President Ramon Magsaysay, the 3rd President of the Republic of the Philippines, was well regarded and loved by the Filipinos. He was called the “Champion of the Masses” as many of his causes focus on improving the lives of the greater population. On March 16, 1957, he flew all the way to Cebu City from Manila to speak at 3 educational meets. He boarded the plane “Mt. Pinatubo” at 1:00 in the morning the next day back to Manila but didn’t make it outside Cebu premises. His plane crashed on Mt. Manunggal, killing 24 of his crew and leaving only one survivor.
Up to this very day, locals and tourists stage a pilgrimage to the President’s crash site to offer flowers and prayers. There stands a giant white cross on the spot as a reminder of the charismatic president’s untimely demise. The journey itself to the crash site affords an awesome hike at one of the most lush mountain forests of the Philippines. This is where the Cebu Cinnamon tree, one of the most threatened trees in the world, can be found. You also get a stunning view of the great mountain ranges of Cebu.
