An Unforgettable Detour in Tagoloan LDN - Conquering the Mighty Hills

Last May 24, my team had a roadshow in Marawi City, Lanao del Norte. We were all excited and traveled early, filling the car with lively conversations about various topics, including selling condos and different types of coffee. We even discussed toothpaste, joking about a certain brand that could help make you feel better if you're stomach is upset, but is safe to eat. We had a lot of laughs!

Our driver drove very fast, and we felt like we were in a race, so we arrived early in Baloi, Lanao del Norte. One of my colleagues lives there, and she suggested we stop by Mighty Hills, an overlooking tourist spot that excited us all. It was not in our itinerary; it just came out of the blue. Fortunately, the SUV from Filinvest didn’t have GPS, giving us the freedom to explore this overlooking spot at Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte.

Before heading to Mighty Hills, we stopped by her house to pick up 'Shayla' for us, Christian ladies. You can see them in my pictures; I wore a blue Shayla while my companion wore a purple one with beads.

As we approached the first entrance to Mighty Hills, we saw a big rooster. In the Maranao tribe, it is called a "SARIMANOK," a legendary bird.

Before you can get to the main site, you have to pay an entrance fee of 50 pesos per head and write down your names in their logbook.

I am so happy with my Shayla; it's my first time wearing it like this. What irritates me is that since I'm not used to wearing this headgear, it always falls off my head.

Almost all the establishments or amusement parks I've visited have a pond full of Koi fish, and they are typically the same color, such as this one.

As we enter, you can immediately see the stunning views, and there is also a large heart where you can take photos. However, it was a bit scary because the heart was swaying, and I was afraid that it would break and fall down the hill.

As you can see, I did not step foot on the heart because I was very afraid that it was moving; I might slip and never return. hahaha.

I am so proud of this lady, she really insisted on getting up there and wants to have this moment taken.

She was overjoyed because she had conquered her fear! Unlike me. When you are in the right circle of friends, they will help you even if they are from a different religion. However, we truly respect and love them.

This amusement park is similar to others, but its beauty lies in the stunning views, pleasant weather, and fresh air. There is no air pollution here, just breathtaking scenery. Fortunately, there aren’t many tourists around, allowing us to enjoy the place all to ourselves.

This heart was designed beautifully, multi-layered, heart-shaped, and painted with different bright colors, so that when you take pictures, you can see the tunnel effect.

This architecture is quite unique; it features a two-storey building that resembles a ship, reminiscent of something from "Pirates of the Caribbean." The first floor includes a café area where visitors can enjoy a good cup of coffee while taking in the view. On the second floor, large glass windows provide a 360-degree view of the surrounding space and serve as a dining area. The roof is inspired by Maranao architecture, showcasing a subtle fish-tail design.

I apologize for my large face in the photo. Although I don't intend to post it here, I really like the view, and I'm thrilled to be here. Despite the drizzle, we continue to explore the area. The place isn't very big, but we still have the opportunity to discover and enjoy it.

Below is the main entrance, and a man-made lake has been created where you can rent a boat and enjoy paddling with your family.

You can overlook the ocean, and from here, you can see Iligan City; the buildings are very small.

This location is also family-friendly due to its Disney and Marvel heroes, which kids are sure to love.

This area overlooks Iligan City and Iligan Bay, showcasing a vast forest. This view is not only beautiful but also revitalizing for the eyes.

Everywhere you look, you have a stunning 360-degree view from the top. This open gazebo is an ideal spot for dining, enjoying snacks, sipping coffee, and taking in the distant rolling hills and mountains. The atmosphere is serene, making it a picturesque location to appreciate the breathtaking natural scenery.

I definitely didn't overlook this spot! I like to think of myself as an angel on earth—hahaha! This place is a popular spot for capturing scenic photos. My photographer for this moment was a kid, which you can tell by the way he took the picture.

After the photo session, we made our way to the infinity pool to snap another picture.

We can only take a few photos because we are not allowed inside, and we have to pay another fee. So, we hurried to leave since we weren't supposed to be there. We didn't want to dip into the pool because we needed to head to our main destination, Marawi City.

This building looks like a fortress or a medieval tower. The upper part was made of bamboo planks and appears to have open windows. We have not explored this part.

The place was filled with animals from various countries, including a camel from the Dubai desert and an elephant from Thailand. We also encountered The Hulk, which can be found in the parking lot. The green bull is still a work in progress; it hasn't been fully dressed up yet. I recommend visiting when the weather is good, as the road leading to this location can be slippery and is not yet fully paved. Hopefully, it will be completed by next year.

This is also the main entrance and exit to Mighty Hills. The guardhouse resembles a giraffe or a seahorse. Although the road was somewhat slippery and muddy, we arrived at and left the place safely.

Sometimes, the best travel stories aren't meticulously planned. They came from a spontaneous decision, not a wrong turn, but simply an unexpected detour that turned into one of the most memorable experiences of the year.

This wasn't a pre-arranged tour with guides and packed lunches; this was an impulsive quest, fueled with desire for adventure and a promise of breathtaking views. And indeed it lives up to its name, The Mighty Hills. And sure enough, it takes my breath away.

Have you ever taken an unexpected detour that led to an amazing discovery? Share your stories in the comments below! And if ever you are in Mindanao, don't just pass through Iligan City. Look up those hills, maybe, just maybe, let curiosity guide you to an unforgettable adventure of your own.

This is me again, @luthis26. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing you on my next adventure!

Lead image edited thru Canva Edu Lifetime