The Camposanto of Oton

A camposanto is a cemetery or a burial ground, the final resting place of the corporeal bodies of our loved ones. It came from the Spanish term campo santo meaning “holy ground”. In Panay, however, the term is loosely associated with the funeral chapel found inside cemeteries, when in fact it should encompass the whole burial ground. Anyway, talking about camposantos or cemeteries, the Catholic Cemetery of Oton is thought to be one of the oldest cemeteries in Panay Island. A guess is that it was probably built around the early to the middle of the 19^th century, but the clues to its real age are slowly fading. At first look you wouldn't have thought that this final resting place for the dead is old.

I Saw The Sign

There are signs everywhere, if we know how to look. Whenever we go to places that are unfamiliar to us, we look for signs so we don't get lost. A sign, or signage, is any kind of visual graphics created to present information that is culturally significant to a specific group of people.  It is composed either of symbols, emblems, or words, or a combination of two or all these, and is used for identification, giving information, directions, or warning. It can be found in such places as streets, inside and outside of buildings or other structures, and even in various modes of transport. 

Jaro Fiesta: The Feast of La Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

(Jaro Fiesta, 2011)

There are so many things to do in Jaro during the annual celebration of the Candelaria, and the most that one can do here is to walk. Admittedly, the traffic has always been a concern during the Jaro Fiesta and you have to practically walk your way to get to the cathedral and plaza areas. I was having second thoughts at first because my right ankle was still hurting from having twisted it when I slipped on our bathroom floor, but I decided to go anyway. It has been an agenda of my sister and I to go to Jaro during its annual fiesta for a few years now, either to visit and eat at some of our friends' house, to go to church, to go to the Garden and Flower Show in the plaza, or guiltily, to rummage at the "ukay-ukay".

Dumaguete City: A University Town

Dumaguete City exudes a university town atmosphere with the presence of four big universities, namely the Negros Oriental State University, Silliman University, St. Paul University of Dumaguete, and Foundation University, and several other colleges. It has become a center of learning, attracting students from various parts of the country and even from other parts of the globe.

Silliman University

The most distinctive educational institution here is Silliman University, no doubt about that. This old university founded by the American Presbyterian missionaries on the early part of the 20th century is more popularly associated with Dumaguete than anything else.

The Road to Dumaguete

Our trip to Dumaguete last December started me making this blog. I was tired of just posting my pictures on Facebook, making descriptions and tagging my friends, so I decided to make a blog out of it. Previously, all my post were about Siquijor. I'm almost done with my Siquijor articles I think, unless I remember something to write about it again. Anyway, this article marks the beginning of another adventure: the road to Dumaguete.

Siquijor Road Trip Scenes

These are not Siquijor’s popular spots. In fact, they are just ordinary road scenes on the island but nonetheless they are equally important because they also tell us about Siquijor.

Pit Stop First Before The Trip.

Our multi-cab driver had to gas up before we begin our four-hour road trip of the island. We stopped by a store that sells gasoline and diesel in one-liter soft drink bottles. For a minute you would think that it’s an ordinary sari-sari store selling soft drinks, but this one is actually selling gas in “tingi-tingi”.

Getting on the "More Fun In the Philippines" Craze

I am having fun with the “morefunmaker memes” at http://morefunmaker.com. I uploaded some of my pictures so that it will have a “More Fun in the PHILIPPINES” label. It’s so very easy. All you have to do is log on to their website and upload your pictures from your computer, then you type any catchy word or phrase that best describes the subject of your picture, and oops there it is! You are also given a choice where to position the “More fun…” caption, plus you may also type your name in for the authorship. However, your name doesn’t appear on the picture, mind you. It’s only visible on the website itself.


Well, here are some of my pictures. These, for me, are what make the Philippines more fun.

The San Isidro Labrador Parish Church at Lazi

The San Isidro Labrador Church

As inscribed in a plaque found on the church's front wall, the parish of Lazi was established by the Augustinian priests in honor of San Isidro Labrador in 1857. Its church, which was constructed under the supervision of Father Toribio Sanchez, was finished by native artisans in 1884 and the belfry a year later. The San Isidro Labrador Church is another picturesque building in Siquijor. Its façade is a combination of coral stones and wood planks. The front entrance is covered with fishing net. I suppose it serves the same purpose as the rope curtain of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church. The church looks so simple outside, but inside it’s a different thing.

Cambugahay Falls

Cambugahay Falls is located amidst a flourishing forest on an elevated area about two kilometers north of Lazi town, Siquijor. Our multi-cab was almost spurting as we reach this destination. There were eight of us in our group, plus our guide and the driver, and our cumulative weight appeared to test the engine of our vehicle. Nevertheless, we arrived in our destination safe and sound.

The Giant Balete Tree of Siquijor

When we hear the word Balete, most of us would readily associate it with the enchanted and the supernatural beings like “kapre” and “tikbalang” (that’s “tayhu” to the Ilonggos), or where sorcery rituals are usually performed, and if we are superstitious then most probably we would avoid getting near this tree. However, this is not the case with the giant Balete Tree in Barangay Campalanas, in Lazi town of Siquijor. Instead of being a thing to be avoided by people, it is one of the island’s popular tourist attractions. 

Why a travel blog from someone who is a self-professed reluctant traveler?

I must admit that I hate traveling but I also hate being confined too long at home. When boredom sets in I also get the itch to travel as long as the budget permits, of course. When this happens, there are three things that I readily put in my day pack: my notebook and pen (I consider them as a 2-in-1 item because one is not complete without the other), and my camera.

Siquijor, Siquijor (Part II): Parish Church of St. Francis of Assisi

This is the old stone church of Siquijor, Siquijor, which founded by the Franciscan priests on February 1, 1783. The construction of the stone church was started by Father Setten, a secular priest, and was under the supervision of Father Alonso de los Dolores from 1795-1831. Its adjoining convent was similarly built of stones, too. Its belfry is a separate building located at the plaza. It was also intended as a watchtower for pirates who frequently raid the shores. The church is not as big nor as grand as the other old churches found in various towns of Panay and Negros, but it shows its own quaint character.

Plants cling on to der life on the church facade and on the rooftops

The church is not as big or as grand as the other
old churches found in various towns of Panay
 and Negros, but it shows its own quaint character.

They use ropes as curtains on every door of the church. This is to ward off the
 “angry birds” that do not hesitate to bombard the interior of the church with their droppings. 

This plaque details in Tagalog the history of the parish church

The church belfry stands separately on the further left of the church, near the shore. It served as a lookout of the villagers against sea pirates who occasionally raided the town.

Siquijor, Siquijor (Part I)

The weather was all bright and sunny during our trip to Siquijor, so we enjoyed the boat ride very much, or at least I did. I occasionally glance at my other companions, they seem to have fallen asleep, or more likely pretending to sleep most of that time like what I was doing. Anyhow, no one got seasick, which was good since we needed the energy to cover everything in a short time. 

Siquijor Via Dumaguete

Early this December, my sister and I went along with our cousins and their girlfriends to Dumaguete. One of my cousin’s girlfriend was to attend a wedding there, and the rest of us went along to check out the place. The plan of the group was to just roam around, enjoy the place, food and whatever experiences that Dumaguete has to offer. Then suddenly someone remembered that Siquijor is just nearby, in fact it’s less than an hour away from Dumaguete City by boat. So then it was by unanimous decision that Siquijor was to be included in our itinerary.