SIQUIJOR: Lazi Convent

A tour of this century-old convent in the town of Lazi, Siquijor Island revealed a Spanish heritage site that was left to age through time without a proper care of an expert hand.  Its restoration and upkeep  to showcase Lazi Convent as a true reflection of the island's historical past is needed now and always. I can sense the strongest desire to package it as a Museum of high value. But Lazi Convent lacks this.

Viewed from the distance, it looked like a big mansion of a wealthy Spanish Colonial Officer. In reality, it was the home of the Spanish Augustinian Friars. It was here that they do their rest and recreation.  Today's generation come to the convent to VAR - visit, appreciate and research.

Getting inside the convent, a visitor passes by a lobby at the middle part of the ground floor.  A grand staircase with intricate designs leads you to the second level.  From there, you can have a good view of the hallways on both sides of the convent as well as the wide receiving area that, in the olden days, may have served as dining hall, an entertainment space or even a ballroom.  I can imagine the priests entertaining their guests composed of "insulares", and "peninsulares". 

Insulares are native born individuals with Spanish blood.  Peninsulares are people born in Spain but moved to the Spanish colonies like the Philippines.

The convent is surrounded by sliding windows with capiz shells.  The flooring is made of polished hardwood. There are pieces of artworks kept inside the convent but shows signs of neglect.  I felt a sense of  urgency to save this place or improve it to the next level and showcase it as a piece of historical and heritage site. But, I know, I cannot do anything.  I just hope that the local historical commission or the island's provincial tourism council can do something to improve its present state.

There are embassies of foreign governments like Spain who have programs that assist countries in efforts like this - restoration of heritage sites and places.

The upper floor of the convent can be a very suitable place to display other historical art pieces which were kept in the convent.  The ground floor which is occupied by a school can be converted into an audio-visual room to show the history of the island, the Augustinian Friars who helped established Siquijor as well as the heritage sites like Lazi Convent and the St. Isidore Church. 

In short, improve the convent into a museum loaded with artifacts, some of which are already resting in some corners of the convent. Create a task force or a committee to oversee the museum and to continuously improve it so that the public can see what it was like in the olden times.

The convent needs facilities to enhance its image like a clean restrooms, and gift shop.  A museum-based tour guide can also help visitors understand the history and importance of Lazi Convent to the life and progress of the town and Siquijor as a whole.

The moment you see Lazi Convent and tour its premises, you liken it to a very reserved woman, just standing by, staring at you and allowing her beauty to fade or aged as time goes by.  If you have the means to help Lazi Convent, try and visit it, do your own VAR - visit, appreciate, research and after that, maybe you can HELP to improve it as a Museum.

Touristang Pobre does not have the means to extend help to Lazi Convent.  But maybe, something can be done through the initiative of the local historical commission.  Let us wait and see.

Lazi Convent and the nearby St. Isidore Church is accessible by "habal-habal" or a motorcycle, a rented scooter, tricycle (a motorcycle with side car) or by a Carry, a jeepney type public transport in Siquijor.

Siquijor Island is accessible by fast craft from the port of Dumaguete.  There are two ports in the island, the port of Larena which is a progressive town in Siquijor and the port of Siquijor Town, the capital of the island.

There are many hotels and beach resorts in Siquijor. The place where I stayed is called The Bruce Beach Resort, located in the town of San Juan, the next town to the Municipality of Siquijor.

You can do a lot of things at Siquijor like swimming, beach combing, snorkeling, diving at the nearby Apo Island, island tour, historical and heritage site visits, spelunking locally known as caving and other eco-tourism adventure. You can also try their local products like ensaymada and bocayo bread, herbal medicine and faith healing, among others.

I hope you will experience Siquijor in your own way as I did it my way.  I mean, my various activities and island tour, made me love the place, its local residents, hotel staff and the unofficial tourism ambassadors of the island - the drivers. 

Have a great day at Siquijor!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Touristang Pobre, aka Henry, is a writer since the 1990's. He was a former travel writer of What's On in the Visayas and Mindanao.  It is based in Cebu.  He was also a columnist of the Negros Daily Bulletin before he became a travel blogger.  After retiring from the government in 2004, he spent most of his time writing a book which remained unpublished to this day.  He is the face behind Touristang Pobre - http://www.touristangpobre.blogspot.com  and Touristang Pinoy - http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Touristang-Pinoy and he is the Founder & CEO of Earthniversity - http://www.earthniversity.wordpress.com 

He is a permanent resident of the United States but called Bacolod City, Philippines, his hometown.  You can reach him through this blog.

All Photos by Henry C. Libo-on of Touristang Pobre.

* * * * * * * * 

By the way, before you go to the next Blog, please help me spread this article about Lazi Convent. Please LIKE my Facebook Page top right portion of this page and please SHARE this Blog with your friends.  Thank you. 

* * * * * * * * 

Updated on May 7, 2019.  

Intellectual Property Notice:

All photos in this blog is the property of Touristang Pobre.