The Gathering On the eve of Lazi's fiesta, I was introduced to a group of young people through a mutual acquaintance. It turns out they're all into meditation and the occult. One offered to open my 3rd Eye and take me on a journey - let's call him the Shaman.
The Shaman He is an interesting guy. He is a young healer and astral traveler. I asked how he acquired the power. He claims that his girlfriend died and he pursued the occult to reach out to her in the after life. He was able to, through astral travel. The bizarre part of it is that he is able to continue a relationship with her. They now even have a son together - he even showed me a picture of both of them. The son seemed to glow in the picture. The Shaman stated that entities in the 'other' world glow. His son and now-wife, both oscillate between this default world and the 'other' world. When asked which world his son prefers, he said the 'other' world because food tastes better there.
He also claims that in the astral world, he met a powerful entity who bestowed him powers to heal, travel different dimensions, and open third eyes. He now devotes much of his time teaching kids how to meditate. Together with his friend, they are developing a meditation center overlooking the ocean.
The Ritual We all had an impromptu meditation just across the street. The Shaman gave me instructions to sit in meditation and he will open my 3rd eye. He described what I would experience and gave me instructions on what to do (trust the process, keep following the white light as the color evolves to green, blue, etc.) and what not to do (follow the black light...it would be a house of horrors).
Hemi-Sync Fusion Since I had been immersed on my OBE (out of body experience) project the last 3 weeks through Hemi-Sync(no confirmed OBE as of this writing), I was primed for the experience. When I closed my eyes and began to meditate, I felt his clumped fingers together as they pressed slightly higher between the eyebrows (3rd Eye location). I then felt a 'blow' of his breath on my nape. Following my Hemi-Sync protocol, I engaged Focus 10 and put my body to sleep while my mind remained awake. I waited for anything new to happen.
Drumroll Please... The Shaman tapped me after 15 minutes to come out of my meditation. Huh? That was it? Nothing happened! I guess he was surprised and somehow disappointed to learn nothing happened to me.
The Other Meditator Surprisingly, the other meditator took on the astral travel and even claimed that he traveled with me! Huh? I was astral traveling without knowing it despite being awake? The Shaman later explained that perhaps I did make the travel with my 'astral eyes' closed. I actually heard about this phenomenon through Robert Bruce, the author of my first OBE book, Astral Dynamics.
...and SHE arrived We were later joined by a tall and seductive-looking lady who were friends with everyone in the group - I was the only outsider. In sharp contrast to her 'sexy' appeal, she was also a healer. She even claimed to have cured two stage-4 cancer victims. Astonishingly, she acquired her ability only in the last year after a cathartic episode.
a Shiva statue with a 3rd Eye
Ending Thoughts Whoa! Suddenly I realized I was in the presence of young mystic healers. Unlike the stereotypical image of a mystic healer who is old, bent, twisted and living in cave where she concocts magical brews, these ones are young, vibrant, productive members of society, and even business owners! I thought that the mystic healers of Siquijor were a dying breed since most of them are old (and I've met a few of them) and the young ones are no longer interested in antiquated things of old. Apparently, I am mistaken. Again, unlike the folklores of old, these neo-healers are here in the service of humanity and not to cast evil spells on people. Optism is in the air.
(May 15, 2023) Like most fiestas in the Philippines, Lazi's fiesta is over the top - you drown in food. Not to be outdone, the house where I stay had its whole pig roasted on a spit (lechon)...more »»
(May 29, 2023) What if I consider a social interaction as a kind of meditation where I shut-up, observe, and listen without reacting?..more »»
More on Lazi:
Lazi Local Info
Resorts - Lazi has some beach/dive resorts on its west coast - Gabayan Riviera, Lazi Beach Club, Bahura Dive Resort. However, the popular area for tourist resorts are in San Juan
Transport - Lazi is the junction where the jeeps begin their clockwise route (Lazi-San Juan-Siquijor Port) or the counter clockwise route (Lazi-Maria-Larena Port). Because the jeeps are rare with about 2 to 3 trips/day only in the morning, it's practical to just have a motorcycle here in Siquijor. With its affordability (a brand new Rusi motorbike is as low as P45k), people just buy motorcycles...especially those who live up in the mountains.
The Boulevard - Lazi's main draw is its seaside cobblestone promenade. When the sun goes down, people gather here for eats, drinks, open-air, harbor view and the sunset
Lazi Port - Kho Shipping, the shipping line operating from Lazi Port, has stopped its service to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and Cebu. Passengers can go to Siquijor Port or Larena Port for boat services out of Siquijor Island
More on Siquijor Island:
Siquijor Island Local Info
Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.
Siquijor Port to Lazi - last trip leaves at 3pm from station near market
Lazi to Siquijor Port - jeeps depart from the Lazi Port area. 5 jeeps, the last trip at 12:30 pm. Lazi to San Juan, P50.
Larena Port to Lazi - jeeps are unpredictable. As of this writing, there is only 1 jeep plying the Larena-Lazi route. This jeep leaves Larena for Lazi at 9:50am. After that, no more jeep. You'll have to take a tricycle to Siquijor Pob for jeeps going to Lazi
Lazi to Larena Port - 6am (daily) and 9 am (M-Th)
Food - these were suggested by a local to me
Lechon manok & liempo - roasted pork belly and chicken at Joel's in Siquijor Poblacion. I've tried this myself...yummy, even if the chicken was no longer hot
Bibingka - sweetened rice cake by Fidy's Bibingka (P30) in Sawang, Maria. I've come back for this and I buy for other people as well as 'pasalubong' - they love this
Siopao - at the Rosita store near Thrifty (P25) in Siquijor Poblacion
Peanut butter - by Rene. Just ask around in Siquijor Poblacion. It's popular
Torta - sweet cakish bread at the Thrifty story in Siquijor Poblacion
Siquijor Island Map Siquijor - Dumaguete Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Montenegro Lines - at Siquijor Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle, 7:30am/10:00am/2:00pm/4:30pm
Aleson Shipping - at Siquijor Port, 6 am and 6 pm daily, 1:30 pm M-Sat, Regular P200.00/pax, Aircon P250.00/pax
Siquijor - Tagbilaran - Cebu City Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.
Ocean Jet - 8:20 am, at Siquijor Port To Tagbilaran: P800/tourist & open air, 2 hours (arrive 10:20 am), P1200/business class To Cebu(Pier 1): P1600/tourist & open air, 4 hours (arrive 12:40 am), P2400/business class
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, no Senior Citizen discount for online ticket purchase To Tagbilaran: T-Th-Sun, 3 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 10 pm, P475/standard (Tourist, PHP 750) To Cebu: T-Th-Sun, 10 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 5 am, PHP 605/standard (Senior P484), Tourist, PHP 770
Apekoptravel - at Larena Port to Tagbilaran: 1:00 pm, xxx hours, P750
Reserve through call or text: Cleare - 0938 283 4760 | Grace - 0936 534 6564 | Jessel - 0961 759 6711,
Pay via G-Cash: +63-917-880-1464, Email: momovillageadventure@gmail.com,
Facebook messenger: Apekoptravel. Enter your birthday and nationality to get discounts:
0 to 3 years old free,
4 to 9 years old will have 20% discount,
10 years old and above full price,
Filipino Senior Citizens will also have 20% discount
Siquijor - Plaridel Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, T-Th-Sun, 2:00 am, 5 hours, PHP?
Siquijor - Cebu (Liloan) - Cebu City BUS Trip(as of Jan 2023)
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. Larena Port 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 (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
Suggested Destinations After Siquijor Island
These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat
Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Siquijor. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
Dumaguete - Dumaguete is a small charming progressive coastal town in Negros Oriental. Cafe and restaurants line the famous Boulevard Boardwalk. Tourist attractions include Japanese Shrine, Casaroro Falls, snorkeling along the southern coastline (Dauin, Masaplod Norte, etc), Balinsasayao Twin Lakes