Saturday, July 21, 2012

Siquijor, a shimmering Island

I always love to come back to Siquijor Island because there's something eerie, healthy, fresh and healing about the island.
According to stories of old, when the Spaniards came to the island they saw it glowing & so they called it "Isla del Fuego" or Island of Fire.
Some though believed that the island glowed with fireflies that swarmed the place because of its mangrove trees all over the island.
Siquijor is composed of six towns, Siquijor, Larena, San Juan, Enrique Villanueva, Maria & Lazi with Siquijor town as the capital.
It has white sandy beaches in San Juan, Maria & in Enrique Villanueva.
It's flora changes in color as seasons change.
During summer, it's trees turn gold, red, greenest green and golden brown and Its cloudless skies are so blue.
In 1994-1996, I spent my time there as manager of a provincial information center.
I took every opportunity to explore the island. I've done spelunking of about
15 caves. There are over 48 caves in Siquijor.
Spent time swimming, listlessly walking, & scouring the beaches and shorelines of the island looking for seashells and finding myself.
I have captured the sunrise, sunset, seasons, people, and lifestyle of Siquijor in my canvass and through my lenses.
I had stared for hours end the glittering night skies of Larena when the stars came out from dusk to wee hours of morning.
I caught fireflies swirling in my room at the Siquijor State College campus where I used to stay.
Slept through the lulling sound of the ocean and the fishermen's shrill as they caught fish at late dusk.
The underwater world of the Island is equally a wonder!
Colorful fishes, corals, seaweeds and shells abound in Siquijor.
I remember dolphins, baby dolphins swimming with the banca that brought me to Dumaguete early dawn .
My memories of Siquijor were vivid and it was in this Island that I found my peace, my life, my serendipity.
I will always call Siquijor, a shimmering Island!


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