Touring Siquijor Island

Aside from the pristine white sand beach of Salagdoong and a comfy hideout at End of the World Guesthouse, Siquijor has a lot of places to offer for tourists.

Beautiful Siquijor

Giant Balete Tree

The first stop of our tricycle tour was the giant balete tree of Siquijor. It took us 20-25 minutes before reaching this place. A lot of creepy stories about this tree have already circulated in the mainstream media. One of the creepiest stories I've read was about a villager who heard an unusual noise in the middle of the night near the tree. He thought that there was a late night fiesta or something. When he went near the tree, he found nothing and the noise abruptly halted.

Robbie and Ate Gael!

Foot spa FTW!

But when we went there, everything was serene and peaceful... well maybe because we visited the tree in broad daylight.

We went around the tree to explore its humongous roots and vines. A lagoon surrounds the tree where freshwater fishes thrive. Our driver told us that we can dip our feet in the lagoon. The fishes would then swim and eat the dead cells of our feet. It felt ticklish. Ahihihihihi. 

Hurray for the free foot spa!

Cambugahay Falls

Like any other falls in the country, one has to trek before reaching the base. It took us more than a hundred steps before reaching the waterfalls. Although nothing beats the 300+ steps of Tinago Falls in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

Prior our trip to the falls, the three of us saw a photo of it taken by Mica. The water was blue but when we went there, it was all murky and brown. It wasn't THAT appealing and 'bloggable' but Ate Gael and Robbie still opted to jump off the water using the Tarzan-inspired vine.

Salagdoong Beach Resort

The beach is so beautiful (actually, beautiful is an understatement) that it deserves a separate blog post.

St. Isidore Labradore Church and the Convent of Lazi Town

Everyone knows that I am not religious. The last time I attended a mass was roughly four years ago. Despite that, I still love to visit churches not because I want to renew my faith, but I want to see and appreciate its classic architecture.

St. Isidore Labradore Church of Lazi Town

The facade of St. Isidore Labradore Church is made up of coral stones which were intricately carved. Even if it is filled with grime and wild ferns, I still find it beautiful. It seems that the church ages gracefully.

Adjacent to the church is the Lazi Convent, Asia's largest convent according to our guide. It now functions as a school and a museum. We roamed around the convent but opted not to visit the museum since camera's are not allowed.

What I really love about the convent is its architecture and ambience. I felt peace while walking within the corridors of the convent. Solace.

History + Culture

Convent

In Retrospect

Siquijor is the most beautiful province that I have visited so far. Even the most mundane thing seemed extraordinary - roads, the boulevard and the trees.

Boulevard along Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor.

When I updated my Facebook and Twitter timeline about my spontaneous trip in Siquijor, people got worried. They thought that I would end up being eaten by Corazonangunangaswang or being played by witches through black magic. The truth is, I got enchanted by the island's beauty.

The locals were very warm and accommodating. They were genuinely hospitable!

Siquijor may have a scary reputation but the province is worth visiting.

Sunset at Siquijor.

Peaceful, laid-back and clean - these words perfectly describe the province.

I'd definitely come back to Siquijor to explore more places.