This guide to a Visita Iglesia in Siquijor was something I wrote for Tripzilla for the Holy Week. I patterned this after a recent visita iglesia I did with a guest who visited Siquijor for the first time. While Siquijor will not boast of centuries-old and magnificent churches, we do have our share of historic churches.

1. Saint Francis de Assisi Parish Church (Siquijor, Siquijor)
   1. When in Siquijor, might as well also:
2. San Augustin de Hippo Parish Church (San Juan, Siquijor)
   1. Not to miss in San Juan Church:
3. San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Lazi, Siquijor)
   1. Not to miss in Lazi Church
   2. When in Lazi, might as well also:
4. Our Lady of the Divine Providence Church (Maria, Siquijor)
   1. Not to miss at Maria Church:
   2. When in Maria, might as well:
5. Mount Carmel Parish Church (Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor)
   1. When in Talingting, might as well:
      1. Travel Time: 20-25 minutes from Maria.
6. San Vicente Ferrer Church (Larena, Siquijor)
   1. Not to miss at the Larena church:
   2. When in Larena, might as well:
7. Holy Week in Siquijor
8. Sources:

The simplicity of the architecture of the churches in the island will give you an idea of what are the island’s mineral resources (lime stones), the role of the island in the grand scheme of Catholicism in the country (a vacation/retreat place for friars), and how the island fared with the rest of the country during the two World Wars and calamities (earthquakes and typhoons). The churches are not as magnificent as other churches in the country. The churches in Siquijor pale in comparison to the San Augustin Church in the Intramuros. But I would like to believe that all of us, no matter how small, grand, simple or magnificent, make a part of our beautiful country.

Saint Francis de Assisi Parish Church (Siquijor, Siquijor)

If you just arrived from Dumaguete, the first church that will greet you will be the Saint Francis de Assisi Parish Church in Siquijor, Siquijor. What I love about this church is its simple architecture that resembles a typical pre-Spanish payag. The interiors are also bare and minimal, which, I think, makes it easier to commune with the heavens because you are not easily distracted.

Siquijor was the first parish to be established in 1783, construction of the church started sometime in 1795. One thing notable about the Siquijor parish church is the distance between the church and its belfry, which is located about 20 meters from the church (right side if you are on the front of the church). The convent is located across and facing Cebu Strait and was built to fend off Moro attacks.

Travel time: about 5 minutes walk from tip of Siquijor port

When in Siquijor, might as well also:

1. Eat in Jollibee. So far, Jollibee’s the only fastfood in the island, and if you are still acclimatizing your stomach, head to Jollibee.

San Augustin de Hippo Parish Church (San Juan, Siquijor)

Your next stop would be San Juan’s San Augustin de Hippo Parish Church. OK, I am confused as to why the town was named San Juan and offered the parish to San Augustin. I have always thought the town celebrates their fiesta on St. John the Baptist’s Feast Day, but they don’t. Anyway, what sets this church apart is its location. It is on top of a hill, and overlooks the Capilay Spring. I think it is a gorgeous sight.

Not to miss in San Juan Church:

• The monument commemorating unborn children due to abortion. When I saw this, I wondered how the monument became relevant to the town. Did the town record a high rate of abortion?
• The St. John Academy. It is, as far as I know, the town’s only private high school. It is not an architectural marvel, but if you are circumspect, it will be an eye-opener as to the situation of non-secular and parochial education in the town.
• The view of Capilay Spring.

When in San Juan, might as well also:

1. Jump into the cool Capilay Spring. It’s a natural spring that stems from a huge acacia tree below the church.
2. Go cafe/bar hopping. My recommended coffee place is Kape de Guyod.
3. Come back after the Visita Iglesia for the restaurants in the area.
4. Paliton Beach, which is between the Siquijor parish church and the San Juan parish church. You can drop by and take a photo or video with the human drone for souvenir. BUT, trust me, when you get there, you’ll never want to continue with your Visita Iglesia anymore.

Travel Time: 15 minutes from Siquijor to San Juan

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Lazi, Siquijor)

The most famous church in Siquijor would be our town’s St. Isidore the Farmer Parish Church. This is because the convent opposite the church is the largest convent in Asia. Touring around Asia, you would know that that fame is very easy to achieve because there are not much competition, with Philippines being the only country in SE Asia that is predominantly Catholic.

I would be biased when I say that the Saint Isidore the Parish Church is the most beautiful in the island. I was born in town, was baptized, received communion and was confirmed in this church. Personal biases aside, the town’s church is the most well-preserved church in the island, mainly through the help of the country’s cultural commission. The grounds are also well maintained, thanks to parishioners, who I know most do not receive compensation for any church-related work.

Lazi parish was founded in 1854, following Cano-an (now known as Larena) and the church was constructed in 1884. I won’t forget this year because 100 years later, I will be born and baptized in this same church that stood witness to time.

Not to miss in Lazi Church

1. The convent. Is one of a kind in the Philippines and the largest in the whole of Asia. Lazi Parish served as a retreat place for priests and the convent is breezy with wide open windows. I loved sitting by the window in one of the huge solihiya chairs and looking at people passing by.
2. The museum. There is a museum, with a minimal fee, at the second floor of the Lazi convent. You will see there the life sized Dolorosa (my family’s panaad, and I will tell you that the gowns worn by the Dolorosa were fitted by me).
3. grotto. There is a grotto dedicated to the Our Lady of Lourdes just below the church’s right gate. Watch out for the slippery stairs and the roots of the big acacia tree.
4. The back of the church and convent. I think this is an underestimated area in the church. I love this area because no one seems to come here. There’s a concrete path where you can sit down. You can also take a peek into the room behind the church’s altar. Just make sure you don’t get scared with figures of saints.

When in Lazi, might as well also:

• Dive into the cool waters of Cambugahay Falls. Or have your photo taken with another human drone.
• Go caving at Sambulawan Cave.
• Eat at Demabra’s Diner, cheap lutong bahay food, located across Lazi Central School. And get to know our family! ^_^
• Have your car washed at A-Zone.
• Get a local Lazi photographer to document your island holiday.
• Go diving at Lazi Marine Sanctuary, c/o Lazi Beach Club.

Travel Time: 20-25 minutes from San Juan

Our Lady of the Divine Providence Church (Maria, Siquijor)

The parish church of the town of Maria, Our Lady of Providence Church, is, to me, also interesting because of the sculpture of Saint Rita of Casia, which many dubbed as haunted because of the image’s black dress and her piercing stare. As a child, I used to close my eyes when we pass by this image because I am a scaredy cat.

Because of its near proximity to Lazi, this is the church I frequent the most (next to Saint Isidore), and also because my grandma has family in Maria. I love the shade of the big acacia tree near the entrance of the church grounds. And I have good memories of a young me participating in a male-dominated knot-tying demo class at a province-wide encampment for Boys and Girls Scouts.

Not to miss at Maria Church:

• Saint Rita. This image used to scare me, mostly because her eye was destroyed. The placement of the image near the altar also confused me. I thought the town’s patron saint was Saint Rita because she’s displayed prominently.
• Nuns of Saint Claire. I don’t know if you can visit anytime. But I do remembered going with my grandma and grand aunt to the monastery to bring the nuns lots of vegetables, rice and other food stuff.

When in Maria, might as well:

• Go to Salagdoong Beach. The best beach and my most favorite beach in Siquijor. Although Maria also has other beautiful and secluded beaches, like Kagusu-an Beach (second favorite beach) and Sabas Beach (third favorite beach). Hahaha.. Aside from the beaches in Lazi (also beautiful but don’t have Maria’s white fine sand), these are the three beaches that my family frequent.

Travel Time: about 10-15 minutes from Lazi

Mount Carmel Parish Church (Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor)

I love the modernity of this church. It symbolizes to me the town’s “moving forward.” I love that the church is not stuffy at all. I also love the fact that the grounds surrounding the church are also well maintained, and there’s a play ground at the town plaza across.

When in Talingting, might as well:

• Buy Lilibeth’s pan bisaya.
• Walk along the boulevard. Not church-related, but I think Talingting, the town’s old name, has the best boulevard.
• Quirante Bakery. The bakery has actually another name (which I could not recall at the time of writing) but I always refer to the bakery using this name because I associate it with Ma’am Quirante.
• Dive at the Tulapos Marine Sanctuary. Do not be surprised if the sanctuary is empty. Diving and snorkeling is pretty cheap, but the staff schedule would be intermittent, which is a shame as I think the sanctuary is actually one of the best places in the island.

Travel Time: 20-25 minutes from Maria.

San Vicente Ferrer Church (Larena, Siquijor)

The church is already an amalgam of old and new design. Larena, originally Cano-an, was the second parish to be established in the island in 1836 — 53 long years after the St. Francis of Assissi Parish was founded. According to accounts, the original church was “beautiful” but was burned, which is why the church now has a “modern” look.

Not to miss at the Larena church:

• The belfry. Most would miss this because it is located about 30 meters away from the church. The belfry overlooks the sea and the Port of Larena. I can only imagine how beautiful the sight was decades ago when there were no houses yet that are now obstructing the view.

When in Larena, might as well:

• Eat at barbecue at the boulevard.

Travel Time: 20-25 minutes from Enrique Villanueva

A visita iglesia in Siquijor would not take the whole day unless you also make side trips to natural attractions in the island and stop for meals and refreshments.

Holy Week in Siquijor

Holy Week in Siquijor is pretty solemn. Most establishments don’t open from Maundy Thursday until Black Saturday. The Catholic parishes would have a full calendar during this week (which activities, I think, are also good to participate in to invigorate one’s Catholic faith), while other faiths would also have their own celebrations or commemorations. Siquijor is not 100% Catholic, we also have a sizeable number of different faiths, specifically Aglipayans, Protestants, Born Again Christians, Iglesia ni Kristo, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. The provincial government also holds an annual Healing Festival where you can meet different folk healers.

How to go to Siqujor by boat from Cebu?

Sources:

Siquijor Recounted, Concepcion Aljas.

Siquijor’s Mystical Wonders, Renalyn Banguis-Bantawig, Concepcion Ano-os Aljas, Ferilyn Balongag-Marano, Mary Grace Bahian-Lubguban, Jonah Lynn Aque-Juguilon, Glory Jabierto-Barrera, Expedita Omongos-Duran, Philna Siong-Palongpalong, Dawn Iris Calibo, and Rhea Bidad.