Siquijor (PIA) – 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 witness the First Folk Healing Festival in the province last April 8.

Mount Bandilaan is situated at the center of the province. It stands 557 feet at its highest point and is surrounded by a 224-hectare man-made forest. It is home to endemic fauna and flora and other attractions which include religious parks, natural springs and a butterfly sanctuary where one can find Asia’s biggest butterfly.

The said Festival is part of the development program for the Bandilaan Mountain Resort, aimed at boosting the island’s tourism industry and counter the negative impressions of Siquijor as an “Island of Sorcerers.”

The Festival, showcasing alternative and traditional healing methods indigenous to Siquijor, is composed of Pangalap, which is the gathering of various herbs for seven Fridays during the Lenten Season; Pag-Adlep, when the gathered herbs are chopped;Herbal Preparation or “Cooking” by the Cantabon Healers and Herbalists Group; and Folk Healing.

The event was formally opened with 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 nature sceneries because Siquijor has its own, including Mt. Bandilaan Mountain Resort that was blessed and inaugurated Holy Wednesday which also signaled the opening of the Festival in time with Holy Week.

Citing how blessed Siquijor is for its natural beauty, Msgr. Catubig asked locals to be responsible for taking care of the environment.

Ribbon cutting and blessing of the mountain resort followed after the Mass.

In his short message, Siquijor Governor Orlando “Shane” Fua Jr., exalted the beauty, solitude, and peace prevailing in the said resort and the province as a whole. He projected an increase in tourist visits because of the added attraction brought about by the Festival and the mountain resort, with its well-situated cottages and soon-to-be-constructed swimming pool.

He said he expects the number of visitors to double this season from last year’s Lenten season’s 3,400 visitors.

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

“Congruent to the development Mt. Bandilaan is the improvement of Salagdong Beach Resort” which he said completes the province’s wholistic approach in providing the best tourist attractions from “the highland to the beach.”

For his part, Fua called on everyone to realize the dream of making Siquijor one of the best tourist destinations in the world.

He particularly cited the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army and Reservists’ role in ensuring peace and order in Siquijor and the Barangay Tanods’ task of overseeing the maintenance, beautification and the cleanliness of the island.

During the Festival, local faith healers displayed for visitors their herbal products even as the latter were given a chance to see the procedure used in making herbal medicine.

Other activities during the event included entertainment by local serenaders, a demonstration of the Zipline Adventure by the Tribu Walog Mountaineers Club, viewing the scenery from the viewing deck and exploring Cantabon Cave.

Pasalubong booths displaying the island’s best food and non-food specialties were also set up. Adding color to the event was the special participation of the Albinos in the province.