Population: 103,395
Land Area: 337.49 square kilometers
Capital: Siquijor Municipality
Municipality of Siquijor Population: 28,915
Municipality of Siquijor Land Area: 90.7 square kilometers
Siquijor, officially the Province of Siquijor (Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Siquijor; Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Siquijor), is an island province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality also named Siquijor. To the north of Siquijor is Cebu, to the west is Negros, northeast is Bohol, and to the south, across the Bohol Sea, is Mindanao.
Siquijor Province has a population of 103,395based on the 2020 Population Census. The capital is Siquijor Municipality which has a population of 28,91. Siquijor Province’ land area is 337.49 square kilometers. The Municipality of Siquijor has a land area of 90.7 kilometers.
During the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines, the Spaniards called the island Isla del Fuego (Island of Fire). Siquijor is commonly associated with mystic traditions that the island's growing tourism industry capitalizes on.
The island lies about 19 kilometres (12 mi) east of the nearest point on southern Negros, 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Cebu, 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Bohol, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao. It is predominantly hilly and in many places the hills reach the sea, producing precipitous cliffs. At the center, Mount Malabahoc (locally known as Mount Bandila an) reaches about 628 metres (2,060 ft) in elevation, the highest point on the island. Three marine terraces can be roughly traced especially in the vicinity of Tag ibo on the southwestern part of the island, a barrio of San Juan municipality from the seacoast up into the central part.
Siquijor is a coralline (resembling corals) island, and fossils of the giant clam tridacna are often encountered in the plowed inland fields. On the hilltops there are numerous shells of the molluscan species presently living in the seas around the island. Siquijor was probably formed quite recently, geologically speaking. The ocean depths between Siquijor and Bohol and Mindanao are in the neighborhood of 640 metres (350 fathoms; 2,100 feet).
Siquijor has two different climates, dominated by short dry season/tropical monsson. All climate is within Coronas climate type IV, characterised by not very pronounced maximum rainfall with a short dry season from one to three months and a wet season of nine to ten months. The dry season starts in February and lasts through April sometimes extending to mid May.
Siquijor (province) comprises 6 municipalities. Siquijor (municipality) is the capital and most important port.
The main language spoken in the island province is Cebuano, with Tagalog and English often used as second languages. The former is understood and used as the national lingua franca, but it is rarely used in everyday conversation among locals.
Siquijor's long-time reputation as a place of magic and sorcery both attracts and repulses visitors. Siquijor is also well known for its festivals that focus on healing rituals where incantations are sung while the old folks make potions out of herbs, roots, insects and tree barks.
Among the many attractions are the beaches, caves, waterfalls, Bandila an natural park and butterfly sanctuary. The most popular of them are the Cambugahay Falls, Paliton Beach and the centuries-old Balete tree, both located in Lazi.
The coral reefs ringing the island offer some of the best diving in the Philippines for snorkelers and scuba divers. Siquijor was declared a marine visitor arrivals among the three provinces in Region VII.
The island of Siquijor has two seaports capable of servicing cargo and passenger sea crafts. Siquijor also has an airfield located near Siquijor capable of handling smaller and mostly privately-owned airplanes.