Aluya.
A rumor reached Arogo that Aluya would soon marry a man her parents chose
for her.
The night before Aluya's wedding, Agoro kidnapped Aluya.
Seeing a giant, Aluya screamed, kicked and cried, but to no avail. Arogo was
successful in abducting Aluya.
In the giant's cave,
Arogo tried to give Aluya food and water but the girl kept on crying. Her
sadness reached her heart that she died with tears in her eyes. Arogo buried
her and kept his vigil. He cried for days and months. Giant tears fell to
the ground. He cried a thousand years for the loss of his love.
After sometime, Arogo's tears hardened and became what we know today as Chocolate
hills. The Hills were witnesses of an unrequited love of the years go by.
|