Siquijor island

Introduction

• Siquijor is an island province of the Philippines, located in the Central Visaya’s Region.

• Was once named by the Spaniards as “Isla del Fuego”, or Island of Fire.

• Believed to be a mystical island, full of witches and other supernatural phenomena.

Information

• Siquijor is the third smallest province in the country, after Camiguin and Batanes.

• According to the census of 2000, there are 81,598 Siquijodnons in the island.

• Languages are Cebuano, English and Tagalog.

Political Subdivisions

• Siquijor is subdivided into 6 municipalities. Siquijor is the capital and most important port.

>Enrique Villanueva

>Larena>Lazi

>Maria

>San Juan

>Siquijor

History

• First sighted by the Spaniards in 1565 during Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s expedition.

• Named “Isla del Fuego” because of the eerie glow from the island which comes from the great swams of fireflies that harbored in the numerous Molave trees.

History

• Esteban Rodriguez of the 1565 expedition led the Spaniards to officially discover the island

• They met the Island Ruler Legendary king Kihod while docking their ship. They asked the rulers name and the King replied, “Si Kihod” or I am Kihod.

• Spaniards thought he meant the name of the Island so they called it Sikihod. But they found it hard to pronouce so they changed it to Siquijor.

Interesting facts

• A folk legend also has it that many years ago when the magical island of Siquijor was still nowhere on the face of the earth, a great storm engulfed the Visayan region. Then there came a strong earthquake that shook the earth and sea. Amidst the lightning and thunder arose an island from the depths of the ocean’s womb which came to be known as the island of Siquijor, hence the name Isla del Fuego, or "Island of Fire." Oddly enough in the modern times highland farmers have unraveled giant shell casings under their farm plots, supporting the theory that Siquijor is indeed an island that rose from the sea.

Geography

• Siquijor lies Southeast from Cebu and Negros, and Southwest from Bohol.

Tourism

• White sand beaches make up most of the 102-km coastline of the island., it is a famous for its vast coral reef that are ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Tourist spots

• Salagdoong Beach Resort.

Tourist spots

• Siquijor Marine Reserve.

• Declaired as a marine reserve in 1978. the island lays claim to the untouched marine wildlife.

Sight seeing

• The Old Cang-isok House

•The Church and Bell Tower of St. Francis of Assisi

• Capilay Spring Park

• Cambugahay Waterfalls

Tourist spots

Tourist spots

• The St. Isidore Labradore Parish Church and Convent