49 of 73

Write now Article Tools

In the central Philippines lies an island called Siquijor. It is known as the Isle of Enchantment and Mystery and is one of the most beautiful in the 7,000-island chain. It is definitely a tropical paradise. Several sparkling white-sand beaches ring the island and its warm turquoise waters are as inviting as any of the more popular tropical destinations in the Caribbean, Pacific or Indian oceans.There is a laid-back, genteel charm to this place. Many of the houses and public structures such as churches and schools are over a century old. Locals carry on in an unhurried, languorous pace.Indeed, time seems to stand still in Siquijor. Despite its idyllic natural attractions, Siquijor does not get the volume of visitors and tourists of the other islands.It is said that one of the reasons for this is the existence of so-called 'sorcerers' and malevolent spell-casters who inhabit its hilly jungle interiors.

I found myself on this postcard-pretty island on a Good Friday a few years ago for some speculative business interests. On Easter Week break, the islands around the archipelago are usually full of vacationing people. But not Siquijor. It was quiet and tranquil and that suited me just fine. Being away from the maddening hordes that flock to the beaches this time of the year was my idea of a real vacation. And so I set out to meet the people with whom I was to do business with on the island. I had heard many stories of the do's and mostly the don'ts about Siquijor. Like, never give a stranger your real name; never accept food or drink from people you don't know or have just met; never look a "mamba barang" (sorcerer) in the eye...etc. I even heard of people getting spells cast on them with some actually suffering a slow agonizing death. Well, I like to think of myself as having a firm footing in the 21st century and consider this sort of local lore merely entertaining.

On my second day, I was driven to a hillside house where my island guide said a good or "white magic" healer lived. I decided to try a session with the old man. His method consisted of rubbing a glass jar filled with pure mountain water all over your head, shoulders, chest, back and arms while he blew gently on a small copper tube which was inside the water jar. Impurities then would slowly materialize in the water in the form of little dark pebble-like objects in varying sizes; also, the water would slowly get murky, presumably from the impurities. As my turn came, I checked the glass jar

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Travel experiences: Road trip horror stories?
We want to hear your view. Write now!