Cabalian
Cabalían Volcano is located in the southeastern portion of Leyte Island, Philippines. It is a stratovolcano composed of alternating lava and tephra deposits that rise 910 meters above sea level with a basal area of 25.8 square kilometers, basal width of 5.73 km, and a total volume of 9 km3. The volcano is characterized by steep radial ridges with deep gulleys. Its summit has an irregular crater rim with two prominent peaks on the southern side and a lake inside. Protruding on its north flank is an adjacent cone named Cantoloc Volcano, which is classified as inactive. Thermoluminescence dating results reveal an approximate age of 510,000 years before present for Cantoloc, whereas a radiocarbon age date shows a very young age of around 135 ± 30 years before present for Cabalían. Hot springs are present on both the eastern and western flanks of the volcano. Magneto Telluric survey data reveal the presence of a prominent high-resistivity feature beneath the main body of Cabalian Volcano, which supports other geophysical models that define the existence of a high-density intrusive body feeding the geothermal resource in Southern Leyte. Cabalian Volcano is part of the Eastern Philippine Volcanic Arc, which formed due to active subduction along the Philippine Trench.
The features of Cabalian Volcano including its rugged terrain, the adjacent cone of Cantoloc, and how the lake was formed has woven itself into local mythology. According to legend, Danao was the enchanting wife of a chieftain named Toktok. They happily lived at the summit in a dwelling referred to by the lowlanders as “Kang Toktok,” which translates in the local dialect to “owned by Toktok.” One day, Danao was kidnapped by Magkasa, a friend of Datu Toktok. Believing that Danao had betrayed him, Datu Toktok became enraged and brandished his “sungkod,” a staff that gave him power. The volcano shook, and lightning struck Magkasa as he attempted to escape through an adjacent mountain (Cantoloc), causing Danao to slip from his grasp and fall into a deep ravine where she sustained severe injuries. Tragically, Danao passed away, but before her last breath, she revealed to her husband that she had been taken against her will by Magkasa. Upon realizing his mistake, Datu Toktok implored the Gods to allow Danao to remain in their mountain home. His plea was answered, but not in the manner he had hoped. The mountain peak disappeared, replaced by a stunning lake that the lowlanders named Danao, forever honoring and immortalizing his beloved wife.
Other Names: –
Central Crater Latitude and Longitude: 10.27994 125.21564
Central Crater Elevation (masl): 740
Region: Region 8
Tectonic Setting: Subduction (Philippine Trench)
Volcanic Arc/Belt: Eastern Philippine Volcanic Arc
Volcanic Region/Field: East Visayas VF
Volcanic Type: Stratovolcano
Last Known Eruption: 1820
Morphometry Type: Sub-cone
Highest Peak (masl): 900
Coordinates of Highest Peak: 10.27913 125.21165
Prominence (m): –
Basal Area (km2): 25.8
Basal Width (km): 5.73
Volume (km3): 9
How to cite this page:
UPRI (2025) Cabalian: Volcanoes of the Philippines (NOAH Open File Reports). Distributed by the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, compiled by A.M.F. Lagmay. ISSN 2362 7409.
References:
Camit, Rex, Raymund DC Leynes, and Nilo A. Apuada. “Remote sensing Application in evaluating the Southern Leyte Geothermal Project (SLGP), Southern Leyte, Philippines.” INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING 33.B7/1; PART 7 (2000): 221-227.
Catane, J. P. U., and Nilo A. Apuada. “Structure and Geothermal Potential of Mt. Cabalian, Southern Leyte, Philippines Based on Gravity and Magnetotelluric Data.” TRANSACTIONS-GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES COUNCIL (1998): 465-470.
Commission on Volcanology (COMVOL), 1981. Catalogue of Philippine volcanoes and solfataric areas. Philippine Commission on Volcanology, compiled by B. Yambao and G.A. Andal, 87 p.
IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth’s Interior.
Global Volcanism Program, 2024. [volcano] (number) in [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.2.1; 3 Jul 2024). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2024.5.2
Loreto, Raffy Andrew Garcia, et al. “Disaster Risks of the Seven Filipino-Spanish Churches of the Diocese of Maasin, Philippines| Disaster Risks ng Pitong Pilipino-Espanyol na Simbahan ng Diyosesis ng Maasin sa Pilipinas.” SPAFA Journal 5 (2021).
Neumann van Padang M, 1953. Philippine Islands and Cochin China. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 2: 1-49. Newhall C G, 2008. (pers. comm.).
Rosell, Josephine B., and Maribel C. Zaide-Delfin. “Resource potential of the southern Leyte geothermal prospect, Philippines: A geologic evaluation.” Proceedings World Geothermal Congress. 2005.
Marfito, Bryan J., Deo Carlo E. Llamas, and Mario A. Aurelio. “Geometry and segmentation of the Philippine Fault in Surigao Strait.” Frontiers in Earth Science 10 (2022): 799803.
PHIVOLCS, 2018-. Volcanoes of the Philippines. https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/volcano-hazard/volcanoes-of-the-philippines.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – Department of Science and Technology (PHIVOLCS-DOST). (2007). The Ready Project: Volcanic Hazard Map of Cabalian Volcano. Province of Southern Leyte, Region VIII-Eastern Visayas. Hazards Mapping and Assessment for Effective Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (READY) Project
PHIVOLCS-LAVA Eruption History. https://wovodat.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/volcano/erupt-history
Province of Southern Leyte https://southernleyte.gov.ph/san-juan/san-juan-tourism-site/lake-danao-2/
Yumul Jr, Graciano P., et al. “Subduction with arrested volcanism: Compressional regime in volcanic arc gap formation along east Mindanao, Philippines.” Journal of Asian Earth Sciences: X 4 (2020): 100030.