Siquijor Healing Festival attract more than 13,000 tourists
By Rizalie A. Calibo
At least 13,320 domestic and foreign vacationers trooped to the Mountain View Park in Camp Bandilaan, Siquijor, Siquijor during the island’s big event - the Healing Festival last Holy Week.
According to the Provincial Tourism Office here, Siquijor was packed with day-trippers, travelers, sightseers or trekkers the entire week not just to witness the festival but to explore the entire island.
Some also sought respite in the island's tranquil places just like any traveler would want in this time of the year.
This year’s festival yielded the highest number of visitors so far, the tourism office said.
From the number of visitors, 13,199 are domestic and 121 are foreign tourists.
The increased tourist traffic must be because of the Healing Festival, which is timed perfectly for the Holy Week observation. Aside from it being the time for a much-needed long vacation for a lot of Filipinos, Holy Week is a significant time for Christians as we remember Christ’s last few days on Earth before his resurrection.
“Siquijor is just perfect for those wanting a relaxing and quiet place,” one traveler said of the island.
“We are earning a reputation as a tourist destination during Holy Week,” Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr. said as he reported that the Healing Festival garnered an income of more than P80,000 from the P10 per person admission fees alone .
He also cited the herbal gardens that the province has developed where ingredients for potions were taken.
The Healing Festival is a showcase of the alternative and traditional healing methods indigenous to Siquijor.
Dr Virgie Bonocan Miquiabas, a Siquijodnon who has written a book on the traditional healing methods of the island, said folk healing is really true. “This is the beauty of the hidden wonders of the island,” she said.
She said the age-old practices continue despite modern-day science because those who seek it find it cheaper and sometimes more effective than relying on medical experts.
“Siquijor is known for its traditional healers all over the country and it is one of the assets that differentiates our island from the other islands in the country,” Provincial Tourism Officer Josette Almirola also said.
She said that aside from the island's mystical beauty, 'Healing Festival' is one of its main attractions based on the assessment from the various tourism stakeholders in the province.
During the festival, healers and herbalists all over Visayas and Mindanao would come together and participate in the preparation of oils and concoctions, a combination of herbs, tree barks and roots and insects which they gather during the seven Fridays of the Lenten season.
The whole week also includes exhibits of local products and souvenir items, aside from the herbal medicines and love potions made by the local herbalists.
“Sikijod” spa massage or the Siquijor brand of massage, healing sessions with various healers, and “Bolo-bolo” healing, and some local entertainments also spice up the whole event. (rmn/RACalibo - PIA 7, Siquijor)