Mount Pico de Loro
Mount Pico de Loro, also known as "Mount Palay-Palay", is a dormant volcano in Cavite province on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain rises to an elevation of above mean sea level and is the highest peak of the Mounts Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape. The mountain is one of the ancient volcanic features of Bataan Arc. History. Pico de Loro was first named by Spanish sea-farers which means "Parrot's Beak" as its pointed summit resembles the shape of a parrot's beak from afar and it is commonly used  as a signal by sea-farers to turn east to get to Manila Bay. Governance. Under the "Proclamation No. 1315 s. 2007" of the Philippine government, the Mounts Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape is placed under the protection and jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Geology. Pico de Loro is found within the Talahib Andesite rock formation (Avila, 1980). This is seen as being comparable to the Nasugbu Volcanic Complex (MGB, 2005). The Talahib Andesite is visible in western, central, and southeastern Batangas. It is overlain by the Mapulo Limestone (Avila, 1980), which is regarded  to be identical to the Calatagan Formation in the upper sections of Talahib River's western branch and also along the Laiya River. The andesite crystal structure is vesicular and amygdaloidal, with flow banding. Additionally, fine-grained, porphyritic, and medium-grained equigranular phases are included. Intercalated with the flows are thin pyroclastic strata. Propylitization of andesite is widespread, resulting in the formation of chlorite and epidote. Generally, moderate silicification and pyritization occur along shear zones. This unit appears to be equivalent to Wolfe and others' (1980) Banoy Volcanics, which they date to the Middle to Late Miocene. Hiking activity. Near  its summit is a lone vertical cliff feature called the "Parrot's Beak" or the "Monolith" that offers a 360-degree view of the protected landscape and the shores of Limbones Cove. Hiking has been closed for rehabilitation purposes since October 1, 2016. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the visitors prohibited the hiking activity from avoiding the spread of dangerous diseases. The reopening is scheduled for 2022, as the restriction level on quarantine status decreased, but no date has been revealed due to the renovation of the hiking trail following damage caused by Typhoon Jolina in 2021. Mount Pico