Capilay, San Juan Spring Park

I am genuinely happy with the re-discovery of the Capilay Spring Park. This spring is what I would consider one of the many gifts Mother Nature has bestowed upon Siquijor that it is a shame that none of us were protecting it, cleaning it, taking care of it. For most of my childhood, the spring was sad and lonely and the waters were covered with leaves. I thought it was a scary sight that I only asked to visit the spring once even when I can see it all the time because it is located at the main highway.

St. Isidore the Farmer Parish Church and the Largest Convent in Asia

 

I come from the town of Lazi, Siquijor, and one of our pride is our convent, which is considered the largest convent in Asia. Growing up, I was very, very proud of this fact. Until the time I was able to study Southeast Asia history and ventured outside of the country that I realized that,

The Story of Lilibeth and the Pan Bisaya

On the way to our destinations during our Visita Iglesia, we stopped at a shanty alongside the road in Talingting (formally called Enrique Villanueva) to have snacks. The smell of freshly baked bread enticed us to jump out of the mini van. We were greeted by Lilibeth, the owner of the humble bakery, and we spied her husband and daughter kneading dough behind the glass display counter. There were no other tourists when we visited so we took a break and spent time talking with Lilibeth and her family. And this is her story.

How to Get There: Siquijor from Cebu by Bus

Traveling by bus from Cebu to Siquijor is probably the most popular mode of transportation to get to the island. If you are on a touristy or vacation mode, this route is the most fun because it is like hitting three islands in one trip. I would warn you, however, to be extra careful when taking this route during Holy Weeks (especially Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) and during All Souls' and All Saints' Days.

How to Get There: Siquijor from Dumaguete

This is a continuation of my How to Go to Siquijor series. If you haven't already, you can read my guide on how to go to Siquijor from Cebu by boat HERE. In this post, I will share my guide on how to you can go to Siquijor via Dumaguete. Dumaguete is a popular jump-off point for Siquijor. You can reach Dumaguete by boat from Cebu and Mindanao. There are also some flights by CebuPacific in Dumaguete from Manila and Cebu. You can also travel by land from Negros Occidental to Dumaguete. In this post, I will give you the most comprehensive guide on how to go to Siquijor via Dumaguete, with some insights and tips.

How to Get There: Siquijor from Cebu by Boat

Since high school, I have always been known as the “girl from Siquijor.” At a time when social media was still in its embryonic stage, not many of my classmates have traveled to Siquijor and only knew of the place as scary or the island of mambabarangs (sorcerers) because of television shows such as Magandang Gabi Bayan's Halloween specials. It used to offend me when people associate Siquijor with black magic but I soon realized that people make these kinds of associations because they never had the opportunity to travel to the island and learn about the place. Which to me, meant I was in a better place than them to let them know about our island, and correct any misconceptions. So, I started “educating” my classmates, my friends, and my acquaintances of the island by answering their questions and telling them stories. One of the questions I get asked a lot is — How do I get to Siquijor? In jest, I go home to Siquijor riding a broom. Haha. I wish it was that easy, but, unfortunately, it isn't. We do not travel to Siquijor riding brooms. We have several options, and, I'll tell you, none of them is super easy and relaxed.

Siquijor 2017 -- Tulapos Marine Sanctuary

Because Siquijor is surrounded by marine resource-rich seas, it is no doubt that marine life is bountiful in the island. There are several marine sanctuaries in the island and illegal fishing has been greatly reduced, if not eliminated. The Tulapos Marine Sanctuary is one of the oldest marine sanctuaries created in the island. It is definitely not the only marine sanctuary. Because the seas surrounding Siquijor is part of the very rich Bohol Sea, it is not a surprise that the Tulapos Marine Sanctuary would share in this abundance.

One Day Guide to Visita Iglesia in Siquijor

Siquijor is a pretty small island that you can tour on a day (or half a day if you don't stop over). Like many small towns in the Philippines, Siquijor is composed mainly of Roman Catholics although I must say that there are a lot of other religions practiced in the island, including Aglipayan, Protestantism, Jehovah's Witness, Iglesia ni Christo, Adventist. The most popular tour in the island would the the Visita Iglesia, not only for Catholics but for anyone, mostly because the island's churches are not just a symbolism of a religion but also the symbolism of the island's history.