November 13, 2023
Kings and Queens
Location 
: Siquijor Island, Philippines
The Coronation
I was invited to attend the coronation of the kings and queens who reign from The Other Side. These are regular people in our default world, but on the other side, they rule as royalty.
The Other Side?
To put things in context, this is Siquijor - the enchanted island where denizens of the other world walk amongst mortals in this default world - and vice versa. The Other Side is called by many names - astral planes, heaven, 4th dimension, the nth jhana, subtle realm, etc. It is supposed to be inhabited by beings who have a glow in them. It's supposed to be a much nicer place where food tastes much better. Our world in comparison would seem like a ghetto. Even water is sweet. The crazy thing about this, is not just denizens but also 'things' from the other side are brought here to the default world. They resemble talismans and they are supposed to be endowed with magical powers. Yes, magical power seems to be the currency of choice within these 2 worlds.
the coronation rite, presided by the senior King and Queen
Otherworldly
Talks ranged from fringe to being 'way out there' - immaculate conception, entering other people's bodies, remote impregnation, raising a family from the other side, manifesting physical objects that came from the other side, marriage between human and 'fairy'. You would think it was a script from a Harry Potter movie.
The Chosen Ones
I asked one of the 'royalties', "Did you apply for this or were you chosen?" Apparently, he was chosen. But it wasn't clear to me what the criteria were for being chosen. The inductees were about 12 - women and men, young and old, rich and poor. They were all immaculately white during the ritual. All took turns with their narratives - how they got started, the calling, brief bio, etc. For the most part, the whole ritual was about sharing.
Ending Thoughts
I've joined their 3rd Eye rituals a few times. And while others were able to venture out of their physical bodies and into the other side, I remained exactly where I sat - on God's green earth (in short, nothing happened). I wish I was able to OBE (out-of-body experience) so I could come back and write about it, but it hasn't happened. I could only go with how it was described to me. I could have gone for more rituals, but it's not an obsession - but a nice thing to experience, not unlike a wild roller coaster ride. If it never happens to me, I'm ok with that too.
Do I believe in all that other-worldly talk? I do. I believe that our limited human perception is immeasurably minuscule relative to the bigger reality that eludes our knowledge and understanding. This unseen reality has been vividly described across millennia by different cultures across the globe. It spans across time, space, and culture. It's too uncanny to be coincidence.
Moreover, reality as we know it is essentially perception. I'm not even sure if there is objective reality. What do I mean? Have you ever had a super delicious dish where the flavors burst inside your mouth like the 4th of July? You felt the smooth texture and the rich consistency. And then you woke up and realized that there was no food in your mouth. But while dreaming, it felt as real as your blue balls. And even in our awake state, some people will see a blue dress while others see a gold dress, but they're looking at the same picture. What then is reality?
Had I been invited to join their ranks, would I? Access to other dimensions is always tempting (and this is my only interest in their practice). But I would decline. As the addage says, "It's better to dig one deep hole than to dig many shallow holes." I am already too invested in my yoga practice to dip myself in other disciplines. Besides, I'm happy with yoga - but it's good to know of other alternatives to self-realization. I never thought there was such a thing as a one-size fits all in any spiritual practice.
Until science and mysticism converge to reveal a hidden natural law explaining this cloaked reality, we'll just have to rely on these shamanic adepts to pave the way for us.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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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
- Ocean Jet - 40 mins,at Siquijor Port, 0919.066.5964, www.oceanjet.net, marketing@ocenajet.net, 6:00am/6:00pm, P350/pax (tourist/open air), P580/pax (business class)
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
- Plaridel (Misamis Occidental, Mindanao) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
Blogs
Siquijor Island
- Goodbye Siquijor April 18, 2024
- January Chronicles: Bandilaan Meditation January 2024
- My January Yoga Practice: A Journal January 31, 2024
- Jan 2024: Squid, Balangawan, Margarita Pizza January 2024
- December Chronicles: Yuletide Season December 30, 2023
- December Snapshots: Bolo Bolo Dip, Christmas Lunch, Tuba Denizens, Friends Forever, Men Working, Cow / Crow December 1-30, 2023
- Eggplant Bulad Pizza December 20, 2023
- Canghaling Cave November 14, 2023
- Kings and Queens November 13, 2023
- Barangay Vote-Buying October 22, 2023
- Real Estate Mapping October 1, 2023
- Learning Cebuano: Oct October 1-31, 2023
- Oct Food Hack: Pizza, Kinilaw, Coconut Bread, Fish Okuy, Carrot Omelette,Lemon-Grass Tea October 2023
- Sep Snapshots: Fisherman, Granny, Pedicure, Big Fish, Garbage September 1-30, 2023
- Sep Food Hack: Fish Tinola, Ratatouille, Chayote Omelette, Flat Bread September 2023
- Together Forever Sep 11, 2023
- The Cigarette Talk Sep 1, 2023
- Siquijor Star Meditation Center Aug 31, 2023
- The Lost Dogs of Siquijor Aug 27, 2023
- Moving to a Bungalow! Aug 22, 2023
- Aug Chronicles: CDO produce August 31, 2023
- Aug Snapshots: Pan de Sal, Palpitate, Taho, Tuna, Pineapple August 1-31, 2023
- July Chronicles July 31, 2023
- July Snapshots July 1-31, 2023
- Learning Cebuano: July July 1-31, 2023
- June Chronicles June 31, 2023
- June Snapshots June 1-31, 2023
- Learning Cebuano: June June 1-31, 2023
- May Chronicles May 31, 2023
- May Snapshots May 1-31, 2023
- Learning Cebuano May 1-31, 2023
- In Search of a Cool Climate May 25, 2023
- The 64 km Bike Ride May 16, 2023
- Lazi Fiesta May 15, 2023
- The Boulevard Opening May 5, 2023
- April Snapshots April 1-30, 2023
- Learning Cebuano...Again! April 1-30, 2023
- Kris Visits Siquijor Mar 17 - Apr 15, 2023
- Exploring Siquijor with Marky Mar 25 - Apr 11, 2023
- Siquijor Healing Festival April 5-8, 2023
- The Talk at United Church of Christ April 2, 2023
- Mar Snapshots Mar 1-31, 2023
- Vigil for the Ghost Ship of Siquijor March 31, 2023
- Judging an Essay on Gender Equality Mar 29, 2023
- The Thief, the Shaman, the Elves and the Police Mar 20, 2023
- Finally Acquiring the Motorbike Mar 18, 2023
- Bitcoin Blunder Mar 15, 2023
- Maria's Unsung Beaches Mar 11, 2023
- Lagaan Falls Mar 9, 2023
- Tibhong Spring Water Source Mar 8, 2023
- Bolo-Bolo Natural Spring Mar 2, 2023
- Reasons to Get a Wife March 1, 2023
- Feb Snapshots Feb 28, 2023
- Camagung-Ong Natural Spring Feb 28, 2023
- Heeeere's Johnnie! Feb 26, 2023
- Manifesting a Motorbike from Thin Air? Feb 18, 2023
- The 'Bad Guy' of Siquijor Feb 15, 2023
- Amazement from Drivers License Renewal in Siquijor Feb 15, 2023
- Locong Falls Feb 9, 2023
- Inguinal Hernia? Goodbye ABS! Feb 4, 2023
- Jan Snapshots January 31, 2023
- In Search of Tubod Cold Spring Jan 27, 2023
- 1:4:2:3 Nadi Shodana Jan 26, 2023
- Lazi's Boulevard Jan 22, 2023
- Lazi: A Monthly Stay Jan 21, 2023
- 7 Days in Maria, Siquijor Jan 14-21, 2023
- Capilay Spring Jan 17, 2023
- Siquijor: In Search of Resonance Jan 9-14, 2023
- Riding Around Siquijor's 86km Coastal Road Apr 3, 2012
- Exploring the Cantabon Cave of Siquijor Feb 23, 2012
- Jovee and Missy's Excellent Adventure Nov 6-7, 2010
- Freediving in Siquijor's Marine Sancturaries Apr 23-24, 2010
- Island Tour of Siquijor Apr 22, 2010
- Kram's Siquijor Wedding Apr 21, 2010
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