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Some of the islands tale foretold that it rose from the sea betwixt thunder and lightning.
It was originally known as Katugasan coming from tugas, molave trees that covered the hills. The Spanish called it Isla de Fuego due to the bushel of fireflies they found there.
Like other provinces in the Visayas, Siquijor is still an agricultural county. Their crops include coconut, rice, cassava, peanuts, abaca and tobacco. Smaller industries support fishponds and swamp lands because of the rich fishing grounds that surrounds the island.
Siquijor has an unusual type of festivity. Filipinos regard it with awe because of the presence of magical practitioners and healers who claim to possess magical powers. Its' version of "Witches Festival" is performed at Crocodile Hill. The gratifying, charming and exquisite ritual usually takes place during the full moon. They gather live insects and different herbs and they throw it in a giant cooking pot filled with boiling water. The participants form a circular path reciting a spell.
Siquijor is also blessed with numerous white sand beaches like the Salagdoong Beach, Sangugan, Caliallan, Paliton, Tubod and Cagusuan. The Cave of Cantabon is also a good tourist attraction. A natural spring that is perfect for swimming can be found in the lake of San Juan de Capilay while a good dive spot is located at Daquit Diving Shoal.
Some of the churches built during the Spanish regime still remain in the province. St. Francis of Assisi Church with its old stone bell tower, was established in the provincial capital. The Cang-Isok House is an old century bamboo structure situated in the town of Enrique Villanueva.
Access to the province can be done thru the province of Cebu, Negros and Mindanao by ferry boats and passenger jetboats. By plane, there are flights to the island from Dipolog and Dumaguete few times a week.
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