Melo Villareal
PHILTOA Central Visayas Fam Trip Day 5 – Previous Post: Lunch at Lab-as Seafood Restaurant in Dumaguete City
Have you ever visited an island brimming with beauty, yet overlooked by most because its mysterious identity makes people assume it’s merely a home to magic potions, shamans, sorcerers, and witches?
Lola Conching – Bolo Bolo Healer
Perhaps the absence of tourists is a blessing in disguise. At least the island stays preserved, protected from pollution, abuse, and harm caused by careless tourists and businesses.
About the Island of Siquijor
Siquijor, popularly called the Mystical Island, captivates visitors with both its beauty and mystery. Originally discovered by Spanish explorers centuries ago, it is now a favorite destination among modern tourists eager to experience its allure.
Named by early pioneers as the “Island of Fire,” the mystique of Siquijor has grown through the years, now captivating international visitors much like it did the Spaniards.
Siquijor, just a few kilometers from Negros Oriental, offers about 72 kilometers of stunning beaches. Tourists are drawn to its clear blue waters and white sands, and all who visit are enchanted by the island’s spectacular panoramic views.
The Church of St. Francis de Assisi exemplifies Spanish influence on the island. Built entirely out of coral in the 1800s, it stands out as one of the island’s most unique and intriguing structures.
Siquijor is called the Mystical Island due to haunting tales of sorcerers and shamans said to inhabit its dense jungles. These mystical practitioners are rumored to either place curses on people or, conversely, use their powers to protect by creating talismans—amulets believed to fend off evil.
Locals widely believe that these magicians have the power to summon and control spirits. The origins of Siquijor are just as mysterious: according to legend, the island emerged from the ocean’s depths during a terrifying storm filled with lightning and thunder.
This tale is regarded as folklore. When the Spaniards saw the island from their ships, they thought it was on fire, only to realize that thousands of fireflies had created an optical illusion. Siquijor is a real place, and you should definitely want to discover it. Believe me, this island is exactly what you’ve always dreamed of.
Despite having only four hours of sleep, I managed to wake up early to get ready for our next activity—the Siquijor Island Tour. I can’t quite explain where all my energy came from, but I realized it was probably due to how excited I was. Visiting Siquijor again has been a dream of mine, and finally getting to do it felt surreal.
After an à la carte breakfast at a Coco Grove Beach Resort al fresco restaurant, we departed for our Siquijor tour. Our first destination was Lola Conching, a well-known Bolo-Bolo healer in Siquijor. The healing ritual involves a glass of water, a magic stone, and a bamboo straw. Lola Conching continuously blows into the water with the straw, causing sediments to appear. She replaces the murky water and repeats the process until it clears, at which point she tells the patient what to avoid for ongoing healing.
Following our visit to Lola Conching, we traveled to Lazi to see its 400-year-old Balete tree. A spring flows beneath the massive tree, and locals believe supernatural elements inhabit the area. Afterward, our accommodating bus driver brought us to the town’s Church of San Isidro Labrador. Situated directly across from the church is the Lazi Convent, which historians say is the largest in Asia.
The convent, built in the Bahay na Bato style, has a coral stone foundation and a hardwood second floor. Following our tour of Siquijor’s heritage sites, we set out on an adventure trek to Cambugahay Waterfalls. This popular destination features cascading levels that flow peacefully into a lake, which is said to possess healing properties.
After exploring Cambugahay Falls, we headed to Salagdoong Beach for lunch. Located on the eastern side of Siquijor, Salagdoong Beach is renowned as one of Central Visayas’ top beaches. Its shores are lined with white sand, and the waters are crystal clear. The beach is a favorite for snorkeling, and just offshore, scuba divers can discover an underwater paradise.
Siquijor truly amazed me with its beauty and cleanliness, especially at the port, which was the cleanest I’ve ever seen. Though I wanted to stay longer, we had to head back to Dumaguete. We left Siquijor around 3 p.m. and arrived in Dumaguete City after almost an hour.
From there, we traveled to Sibulan in Negros Oriental to catch another ferry to Santander, Cebu—our gateway to Oslob, where we would spend the night at Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort.
Moalboal Travel Tour Packages You Should Try
Follow and Subscribe to OutofTownBlog.com on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for more Travel related updates.
Read: Overnight Glamping at the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort
