Interesting Places to Visit in Siquijor Part 7

Planning a trip? Those who love to travel know the essence of all travel is about you and your enjoyment. Travelers know that the destination is a major part of planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into unfamiliar places, people and culture are paramount.

Expand your horizons and set your sight to the Philippines, an off the beaten path travel site! An undiscovered paradise made of thousands of islands and white sand beaches all around! A tiny dot in the map of the world, and yet a haven for travelers, backpackers, retirees and even passersby.

It offers awesome tourist attractions, magnificent beaches, hot spring resorts, colorful festivals, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable, English-speaking people! You will be glad you came, and we’re sure, you WILL come back for more FUN in the Philippines!

INTERESTING PLACES IN SIQUIJOR

We traveled to the Philippines with one dream – finding the perfect beach. Palm-fringed, white sand, pristine turquoise sea. You know, the works. The Philippines were on our radar for ages, after several of our friends visited and posted pictures of stunning beaches, world class dive sites and multicolored sunsets, we simply couldn’t wait.

The day after we finally hopped on the ferry and made the journey to Siquijor. As soon as we set foot on the island we were like ‘that’s it’. This is the kind of place we were looking for. There was a cute pebble beach right next to the ferry landing, with a few houses along the shore, and hills covered in forest. If this is just the harbor, we thought, the rest of the island must be seriously stunning.

Siquijor is famous around the Philippines for being the home of spirits, mysteries and sorcerers practicing voodoo and dark arts. The island was named ‘Isla del Fuego’ (the island of fire) by the Spanish, and Siquijor retains the nickname to this day. The name was related to the eerie glow surrounding the island when the conquistadores arrived, which were in fact in swarms of fireflies blinking in the twilight.

When we got to Coral Cay, the resort where we would be staying, the ‘that’s it’ feeling got even stronger. We were staying in a bungalow barely 20 meters from the beach – which seemed to have been taken straight from my dreams. White, soft sand. Azure wavelets lapping at the shore. Palms bowing at the sea. Hammocks strung between one tree and another. Bangka, traditional Filipino boats, moored in the shallows.

When sunset came, the sky turned multicolored – and every day, the show was different. One day the sky was bright and warm, the same color of a juicy orange. Another day it was blue-purple, streaked with highlighter-pink clouds. One day it was overcast, and the colors were muted – but as the sun approached the horizon it seemed to rip through the clouds, illuminating the shore with beams of light.

Yet, Siquijor will always be a special place, because it was the first time we found the Philippines we were looking for. Over the rest of our month in the country we would fall in love again and again, but Siquijor will always be our first love. Read More: http://www.thecrowdedplanet.com/siquijor-tourist-spots/

Salagdoong Forest Reserve

Photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/storm-crypt/2477754243

Sprawled over 202.15 hectares, the Salagdoong man-made forest is the biggest of its kind not only in the Philippines but also in the entire Southeast Asia. It is located in barangay Olang, Maria town in the beautiful province of Siquijor. Salagdoong derived its name from the Cebuano phrase salag sa doong, which literally means nest of the doong bird.

Mr. Agripino Lumunggo, a local agriculturist during the administrations of late Philippine presidents Ramon Magsaysay and Carlos P. Garcia, started the initiative of planting molave trees in the area. This was later on sustained by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the help of a people’s organization within the locality. Read More: http://www.aroundphilippines.com/2015/11/salagdoong-forest.html

Solangon Beach

Photo from: https://thelostkids.ph/2015/12/08/sunset-beaches-of-siquijor/

Siquijor’s magic lies in its natural wonders such as its beautiful beaches. One of the beaches of note is along San Juan’s shore, Solangon Beach. The latter has some of the finest sand and clearest waters in the region. It is the ideal getaway for those who want to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and a place of respite after exploring the island’s attractions. You won’t regret adding Solangon Beach to your itinerary. Read More: https://www.philippinebeaches.org/solangon-beach-siquijor-important-tips/

St. Francis de Assisi Church

Photo from: http://www.adventurousfeet.com/2014/01/part2-trip-to-siquijor-day-2-things-to.html

The faith of the people of Siquijor truly runs as deep as their history, and their churches, like the Saint Francis De Assisi Church, has also persevered from the past to the present.

Saint Francis De Assisi Church in Siquijor was established by secular priests under Patron San Francisco de Asis on February 1, 1783. It was administered by secular priests on February 1, 1783 and the construction of this stone church was initiated by P. Setten, a secular, and it was managed by P. Alonso de los Delores during the period of 1795-1831. The convent was built to be a hiding place from pirates. Read More: https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Saint-Francis-De-Assisi-Church-in-Siquijor