CAMIGUIN - "THE ISLAND BORN OF FIRE"

Camiguin Island has seven (7) major volcanoes and more than 20 cinder cones; Mt. Hibok Hibok, Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Mambajao, Mt. Guinsiliban, Mt. Timpoong, Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Uhay and Mt. Tres Marias. It has the most number of volcanoes per square kilometers in the Philippines.

But the local Tourism Office says local officials have now identified 14 volcanoes and counting within the island.

 

Thus, with the constant volcanic upheaval, particularly Mt. Hibok-Hibok and the destructive "birth" of Mt. Vulcan which caused the sinking of a portion of Catarman, the island was indeed "born of fire".

 

Mt. Hibok-Hibok

"The name Camiguin is derived from the native word Kamagong, a species of ebony tree that thrives near Lake Mainit in the province of Surigao del Norte, the region from which the earlier inhabitants of the islands, the Manobos, came. Kinamigin, the local language of Camiguin, is closely related to the Manobo language.

 

'Earlier Spanish geography book spells the island as Camiguing. There is reason to suppose the Spaniards dropped the final "g". Today it is rendered as Camiguín (LGU Camiguin on Google)".

 

Mt. Tres Marias

The black and white photographs of the havoc caused by the 1953 eruption of Mt. Hibok-Hibok I've seen on exhibit in the late 1950s are forever itched in my mind. 

 

I thought it was just one awe-inspiring volcano in Camiguing, that is Mt. Hibok-Hibok. Only on my last visit did I know and understand

 

Stairways to Mt. Vulcan

In contrast, the Bicol Region has but seven volcanoes, two of which are active - Mt. Mayon (2,463 meters) in Albay, and Mount Bulusan (1,565 meters) in Sorsogon. Five (5) others are inactive. They're Mount Iriga or Mt. Asog (1,196) and Mt. Isarog (2,000 m) in Camarines Sur, Mt. Labo (1,544 m) in Camarines Norte, and Mount Malinao (1,548 m), and Mount Masaraga (1,328 m) in Albay.

Camiguin, The Island Born of Fire

 

SUNKEN CEMETERY

Perhaps the most famous and most visited landmark of Camiguin Island is the "sunken cemetery" located in the capital town of Catarman. Actually, it was not just the cemetery that sank, but a substantial portion of the old town of Catarman, which led to the transfer of the town to its present site then known as Bgy. Guiob. 

According to its Local Government Unit's web page, "Catarman, as called by the Visayans, means a point or cape. It is the oldest town in Camiguin and was founded in 1622 under the patronage of San Roque having Fray Francisco de la Concepcion, Recollect as its first priest. It had 357 tributes and a population of 1,625 with Sagay and Mambajao as stations or visitas. 

'Chronicles has it that the first parish that was established on this island was that of Guinsiliban (1596 or 1599), with station or visitas in Catarman and Sagay. 

'Vicente Elio wrote that, Magellan came to discover Camiguin where he set foot in April 1521. Local folks also claim that Magellan stopped over to get water at the site where Catarman was established. For more than two centuries, only the parishes of Guinsiliban and Catarman existed." 

Magellan may have come to the island from Butuan, without the argument of whether the navigator and company has celebrated the first mass in the Masao. 

On a clear day, the island of Camiguin, with its distinct Mt. Mambajao peak is visible from as far as Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte to the East. 

Camiguin Island

                                                               

In the 1870s, Mt. Vulcan, a volcano near Catarman erupted and caused the cemetery along with the capital city surrounding it to sink below sea level." Subsequent eruptions have caused it to sink further below the sea. 

At present, the old part of the town on Google Earth is discernible as a shallow portion along the province's western coastal road. From the observation deck on the shore, the seashore is several meters below, and the cemetery is still deep below the sea. Nothing is there to see beneath the waves, except for a barnacle-encrusted old concrete cross and a figure of a saint or angel as natives say. 

A memorial cross was built to remember those who were long lost in Mt. Vulcan's birth, then both the living and the dead. One may rent a banca to be at the marker, to contemplate, to satisfy curiosity, or have a selfie just to let everyone know that he'd been there. 

My first visit was on All Saints Day and on the following All Souls Day. With the cross against the blue waters and the setting sun, one is filled with sadness and attachment to those who perished, though they are unknown nor unrelated to us, we felt the oneness as we have also compatriots who likewise have died in the volcanic upheavals of Mt. Mayon. The feeling of despondency is brought about by the thought of them who now lay in deep slumber, with nothing but the cool blue waves to "warm and comfort them", sans the green sod, flowers, or tombstones. 

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

Depth of the cemetery and sinking, from the
main road level to the sea level, and even a few meters 
down to the sea bed.

CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

BUKIDNON, BukidWOW! #1 

CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD, at the Monastery of the Transfiguration, Bgy. San Jose, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The Monastery was founded by Fr. Abbot Eduardo Africa, OSB and is run by the Benedictine Monks. Opened in 1885 by Spanish Benedictine monks for missionary work, but the mission was aborted when the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War broke out. 

It was re-established by the abbey, and the Monastery of the Transfiguration was inaugurated in 1986.

THE CHURCH'S INTERIORS

    The pyramid-like structure was designed by the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin and was one of his last.

OUR LADY OF MONSERRAT ICON

SOLID CORAL ROCK ALTAR

"MAMAHAW TA NG BAHAW" Mambajao, Province of Camiguin

Picturi, picturi!

#chasinglightschasingdreams

Upon arriving in the Capital Town of the island Province of Camiguin I thought that the people there in olden times ate less rice that "bahaw" (leftover rice or kaning lamig in Tagalog) are aplenty that the town got its name from it.

Browsing on some literature indeed it's true that the name Mambajao comes from the Visayan word "mamahaw" or to have breakfast. In one literature it says that Mambajao is probably a corruption of "mamahaw" and "bahaw", or to have breakfast with leftover rice.

In previous trips to Butuan City and Cagayan de Oro City, the port entry to the Province was pointed to me. I thought that someday I would visit the island via this seaport at Balingoan, Misamis Oriental.

Camiguin is accessible through Balingoan to Benoni Port in Mahinog, Camiguin, and via Cebu Pacific ATR aircraft from Cebu City, which I took recently.

Entering and leaving the Province requires a "CleanCamiguin QR Code", which electronic registration may be made at the port of entry.

Local transportation particularly to points of interest can be done by renting a "rella" (short for motorella, or their version of a trike) or a multi-cab as rellas may not be able to take the steep drives. 

Utility vans may be taken to and from Cagayan de Oro City at 1,000.00 per passenger, which includes ferry fare and terminal fees. Just be patient if the ride is shared with boxes of lanzones and the smelly "ginamos", the Visayan version of our bagoong (fish paste).

Accommodation is recommended at the hotels nearest to the town's commercial area. Recommended is GV Hotel of the GV Hotel Group. It's a simple accommodation where your trip out to Cagayan de

Oro is arranged (and a van will pick you up precisely at 7:00 a.m., or in earlier schedules. It's very near the church, a popular fast-food branch, the market, the park, ATMs, and Gaisano Mall.

The Province is clean and has many spots for nature lovers, photographers hobbyists.

BONBON (GUIOB) CHURCH RUINS Catarman, Camiguin Island

Mambajao, MambaWOW! #3

 

 

Declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on September 28, 2017, the 19th-century church built during the Spanish colonial period was ruined by the "birth" (eruption) of Mt. Vulcan on May 1, 1871.

 

The powerful eruption also caused the sinking of the nearby cemetery, now but marked with a cross.

 

Camiguin Island has seven (7) major volcanoes and more than 20 cinder cones; Mt. Hibok Hibok, Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Mambajao, Mt. Guinsiliban, Mt. Timpoong, Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Uhay and Mt. Tres Marias. 

 

The destruction has spared no one, not even animals that I took some photos in black and white, as the "souls" of the felines and canines may see the ruins when they come to visit what was once their home.

 

STO. NIÑO COLD SPRING Catarman, Camiguin Province

Mambajao, MambaWOW! #4

As the island province of Camiguin has the greatest number of volcanoes, 7 major ones, and more than 20 cinder cones, the number of waterfalls and spring resorts match it. 

One can have a choice of a resort with FLAVORED WATER, HOT, or COLD. Yes, SODA FLAVORED water that tastes similar to the one athletes drink after an exercise.

Sto. Niño Cold Spring is in Bgy. Looc, Catarman, Camiguin Province. Food can be ordered in the resort but we stayed about 2 km down the hill.

Olympia Executive Room is a modest hometel, with strong hot or cold shower, but no room service. You have to walk to the town proper for food, which is nice as I was able to take some sunset photos along the way, (Courteous and friendly owner though).

Catarman is the new town after the original site was destroyed by the "birth" (eruption) of Mt. Vulcan on May 1, 1871. It's about 15 kilometers from the capital town of Mambajao and accessible by jeepneys and "rella". Nice to experience rustic life, and timed to photograph the Sunken Cemetery as the sun was

setting down.

Camiguin is not just about Lanzones that sell as low as 10 pesos per kilo during festival season, but think of the island as nature at its best and worst.

GINILING (Ground Meat Dish)

 

Pork giniling is common in many carenderia or eateries, and cleaning a refrigerator on a weekend it is easy to prepare the dish before stored foods expire.

But one may give it a twist for a change, or variety, or even for recycling for the next meal. 

Pork giniling's base, obviously is sauteed ground pork, with tomato paste, diced carrots, and potatoes added, and in this case, green olives, only that none of the pitted ones were on hand.

It could have been served best with Sauvignon but I had none on stock. . For the next meal, leftovers could be reheated, sprinkled with grated Parmigiano, and pour over some cooked penne. The leftover could be further modified as bolognese toppings and served with garlic bread.

Cooking is fun and builds friendship (only that I don't sell as I am not good in costing and lousy in marketing. The secret of good cooking is simply "knowing what you like and what you think others like". Of course be meticulous, no shortcuts or scrimp on ingredients. That's the reason why I hate peanut butter on kare-kare. Remember that our guests deserve respect when we feed them. So give them the best we can. 

When somebody we call as "John 3:16" asked me "why", I said: Remember that you said God so loved the world but because man was so special he sent His only begotten son and not just some Angel. That she noted for sharing in her church.

Though cooking runs in the maternal side of the family, it's more of a hobby for us, the love of sharing and pleasing others through their palates. Only one in the family is a full Chef and has a culinary school and a restaurant on shore. Others cook for small businesses and to save on hiring cooks. Another is a lawyer, licensed to practice in several States, but I've heard that in family gatherings is the resident bartender. 

May all rediscover what cooking brings.