I ❤️ Siquijor 2024 - Lazi Church and Convent - Wet Tour - Day 2 - 09/12/2024

Siquijor: Where the Cross is Diamond... or Not
 
Siquijor. The name itself whispers of mystery, magic, and maybe a touch of the supernatural. It's a tiny island in the Philippines, known for its stunning beaches, lush forests, and a certain air of enchantment. We were there in 2024, armed with sunscreen, good intentions, and a healthy dose of skepticism, ready to soak up the island's charm.
 
One of our stops was the Lazi Convent and Church, a historical landmark perched atop a hill overlooking the town. We arrived, camera phones at the ready, eager to capture the beauty of this iconic structure. But alas, fate had other plans. The church was closed, a sign informing us of its temporary closure. Disappointment? Sure. But hey, we were in Siquijor, where even a closed church could be an adventure.
 
We circled the building, snapping pictures of the ornate facade, the imposing bell tower, and the surrounding grounds. Our tour guide, a jovial man with a penchant for dramatic storytelling, pointed towards the cross atop the church. "That cross," he declared with a flourish, "is made of diamond!"
 
Now, I'm not one to question a local's knowledge of their own island, but a diamond cross? It sounded a bit...extra. It felt like the kind of story you'd hear from a seasoned tourist trap operator, a tale spun to lure in the gullible and impress the easily swayed.
 
Intrigued, I did a little research after our trip. Turns out, the cross is not, in fact, made of diamond. It's made of, well, metal. Probably some kind of shiny, reflective metal, but definitely not a diamond. The tour guide's claim, it seems, was a bit of a...well, let's just say it was crap.
 
But you know what? The cross being made of diamond or not didn't really matter. The church itself, with its history, its architecture, its location, was beautiful. The tour guide's embellishment, while a little over the top, added a touch of humor to our experience. It was a reminder that sometimes, the best stories are the ones that are a little bit exaggerated, a little bit fantastical, a little bit...Siquijor.
 
And that's what makes this island so special. It's a place where reality and fantasy intertwine, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and where even a closed church can be a source of amusement. So, the next time you find yourself in Siquijor, don't be afraid to embrace the stories, the embellishments, the magic. After all, what's a trip to an island of mystery without a little bit of embellishment?
 
#Siquijor #Philippines #TravelBlog #LaziConvent

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