Fog and unfavorable weather didn't hinder people, young and old, to climb the island's highest mountain peak – the Mt. Bandilaan – in Cantabon, Siquijor, Siquijor, to be able to witness the First Folk Healing Festival in the province last April 8.

The festival, is part of the development program for Bandilaan Mountain Resort, to boost the island's tourism industry and counter the negative impressions of Siquijor as an “Island of Sorcerers.”

The festival, as a showcase of alternative and traditional healing methods of Siquijor, is composed of Pangalap (gathering of the different kinds of herbs for seven Fridays of the Lenten Season), Pag-Adlep (chopping of the gathered herbs), Herbal Preparation or “Cooking” by the Cantabon Healers and Herbalists Group, and the Folk Healing.

It was formally opened with a Holy Mass celebrated by Msgr. Candelario Catubig who, during his homily, said that Siquijodnons do not need to go to Baguio or America to experience winter and see beautiful sceneries of nature because Siquijor has its own – the  Mt. Bandilaan Mountain Resort that was blessed and inaugurated Holy Wednesday which also signaled the opening of the Festival Healing in time with the observance of the Holy Week.

Citing how blessed Siquijor is for all its natural beauty, Msgr. Catubig reminded everyone his responsibility of taking care of the environment.

Cutting of ribbon and the blessing ceremony of the mountain resort cottages and viewing decks followed after the mass.

Provincial Governor Orlando “Shane” Fua Jr., in his short message, exalted the beauty, solitude, and peace that the mountain resort and the province have as a whole. He affirmed that tourist visits will surely increase because of the added attraction brought by the festival and the mountain resort cottages plus the soon-to-be-constructed swimming pool within the resort.

He is expecting the number of visitors to double this season from the more than 3,400 visitors of last year's Lenten season.

To give the province's tourism industry a further boost, the governor also said that he is bound to provide complete amenities and services to this part of the island and make Mt. Bandilaan Mountain Resort the center for healing.

“Congruent to the development Mt. Bandilaan is the improvement of Salagdong Beach Resort” which he said completes the wholistic approach of the province of providing the best tourists' attractions from “the highland to the beachland.”

To ensure the continuity of development for the mountain a meeting was conducted right after the buffet of sumptuous local delicacies.

Within the meeting presided by the Governor himself, he called on everyone to join him in his dream of making Siquijor one of the best tourist destinations in the whole world.

He specifically cited the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army and Reservists' role in ensuring peace and order and the Barangay Tanods' task  of overseeing the maintenance, beautification, and the cleanliness of the place.

During the festival, visitors were given the chance to witness the procedures of making herbal medicine used by the folk healers while the folk healers displayed their herbal products.

Other activities include entertainment from Local Serenaders, and Zipline Adventure by the Tribu Walog Mountaineers Club, Scenery Viewing at the Island's viewing Deck and Exploring Cantabon Cave.

Pasalubong booths were also set up to display the island's bests of food and non-food items.

Adding color to the event is the special participation of the Albinos in the province.

Mount Bandilaan is situated at the center of the province which stands 557 feet at its highest point. It has 224 hectare man-made forest. It is a home to endemic fauna and flora. Other attractions within the park include religious parks, natural springs and a butterfly sanctuary which is a home to Asia's biggest butterfly. (PIA-Siquijor)