Siquijor: A Philippine Island Full of Mystery and Legends

Because of the thousands of fireflies swarming the island at night, the Spanish named it Isla del Fuego, meaning Island of Fire. Known today as Siquijor, it is one of the smallest and most beautiful islands in the Philippines, home to stunning waterfalls, caves, and beaches. For locals, however, Siquijor is still known as a mysterious place full of witches.

Island of Healers

Locals believe the island is magical and filled with witches, but the reality is a bit different: Siquijor is actually home to many traditional healers, and a three-day healing festival takes place every March. Nowadays, the island's most popular "healing method" is simply unwinding by the sea with a cocktail.

As soon as we stepped off the ferry, we rented a motorbike. This is the most practical way to explore the island, as many spots on Siquijor are connected by narrow, winding roads.

Salagdoong Beach

Our first stop was Salagdoong Beach, one of the island's most famous spots. Entrance was 30 pesos per person, plus 20 pesos for our bike, bringing the total to 80 pesos.

For thrill-seekers, the beach features two cliff-jumping platforms at heights of 10 and 7 meters. Although the height doesn't look too intimidating from afar, plenty of people climb up only to turn back around.

An Afternoon in the Villages

After a fun time at Salagdoong, we headed toward the nearby villages to explore the island's interior. What we found wasn't much different from what we saw in Palawan: incredibly warm, hospitable people living modest lives. In one village along the way, locals invited us to eat fresh mangoes with them; we chatted and took photos together.

Cambugahay Falls and the Century-Old Balete Tree

We started our second day early and went to Cambugahay Falls. Legend has it that the water here is magical and calms the nerves, and the view certainly makes it easy to believe the legend.

From there, our next stop was the island's oldest tree, a century-old balete tree said to be around 400 years old. Considered sacred by locals, this tree is also believed to possess magic. It is said that anyone who commits a fault must go to the tree and ask forgiveness from the fairy believed to guard it. According to one legend, this fairy once grew angry with the locals, causing children near the tree to occasionally disappear and pass into the spirit world.

Sunset at San Juan Beach

On our final day on the island, we visited San Juan Beach, famous for its magnificent sunsets. In the evening, as the tide receded, we had the chance to see various marine creatures up close, especially starfish. Accentuated by the clouds, San Juan gave us our final sunset in the Philippines.

As I left behind a whole month of memories and adventures on this island, I realized once again how unnecessary the fear and anxiety I felt during the first days of our trip really were. My old, comfortable routine is gone, but I feel far more alive. It turns out things are only hard until you start; I remain grateful that we found the courage to embark on this journey. Leaving the Philippines behind, a different story lies ahead: Malaysia, famous for its skyscrapers.