Ilihan Hill

View from atop Ilihan Hill

No visit to Dapitan is complete without a brief clamber to the top of Ilihan Hill. The climb, which had not been difficult in the past, is made easier still with the concrete steps that the city government has put in place.

At the top of Ilihan Hill one can walk among the ruins of what used to be an old Spanish fort overlooking Dapitan Bay. Once there, it is easy to understand why the Spanish authorities in Dapitan chose to set up the lookout post atop Ilihan Hill. From there one has an unimpeded view of the horizon and could easily spy any approaching marauders from the sea.

Photo shows Mark, eldest son of Thad and Dang, with his son and daughter when they made their climb to the top of Ilihan Hill during their last visit to Dapitan in 2004.