Our motley crew (consists of myself, my girlfriend Malou, her sister Ghia, my brother Drig-Drig, my friend Oron and his girlfriend Che-Che) went to Camiguin last Holy Week, from April 13-15, 2006. Located 10 kilometers off the coast of Misamis Oriental and with seven volcanoes snuggled on its land area of only 238 square kilometers, Camiguin is dubbed as the Island Born of Fire. Thousands of visitor flocked there every year making the island Mindanao’s prime Holy Week destination. Highlights of our trip were the visits to the following places:
Sto. Niño Cold Spring-located 4 kilometers north uphill of Catarman proper, the
place has a huge 25 m x 40 m pool of cold water sprouting from its sandy bottom. Since all cottages were already taken, we set up my newly-bought tent at the poolside to keep safe our belongings. After quenching our thirst with fresh buko juice and splashing sunblock lotion on our bodies, we took a dip and experienced the soothing cool water, unmindful of the multitude swimming along with us. The place is
really crowded, not unlike India’s holy Ganges River. Sto. Niño Cold Spring is less holy this time though, what with some hot babes parading their stuff, videoke machine blasting your eardrums, noisy kids shouting and a drunk gay showering his companion with the Red Horse Beer they’re drinking.
Soda Spring Water Resort-Located a few kilometers from the Sto. Niño Cold Spring. The pool is also huge though the water is not as cold as in Sto. Niño. However, the place is not crowded and offers a great view of one of Camiguin’s most prominent mountains (or is it a volcano). It has been said that the water here tastes as sweet as soda when drank from its source. It might make a good chaser for Tanduay.hehehe.
Walkway to the Old Volcano and Via Cruces- the landmark of the annual Panaad. It is here where hundreds or probably thousands of devotees and tourists climbed every year. Life-size statues reflecting the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ made up the 15 Stations of the Cross that mark the trail to the Old Volcano’s peak. With restaurants and souvenir shops lined up along the highway, the
atmosphere here can only be described as festive. We started our climb way past 5 PM and with the load imposed by my traveling bag strapped on my back, I already wanted to go back down upon reaching the third station. But my companions are determined to go all the way to the top so I have no choice but to join the club, or shall I say, the mob. All
efforts were rewarded though when we caught the most beautiful sunset view upon
reaching the middle of our trek. Suddenly, the sky became a canvass of breathtaking colors and the sea became a huge mirror reflecting the kaleidoscope heavens above. The sunset view as seen from the Walkway can only be described in one word—priceless. It was already dark when we reached the 15th station where
most devotees converge and pray. Drenched in sweat, we stayed there for a while to rest. The world below can only be seen through the flickering lights. Suddenly an old Collective Soul song played in my head…so I walk up on high and I step to the edge, to see my world below…
Old Church Ruins-the remnants of the Old Vulcan Daan’s eruption in 1817
that wiped out the town of Catarman. Century-old thick walls, convent and belfry
ruins surrounded the camping ground where we set up our tents. Early campers were already settled on their chosen portion of the ground, happily exchanging stories of magic and spiralling ships and stars in the night. Two bottles of SMB Grande help us dozed into dreamland, but only for a while. The arrival of more noisy campers disturbed our sleep throughout the night.
Sunken Cemetery-A large white cross marks the old cemetery swept into the sea by Old Vulcan Daan’s eruption in 1817. We passed by and took snapshots of its truly picturesque view.
Ardent Hot Spring-located 6 kilometers southwest of Mambajao proper. The place has adjoining pools with water in varying degrees of hotness. Running down from the vents of the dormant Hibok-Hibok volcano, the water here is believed to cure various illnesses. We took a dip in a pool with water temperature of 38◦C and instantly feel its therapeutic effects on our tired bodies. The site also has an ideal camping ground for outdoor lovers.
The White Island-about 10-minute motor boat ride from Camiguin mainland is this uninhabited white sandbar that changes its shape according to the tide. We arrived there shortly before 7 AM and were met by the sight of many tourists frolicking
in the sands and crystal-clear waters. We passed by the makeshift bamboo and nipa stalls serving food and refreshment. The White Island is the best place to view the grandeur of the towering Mt. Hibol-Hibok and the Old Volcano.
Katibawasan Falls-about 70 meters of clear water cascading to a rock pool surrounded by orchids, ferns, trees and boulders. The water in the pool is really ice-cold, ideal for swimming after a long day under the sun.
Camiguin Highland Resort-A high-end hotel and resort built in a mountain. The place is newly built and offers world class accommodations to its guests. We just dropped by here for some photo-taking sessions.
Strolling the Mambajao town on a Good Friday night, we passed by some ancestral homes reflecting distinct Spanish architecture, much like those I’ve seen in Bohol. Life in this sleepy town is truly laid-back, serene and offers a scenic link to the past. We went to the seaside park and experienced Camiguin’s cool night breeze.
We left Camiguin on a Black Saturday afternoon, aboard an obviously overloaded barge. My mp3 player is churning out some Goo Goo Dolls tunes through its headset as I watch the island slowly turn to a shadowed contour. There is still so much to discover there–the exotic marine life, lush forests, sandy beaches, mystic mountains and the majestic volcanoes. Definitely, there are more than enough reasons for me to go back to Camiguin someday.
