Enchanting Siquijor

It was hard to believe what was right in front of our eyes — the cascades of crystalline blue-green water had me hypnotized, and we had the waterfalls all to ourselves. I look around and think — friends, we’ve made it to paradise.

Siquijor is a gem of a find, one of the places that really makes me want to know my home country better. It blew my mind thinking how an island as accessible and gorgeous as this one could stay under the radar for so long. As I looked around to see my co-passengers at the ferry from Dumaguete, almost more than half were actually foreigners, aside from the few locals making their way home. And then there were us, a gang of giddy local backpackers — not a usual sighting, I guess.

Maybe it’s because usually when Siquijor is mentioned among Filipinos, it is not without the quips about black magic and creatures of the night. It’s such a shame though, because yes, Siquijor for me was bewitching, but all for reasons right and good.

When our ferry docked at Larena port, the white sand and sparkling beryl waves reeled me in instantly. A few paces away was the St. Francis Assisi Church, where I gushed in gratitude to The One Above for the path that led me to this haven. We then caught a tricycle ride (P500 for all four of us) to take us to Salagdoong Beach Resort at the town of Maria at the other side of the island. Siquijor is blessed with a long magnificient white coast; the coastal road that grazed along it was impressive too, as we hardly had to go on rough roads. It boasted of the efficiency of the local government, which as a Filipino, you’ll never take for granted.

Around half an hour later, we got off the main road and turned left into what looked like a forest enclave. We were swallowed by the trees, and at the path’s end was finally Salagdoong Beach Resort. As a government-owned hotel, not only was it affordable, the resort also showed off one of Siquijor’s best assets: Salagdoong Beach. Easy Sunday merriment filled the air, as families and groups of friends soaked in the sun and waded in the water. We settled in and snoozed off a bit, before capping off the day with a Grilling Fish 101 crash course from the boys.

Morning came, and we arranged for a van to take us for a tour around the island. We stopped at two more big churches (a lot of them seemed to dot the place), before scooting off to Cambugahay Falls at Lazi.

We parked by the side of the road and went down 135 steps of stone stairs (again, very nicely made by the local government). And lo and behold, at its end, paradise awaited.

By then, I knew I was in love. How can one not go crazy at the sight of multi-tiered waterfalls, all yours for the taking? (again, if you didn’t catch it: MULTI-TIERED WATERFALLS!) My mind was sent to a frenzy, trying to brainstorm on how I can save up money to buy a piece of land in Siquijor; all I knew was that I wanted this sanctuary to be always within reach!

I could already imagine the perfect day — me taking a motorbike to the falls, and then spending the whole day hiking and swimming along the stream, or jumping from the top of the falls. If you ask nicely, the locals can set-up a long, thick vine (think Tarzan-strength) for you to try your hand at swinging into the deep. This was the part I was most excited about, honestly, as I’ve never tried a vine-swing before. Alas, I wasn’t really any good at it, but just jumping off into some of the clearest water I’ve seen was enough to lift my spirits.

The falls were of course the highlight of the trip for me, but Siquijor offers a lot more sights to win your heart. If you’re ever in town, you might want to try these:

1.) Sample the Island Fresh Milk in Cangmunag, San Juan

I know pasteurized fresh milk was the last thing I expected to remember Siquijor for, but it was surely a good find, one I dare say is a must-not-miss. I regretted just getting the chocolate variety; you can get flavors like ube, mango, pandan and melon too.

2.) Grab some coffee (and score great views too!) at Larena Triad Coffee

Think Tagaytay — only that instead of a volcano, you can spot Cebu or Dumaguete in the distance. The coffee shop is on the top of a hill, with a big wooden platform for you to enjoy a semi-aerial view of Siquijor. (Oh, did I mention Siquijor had nice mountains for hiking too? And caves! CAVES! It’s just a nature-lover’s dream.)

3.) Learn how to age gracefully from Lazi’s famed Balete Tree — 4 centuries strong and still standing

If its age is not enough to impress you, there is also a spring on the base of the tree, which flows onto a man-made pool / fish spa. Yes, you can wade on it while enjoying being groomed by Mother Nature.

4. Catch a day pass at the island’s luxury resorts

We tried our chance on this one; unfortunately the resorts were fully booked and they had to turn away day pass guests. I believe chances are better on off-peak dates — if you get to peek at Coco Grove Beach Resort or better yet, Kawayan Holiday Resort, tell me how it goes. 🙂

5. Gorge on the day’s freshest catch at Lab-as Restaurant in Dumaguete

Okay, technically, this is outside of Siquijor, but most likely you’ll be making a stop at Dumaguete anyway. This gem is just a short distance from the port; hail a tricycle and tell them “Lab-as Restaurant” and they’ll know where to go. “Lab-as” means fresh in the local dialect, and they weren’t lying. The resto has a fine dining feel, but offers very reasonable prices for quality fare (for instance, a plate of baked oysters go for PHP 145 or ~USD 3.50). Everything we ordered tasted so good, that we ordered a reprise of almost everything we had. Try the kinilaw, grilled bangus (milkfish), Dumaguete Express, and baked oysters. Happy hearts + happy tummies = another perfect Philippine getaway.

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More pics? Then scoot over here: 2013-01 Enchanting Siquijor: Picasa Album

How to get to Siquijor
Catch a plane to Dumaguete Airport (DGT) and then hail a ride to the Dumaguete City Port (PHP 200 by taxi, PHP 180 by tricycle). At the port, catch the ferry going to Larena Port in Siquijor island. Here’s a good resource for the ferry schedules: http://www.siquijor.gov.ph/ferry%20Sched.pdf.

Casualty Assessment:

• Taxi from Dumaguete Airport to Dumaguete Port – PHP 200
• Ferry from Dumaguete Port to Larena Port (Siquijor) via Delta Fast Ferries – PHP 120
• Ferry from Larena Port to Dumaguete via Delta Fast Ferries – PHP 160
• Tricycle from Larena Port to Salagdoong Beach (and vice-versa) – ranges from PHP 450-500 one way
• Room for 4 at Salagdoong Beach Resort – PHP 1700 / night
• Typical meal at Yanz Kainan Resto at Salagdoong – PHP 100-150
• Van tour around Siquijor c/o Kuya Mike Casalta, a highly-recommended guide (+63935-8231433) – PHP 2,500 (fuel included)
• Fresh Milk at Island Fresh Milk – PHP 25 for a small bottle, PHP 45 for a big one
• Snacks at Larena Triad Coffee Shop – PHP 60 for a latte, ~PHP80-100 for a sandwich