Siquijor Retrospective
The last time I set foot on the mystical island of Siquijor was when I was ten years of age. That was more than a decade ago. Back then, the island is more serene. Though it still has a particular serenity, it is now more developed than before. More business establishments have sprung up around the populous part of the island. These days, there are many cheap and delicious restaurants around Siquijor which are out of sight the last time I visited the place.
My father owns a small flower shop on the island, and it is also where both of my elder brothers finished their secondary and tertiary education. At one point in time, I would have loved to have lived there, but I know for a fact that I wouldn't be able to survive being an island girl. Don't get me wrong. The palpable wonders of living a rustic life on an island is a great idea, but the absence of the bright city lights and its crippled internet connection make it untenable for somebody who is born and raised in the heart of Cebu.
Quiet and brooding even at night, Siquijor is an island for those who seek calm adventures. Because some of its migrated somewhere else, it's not a surprise to find inhabited houses and buildings throughout the island. The simplicity of the place and the friendly atmosphere among its locals make the island a tourist-friendly place. The island boasts plenty of white sand beaches and historical places.
As an outsider, there is something undeniably appealing about Siquijor that lends itself to cameras. Below are some shots I took during my.quick affair with the island a summer ago.
Lazi Church - oldest church in Siquijor Island
Lazi Convent - oldest convent in Siquijor and in the Philippines
My momma! She said that spirits live in those trees behind her.
Inside Lazi church
The church was built out of coral reefs and egg white used as cement.
A description framed inside the church of the holy place. I'm not sure what was the language used. I'm guessing this one's in Portuguese.
We stopped by few restaurants to enjoy some food and beverages.
Love this pizza place which serves homemade pizza. They have a variety of pizza variants on their menu. The establishment is owned by a French national. For some reasons, most tourists visiting the island are Europeans. Contrary to the usual tourists in other parts of our country who are East Asians.
We stopped by another church (St.Vincent Church) parallel to the Catholic school where my older brothers attended.
My elder brother on a balcony near his former classroom.
Lola Tasing's house in Larena. The bright and lovely pink house is located right across the house where my father stays in Siquijor. Lola Tasing is one of the gentlest women I know. She used to give us gifts and write us letters back when we were younger and when she was still around. She recently passed away.
We visited the infamous Salagdoonong Beach in Maria, Siquijor to enjoy the scenic view of its pristine waters. I was surprised to see that a number of people enjoyed the water. A decade ago, we went to the same beach and nobody was there to enjoy the beach but us. It felt like we owned the beach. lol
My mom loves to have her photographs taken.
I caught a glimpse of Dumaguete's Silliman University!
The water in the Sibulan Port is jaw-droppingly clean!
My humble camera wasn't able to capture the beauty of the island and its neighboring places. I hope to visit the mystic place again. Hopefully, it won't be a retrospective next time.
love lots,
Tim
i haven't been to Siquijor
ReplyDeletebut your photos make me want to go.
❤ Ms. Kei
https://keileidoscopic.blogspot.com/
aww thank you Kei~!
DeletePlease visit the island. You'll never regret it. :)
Hello Tin, hope you're having a nice Monday.
ReplyDeleteHaven't heard too many things about Siquijor but your photos really took me there for a brief moment and I could really recall my childhood by living my early years in similar places back in Mexico where I grew up. As you I really prefer the city madness, even tho it is necessary to explore towns, calmer places and the countryside, everything has cons and pros and the most important thing is to get the best of everything and the meaningful details and experiences.
You're really good at capturing moments and pieces of the daily life, loved all the pictures but the strong and intense blue tone of the sea is to die for and keep my head dreaming for the rest of the day!
Best!
Pablo
HEY FUNGI
Awww tu eres muy adorable Pablo! :)
DeleteMuchas gracias for visiting my blog and reading my content.