Places to visit, tours
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Cambugahay falls
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in Poo, Lazi offer a refreshing dive in sweet water thoughout the year. Several natural pools connected by a cascade of waterfalls surrounded by tropical forest offer a diversion from beach live. From the guarded parking area a newly built staircase leads straight to the falls.
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Camp Bandilaan Natural Park
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is located at an elevation of 557 meters above sea level, showing many species of tropical rainforest plants.
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Bandilaan butterfly open range and breeding farm
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close to Bandilaan Natural Park on Mount Bandilaan. More than a hundred species of Butterflies inhabit this reforested area.
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Cantabon Cave
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is the most visited cave on the island though there are many more caves to explore. Please hire one of the local guides. After mastering the relatively small entrance you can enjoy a series of interconnected chambers showing beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. One of the highlights are the snow-white terrasses and pools at the end of the tour.
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Capilay Spring Park
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at the center of San Juan is a swimming pool fed by a natural spring source. Being one of the local attractions this place can be pretty crowded at weekends.
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Cove in Tag-ibo
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in San Juan offers a magnificent view from the cliff above. Only advisible for experienced climbers, the paths are not secured by ropes. The cove can be accessed from Ever´s Specialities on the highway, from there it´s a five minute´s walk.
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Kagusuan Beach
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in Minalulan, Maria should be visited by those who like natural beauty. A long stairway leads from the cliff above to the beach. Beautiful snorcling and diving place.
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Minalulan Bay
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in Maria is very worth visiting but not easy to reach because of the long distances involved. Beautiful coral formations and a lovely scenery are the rewards for the trip.
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Paradise Cove
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in Cangmunanang, San Juan offers a splendid scenery, though this area of rugged coastline is not easy to access.
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Salag-doong beach
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in Maria is located on a beautiful peninsula covered by light forest. Phantastic scenery, two beaches separated by bizarre rock formations. The beaches invite for swimming regardless of the tides. The government owned resort offers a hotel, several bungalows, a restaurant, bar and disco. Being a popular hang-out for the locals this place can be pretty crowded on weekends.
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Infrastructure
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Air Transportation
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the small air strip in Cang-alwang is only suitable for Cessnas and similar sized planes. There is no commercial traffic.
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Sea Transportation
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Larena features the largest harbour of the island, ships up to 500 Tons can dock here. Whereas until 2004 fast crafts like Supercat and Ocean Jet connected the island with Cebu, Negros and Mindanao at present only slow ships from Montenegro Lines, Palacio and Delta
are servicing routes from Larena to Dumaguete, Plaridel (Mindanao), Tagbilaran and Cebu. The only connection
from Larena to Cebu takes 18 hours, unsuitable for emergencies or the demands of modern tourism.
2006 a beautiful new terminal building with aircon and widescreen entertainment was finished and even inaugurated by President Arroyo-Macapagal. Since then the building was never used. Nevertheless passengers have to pay a terminal fee of 17 Peso per ticket.
Siquijor: at present the pier is widely extended. Up to now the Siquijor harbour is only servicing connections to Dumaguete, Negros by Delta Fast Ferries, two large and several small pump boats.
Tambisan: only a small pier suitable for pumpboats going to Dumaguete and Mindanao
Lazi: this Port is insignificant for Tourism, only freight vessels and pump boats are harbouring there.
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Land Transportation
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A ring road (national highway) is surrounding the island connecting the 6 towns. Some metaled and several dust roads are connecting the mountain areas with the coast. The circumference of the ring road is less than 100 km.
Jeepneys, Easy rides, Tricycles and even small buses connect all important towns and locations. The fares are affordable - a trip from Siquijor to Larena (10 km) costs 15 Peso per person at present. The mountain areas are served by "habal habal" drivers
on demand on single motorbikes.
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Banks,
Teller Machines
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There are 4 Banks located on Siquijor, but only the affiliates of 2 of them have any importance for travellers (teller machines):
1. Allied Banking Corporation, in central Larena
2. Land Bank of the Philippines, Magsaysay Street, Poblacion, Larena
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Electric Power
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is provided by Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative. It´s a 220 V, 60 Hz power net. Most households and also the resorts(!) utilize the american outlet and plug system. Since 2006 power barges docking in Lazi and Larena support the ageing equipment of the power station in Candanay. Since then the frequent brownouts (power cuts) the island suffered from in the past are pretty rare. Still the electric power on Siquijor is less than stable - that´s why most Resorts, Banks etc. use backup generators.
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Telecommunication,
Internet
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iLandlines are only installed from San Juan to the Larena area. The remainig island is usually communicating by cellphone. Meanwhile there are several towers of different companies on the island, so only some areas are without or very weak cell sites. In Siquijor and Larena a couple of internet cafe´s offer their services, rates are between 40 and 60 Pesos per hour.
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Climate,Topography & Geology, Economy
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Climate
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Siquijor enjoys a tropical climate with a mean temperature of 27,8°C (83°F). The mean humidity is 78% with average annual rainfall of 1305 mm (5137 inch). The dry season starts around January and ends in May. Typhoons are most possible from September to November, sometimes delaying ships departures significantly. Siquijor is rarely hit by desastrous typhoons.
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Topography
& Geology
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Siquijor mainly consists of Lava and Limestone formations surrounded by coral reefs. Because of the limestone substructure many caves and sink holes due to erosion have formed. Sharp edged lava rock formations with bizarre forms can be found in many coastal regions around the island, especially in the San Juan area. Fossils of clams and other shells can be found in the hills. The interior region of the island is hilly to mountainious, the highest elevation being Mt. Bandilaan with approx. 600 meters (1828 feet). The area around Lazi and San Juan is exeptionally flat.
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Economy
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The economy is mainly agricultural based, the leading export product still being copra.
One of the main sources of income is the huge amount of remittances sent to Siquijor due to the unusual high number of overseas workers. Thus the island has lost many talented and ambituous people leaving their families in dependence from remittance. This situation is allowing only to small and mostly self-employed businesses. One of the main problems is the credit system. Even the smallest items in the so-called sari-sari stores are sold by credit which is often returned late or never. This way many small businesses are often going bankrupt within short time.
The few profitable stores businesses - most of them in Larena - are mostly owned by chinese originated immigrants dividing the market among themselfes.
Tourism would be an answer to this poor ecnomical structure, thus providing a constant number of employments. But the few profitable resorts are owned and managed by foreigners. Government promotion of Tourism on Siquijor is inefficient.
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Culture
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Faith Healers,
Sorcerers,
Witchcraft,
Black Magic
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Most people on the island still believe strongly in sorcerers (mambabarangs) and healers (mananambals). Due to the fact that the population of Siquijor belongs to the poorest in the Philippines it is easy to understand why such a big part of the population is clinging to the old faith healing traditions. They simply have no chance to buy western medicine. According to the National Statistics Office seven out of 10 people live below the poverty line. Another problem is the inadequate education.
But even highly educated persons from other islands believe in Siquijor being the center of black magic, sorcerers, witches and zombie-like creatures, a high percentage of the general population is afraid of sorcery and related practices. To many Filipinos Siquijor is synonymous with sorcery, black magic and voodoo.
A substantial number of tourists from within and outside the Philippines is visiting the island on the hope to find their individual faith healer.
Many healers from other areas travel to Siquijor to obtain medicinal plants, some of which are believed to be endemic or possesed with increased potency.
During Holy Week’s “Witches Festival” healers and interested persons travel to Siquijor to meet each other, and to gather the ingredients for healing potions.
For those who are more interested in Faith Healing, Black Magic, Demons, Dwarves, Gigantic beasts, Elves, Giants and Zombies we recommend the excellent related pages in Gary Harrison´s
www.mysiquijor.com\MagicIntroPage.html
www.mysiquijor.com\MagicCreatures.html
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short History of Siquijor
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1565
Legazpi Expedition
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a small group of spaniards under leadership of Esteban Rodriguez set foot on the island of Siquijor.
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1795
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establishment of the town and parish of Siquijor.
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1901-16
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James Fugate was appointed liutenant Governor on Siquijor: implementation of local gvernment systems, social services, infrastructure development, public water works in Siquijor town, layout of highway system round the island.
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1916-20
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Governor Demetrio Larena, named the town Canoan after himself. Governor for Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
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1924-28
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Vicente Villanueva governor. Establishment of high school in Larena, later Siquijor State College.
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1932-38
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Sergio Jumawan liutenant-governor: improvement of infrastructure (Larena wharf and circumferencial road, telephone lines connecting all major towns) and public services (schoolhouses)
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1937
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discovery of manganese deposit, mineral rights aquired by governor Jumawan and brothers. Exploitation by Luzon Stevedoring Company. Economic improvement (employment)
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1938-42
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Nicolas Parami first governor, presumably killed by japanese occupation forces.
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1942-44
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Japanese occupation under occupation government. Appointed governor Sebastian Monera assassinated by guerillas.
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1946-51
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Marcial Pal-ing liutenant governor: reconstruction of damaged infrastructure
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1971
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Siquijor became an indipendent province
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sep 1972 - jan '81
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martial law under Ferdinand Marcos
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1972
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institution of Siquijor town as capital
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