MYSTICAL SIQUIJOR

Okay, I confess.  I admit that the first and foremost reason why I wanted to go to Siquijor is its infamous reputation where it is known for – the intriguing, mysterious and unbelievable eerie stories.  Because the more stories I read about Siquijor and the longer it takes, it just convinced me even more to pursue my plan to put it on top of my bucket list.   But it is not that uncanny when you get there.  Because when I'd finally witnessed Siquijor in up-close and personal, you will not really feel the unfavorable anecdotes but instead your personal experience will just attest the positive reviews from the articles that I read in travel blog.  First of all, I like Siquijor’s coolness, calmness, peacefulness and most of all it’s welcoming people.  The hospitality I received from its local people, though we have difference in our local dialect but Siquiors is more than approachable to ask when you have doubt.  From its people to the place itself, Siquijor is sitting patiently and silently waiting to discover.  There are so many white sand beaches that are very promising as tourist’s destinations, most of them are still unspoiled and unexplored but the natural architectural landscape is already sketched to unearth.

Siquijor is very quite island.  At day, you have all the times at your own convenience to roam the whole island visiting its beauty.  When not in hurry, check its flora, greeneries and woodlands and the next day, you can spend your day to indulge splashing in its boasting blue beaches.  At night, you can feel like falling asleep to cradle as it is really very quite where you can hear only the crickets’ scream, flapping leaves of the trees and the unceasing waves in the sea shore.  I did not have the chance to try natural body cleansing through faith healers but for those who are enthusiasts of alternative medicines, don’t miss the chance – after all this is where Siquijor is known for.  But I think it is about time to disregard the stigma that always associates to initial impression when we heard Siquijor.  It is not that actually frightening and mystifying to go to Siquijor Island but instead there are more to enjoy the white sand beaches and splash that crystal clear cool water.  Enough to keep coming back to enchanting and mystical Siquijor.

Must see places in tiny Siquijor include the enchanted century-age Balete tree.  Under the hundreds of roots and vines of the tree is the natural fish spa.  Salagdoong Beach offers water slides and place to dive into the water in 7m or 10m high. The impressive Cambugahay Falls is a 3-level waterfall which is great for swimming.  The rope swing and slope tier can be used to jump.   The Guiwanon Spring Park is a new relaxing place surrounded with mangrove trees.  There are two old churches in Siquijor both are over hundred years built.  The San Isidro Labrador Convent reputed to be the biggest and one of the oldest convents in the Philippines constructed in 1894.  It is declared as a historical landmark by the Philippine Historical Commission. Saint Francis of Assisi was built in 1774 with stone and has the usual crucible form of the old Spanish churches.  Other beaches are the Kagusuan Beach noted for its picturesque seascape and rock formation, it is situated below a cliff and accessible by concrete staircase.  Siquijor Beach and more white sand beach resorts dot the coastal areas.  San Juan Beach is great for snorkelling and scuba diving.  All of them are equally great and amazing.  There is another nice water fall in San Juan called Lugnason Falls.  Capilay Spring Park hosts for natural spring fed swimming pool while Cantabon Cave for those who are enthusiasts of trekking or hiking.

Going from Manila to Siquijor takes two hours travel.  The commercial aircraft flies you for one hour from Manila airport to any of these three domestic airports: Sibulan in Dumaguete, Tagbilaran in Bohol and Dipolog in Dipolog City.  And the next one hour or two is your final destination.  There are two ferry terminals on the island: Siquijor town and Larena.   Boats are travelling daily.  Make sure to keep in mind their schedules as most of them leave Siquijor before 2PM as the last trip.  For a backpacker, in the port are the tricycle drivers who can serve as your tour guide.  You can approach them to find transient houses for you.  No need to worry for places because Siquijor is practically small island only and anywhere can be your point of start and accessible to all places.  If you are daring enough, it is possible to rent a motorbike.