By telling us your country of residence we are able to provide you with the most relevant travel insurance information.
Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. Contact us for full details.
Shares
I was in my third year in law school then and close to becoming 30. I told myself I am going to give myself an escape for a week, alone and away from the nerve-wracking routine of law life. With a big backpack, I flew to Visayas all the way from Mindanao probably doing the bravest adventure so far, going on a trip alone to a destination no one from my colleagues might visit. It is Siquijor. The place is known to be scary and filled with tale stories of “Manananggal”. It is a vampire-like mythical creature in the Philippines. I had all this in mind when I was travelling to the place but I was getting excited at the same time of my solo journey in the road meeting people from different walks of life. Surprises happen in travels and I had to spend a night in Dumaguete City before I head to Siquijor the next day. I thought of going out to feel the night vibe of the city. People are friendly. They smile and talk a lot. I didn’t see smiles like these when I was in the four corners of our classroom. People were busy reading, cramming and getting nervous while waiting for the law professor. Away from the scene and surrounded by smiling faces before me, I felt calm and the night in such a chill city has been my friend. The next morning, I sailed on a boat to finally get to the place where I should be despite a gloomy weather. Not knowing what could happen out there, I pushed forward. When I docked in the place, I told the driver whose name is June to take me to a backpacking village. I was in awe. Siquijor doesn’t look creepy at all. The beach is so pristine. The place is filled with visitors. It feels so laid back the moment I got in there. I took the chance to go around the place riding a motorcycle. I swam in the crystal clear waters. I had the chance to talk to an old lady I took a photo with. The lady has a long grey hair. She was holding a broom. I had the weird cloud thought in mind saying “Ooooh she could be a witch”. It was just my childhood memory playing in my head when me and my playmates are talking about witches and horror stories in a place so foreign to me before, “Siquijor”. I met a few travellers in the backpacking villa. Most of them came from foreign countries who wanted to see the end of the world. They find the place exotic and beautiful. I had the chance to meet a European woman, Tami, who at 70 years old is travelling all alone by herself. For quite a short stay in the island, she volunteered to teach in a nearby community school she discovered herself while driving a motorcycle. She’s a vegan. She looks happy and satisfied with life. After dinner we had, she invited me to the shoreline. She was speaking proud of her travel adventures and soulful life. I visited ruined churches. There was this church called San Isidro Labrador. I was looking at it from afar and it’s just amazing to realize a church such as old as that one, that picture itself could be somebody else’s world, that same hour, that same spot back in another time. Before leaving the island, I walked along the shoreline seizing the oriental breeze and feeling the fine sands with my feet. I thanked the universe for this experience. This was an amazing one. The crystal ball sunset with all its glaring orange color witnessed that solitary moment I had. What seemed to be unknown when I flew to this place felt like a touch of home to my soul in the end.