After 4 years in Thailand, I came back to the Philippines in Oct 2022 in search of a place I could settle down on - I didn't want to travel anymore. I landed in Cebu City but left in Jan 9, 2023 - barely 3 months. . I thought I could grow roots there, but it didn't really resonate despite the friendships and abundance. Next was Siquijor where I stayed a full xxxx months. I really gave this place an honest effort.

The whole 2023 was all about finding bearing, finding a place I can resonate with and continue deepening my yoga practice. This meant resuming my travels in seach of that Shangrila if the current place couldn't resonate.

starting the day right with a cup of fermented coconut sap (tuba)

(Oct 13, 2022 - Jan 9, 2023)Cebu has been awesome! Big thanks to Mikko for making it happen. Without him, it would have been just another place. New Year started out with him taking us (me, DJ Kobe, Maiko and guests from the hostel) to a bar where Maria Ozawa (famed Japanese porn star) was also celebrating the new year. He poured us Johnny Walker Gold like it was water.

But despite the abundance, I felt the need to move on. Every passing day, no matter how much I tried to be productive, felt like ground hog day - a repetition of the day before. After 3 months in Cebu, it became clear I had to leave - despite the deepening friendship I had with Mikko, Kobe, Maiko, Marky, etc., despite having more cash than usual, despite the free stay at Hostel 7 Cebu and despite a shaman telling me my place is Cebu. But for where? Siquijor was always on my radar.

But first, I had to go to Talisay to buy a surplus Japanese folding bike (P2,500) - I can fold it to board the bus, ferry and tricycles. It would also help me commute around the 68 km circumferential road of Siquijor.

engaging conversation at Hostel 7 Cebu

(Jan 9 - XXXX, 2023) Mid-Jan, I left Cebu for Siquijor. I've heard good stories from travelers about Siquijor. After staying 1 week at Cliff Garden and another week at Genevieve Guest House, I came upon this wonderful room in Lazi - in compliance to all my specs (that it had to be in Lazi and decent), and it happened to be the cheapest! I couldn't believe it. I was blissed-out. No more pressure, no more stress of looking. I felt at home and settled. I was finally enjoying Siquijor, especially with my folding bike.

Highlights / Finds

1. Tuba - I found places for my daily tuba (fermented coconut sap) indulgence. I frequent one place where I take my twice-daily dose.

Tuba to start and end the day right

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2. Sikwate - sikwater is a hot native chocolate drink made from tableya (pressed melted cacao into tablet form). Roughly, having this on a roadside is equivalent to a poor man's café

sikwate and puto maya is marriage made in heaven

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3. Carinderia food - there are plenty of carinderias (eateries serving cheap home-cooked meals) where hot meals can be had for less than P100 (US$2)

nothing beats the homespun goodness of carinderia food

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4. Upscale bakery / café - I'm not a frequent visitor at Twenty4Café (pricey), but I'm glad there is one in Siquijor. This would be the equivalent of Abaca in Cebu City. The tourists would often flock here.

Twenty4Café is popolar with tourists

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5. The Seawall & the Harbor - as a coup de grace, there is the Seawall (aka Boulevard), a seaside promenade where you can just hang in time for the sunrise or sunset

the seawall is where I also do my daily yoga practice

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6. Natural spring water - Lazi is blessed with many natural springs that give rise to waterfalls, rivers and drinking water. I bought a 5-gallon water container and I go to any of the nearby springs for my natural spring water

natural spring water at Camagdung-Ung, Lazi

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Seeing the Problem
When all the giddy excitement faded away, I began to feel what's lacking or what's annoying - and the solution I found:

1. Someone to talk to - I constantly talk to the locals, but's it's more about fitting in. I miss conversations about quantum mechanics, about a holographic universe, about consciousness co-creating reality, etc. Sometimes, I find a foreigner wandering in Lazi. I make conversation if possible - nice to talk about traveling again. Sometimes, I would go to Cambugahay Falls to bathe and talk to travelers.
2. Motorcycle - my bicycle can only take me so far and hiring a motorcycle is far too exhorbitant. Eventually, I bought a brand new 2014 model Honda Wave 110 for a cheap P35,000. This became possible when Bitcoin spiked up in price. What little Bitcoin I had generated surplus to buy this motorcycle.
   
   
   

   my new Honda Wave 110
3. Noise - very hard to get a good night's sleep...barking dogs in the middle of the night, loud motorbikes, louder trucks with heavy payload, party noise from the nearby convention hall, crowing rooster at the break of dawn. I found a band-aid solution by transferring to another room behind the house - still noisy but can be tolerated.
4. Garbage burning - Despite the ecological hazards of burning garbage (acid rain, pollution, stench, green house gases), it remains a practice here. Imagine doing Pranayama and then the neighbor burns his garbage. Sometimes, it's hard to excape it when most houses burn their garbage at the same time.
5. No Wifi - I tried subscribing to the regional PLDT fiber optic wifi service, but it required a 3-year contract. Cannot! I'm reliant on data from my phone which gets depleted fast...very fast! Luckily, on my latest data load, the load somehow never got depleted - it's been many months already.
6. Heat - this could be a deal-breaker. Siquijor is a very hot place. My place offers no insulation from the noon sun. Even if I sleep it off, I perspire the whole time. I would often take refuge in Bolo Bolo or find a place to tie up my hammock. I was even considering leaving Siquijor for a cooler climate. My landlady offered an electric fan - that somehow alleviated the problem.
   
   
   

   taking refuge from the heat

The Daily Routine
I've deepened my Yoga practice all this time. Why? Because there is nothing to do here. I start my day at 4 am when I get awakened by the roosters, motorcycles and trucks. I do my morning breathwork and neti pot. Then I go to the seawall to catch the sunrise and meditate. I go back home to continue my sleep. I catch up on my blog or read more on my current yoga book (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Yoga Yajnavalkia, Yoga Sutras, etc). Then I go back to the seawall to catch the sunset - do pranayama, chant a mantra and meditate. I go back home again to be in front of my laptop. I'm like a monk here - no one to talk to, with not much to do.

During Aug/Sep, I would make the daily uphill bicycle ride to Bolo Bolo for my cardio workout. While on my refreshing bath, I would do my isometric holds/dynamic tension while doing deep breathing and Maha Bandha Mudra. I felt strong during those days.

sometimes, I over-extend the limit of my folding bike

Coron Write-Off
No matter what happens in Siquijor, I remain committed to leave for Coron that April but it kept being pushed back until I began to feel settled in Siquijor - Coron became a write-off.

Additionally, I realized that even though Greg was magnanimous in making such an offer (staying in his resort in Coron, he would develop a yoga center for me with me as an equal partner), I would somehow be indebted to him or at least I cannot be in a state of complete relaxation. I must keep doing things to generate a profit. But with my cheap rent in Siquijor, I can sleep the whole day if I wanted to and I can care less how the world turns. And I am not indebted in any way, shape or form.

Inter-Island Travel
Because Siquijor is close to the other mainlands, I take occassional trips to Dumaguete. At one point, I even went to Davao City. With cheap rent, it doesn't hurt to be gone for an extended time.

inter-island travel by boat

Moving to a House
In Aug 22, I moved to a bungalow - still cheap at P3000/month ($54). It's in the same compound. With that, I had more space, I had a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room. With this change, I committed myself to be a householder. I bought house things - hamper, stove, wok, kitchen utensils, etc.

you can say it's a half-finished house but now, I have privacy

Wok Cooking
With a kitchen to play on, I did a wok-immersion with the help of Youtube videos. I ordered online for a professional wok and its utensils. I resumed my bread making and omelette indulgence. Yoga and cooking became my 2 pre-occupations.

cooking on the wok became a passion

After almost rupturing my abdominal wall resulting in inguinal hernia, my yoga practice took a radical change. I could no longer push my ABS workouts. My physical workout took a sliding down effect as I had to hold back. This somehow paved the way to push more into Pranayama and Meditation.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika
My practice kept pace with my readings on Hatha Yoga Pradipika. My reading also became the foundation for the development of my online yoga classes, Yoga by Gigit. So all three branches went hand-in-hand: Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Yoga by Gigit and my personal practice. This book really deepened my understanding of yoga and how the different elements of yoga are connected to form this big picture of yoga.

Gateway Experience / Hemi-Sync
I spent nearly 2 months practicing on the audio files daily. It was so promising - but I was not successful. At the end of the day, I did not experience an OBE.

Yoga by Gigit
This was a partnership I had with Marky to develop an online pranayama class. He even went to Siquijor to do the video. Honestly, after the initial excitement, I lost my interest. I feel embarrassed for wasting Marky's time.

Personal Practice
As far as practice goes, a new turning point was an Aha Moment upon reading Chandra bhedan - left nostril breathing to introvert the mind. My lifelong problem has always been my excitability. If that is put under control, then my behavior and speech becomes more deliberate and intentional. Thus, I've taken Chandra bhedan as part of my daily practice.

Pranayama is a staple of my daily practice

Highlights / Finds

1. OBE? -

I started traveling again this year - new places, new friends. Both go hand-in-hand. Cebu was a revolving door of people coming in and out of Hostel 7, while Siquijor had bouts of talking to locals but only in a way for me to fit in. I longed for conversations that connect or resonate.

A repeating pattern I noticed with people I fraternize with, is that nearly all of them are bigger than life - men of magnificense and radiance. From Mike of Chiang Mai, to Mikko of Cebu, to Kris of Lithuania, etc. They take the bull by the horns and bend it to their will...usually with gentle but results-oriented persuasion.

Mikko

Mikko Pato
Hostel Seven Cebu
I left Cebu in mid Jan, so that effectively cut my involvement with Mikko for the rest of 2023. But his presence remains looming on the horizon. We touch base every once in a while about possible projects.

with Mikko at Sunburst Chicken resto soft opening

Mikko blogs:

1. 2023: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2023
2. 2022: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2022
3. Cebu City Peoplescape Dec 4, 2022
4. 5 Nights in Cebu City at Hostel Seven Cebu Sep 2-7, 2017

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Johnnie

Johnnie
When I first met Johnnie in his Danish Lagoon resort in 2010, I was fascinated by his positive energy. Thus during my 2023 revisit/stay in Siquijor, 13 years later, I made effort to seek him out because his resort has already closed. I'm glad I found him even though he doesn't remember me anymore. The friendship was restarted somehow. He's still as vibrant despite the seeming frailness. We catch up every once in a while...at Twenty4Cafe....

with Johnnie at Twenty4Café in Lazi, Siquijor

Johnnie blogs:

1. 2023: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2023
2. Heeeere's Johnnie! Feb 26, 2023
3. A Tale of Two Foreigners Apr 26, 2010
4. Freediving in Siquijor's Marine Sancturaries Apr 23-24, 2010

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Kris

Kris
Even though I was in Cebu and Siquijor, and even though he was in Bali (Dec 22 - Jan 23), we continued our correspondence. Mind you, they are long and thought provoking - about science, evolution, transcendence, life-hacking, gender chasm, etc. We agree on most, disagree on some. I could write an entire book just on our long-winded correspondence. Even though he remained largely virtual, he was the most I was in communication with.

He visited me in Siquijor in Mar-Apr, to hangout, explore Siquijor, do yoga with me and do a podcast interview.

He is perhaps the most idealistic, most curious, most forward-moving, most forward-thinking, most on-a-rush individual I've met. He is smart, balanced, aware and ready to push his boundaries to generate his intended results. Yes, he is extreme with his thinking - like saving the world.

One thing I noticed is that even though his questions to me were pointed, thought-provoking and heavy, I didn't have to think of an answer. The answers were right there - not that it came as an epiphany, but through my combined life experience, knowledge base, insight, and 'connecting the dots', the answers were clear and obvious. These are questions that could baffle even the scholars. I would attribute that to Prana vayu - when prana is strong and the wind that pushes it is strong, when the nadis are purified, there is clarity of thinking (among other benefits).

Kris and I when I got my motorbike in Siquijor

Kris blogs:

1. 2023: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2023
2. Kris Visits Siquijor Mar 17 - Apr 15, 2023
3. 2022: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2022
4. Peoplescape Mar 31, 2022
5. Pizza Nite with Kevin, Jamie and Kris Mar 10, 2022
6. Pizza Nite with Kris, Simona and Mary Feb 15, 2022
7. ABS Fitness Challenge Jan 16 - Apr 16, 2022
8. Welcoming the New Year Jan 31, 2022

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Marky

Marky
Marky came to Siquijor in Mar-Apr to do a video shoot of our project, Yoga by Gigit, an online yoga classroom for a paying clientele. Finding a suitable location for a shoot was a challenge. Of course there were beaches, waterfalls, springs and overlooking spots but it could be noisy, too hot, no suitable place to do the yoga, etc. We somehow defaulted to doing afternoon shoots at the Lazi seawall from 5:00 to 6:30pm, a 90-min window where there is enough sunlight but not too hot. It wasn't all work. We also explored some scenic spots on my motorbike. He also had my bicycle to use.

Marky is generous and quick to reciprocate. When he arrived from Cebu, he brought some bungee cords I requested. When I was problemazing about my earphones, he gave me his (he insisted). To alleviate my wifi dilemma, he secured a 'magic sim' for me. We would take turns treating each other.

Marky and I at Candijay Spring in San Juan, Siquijor

Blogs about Marky

1. 2023: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2023
2. Exploring Siquijor with Marky Mar 25 - Apr 11, 2023
3. 2022: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2022
4. Cebu City Peoplescape Dec 4, 2022

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Marlon

Marlon
Marlon was my unexpected friend in Siquijor. I met him at Inday Bador's tuba place. He was always pleasant and always drunk. He endeared himself to me when he offered to give me a lift together with my bicycle with a flat tire on his motorbike. I don't forget, and I always repay acts of kindness. I would treat him for tuba and add an extra bibingka for him when I buy pasalubongs at Fidy's. He is also quick to reciprocate - taking me to Bolo Bolo, to Mount Bandilaan viewing tower, to fiestas for some lechon indulgence, to some shamans out in the mountains, to his fishing grounds for some fresh fish eats, etc. He even invited me to his lavish wedding. Sometimes, he would just show up at my yoga place (on the seawall) and start hanging out, while I'm in the middle of my practice!

at Marlon's wedding

Marlon blogs:

1. 2023: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2023

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(March 14/21, 2023) GPT4 (by OpenAI) was launched to the public in March 14, and a week later in March 21, Bard (by Google) was also launched. This auspicious moment heralded a new era in how humans learn - it's HUGE! It's ground-breaking and redefined how knowledge is acquired. Before, if you need information, you Google your keyword and good luck finding that information from a million search results. You'll still have a lot of research to do. Now, you'll simply type your specific question and the answer is generated in real time - oftentimes, I would ask both AI the same question and see how they differ. You can even refine your question from the anwswers given. Since its launch, both of them have been my go-to for knowledge. I would ask it questions impossible to ask in Google...or at least doing many calculations from the search results. Example? If earth was the size of a golf ball, how big would the sun be and how far away would it be? Or, if I want to know what a classic book is all about, but too lazy to read 1.4 million words (War and Peace), I can simply ask the AI to summarize the book in 2000 words (or 5000 words, depending on how detailed you want it), and then ask it to translate the summary in a different language. It's so customizable you'll find new ways to using it. Life was never the same for me after this.

• 2022: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2022
• 2021: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2021
• 2020: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2020
• 2019: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2019
• 2018: A Year In Review Dec 31, 2018
• 2017: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2017
• 2016: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2016
• 2015: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2015
• 2014: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2014
• 2013: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2013
• 2012: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2012
• 2010: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2010
• 2008: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2008
• 2003: A Year in Review Dec 31, 2003

• Cebu City is the 2nd biggest city in the Philippine (next to Manila) - and it continues to build and expand. Traffic is getting bad. Decentralization is being developed with the SM Super Mall in the SRP south and the suburban towns in the north.
• Boat from the airport to the city center - even without traffic, it takes about 4 rides to reach the city. But with Cebu's increasing traffic congestion, it has become a nightmare. Instead of taking the land route, take the water route - no traffic, fresher air and cheaper. From the airport, take the yellow multi-cab straight to the river port and take the ferry (there's only one destination) to the city. Take the 02B jeep and get off at UC near Jones - you're now on the city's main artery.
• given its size and increasing congestion, Cebu really needs a mass railway system - something that is conspicuously lacking, but no one seems to complain about
• Cebu is bursting at the seams on the yoga scene. There are about 20 yoga centers in the city - from yoga studios to gyms offering yoga and hotels jumping on the bandwagon
• a trendy and safe place in Cebu where you can chillout for coffee and enjoy good eats would be at the Ayala Mall
• there are other pocket-areas for trendy hangouts - Banila Town Center, Crossroads, Escario Plaza, La Vie, etc.
• the tourist area where most of the budget hotels and restaurants are, are located within the Mango area, although it has a seedy belly feel. Kids may swarm on you pretending to be begging, but they could be picking your pocket or your backpack pockets - be careful
• many pick-pockets in the Colon area - be careful

Cebu City to Camotes Islands

1. via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
2. via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

1. Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
2. Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City

Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat

1. George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
2. Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
3. Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599

Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)

1. Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
2. Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
3. Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
4. Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips

Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol

1. Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
   one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
   round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
   round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
2. Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
   Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
   +63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
3. SuperCat (2GO) - Pier 1, departs 08:15-13:30-15:10-18:00-19:40
   P 500.00
   +63 32 233 7000
4. Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs daily 12:30pm, 10:00pm and 1:00pm (Mon, Wed, Sat)
   Standard (Lying) Php 150, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 340
   +63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
   info@liteferries.com.ph / www.liteferry.com

Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran

1. Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs M/W/SAT at 1:00pm, 10 hours, economy Php 649 (through barkota.com), layover in Tagbilaran 5:45pm-8:00pm, arrives Larena Port, Siquijor at 11:00pm
   +63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
   info@liteferries.com / www.liteferry.com
2. Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs daily at 1pm, 5 hours
   Open Air P1600
   +63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300

Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.

2022

2017

2015

2014

2013

2012

1. Camotes Islands - caves, beaches
2. Cebu City - rich in culture and history, 2nd largest city in the Philippines
3. Moalboal - amazing coral reef system, sardine bowl, deep drop-off for freediving
4. Oslob - Butanding (whale shark) watching
5. Bantayan Island - long stretch of fine white sand beach, Virgin Island for snorkeling
6. Malapascua Island - divers' paradise for seeing the rare Thresher Shark
7. Cantabaco Cave - Toledo
8. Barile Waterfalls - Barile
9. Whale Shark Tour - Oslob
10. Carcar - chicharon and lechon in public market