Ilyan Hill

Ilyan Hill is one of the landmarks of Kulaman. It stands out among hundreds of hills because its one side is rocky and dips abruptly whereas the other hills slope gently in almost all sides.

Ilyan Hill as seen from the highway in Barangay Buenaflores.

Photo by M. Linan.

The hill’s peculiar shape has inspired tales about it. The Dulangan Manobo have a legend on how the land formation got its name. The account in the next paragraph is taken from a paper by University of the Philippines professor Rosario Cruz-Lucero. It’s originally in Tagalog, and I translated it into English. Cruz-Lucero spelled the name Iliyan, but I prefer to use Ilyan because it’s closer to how the people here pronounce it.

A long time ago, Ilyan Hill was ordinary and had no name. It wasn’t different from the hills standing along it. A hunter named Ilyan was living at the foot of the hill. One day, he left his home to hunt. When he came back, he found M’lat Kum’l, an evil supernatural being with a hundred thumbs. M’lat Kum’l claimed for himself Ilyan’s house and land. Ilyan disappeared, and a hill rose where his house and land had been. This is why the hill is named after him.

I have yet to climb Ilyan Hill. It’s in my bucket list.