Watch the Healing Rituals at the Bandilaan Nature Park

Photo from: http://www.senyorita.net/2013/03/camp-bandilaan-conquering-siquijors-highest-peak/

We first went up Mt. Bandilaan, which is really just a fifteen-minute walk up – maybe even less. Though only 632 meters above sea level and a not-too-prominent peak, this mountain is culturally significant, being the sacred place where healers and sorcerers take their herbs and perform their rituals during Holy Week – in the same vein as Mt. Banahaw. Read More: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2014/09/hiking-matters-423-mt-bandilaan-and.html

Photo from: https://thetravellingfeet.com/25-fun-things-to-do-in-siquijor-this-summer/

Black Saturday on the eve of the blood moon, we went to Bandilaan to attend a potion brewing festival on top of the mountain. Every Good Friday local and international healers, herbalist, witches and warlocks convene to make concoctions in Siquijor. It is a tiny island located south of the Philippines.

Minerals, herbs, trees barks, plant roots and “other” ingredients are prepared and gathered together. Then a base brew for potions and herbal medicine with healing powers is cooked in a gigantic communal wok. This Holy Week tradition started in the 1930’s by the famous faith healers from the villages of Cantabon and San Antonio. Today the Philippine Tourism Department organizes the festival with different food stalls, healing and charms booths. Read More: https://pamobieta.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/the-faith-healers-of-the-paradise-island-of-siquijor/

BANDILAAN NATURE PARK

Photo from: https://pamobieta.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/the-faith-healers-of-the-paradise-island-of-siquijor/

Mt. Bandilaan Nature Park is the well – known hot spot of the Siquijor Province because of its grand beauty as the centerpiece of the province. It is also the highest peak of the Island towering at 557 meters above sea level (MASL). The Park was developed by the province many years ago, they added comfy benches, cemented foot walk if you want to hike and erected stations of the cross to make your pilgrimage purely divine. At the top of the mountain you will be astounded by the fresh breeze, the sight, and the purity of nature. Read More: http://www.reidiscovery.com/2013/05/mt-bandilaan-nature-park-exposed.html

Photo from: http://www.reidiscovery.com/2013/05/mt-bandilaan-nature-park-exposed.html