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Capital: Siquijor
No. of towns: 6
Click Here for the Town
Listing
Land area: 343.5 sq. km
.Location. The smallest island province in the Visayas, and
the least known.
Surrounded by the provinces of Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Mindanao.
Brief history. The Spaniards at the time of discovery gave this
island province the
name, "Isla del Fuego" or "Island of Fire".
They must have seen fire along the coast
while they were going to Cebu. Legend has it that the island was
once under the sea. A
big, big fire was seen. Thunder roared and lightning flashed.
When all these phenomena
subsided, there arose an island. To corroborate this phenomenon,
fossils of clams and
other sea objects could be found on top of hills and mountain
ridges even now.
How the island got its name "Siquijor" is another
story. It was said that the first
Spaniards who came landed somewhere at the shores of Siquijor
town. Upon arrival,
they asked a certain native what the name of the island was, and
the native, noticing
that the tide was ebbing. The "quipjod" became
"Siquijor" as the years rolled on until it
became "Siquijor" with the final "d" changed
to "r" for Spanish euphony
The island has long been a sub-province of Bohol before it
became a sub-province of
Oriental Negros. Although no records are available to show the
specific length of time,
it is believed that it lasted until the later part of the
nineteenth century, for a "cedula" or
Residence certificate of a native was issued in Tagbilaran, Bohol
at that period. Then it
became a sub-province of Oriental Negros by virtue of the law
which also createc the
then province of Marinduque, Catanduanes, Mountain Province,
Masbate and
Romblon, until eventually it became the last and oldest
sub-province, before the
sub-province of Aurora, and Biliran was created.
The sub-province of Siquijor became a province by virtue of
Republic Act No. 6398
creating the sub-province of Siquijor into a province after a
plebiscite had been held for
the purpose in November 1971. It was inaugurated January 8, 1972,
as a full pledge
Point of interest
Mount Bandila-an. Towering 1,394 feet high and is viewed at a
distance; known for
its cone; a little Mayon.
Municipality of Siquijor:
Candanay Sur and Norte Beaches
Calalinan Beach
Tugawe Point
Mt. Camp Bandila-an Forest
Dondeezco Beach Resort.
Municipality of Larena:
Sandugan Beach Resort
Cangbagsa Beach Resort
Nonoc Beach Resort
Municipality of Maria:
Salagdoong Beach Resort. (Brgy. Olang)
Polo Beach Resort
Minalulan Beach Resort
Providence Mining Company
Exporer Mining Company
L & A Mining Corporation
Municipality of San Juan:
Natural Spring.
Peliton Beach Resort. (Brgy. Paliton). It was developed by a
Swiss national who is
married to a Siquijorian. It is one of the most beautiful beaches
in the province.
Tubod Beach Resort. Developed by an Australian national.
Municipality of Lazi:
Cang-Abas Beach Resort.
St. Isidore Labrador Parish Church and Convent. St. Isidore
Parish Church was
completed in 1884. The convent, said to be of the largest and
oldest in the Philippines,
was finished in 1891. Both of these are still intact and are
highly recommended for
tourists as they were recently declared national historical
landmarks.
Municipality of Enrique Villanueva:
Old Cang-Isok House. It is the oldest house in Siquijor. It was
built on the mid 1800s
and it is located in Barangay Libo which is just three kilometers
away from the town
proper.
Bitaug, Tulapus and Libo Beaches.
Daquit School. Enjoy scuba diving at Daquit school which is
located about
three-and-a-half kilometers off the coast of this municipality to
the east.
How to get there. The place is accessible by ferry boat. Travel
time from Cebu
usually takes 8-9 hours by ferry boat, while from Dumaguete City,
capital of Siquijor's
nearest neighboring island, ferry boat travel only takes 1-2
hours. Both Cebu and
Dumaguete can be reached by plane with Manila as point of origin.
Information gathered from:
http://www.philippine.org/01prov/siquijor.html
This page last revised:January 31, 1999.
