Facts
- Elevation: 1,868 m (6,129 ft)
- Prominence: 836 m
- Peak category:
Spesial - Region:
Mindanao - Coordinates: 6.0797, 124.8864
- Rating:
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Mount Melibengoy (also known as Mount Parker) is an andecitic-dacitic stratovolcano with a large 2.9 km-wide caldera forming Lake Holon (formerly Lake Maughan) near its summit. The volcano’s last major eruption occurred on January 4, 1641, resulting in the formation of the present-day caldera lake; it was recorded as far as Manila. Today, Melibengoy is a well‑known multi-day trek: hikers ascend via Salacafe or Kule Hunter trails to camp at the lakeside, but most treks stop at Lake Holon without summiting the true peak, due to rugged terrain and sacred status.
Two main routes:
Salacafe Trail (easier, ~3‑4 h to lake) with a trailhead in the west at 1,050m and the lake at 1,340m.
Kule Hunter Trail, an alternative route to the lake from the south-west at 1,260m. Kule is probably the best starting point for an attempt on the highest peak.
Most climbs include 2-day camps at Lake Holon, with the summit ridge requiring technical scrambling beyond the camp but rarely attempted in standard itineraries.
There’s a trail up from the east at Kleeng (1,450m) which doesn’t visit the lake but does reach a peak at 1,824m.
Practicalities
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- Getting there: Located in T’Boli, South Cotabato, about 30 km west of General Santos City and 44 km south of Koronadal City.
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- Permits: Permits are issued by the T’Boli Municipal Tourism Office, including a climb fee (~₱300), orientation, and guide arrangement. Hikers must coordinate ahead and are required to hire local guides and attend cultural briefings at the Kule Receiving Center.
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- Water sources: Lake Holon provides a clean, reliable water source at camp. Along the trail, Salacafe and other stream crossings around 1,500 m are reliable.
Local Average Monthly Rainfall (in Davao City) 
Location
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Origins and Meaning
Originally named Falen in T’Boli and B’laan cultures, the volcano has long been considered sacred and connected to traditional creation and spiritual myths. Mount Parker was named later after General Frank Parker, who “discovered” it on a flight in 1934; the crater lake was subsequently named for Captain Maughan, his companion. Local legends speak of a great tree whose fall caused the lake’s formation—and a deity, Sambulan, thought to reside nearby.