Paint and travel on Siquijor island. These are my top reasons for going there. But let me also take you on a tour of the place.
Turquoise waters will welcome you to the island of Siquijor. This island is known for its magic and sorcery. I can’t say it is true because I was only concentrating on the turquoise waters.
One of the few islands that you will see this kind of water when you arrive at its port.
Siquijor island is the next island to Negros, the island where I live. From Bacolod City, I took a 5-hour midnight Ceres bus ride to Dumaguete City. I chose the air-con bus which leaves Bacolod Ceres South Terminal at 1:00 AM. You have to be at the terminal at least an hour before or you get the non-aircon bus.
When I arrived in Dumaguete, I took a 1.5-hour Ro-Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off) ferry ride to Siquijor. I have posted here some of the Ro-Ro ferry schedules from Dumaguete to Siquijor and back.
While onboard the ferry, I took the time to take it easy and painted the canteen. The attendant probably found it weird that I was watching him for more than half an hour.
They have a nice port in Siquijor, clean and orderly. They even painted a shed to welcome guests arriving. While I was walking out of the port, I saw many kids swimming and enjoying the summer sun. And from afar, you can see the coastline of the Siquijor.
Just outside the port, I asked a tricycle driver to bring me to my hostel. The rates are fair because they have a provincial policy on standard rates. I paid Php 200 for the trip. My driver was kind enough to let me stop at the nice church in front of the port entrance.
Siquijor Church
The National Historial Marker reads:
Church of Siquijor – The parish was established by the secular priests of the St. Francis of Assisi on February 1, 1783. It was then transferred to the Recollect priests in 1793. A priest named P. Setten started the building of the stone church and the building was also administered by Alonso de los Dolores from 1795-1831. The convent was also made like a fort to fight off the frequent attacks from pirates.
The church looked a bit small when you are looking at the facade. But I found it quite spacious from inside. Simple interiors but it is a strong building out of adobe.
The adobe bell tower of the church can be found a few meters away from the church building. It is strategically built on a hill as it is also used as a lookout for sea marauders. The convent beside the church becomes a sanctuary for the townspeople.
Shoutout to my “buotan” (nice) Siquijor driver Manong Domingo who is also my tourguide/fashionista/translator and bodyguard/ambassador of goodwill and my instant friend here in Siquijor. And oh, his last name is AMOR means love! Way too cool!
I love how Siquijor empowers its front-liners like the drivers of trikes and rentals. Manong Domingo told me that the province gives them seminars and training on how to be ready as tour guides for their passengers who are mostly local and foreign tourists. He also mentioned that the provincial tourism office would inform them of important events. Kudos to Siquijor local government!
I headed off to my hostel to check-in and leave my bags. I am off to the beach!
Paliton Beach
My driver drove me to Paliton Beach and I told him to come and pick me up at about 6pm so I can still see the sunset. When you go to Paliton, make sure you arrange your transportation Paliton has low to almost no signal at all.
Good news for Paliton Beach —> entrance fee = Php 0.00 🙂
Now we can start painting…
Time to enjoy the beautiful beach. White powdery sand. Clear blue waters around. Amazing!
And then…
View from Lala-o
I had to leave Paliton and go to Lala-o area for some early dinner. And I almost cried to have found this scene.
Siquijor Island Day Tour
So I decided to do the island tour for Day 2. I was thinking that I have done several tours outside of the country and not have done any here on our own.
I always assume I ‘know’ everything. But it is nice and surprising to learn more about the place from the locals themselves complete with stories handed down from their elders. And it doesn’t hurt knowing that we help our fellow Filipinos and the local tourism.
My Siquijor Island Day Tour included:
Old Balete Tree
Hapitanan Cafe
Church of Lazi
Cambugahay Falls
Salagdoong Beach
There were two other spots that I skipped because I already liked what I saw and did for the day. My driver just took me around the other side of the island. This tour is Php 1,000 pesos (US$20+). Reasonable enough and I very much enjoyed it.
Old Balete Tree in Lazi
The first stop at a little after 8:00 AM, is the 400-year-old Balete Tree with a fish spa. Trust me the fish were freakin’ HUGE! A Chinese tourist shouted like a piranha bit him. I prefer to watch hahaha…
Expenses for this stop:
Entrance fee for the Balete Tree and Fish Spa: 10.00
Toilet fee: 5.00
Souvenirs: 3 pcs for 100.00 so I spent 200.00
Coke in Can: 50.00
Whole Day, Siquijor Island Tour on Trike: 1,000.00
Note: Don’t scrimp on local day tours. It helps locals. Ask for reasonable discounts. Also, don’t forget the little souvenirs!
Off to the next stop. Chop chop!
Hapitanan
Hapitanan means “drop in” in local dialect Bisaya. Just a perfect way to call a roadside cafe. Here you can have a cup of coffee or get some fresh buko shake or buy fruits.
I love the swing overlooking a cove. Life in the province is such bliss. Enjoy the garden around the cafe too.
You were wondering about the surprise? This!
No entrance fee in Hapitanan but do drop some bills in the donation box.
The Church at Lazi
The church was finished in 1884 under the Augustinian Recollects who started the parish in 1857. It is made of hardwood and local coral stones. The coral stones give it a pink tinge under the heat of the sun.
Photos are part of your memories. Getting good photos of your experience not only tells of what you have seen but how you saw them (angles, framing, shadows, etc.) In taking pictures of the place, do not just click away. Try to tell your story.
Photography Tips: Walk around to see where you can find framing possibilities to compose your subject. Use the timer of your phone for selfies, capturing slow-motion videos, or setting up for a time-lapse. Use the panorama feature if you have to get the 180-degree or 360-degree feel of the place. Learn to use shadows for some drama.
The Lazi Convent is considered the biggest convent in Asia. It is a solid coral stone structure for its first floor and hardwood for the second floor.
Entrance to the Convent’s museum: Php 20.00 (Taking photos are not allowed inside the convent).
After going around the church and convent grounds, I looked for a place where I can sit down and paint. Thank God for the big, old acacia trees for the cool refuge.
Cambugahay Falls
It was almost mid-day and I need to take a dip. About 15 minutes away from the Lazi Church is the Cambugahay Falls. Three layers of falls of blue-green waters.
It is privately owned but the owners allow visitors to come from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM for FREE. At the entrance, you can buy refreshments and rent swimming vests. Make sure you bring back with you all your trash.
You have to go down 135 steps to go to the falls. Make sure you have anti-slip footwear when you go here.
If you have anti-slip footwear wear it so the steep 100+ steps down will be manageable. You also need to use it for going around the area. Be careful because there are no railings on the stairs down.
Cambugahay Falls is as enchanting as this island of fire. A must-visit! It was almost midday that I got here and a cool dip from these 3-tiered waterfalls is just amazing. I went under the falls and sat there for a good 20 minutes. Massage by the waterfalls = superb! And free!
Expenses for Cambugahay stop:
Entrance fee: Php 0.00
Parking fee: Php 20.00
Additional Photos after I went there last January 2020. Had so much fun with my friend Meann and Jenny. This was all before the lockdown. My last trip to the beach.
This I have to add. I salute this guy who climbed up the tree opposite the swing at the First Falls to take photos of these guys jumping from the rope.
Hungry? Try this skewered bananas roasting over charcoals. The Manang who sells these makes them roll over sugar crystals. Yummy!
Salagdoong Beach Resort
Salagdoong White-Sand Beach is in the town of Maria, Siquijor Island. There is a wide area for swimming in the light green waters and on the right, you have a water slide and a cliff jump.
I had my late lunch here and the servings are for two people so I ended up taking it to go. It is a bit far off from the highway so you need a vehicle or trike going there.
The entrance fee is just Php 25.00 or US$0.50. Proof that this place is really inexpensive.
What is nice with a compact tour is that you get a taste of each spot. This works for me. I can always go back to those places I like most and stay longer.
More Sunsets of Siquijor
If you ask me why I always want to go to Siquijor? Because of these…
See you in Siquijor soon!