Ilijan Hill: Bohol’s newest tourist attraction
TAGBILARAN CITY—Rising from the plains of Tubigon town in Bohol province, Ilijan Hill is more than a striking landmark. To geologists, it is a volcanic plug—the hardened core of an ancient volcano. To locals, it is a hill wrapped in mystery, faith and legend.
Last Friday, the Department of Tourism (DOT), led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, formally launched the “Enchanted Ilijan Plug of Tubigon Project,” marking a milestone in Bohol’s drive for sustainable and community-based tourism.
The groundbreaking and memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing brought together the DOT, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) and the Tubigon municipal government.
The project was Tubigon’s winning entry to the Tourism Champions Challenge, a nationwide competition that drew nearly 100 proposals from local governments. The Ilijan Plug emerged as the No. 1 project in the Visayas, earning P25 million in funding, awarded earlier in a ceremony led by President Marcos.
The “Enchanted Ilijan Plug” project will feature a summit trail and garden, a pavilion, an arts and cultural village and visitor facilities. It is envisioned not only as a tourist draw but also as a source of livelihood for the community.
“By investing not only in our already well-known and world-class destinations but also in emerging ones, we create opportunities—not just for promotion, but for jobs and livelihoods,” Frasco said. “We continue to invest in Bohol, recognizing its potential to carry the tourism landscape of Central Visayas.”
Under the MOA, the DOT will provide strategic direction, Tieza will handle the infrastructure and the Tubigon local government will oversee implementation and long-term management.
Solid rock
Gov. Aris Aumentado welcomed the development, saying it strengthens Bohol’s identity as the country’s first and only United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Global Geopark.
For Tubigon Mayor Marlon Amila, “the Enchanted Ilijan Plug is more than a project. It represents our hopes for sustainable tourism, new opportunities and pride for every Tubignon. This dream was built by the collective spirit and determination of our people.”
Ilijan Hill is best known as Solid Rock, a striking landmark visible across Tubigon. But for older locals, it is a place wrapped in mystery. Folktales speak of “King Antipone” and “Queen Fairystil,” of villagers borrowing wedding gowns from the hill and of a “wondrous Virgin” sighted there in 1952, whose fragrance lingered even when she vanished from sight.
