Hidden Paradise of the Philippines: Siquijor

Written and photographed by Špela Koželj

 

How convenient it is to study in South Korea! I successfully finished my winter semester at the end of December at Chonnam National University and the spring semester only began last month, in March!

With so much time on my hands between semesters, I knew straight away that I would go traveling. And oh, have I traveled!

I have visited so many gorgeous places that have filled my heart. However, there was one specific place that left an even greater mark upon me. That place is called Siquijor, an island located in the central Visayas of the Philippines. Given the title of this piece, you might wonder why I am willing to share such a majestic place with so many. This is because I know that whomever I inspire with this article will appreciate the island too, and will perhaps help keep it as beautiful and authentic as it is now.

 

I spent only four far-too-short days in Siquijor; however, I lived each of them so fully. The island offers a variety of activities. It is great for nature-lovers like me, and I have heard from many people that the sights of underwater life are incredible, making it good for divers as well. Unfortunately, I do not dive – yet.

I was staying at an amazing hostel that also offered tents on the beach. Since I am a low-budget traveler, I chose a tent. This was not only because it was kind to my wallet, but also because there is no better feeling than waking up on the beach to the light of sunrise. That is actually what I did on my first day there. With some great people whom I had met at the hostel, we decided to wake up for the sunrise and drive with our scooters to see a yoga resort in the hills and practice relaxation.

So, after seeing the astonishing sunrise, we got on our scooters and drove up north. Unfortunately, the yoga class had been cancelled. Nonetheless, that did not prevent us from having an amazing time there. The view from the resort left me speechless! We could see half of the island from up there. What is more, I am a big fan of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and this resort had houses built to resemble the Shire! I would totally have stayed there, but I just could not give up my beach bed. Maybe I will next time because there will for sure be a next time on Siquijor.

It is always great when you start the day early. It was not even noon, but I had already felt as if I knew the island – or at least I knew its vibe. Siquijor spreads its tranquility, a very calm and alluring vibe that forces you to find peace within your body and mind. I consider it a crime to feel stressed there!

The highlight of my second day on the island was definitely the local people. I and a Hungarian girl who I had traveled with for some time decided to drive up into the mountains to find the island’s shaman. You see, Siquijor is actually known as the bewitched island among many Filipinos. In the past, many of them avoided this island because they believed it attracted dark forces and negativity. Nowadays, this is more like a myth; however, some people still avoid the island altogether.

I was interested in this story and determined to discover the truth (on safe terms, by all means). And so, my Hungarian friend and I explored the mountains where the shaman lives. On our way there, we happened to stop at so many different farms, houses, and family-owned restaurants that we forgot our primary purpose for visiting. We were having too much fun with the local people! They kept stopping us and inviting us in for either lunch, coconut milk, or just to sing karaoke with them.

This is what I love about the island so much. People are genuinely kind and good-hearted. Unlike in some other countries that only see Western tourists as sources of income, the people of the Philippines are interested in who you are, where you come from, and what your story is. I made some very good friends there and even met people who made me better as a person. Ultimately, I made connections that will last a lifetime.
After spending some quality time with the locals, we remembered what we had come for, so we asked some of the local men about the shaman. They explained to us that he is more like a healer whom people come to see whenever they feel sick or bad. They told us that he brings good luck only and his intention is to heal, not to spread dark forces.

Having become very trusting of Filipinos, we asked them if they could take us to him. The next thing we knew, one of the men was leading us even farther north to the place where the shaman lived.

“If you want, the shaman will perform a ritual on you, but only to check your wellbeing,” our new friend explained to us.

I was really considering doing it, though I admit I was feeling a bit nervous about the whole thing. However, the vibe was right, so I tried it. It was a fun experience, even though the shaman looked nothing like I had imagined. He was just a simple man who poured bubbles into you, which I admit sounds pretty ridiculous when put that way. Anyhow, he checked the aura of my body and told me I was in a very good condition. In the end, I believed him, and now I plan to keep being healthy, happy, and positive as always!

After that, we drove into the sunset and enjoyed the colors and the palm trees on one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen in my life, and I have been to loads of beaches! As much as I would like to share more – I mean, I could write so much about Siquijor that it would fill the whole April edition of the Gwangju News – I need to stop now because my contribution is limited.

I enjoyed Siquijor with all my heart, as any nature- and people-lover would. It is not a place for everyone, admittedly. If you cannot spend your holidays without partying, this is definitely not the place for you. If you are into fancy resorts, you might find some, but not as many as in Boracay, for example. Nevertheless, if you are someone who does not need much to be happy, this is for sure a place you need to see. Happiness is intangible in Siquijor.

THE AUTHOR
Originally from Slovenia, Špela is a 22-year-old student of international business who is currently pursuing a double-degree program at Chonnam National University in Gwangju. Besides studying, Špela likes to take part in all sorts of activities, such as volunteering at dog shelters, writing, traveling around Asia, and working on different marketing projects. She is a part-time traveler and full-time lover of life who is pleased to be a part of the Gwangju News.