Siquijor is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality also named Siquijor . To the northwest of Siquijor is Cebu and Negros, to the northeast is Bohol and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

Siquijor is the third smallest province in the country both in terms of population and land area, after Camiguin and Batanes. For a time it was sub-province of Negros Oriental. Called Isla del Fuego of the “Island of Fire” by the Spanish before, Siquijor is considered by many Filipinos to be a mystical island, full of witches and other supernatural phenomena.

People and Culture

Population. According to the 2000 census, there are a total of 81,598 Siquijodnons, as the residents of Siquijor call themselves. This makes Siquijor the 3rd smallest province in terms of population. The same census also states that Siquijor has 17,351 households with an average household size of 4.70 persons. The annual growth rate is 2.19%, lower than the national growth rate of 2.36%.

Languages. The main language spoken in Siquijor is Cebuano. English as well as Tagalog is also spoken by many of the residents.

Education. Literacy rate, one of the highest in the country, is at 92.5%.

Economy

Geography

Political

Siquijor is subdivided into 6 municipalities. Siquijor is the capital and most important port.

Municipalities

Physical

Terrain. Siquijor is an island province in the Visayas. It lies southeast from Cebu and Negros across Cebu Strait (in some references called Bohol Strait) and southwest from Bohol. Bohol is also located north of Mindanao separated by the Bohol Sea.

With a land area of 343.5 km² and a coastline 102 km long, Siquijor is the 3rd smallest province of the Philippines. The highest peak at the center of the island is Mount Bandilaan .

Climate. The climate in Siquijor like most of the rest of the country is very tropical. It is dry from January to May and wet the rest of the year. Annual rainfall is 1000 to 1300 millimeters with November having the heaviest rainfall and April having the least. Siquijor has an average temperature of 28 °C and a humidity of 78%.

History

The Spaniards called Siquijor Isla del Fuego or “Island of Fire,” because the island gave off an eerie glow. This glow came from the great swarms of fireflies that harbored in the numerous molave trees on the island.

The island was first discovered by the Spaniards in 1565 during Miguel López de Legaspi's expedition. Since then, the island came under Spanish rule and the present municipalities, with the exception of Enrique Villanueva were established as Catholic parishes. The first parish, Siquijor , was established in 1783 under the administration of secular clergymen. In the years that followed until 1877, the parishes of Larena (Cano-an), Lazi (Tigbawan), San Juan (Makalipay), and Maria (Cangmeniac) were founded by priests of the Augustinian Recollects .

From 1854 to 1892, the island was administered by Spain under the politico-military province of Bohol. In 1892, it became a part of Negros Oriental, and then its sub-province in 1901.

On September 17, 1971, Siquijor became an independent province by virtue of Republic Act No. 6396. The capital which was formerly Larena, was transferred to the municipality of Siquijor in 1972 with Proclamation No. 1075.

External Links

• MySiquijor.com (tourist site)
  http://www.mysiquijor.com