Silanguin cove - Punta Leon de Silanguin connection

I will write something which is very different from my previous blogs. It is a very interesting discovery that many people might have overlooked when they are in Silanguin cove. Maybe, this discovery is just a classical Pareidolia effect or a case of seeing an object or figure from some random pattern. Please find out and decide to yourself if my observations and explanations are convincing.

When I was cruising from Silanguin cove going to Nagsasa cove and searching for some interesting places to visit within the cove, I come across and found this interesting image on the mountain that is on the northern part of Silanguin cove. So I can remember the place, I immediately named it as Monte Leon or Punta Leon because this image forms a Lion on the Mountain side and a critical landmark or point to Silanguin. The figure I'm referring to resembles a big Lion lying on the beach that one can only imagine that this could have been carved, long time ago, by some artist or architect of the place. Silanguin could have been an important trade route for some seafarers before. If this is so, it was an incomplete undertaking from an old civilization and they left enough detail with proportionally placed head, jaw, front legs, eyes, neck part and body of a lion.

On the other hand, there is another explanation that this could have been natural and mother nature is behind the creation of this natural sculpture through centuries of wind, sun and waves.

This image that I will personally call Punta Leon de Silanguin is on the Northwestern part of Silanguin cove. If you are traversing this point, coming from Nagsasa, this image is on your left side. If you have going to Nagsasa from Silanguin, this image is on your right side. Ask your local boatman to alert you when making a turn to Silanguin because this image is on your left side. Ready your camera and have that souvenir shots of Punta Leon or Monte Leon de Silanguin.

The image below is the photo taken about 350 meters from the shoreline and can give a good view of this Lion Sculpture. If your eyes are good, you can easily spot the image that resembles a lion resting on the beach and facing the western part of the Philippine sea, as if the Lion is the protector of the cove.

To help you picture the image, I have outlined the lion image on the next photo so you can see how this creation is strategically placed on that part of the mountain. I'm really convinced that this is no natural creation and that it has been put there for a purpose. Maybe, we have lost its historical meaning or reasons but this type of detailed image, is impossible to build, if just winds, waves and sun have created this.

I can say that this particular art is very similar to the Lion rock of Sigiriya of Sri Landa or QianShi Mountain of JianChuan county of Dali Bai prefecture that use lions to protect some important places. Could Punta Leon de Silanguin sculpture had an important connections to these cultures long time ago? If so, the only difference I can see is that Punta Leon de Silanguin image is much much bigger than these two sites. This can only mean that the mountain lion of Silanguin site could have been the biggest Lion sculpture that have ever existed, if we can prove the purpose, history and connection. Well, that remains to be studied further. This is just an hypothesis.

The succeeding images will show how Lion is being used by some cultures to show greatness and strength of certain empire. Just to show that this type of mountain sculpture of a lion is not new during the old times and old civilization and the one in Silanguin could have been an abandoned creation that has been lost and never completed. Please note that this side of Luzon is very close the trading route of China and India and it is highly possible that this uncompleted vehemont artwork might have a connection to these cultures.

This is the famous Mountain rock of Sri Lanka - Sigiriya. This shows how they use Lion sculpted on mountain.

This is the Sphinx in Egypt with half man half Lion sculpture that serves as protector of the pyramids.

This is the Bali Dai lion sculpture on the mountain side. Again a Lion sculpted on the hill of a mountain.

This is just my personal observation and who knows we might uncover something from an early civilization that might change the history of the Philippines. Cheers!