Siquijor has a long-standing cultural reputation for mysticism and traditional healing practices where local healers, called mananambal, use herbs, roots, and ancient rituals that have been passed down through generations. 

Healing Festival

The Healing Festival is one of Siquijor’s most fascinating and deeply rooted traditions, held during Holy Week at Bandilaan Mountain View Park and in the barangay of Cantabon and San Antonio. During this sacred time, healers and herbalists from across the Visayas and Mindanao gather to share ancient knowledge and prepare traditional remedies believed to carry powerful healing properties.

In the weeks leading up to Holy Week, ingredients are carefully collected over seven Fridays of the Lenten season. These include tree barks, roots, herbs, insects, and other natural elements gathered from forests, seas, caves, and cemeteries, each chosen according to long-held beliefs and rituals. The festival officially begins on Holy Wednesday with the collection of the final ingredients, marking the start of the most important preparations.

On Maundy Thursday, the atmosphere becomes lively as more than 200 different kinds of barks and ingredients are chopped and readied. By Black Saturday, the mixtures, ranging from herbal medicines to well-known love potions are finally brewed, bottled, and offered for sale. According to the people of Cantabon and San Antonio, this practice dates back to before the 1930s and has been passed down through generations, preserving the legacy of famed local healers and making the Healing Festival a powerful symbol of Siquijor’s mystical heritage. 

Fiesta: A Celebration of Faith, Culture, and Community 

In the Philippines, particularly in Siquijor, a fiesta is a lively celebration honoring a town’s patron saint, blending faith, culture, and community spirit. The streets burst with music, colorful decorations, and the laughter of both locals and visitors, all coming together to enjoy the joyous occasion.

The celebration usually begins with a Mass, offering a solemn yet uplifting start to the day. Afterward, the streets come alive with parades, traditional performances, and festival dances. Many residents open their homes to share food, welcoming visitors and making them feel like part of the community. As evening falls, the fiesta turns into a festive party filled with music, dancing, and boundless energy.

During the main parade, visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of local government units, NGOs, school drum and lyre bands, and colorful dance groups energizing the streets. Many of the dances are performed in honor of the patron saint or as a gesture of thanks for a bountiful harvest, reflecting the town’s rich traditions and creativity. And if you love to dance, be sure to join the bayle, a lively street dance or disco usually held at the town plaza or basketball court. It is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the music, energy, and joyful spirit of the fiesta, where everyone comes together to celebrate with smiles and good vibes. 

FIESTA SCHEDULE FOR EACH BARANGAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY 

Pasihagon - January 14-15

Cang-alwang - January 14-15

Tongo - January 14-15

Tinago - January 14-15

Caticugan - January 14-15

Panlautan - January 23-24

Cang-isad - January 23-24

Ibabao - January 24

Cang-agong - April 14-15

Canghunoghunog - May 14-15

Cang-inte - May 14-15

Caipilan - May 14-15

Cantabon - June 12-13

San Antonio - June 12-13

Sabang - August 15-16

Luyang - August 15-16

Banban - August 15-16

Pili - August 15-16

Olo - August 15-16

Tacloban - August 15-16

Cang-atuyom - September 9-10

Cang-asa - September 9-10

Lambojon - September 9-10

Luzong - September 26

Cangmatnog - September 26

Cang-adieng - September 26-27

Ponong - September 29

Tacdog - October 3-4

Pulangyuta - October 3-4

Cangmohao - October 3-4

Songculan - October 3-4

Bolos - October 3-4

Dumanhog - October 3-4

Calalinan - October 3-4

Canal - October 3-4

Poblacion - October 3-4

Pangi - October 3-4

Candanay Sur - October 3-4

Candanay Norte - October 3-4

Caitican - October 3-4

Tebjong - 2nd Sunday of November

Tambisan - December 17-18