Travel. Philippines. Southeast Asia.
Backpacker on Remote Island of the Philippines — Finds Community of Locals, Learns to Spearfish
Siquijor Island, south of Cebu, is home to diverse marine life.
South of Cebu, in the Philippines, sits a small-ish island. There are shy of 100,000 friendly islanders who are as inviting as any there to welcome you.
The island of Siquijor has only recently been discovered by the western world. In part because of its reputation of being haunted.
In turn, the islanders are learning how to profit from the influx of visitors. Maybe that’s why they are as hospitable as they are. Or, maybe, it’s Filipino nature.
The island is Instagram-famous but very few could locate it on a map. Despite only received electricity two decades ago and paved roads when the first tourists came, it has beautiful coral reefs, jungle waterfalls, and viral-worthy traditional dishes.
I took a particular liking to the waterfalls. There are thirteen of them on the island, to be exact. My favorite was the first one I visited, Lugnason Falls.
At each of these waterfalls, a crew of local boys and young men sit at the designated parking areas. They wait for tourists…
