Siquijor
A small Visayan island that Filipinos have long called the island of fire, a name tied to stories of healers and sorcerers.
Practised and told of here
Best time: Holy Week, for the healers' gathering; otherwise the dry months of December to May.
Siquijor lies between Cebu and Mindanao. Its reputation among other Filipinos as a place of witchcraft has been repeated for generations, and it is widely understood to be a folk image rather than a record of the island's life.
Image and reality
The name Isla del Fuego may have come from the glow of fireflies on the island's trees. Tales from the mainland speak of mambabarang, who send insects, and of potions. The islanders themselves are mostly Catholic farmers and fishers, and many dislike how the island is described.
Healers
Traditional healers called mananambal work with herbs, massage, oils and prayers. Each year during Holy Week, healers gather to prepare herbal preparations from the mountain, in a ritual connected to Catholic dates. Tourism has grown, and with it a number of sellers of shows and charms for visitors.
Visiting
Do not ask healers to cast or remove curses as entertainment, and do not accuse any person of being a sorcerer. Ask first before photographing a healer and give a donation if you are treated.
A respectful visit to Siquijor
Living communities are not a show. Ask before photographing a person or a ceremony, and follow local rules.
- Lazi Convent and San Isidro Labrador church See the old stone church and the convent.
- Cambugahay Falls Swim in the stepped waterfalls.
- A mananambal's house Visit only through a local contact and do not treat it as a show.
- The mountain at Holy Week If the healers' gathering is open to the public, stay at the edge.
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Siquijor" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and ceremonies change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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