There are but only a handful places in the country where people get scared just by hearing its name. We hear stories about Balete Drive and Capiz where, they say, unearthly creatures roam the earth. And there also is such an island where stories of local black magic, voodoo and aswangs veer the tourists away from the real reason why the place is called the Mystic Island. But as I have learned by spending some time there myself, the “mystic†label of the place does not emanate from stories about the supernatural but from the almost undisturbed beauty of its rolling mountains and white sand beaches, so beautiful that new resort investors are just itching to develop. I am a living testimony to the real beauty and majesty of the island province of Siquijor. I visited Siquijor to regain some peace of mind and relaxation. I soon discovered, my search was an effortless task. Siquijor has its ways of making me succumb to its spell.
The island is accessible through the ports of Siquijor and Larena via fast ferries from three major destinations in the Visayas – Cebu, Dumaguete and Tagbilaran.
But getting there and staying for the weekend is not the problem --- leaving is. If you are coming in groups, it is advisable to rent vehicles for the duration of your stay. It will set you back P600-800 a day, excluding fuel and driver’s tip. But if you are seeking the Siquijor adventure alone or with a loved one, you could ride the habal-habal, a motorcycle that could accommodate three passengers, including the driver.
One of the most celebrated tourist attractions of Siquijor is not a place, but a man, who reaches the peak of his popularity during the Holy Week when locals search for talismans, gayumas and anting-antings. It is to people in his craft that Siquijor owes its mysterious reputation. Mang Juan, the area’s most prominent maker of these magical items, cooks his brewed concoctions like a quintessential warlock, the most of which are eventually made available for sale to ardent followers. He does not look anything like an anting-anting maker, coming from the impression of hermit-like men secluding themselves from the rest of the people. Mang Juan was extremely accommodating. I remember him sharing with us how he collects the ingredients for his recipes, a complicated task from what I heard. The only opportune time for ingredient shopping begins at dawn every Friday between Ash Wednesday until Good Friday. Preparation is equally tedious as Mang Juan is careful not to let any sunlight shine on his harvest until he cooks them. His anting-antings range from P500 to P1500, and although it would sound expensive for some, those who have purchased Mang Juan’s trinkets would have their own personal stories of their effectivity. Mang Juan is not difficult to find; he resides near Cantabon Cave, at Mount Bandilaan.
--Czarina Medina
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