By Rizalie A. Calibo
"A safe and quiet place for healing and wellness, aside from the usual sand, sun, sea, and surf attractions."
This is how tourists should see Siquijor, not as the island of sorcerers and witches as folk stories wanted it to appear, but as the island of divine beauty with spectacular views and friendly people.
One article written by an island visitor on mysiquijor.com reads, "Some that have visited the island say that Siquijor is more than an island paradise. It is a state of mind, it’s an attitude, a perspective, a lesson in stress management, and a watering hole for the mind and spirit."
Exactly it is! One needs to be there to see and experience it.
"Siquijor is just perfect for relaxing and recuperating. Sorcery and black magic do not exist in the island," said Siquijor Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr.
And while trying to capitalize on these advantages to erase the negative image painted on the island, Fua said he is putting tourism at the top of his priority by focusing efforts to improve the island's tourist spots for visitors to see Siquijor's real beauty and richness.
Among his priority projects are the improvement of roads and other infrastructure around the province, including the P4-million road concreting project leading to the airport in Cang-alwang, Siquijor, and the rehabilitation of the airport terminal.
"The airport is already functional at present," he said.
Another improvement would be additional amenities at the Mt. Bandilaan Mini-Resort in Brgy. Cantabon, Siquijor, he added.
Additional cottages and picnic tables are already being built in preparation for the tourist influx during the Folk Healing Festival come Holy Week. But on top of that, folk healers and herbalists have also been given trainings.
Another tourism-geared priority project is the reclamation of a 400 square-meter area at Salagdoong Beach Resort in Maria town where additional cottages will also be put up to accommodate the increasing number of visitors, he said.
With the provincial government doing its best to promote Siquijor as the country's healing and wellness destination, tourist traffic is expected to spike in the following months, especially during the upcoming Holy Week. (rmn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor)