SIQUIJOR REDISCOVERED

HEalIng ISlanD CElEbR atES fIRSt-EVER Panambal fEStIVal

Story & photos by Arabelle Jimenez

The first-ever Panambal Festival was held in the sleepy town of Maria, Siquijor on April 7-9, 2023. This recent holy Week sojourn is an eye-opener to many who had notions that dark forces shrouded this mystical island. Suddenly, the Municipality of Maria is not sleepy anymore, rather, the event awakened its inner true calling and healing purpose.

Folklore in Siquijor

Located in c e ntral Visayas Region of the Philippines, Siquijor is the smallest province in the region, and the 3rd smallest province in the country.

t h e Philippines is composed of enchanting islands, all with their own stories and legends to tell. Folklore is merged with fairy tales that are being passed down to generations. But, it’s nothing as unique as the “scary” stories that we hear about Siquijor; from witchcraft to sorcery, from voodoo to “aswangs.”

Remnants of these mysteries still stand in many places in Siquijor. o n e example is the San Isidro Labrador c o nvent where it is believed to cure victims of witchcraft and sorcery many centuries ago. t h e building is still intact and is now open to the public as a museum in the Municipality of Lazi.

Sure, ghost stories about Siquijor may have scared away the gullible and the weak of faith, but, at the same time, it has actually increased the interest of the adventurous, and knowledge-seekers. t h is “negatively branded” island is making a comeback and has turned the grim, mystical image in their favor.

Love potions, et al.

Gayu M a” o r love potion is the most popular “magical” concoction, not only in the Philippines but to believers of its power from all over the world.

Witnessing how these are made with our own eyes, right on the island of its source, is truly a unique experience. e q ually worth discovering are the various healing oils, the “palina” (ritual smoke), and the black wax that is believed to drive away everything that is bad in your body. From headaches to bad spirits (anti-kulam), and even diseases that just won't go away even after exhausting all means at the hospital. t h e procedure starts the day after a s h Wednesday, where ingredients are collected for seven weeks until Holy t hursday. What are these ingredients? It varies from herbs to tree branches, flowers, and barks from the mountains. It also includes natural deposits from the sea; like seaweeds, coral stones, and shells washed away on shore. Now, it is noted that each healing oil has a particular ailment to “cure,” which makes the ingredients vary, according to the need.

Junel to maroy, president of the Siquijor Healers a s sociation points out that there are no negative ingredients in the mix, or what they call “landi”. t hese include plants that may attract the wrong kind, like revenge and jealousy that may break homes and destroy a person. So, if this is your kind of “attraction,” it is obviously not for healing in the general sense of the word.

Good Friday is the time when all these ingredients are stored, chopped, and prayed over in a ritual only legit “mananambals” or accredited Siquijodnon, a t is and Mumbaki healers can do. t h ese various chopped barks are believed to restore the body.

Black Saturday is the time they “cook” or burn these ingredients together in a huge “kawa” or cauldron. t h e “minasa” or black wax is mainly candles that are added to the mix and

SHORT BUT SWEET 16 hours in Ilocos Sur

By Ardee P. de los Angeles

IL o co S S ur boasts its very own star city, Vigan. t h is town is famous for its 500-meter-long c a lle c r isologo, a street paved with cobblestones and lined with hotels, eateries, and souvenir shops. a visitor can truly fall in love with its history and that feeling of traveling back to the Spanish colonial era.

However, this historical city offers much more as you venture outside of this beautiful and centuries-old pedestrian-only strip. t h is weekend, we had the opportunity to visit and experience more of what Ilocos Sur has to offer.

Vigan by plane

We headed to the Platinum Skies av iation hangar in Pasay c ity for an afternoon flight with our host, League of Mayors of the Philippines President e m eritus Luis c h avit Singson. We boarded the d o rnier 328 turboproppowered airplane in just minutes after refueling at the hangar. t he flight took only less than an hour and we were served food and cold drinks along the way. We arrived at the Vigan airport in the late afternoon and were picked up by a tour bus for a guided tour of the Safari Hotel and Villas as well as the Baluarte Zoo. t h ere are ostriches, geese, and deers that roam around the property. t h e trees and the landscape give that tropical grassland feel. t h e design and the layout of the property are perfectly executed and truly bring you to a f rica.

The southern giraffe in Baluarte Zoo o u R f irst stop was to feed the giraffes from South a f rica which is a great way to have an intimate picture taken with the beautiful animal.

What struck me most is the feeling of being in an actual a f rican savanna.

A close encounter photo with the white lion I d I d N t miss the chance to hold and have a picture taken with the white lion in the zoo. t h e wait time was quick and we were assured of our safety. a f ter a few snaps, we walked poured with “lana” virgin coconut oil from coconuts that grew facing the e a st. o n a s ide note, I believe that this scenario is where the term witches' brew came from. e a ster Sunday is the time they collect flowers from churches across Siquijor. t h ese various flowers, many dried up, are put together as a potpourri-like ensemble to be mixed with honey or perfume. t h e healing oil process produces “lumay” or love potion whose ingredients can only be derived during the “Salubong,” an e a ster Sunday c e remony.

“Lumay” or love potion is meant to bring positive vibes, not only on love but luck in business, career, marital, and family life. It is worthwhile to note that the healers practice for free, and only accept donations from visitors, and their patients. t h eir noble practice is to prevent fake healers who take advantage of people and turn it into a business. t h e first Panambal Festival emphasizes the sacredness of traditional medicine that should be basically free for all. t h ese activities of the Panambal Festival at o l ang a r ts Park in the Municipality of Maria mark the island of Siquijor as an alternative, and insightful destination during the Holy Week.

A healing island tHIS y ear’s Panambal Festival is a refreshing start to digging into Siquijor's unique heritage, traditions, and one could say, healing powers that surround the island. t h e event, conceptualized by veteran tourism consultant Nilo c a g ustin in partnership with Minnie c r ouse, owner of the o l ang a r ts Park, and supported by the good Mayor of the Municipality of Maria, Hon. Roselyn t a s ok, the first Panambal Festival signals the global awareness of Siquijor as a Healing Island. e x tensive research on traditional and alternative healing practices in Siquijor has brought some members of the academe to o l ang a r ts Park in Maria during the Holy Week, which also marked its opening as the c e nter for c u lture, Heritage, a r ts, Nature and to urism of Siquijor (c H a N t S ). d r. Isidro Sia, the executive director of the Integrative Medicine for a lternative Healthcare Systems (IN a M ) Philippines, representative to the a S e a N te chnical and Scientific c ommittee on tr aditional Medicines/ Health Supplements, and convenor of a r alan ng Gamutang Pilipino (Philippine traditional medicine) was the distinguished guest of honor at the first Panambal Festival. to s trengthen its cause, the o l ang a r ts Park in the Municipality of Maria will be the center of healing on the island, where accredited “mananambals” or healers can use as a venue to conduct traditional healing, and at the same time, a space where visitors can enjoy the Mahogany woods, and feel nature's soul. a f ter all, science originates from nature. t h e herbarium inside the park will also be an attraction to traditional medicine enthusiasts, where 377 kinds of herbs are recorded at the Siquijor State c o llege. In this regard, Siquijor is poised to be the Herbarium Island in a s ia. t h e vision of the first Panambal Festival successfully made its debut, and most importantly, the event solidifies the positioning of the Municipality of Maria, Siquijor in the world map as a center for traditional medicine, and the island of healing. over to the Safari gallery nearby. t h is area is Mr. c h avit Singson’s trophy room which includes a huge collection of wild animals that he has hunted through the years. o u r next stop is to have merienda in the Safari Hotel which is close to Baluarte. t h e hotel provides guests the experience of staying in a villa with a dipping pool while they watch deers roam around the property. More than a glamping experience, guests will enjoy the peace and quiet in the area. t h e showcase of light and sound happens every night from 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm. o n w eekends, it holds a second show from 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm. o u r group was led to a private viewing room at the center of the plaza. t h e show started on time and the extravaganza did not disappoint. Glimpses of the Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas came to mind but this light show in Vigan was more up close and personal. It is our very own and it makes you proud after all. t h e show was filled with laser lights, smoke and fire effects, and music that will make you feel the urge to dance. d i nner was served later at Barte ch, a restobar and grill serving the first and only dinner buffet in Vigan. We enjoyed the bagnet kare-kare, beef kaldereta, poqui-poqui, pinakbet with bagnet and other Ilocano favorites.

Food that is served here is also delicious. Highly recommended are their longganisa or bagnet pasta along with their pizzas. ta ke a bite while you view the deers outside. t h is Safari Hotel restaurant is also right by the swimming pool.

Dancing fountain in Plaza Salcedo aS t he evening approached, our tour bus and guide, Maritess, took us to Plaza Salcedo to watch the spectacular d a ncing Fountain.

Barte ch is also a favorite watering hole in Vigan. Located right at c a lle c r isologo, diners can enjoy the ambiance with their favorite drink and appetizers.

Sulvec at Narvacan

Su LV ec i s a barangay in the municipality of Narvacan, in the province of Ilocos Sur. It is also the current residence of Mr. c h avit Singson. t he beautiful 7-hectare property is our group’s home for the night. t h is coastal town of Narvacan is stunning and the huge home designed by Mr. c h avit Singson sits by the beach and will give you a feel of Santorini in Greece.

Fishing is good in Sulvec Greece Narvacan Seaside. Mr. Singson at times feasts on snappers caught in the bay.

Less than a day in Ilocos Sur

I N a nutshell, after an afternoon flight from Manila, we arrived in Ilocos at 4 pm. We needed to get back to Manila at 8 in the morning the next day to keep up with other activities. Having said that, we didn’t really feel that we stayed for a short time. We still managed to visit all the attractions of Ilocos Sur. We are grateful to our host, LMP president emeritus Luis c h avit Singson, for a chance to explore this part of the north even for a short time.