Have you been to one of the most off-the-beaten-path islands of the Philippines?Ā Many travelers often neglect it when touring the country. Siquijor is a magical island, plagued by tales of sorcery and black magic.Ā
The Philippines island of Siquijor is famous for witchcraft and is full of people who claim to be able to use sorcery to cure disease. Ā
However, today witchcraft and black magic are a lot less prevalent than in the past, even though rumor has it there are still āhealersā on the island. Many people have tried to document and explore what the mystery really is.Ā
Other people have even produced movies that center on this mysterious island. This evidences support the fact that peopleās knowledge about this place is really limited.Ā
The province ofĀ SiquijorĀ is known throughout history for its mystery, along with the magic claimed by some of its local residents.Ā
These people use ma
gic in doing their jobs serving as shamans, sorcerers, and witches for those who are seeking their services. These are the reasons why Siquijor has been dubbed as the magic island.Ā
According to people living around Siquijor, two kinds of witches exist in the province. These are theĀ shamansĀ and the sorcerers. These two groups usually fight against each other.Ā
The sorcerers seek to destroy or inflict harm while the shamans
are there to heal and to save lives. Sorcerers are locally called the mambabarang. They use their powers to inflict pain, disease, or even death to their clientsā enemies.Ā
According to so
urces, the services offered by the mambabarang usually cost between 6,000 to 30,000 pesos. Even people from neighboring provinces such asĀ DumagueteĀ andĀ BoholĀ are reported to seek the services of these so-called witches. People sought the black magic of the mambabarang for several reasons like retaliation to theft, land disputes, and adultery.
On the other hand, shamans are referred to locally as the mananambal. They are local healers who use their magic to heal diseases and illnesses that are caused by supernatural causes.Ā
All the mananambals claim that their powers also come from supernatural sources like saints or the spirits of dead people.
These are the various aspects of magic in Siquijor. The magic and beauty of the place are some of the reasons why people are very much interested in the province. This captivating element of magic is so closely intertwined with the culture of it
s people that is why its magic is inseparable from the province.Ā
Another major reason why the element of magic is so important to the place is theĀ employmentĀ that it has given to the many people living on the island.
Of course, this situation is limited to some places only. Some other parts of Siquijor are already progressive and have already adapted to a life that is much very similar to those in other provinces.Ā
Nowadays, the element of magic is starting to become part of the very colorful culture and history of Siquijor.
The island doesnāt have any t
owns which would be considered overly large by Filipino standards. The port towns of Siquijor and Lorena are by far the largest, most likely due to their limited connection to anything beyond the isolated world which exists here!Ā
There is not an abundance of restaurants or shops, though thereās enough to keep yourse
lf adequately comfortable.Ā
Immediately upon arriving at the island, you will most likely be approached by hagglers trying to rent you a motorcycle. This isnāt a bad thing.. they are actually the cheapest bikes on the island for rent, and much more convenient for getting around than the very irregular Jeepneys or painfully slow Tricycles found here.Ā
Now, with bikes at hand, we set off to find accommodation. The majority of places to stay are found on the outskirts of the coastal towns. Theyāre often quite small, and quite basic.Ā
You may need to try a couple of places before finding one which suits your needs. I opted to get truly basic experience and ended up renting a sheltered hamm
ock
on the beach for 50 pesos/night ($1.25 USD).
