Camiguin's Sunken Cemetery and Guiob Church Ruins

After our visit in White Island, a plain and treeless island in Camiguin, we asked our boatmen if we could go to Sunken Cemetery. A famous cemetery in the town of Bonbon that subsided below sea level due to the birth of Mt. Vulcan Daan in 1870's. And with the right price, both parties agreed to visit Sunken Cemetery.

How to get there? (or how did we got there?)
As for us, what we did was we talked to our boatmen who brought us to White Island if he could also bring us to Sunken Cemetery. Well of course, we added some amount to avail that change of itinerary and here's what we came up with: Our group is composed of 9 persons and agreed to pay 267 pesos / pax

That 267 pesos per pax covered a trip from the shore near Paras Beach Resort going to White Island. Then, from White Island going to Sunken Cemetery. Plus! From Sunken Cemetery, the boatmen will bring us to the shore and wait for us because we will be going to Guiob Church Ruins. Then after our side trip at the ruins, they'll bring us back again to the shore near Paras Beach Resort. Not bad for the cost of 267 pesos, right?

Visiting by water or by boat, you'll easily know you're near Sunken Cemetery because of its noticeable marker which in the form of a huge cross. I, myself got excited when I saw that large cross from a far because I knew that we're in the right direction and it will take just a few more minutes to reach that famous landmark in Camiguin. It took us 35-45 minutes from White Island going to Sunken Cemetery.

Sunken Cemetery from the shore

Our boatmen became more careful as we came closer to the cross. Simply because it was low tide when we visited Sunken Cemetery and therefore we might hit some tall corals below us (well, we've bump once or twice during this trip). Yes, that's right! It is not only tombstones and graves you'll expect underneath Sunken Cemetery. There are also corals, fishes and other marine living organisms below and around the area of this cemetery. With that, snorkeling is one of the activity an individual can do during their visit here.

Transferring from the boat to the cross is somewhat challenging. The water during our visit was quite wavy (maybe because there was an LPA advisory in the area during our visit) and it makes our boat unstable so standing on boat and walking across the platform of the cross was somewhat a bit difficult. Also, the stairs going up to cross is very slippery so be cautious. One of my friend slipped off and hurt her elbow and back.

Those ropes are used as guides to transfer visitors from the shoreline across that cross

Oily Selfie mode Hahaha

There isn't much to do at Sunken Cemetery so after some walk around in the site and tons of photo ops and #selfies, we decided to go to the shoreline and visit Guiob Church Ruins. But as we thought that our Sunken Cemetery experience was over, a boatman named Kuya Obet approached us, borrowed our camera, positioned us into different poses and took several shots. Here's the output of his art:

Julius and Jing holding the marker of the Sunken Cemetery

Keep it closer guys!

[bts] Kuya Obet in action...

Kuya Obet gave an effort to take pictures for us, a variety of angles and poses that came along with tricks. He proves that people in Camiguin are very welcoming to tourists.

Tip #1: There are souvenir shops near the shoreline of Sunken Cemetery. Different sizes and designs of key chains and magnets are being sold there. For as low as 5 pesos, you can have a cute shell-designed key chain labelled with Camiguin - an ideal "pasalubong". I also bought a coin bank made of bamboo worth 100 pesos.

Side trip: Guiob Church Ruins

The rain started to fall when we visited the ruins

Right after the photo op with Kuya Obet, our group decided to go to our next destination -- the Guiob Church Ruins. It is about 500 meters away from Sunken Cemetery so we went there by feet and we were accompanied by one of our boatman.

Sometimes called as Old Catarman Church, Guiob Church Ruins is one of the oldest structure in the island of Camiguin. The church was built in the 16th century and turned into ruins in 1870's when Mt. Vulcan Daan erupted. What's left to this old church were its towering walls covered by moss. Those walls give a picture on how big this structure was and how violent & dark had happened in this place. 

View at the back of Guiob Church Ruins

I find this spot a good backdrop for photography

There is no entrance fee at Guiob Church Ruins but a donation box is placed in its entrance. People are not force to donate but during our visit we saw some locals sweeping around the area. I guess the amount from that donation box is used to maintain the cleanliness and beautification of the ruins. So I encourage visitors and tourists to donate for this place preservation.

Thank you Lord for introducing me to these crazy people

Tip #2: There is a souvenir shop in front of Guiob Church Ruins. They sell t-shirts with lots of designs in a very cheap price. If you're planning to buy Camiguin shirts, I recommend that you buy in that shop. I just forgot the name of the shop but it is just in front of the ruins. I got my shirt at 100 pesos and the fabric is more than ok, it is thick (I am lost of words on how to define a clothes' texture. Lols). 

As we end our quick tour at Guiob Church Ruins, we went back again at Sunken Cemetery where our boat awaits us. We were brought back again at the shoreline of Paras Beach Resort just like what we had agreed on. With my 267 pesos, I've got to visit White Island, Sunken Cemetery and Guiob Church Ruins. A perks on travelling in a large group.

Breakdown of Expenses: 

Boat (Paras Resort - White Island - Sunken Cemetery - Paras Resort) - 2,400 PhP / 9 persons = 267 PhP per pax

Donation in ruins - **.**

Food - **.**

Camiguin T-shirts - 200 PhP (100 pesos each)

Key chains -  115 PhP / 23 pcs = 5 PhP each

Coin Bank made of Bamboo - 100 PhP

A Quick City Tour In Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

Butuan City is situated in the north-eastern section of Agusan Valley, Mindanao. It is also the regional center of CARAGA and will be our entry point as we visit Surigao del Sur. Simply because Butuan's Bancasi Airport serves as a portal to the different provinces of CARAGA region.

As we land at Bancasi Airport of Butuan City, the first thing in our itinerary was to have a quick tour in different tourist spots and landmarks of this town. It will be quick because we need to head to Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur before nightfall. We had researched some good spots already before this trip but we chose to go and ask from the information section of the airport to gather some tips and advice. And I must say that it was a right decision we made. The guy in the information section was very knowledgeable of his town and really knew how to direct tourists like us. He even gave us a pamphlets that hold all the tourist spots and landmarks of Butuan City. Kudos!

National Museum - Butuan Branch

Touch down! (Photo from Byron Cantonjos)

There are lots of historic place in Butuan so we decided to just visit the National Museum located in Doongan, Butuan City. In our thinking, visiting this place will saves us time. Simply because instead of visiting each historic spots of Butuan, this National Museum will showcase all the stories and artifacts of this city. Unfortunately, the museum is under renovation and all of the items were being kept in a protected area. Aw, that was not a good start for us. But just to make our visit worthy, we took photos of the vicinity instead. The place has lots of trees and plants that it forms a park-like area. Locals even visit the place to chill and relax. I can somehow relate it as a mini-Luneta Park of Butuan.

My college friend, travel buddy and a fellow travel blogger - Baron (author of Baron the Explorer) 

Checking out the place  (Photo from Byron Cantonjos)

How to get there?
From Bancasi Airport, take a jeepney ride going to Gaisano Mall. As you arrive at Gaisano Mall, you may say "lugar lang" and the driver will stop the jeepney at the corner. Cool huh?! Then hire a tricycle going to the National Museum which cost 8.00 PhP/pax.

Banza Church Ruins

Remains of the church and its caretakers (Photo from Byron Cantonjos)

Located at Lilo, Brgy. Banza, Butuan City, Banza church was known as the most admirable stone structure of the region way back in the year 1625 and it was built by Recollect Friars. However it was burned down by Moro Pirates in 1753 and the church was turned into ashes and chunks of stones. The only remains left by that attack is its Bell Tower enveloped by Balete trees (also known as Banyan Tree). Today, the beautiful church before is now recognize as the oldest ruin of a stone church in the entire region of Mindanao.

Presenting the oldest church ruins in the Mindanao region (Photo from Byron Cantonjos)

Photo op at the bell tower of Banza Church Ruins (Photos from Byron Cantonjos)

How to get there?
From Gaisano Mall, take a R4 Jeepney going to the tricycle terminal near Langihan Bus Terminal. Then take a tricycle and tell the driver to drop you off at the ruins. Take note: Make sure not to direct your driver at Banza church. Make sure that you instruct him that you will be going to Banza Church Ruins. Banza church and Banza Church Ruins are two different structure. I know this because we've been taken to the church instead to the ruins. Lol.

Magsaysay Bridge

This makes land trips to Cabadbaran and Surigao possible (Photo from Byron Cantonjos)

On our way to Banza Church Ruins, we passed through to an eye-catchy bridge. So we look at our pamphlets to see if there is a written information about that bridge. It was Magsaysay Bridge we saw and it is a special landmark of Butuan. Magsaysay Bridge was built in the 50s and was inaugurated by the late President Carlos P. Garcia. Magsaysay Bridge is the first wing that links the east and west banks of Agusan.

So after our visit in Banza Church Ruins, we ask our tricycle driver if we could stop in the middle of the Magsaysay Bridge before we went back to the terminal and have our pictures taken on Magsaysay. He agreed to our little favor. Cool Manong driver! I was a bit embarrassed during my turn to take a photo with the bridge. People we're looking at me like I was some sort of celebrity slash just crazy tourist. So I made it quick, immediately got back to our tricycle, and off to Langihan Premium Terminal - terminal going to Hinatuan.

I'm a bit embarrassed here... lol (Photo from Byron Cantonjos)

Well even though it was just a quick tour in the city of Butuan, I still enjoyed it. Aside from the place, the people there were also nice and very accommodating to tourists like us. Lots of interesting places to visit but we only have limited time. Too bad.

Breakdown of Expenses:
Jeepney (Bancasi - Gaisano Mall) - 15.00 PhP
Tricycle (Gaisano - National Museum, roundtrip) - 8 PhP per trip x 2 = 16.00 PhP
Jeepney (Gaisano - Tricycle Terminal near Langihan Premium Terminal) - 8.00 PhP
Tricycle Rental (Terminal - Ruins, roundtrip) - 100 PhP /2 = 50.00 PhP/pax