Mount Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines, rising to 2,954 metres on Mindanao.
The mountain stands between Davao City and the province of North Cotabato in southern Mindanao. Its name is commonly interpreted as meaning “grandfather” or “old man,” reflecting local cultural traditions. Mount Apo is a broad volcanic massif rather than a sharply pointed cone and includes several peaks, rocky areas and a small crater lake.
Mount Apo is part of a protected landscape known for exceptional biodiversity. The Philippine eagle, one of the world’s largest eagles, is associated with the mountain’s forests, along with many endemic plants and animals. The area also has cultural importance for Indigenous communities, including the Bagobo peoples.
Mount Apo is sometimes confused with Mount Pulag, the highest peak on Luzon. Pulag is lower, at about 2,922 metres, so it does not hold the national record. Mount Apo’s exact prominence and volcanic history are discussed in different geological sources, but its status as the Philippines’ highest mountain is consistent.