Camiguins moniker had always been Island Born of Fire and the local tour guides on the

island could havent mastered their tourism manual more as this is what they told me when I
asked them what the island is known for. The branding could not have been more appropriate as
the island has the most number of volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island in the
world as it is more evident in the fact that there are more volcanoes (7) than towns (5) with
more than 20 cinder cones over 1000 meters with the active stratovolcano Mount Hibok-hibok
(1,552 metres) as the most prominent. Aside from Hibok-hibok and Vulcan, there is also
Mambajao, Ginsiliban, Uhay, Carling, and Tibane as well as the hills of Campana, Minokol, Tres
Marias and Piyakong where there are also domes and cones put them together in a tiny island
and you have the most extensively volcanic island in the world.

White Island, Camiguin

Photo by Erick
It was said to be that Camiguin got its name from a native tree called
Kamagong which thrives by Lake Mainit in the province of Surigao
del Norte. With the original inhabitants of the islands being Manobos
who migrated from Surigao, it is no wonder that the name of the
province was derived from something where the first settlers came
from.
The first Spanish settlements were built in 1898 in the area presently called Guinsiliban, which
came from an old Kinamiguin word Guinsilipan, meaning to look out for pirates from a
watchtower as evidenced by an old Spanish watchtower still standing in the area. It wasnt until
1679 when the first major Spanish settlement was established in Katagman (now called
Barangay Bonbon) of Katadman (now known as Catarman). When Mt. Vulcan Daan erupted on
May 1, 1871, the town was destroyed and all that remained of the old town were the ruins of the
ancient Spanish church, a convent and a bell tower called the Guiob Ruins.

Old Mount Hibok-hibok

Photo by storm-crypt
It was in 1855 when the sleepy town of Mambajao was established. The
town which became the busiest port in Northern Mindanao during the
early 1900s, was coined from Mamahaw, a Visayan term meaning to
start breakfast and bajao which meant leftover rice.
It was in 1901 when the Americans took control if the island and the public school system was
established in Mambajao in 1903, with the first public school as well as a water system the year
after. The presence of well preserved American-era schoolhouses in Camiguin proved the
enduring legacy of the Americans in the island up until today. The island was also the site of
fierce skirmishes between Philippine forces and guerrilla units against the Japanese Imperial
Army which resulted to the liberation of the island during the Battle of Camiguin in 1945. After
the Second World War from 1946 until 1958, Camiguin was ruled as a part of the province of
Misamis Oriental and eventually 10 years later became a full-fledged province with Mambajao
standing in as its capital.

Sunken Cemetery
Photo by paw_con
Because of the volcanic nature of Camiguin, it is no surprise to find a lot
of natural springs around the island, the most popular of course is the
Esperanza Ardent Hot Spring, 6 kilometers southwest of Mambajao, a hot spring which is heated
by the vents of Hibok-hibok swarms with people around night time (different levels purportedly
have different temperatures) and the Sto. Nio Cold Spring, 4 kilometers south of central
Catarman, which has doctor fish in its cold pools. There is minimal fee for admission. Aside
from these two popular springs, there are other springs in Camiguin as well, like the Tangub Hot
Spring (12 kilometers west of Mambajao), which is a volcanic hot spring below the sea bed with
water temperatures running from cold to lukewarm to hot depending on the tides. Off shore,
about 10-20m, there is scuba diving with a gradual drop off. In the town of Mahinog, one can
find the Macao Cold Spring and the Bura Soda Water Swimming Pool in the town of Catarman.

Katibawasan Falls
Photo by storm-crypt
Probably one of the most graceful looking waterfalls that we have ever seen
Katibawasan Falls (about 5 kilometers southeast of Mambajao) is a clear
stream of water dropping 70 meters down into a rock pool with gorgeous
tropical foliage framing this beautiful waterfall. One can rappel down this
waterfall as well and take a plunge in its cold water afterwards. There is a
minimal fee required and picnic tables are available in the area. Another
waterfall worth your trip would be Tuasan Falls, 6 kilometers east of Catarman that can be
accessed by a scenic hike.
Why Not Go

Camiguin, Philippines
Photo by paw con
Where to Stay

Fancy staying on a really quirky, spacious and maze-like trippy accommodation on

top of a hotel wrapped around a century old acacia tree? We did when we ended up
staying in the uber-charming, environmentally friendly Enigmata Treehouse (also known as
Ecolodge and Sculpture Garden).

Enigmata Treehouse
Photo by Dave Ryan
Where & What to Eat

Camiguin is synonymous with the beige colored fruit with sweet, fleshy
meat called Lanzones which grow abundantly on the island. It must be from
the highly fertile volcanic soil of the island that previously Lanzones non-
lovers like our expat writer Scott M. Allford was easily converted to a big
Camiguin Lanzones fan. Camiguin Lanzones are quite distinct from other
Lanzones we have tasted from other parts of the Philippines as they are consistently sweet. The
people of Camiguin love their Lanzones so much that they even have a Lanzones Festival
celebrating them every third week of October.
 Pastel Bread
Photo by Dave Ryan
Lanzones and the Pastel Bread can be easily had at the Benoni Port
and in Mambajao.

Lanzones from Camiguin

Photo by Dave Ryan
For vegan/vegetarian visitors, Enigmata Treehouse has a restaurant with
a decent vegan/vegetarian menu.
Nightlife

Signs of Camiguin nightlife are concentrated on some of the resort bars as well as some karaoke
bars in Mambajao. During our brief stay there, we probably heard locals belting out songs in at
least 3 karaoke bars around town. We havent checked it out, but just for kicks and some
chuckles, Jewish travelers might want to head out to the Bar Mitzvah and Restaurant located
along a coastal highway on your left on a drive from Benoni to Mambajao.
My to do List

1. Sunbathe on the sandbars of White Island. *

2. Visit the Guiob Ruins and the Sunken Cemetery. *
3. Dive by Mantigue Island. **
4. Try the Pastel Bread and Lanzones. *
5. Have doctor fish nibble at your toes at Sto. Nio Cold Spring. **
6. Soak in warm water at Ardent Hot Spring.*
7. Catch the local artists vibe at Enigmata Treehouse.
8. Check out Katibawasan Falls.*
9. Climb Mount Hibok-hibok.**
*- Highly Recommended
**- Recommended by Locals

Stay Away From

Contrary to what most travel advisories say about Mindanao, Camiguin is a very safe place for
travelers (local or foreign).
1. Mosquitoes! just bring bug repellent to be sure
2. Drowning Learn to spot rip tides and make sure you wear a working life-vest!
3. Getting wet, take Ziplocs with you for your gadgets and valuables.
4. Protect yourself from UV rays by putting on a sunblock.
Getting There
There are several ways to go to Camiguin. One can either fly to Cagayan de Oro or Butuan and
then take a bus to Balingoan and then a ferry to the island. All the major Philippine airlines fly to
these cities. From Cagayan de Oro, one can take the Paras Sea Cat (about 2 hours) directly to the
Camiguin port of Benoni. The town of Jagna in Bohol also has a ferry service heading to Benoni
as well. Whilst there are three ports in Camiguin (Balbagon, Benoni and Guinsiliban), Benoni is
the busiest. There is an airport north of Mambajao but flights are seasonal. From Balingoan to
Benoni, the trip takes about 1 hour depending on weather conditions, and if you get lucky like
we did, you could even see dolphins swimming alongside your ferry.

Camiguin Motorella
Photo by Dave Ryan
Colorful motorellas are the primary forms of transport in Camiguin, but
multicabs are easier and more convenient to hire and should be able to
catch at almost all points on the island within the day. Prices, like almost
everything in the island, are stiff at PhP1,800- PhP2,000 for 8 hours with
an additional couple of hundred of pesos for every excess hour
afterwards. Arrange for a pickup with your hotel/resort for your
convenience, although we ended up having to hitchhike with a very
friendly family in their tiny van just to save a few pesos- which was
pretty cool too.
History:
The name Camiguin is derived from the native word Kamagong, a species of the 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.[6]

An earlier Spanish geography book writes the island as Camiguing. There is reason to suppose
the Spaniards dropped the final g.[7] Today it is rendered as Camigun.

The island of Camiguin is believed to first have been inhabited by the Manobo people of Surigao
del Norte, as evidenced by the distinctly connected language between the two groups. The island
was used as a trading stop point by various merchants and traders from the Rajahnate of Butuan,
the Kedatuan of Dapitan, the ancient people of the Anda peninsula, and possibly the Rajahnate of
Cebu and the animist Maranao of Lanao before the Islamization of the Lanao provinces.

In 1901, in the middle of the Philippine-American War, American soldiers landed in Camiguin to
assume political control over the island. A group of Camiguinons, armed with bolos and spears,
led by Valero Camaro, fought them in a short battle in Catarman. Valero Camaro was killed by a
bullet on the forehead and became one of the Camiguin patriots of the early independence
movement.[8]

In 1903, the first public school in Camiguin was built in Mambajao and in 1904 the first public
water system was installed.[8]

On June 18, 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army landed in Camiguin and set up a government in
Mambajao. They gutted central Mambajao in reprisal to guerrilla activities in the area. The
remains of some of these buildings still exist today.