Special Interest
BEACHES
1. AVE MARIA ISLET – Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Person: Mr. Aquilino “Quiling” Gestosani Contact Number: 09206275570 It is a white sand beach islet located in front of Sitio Lusay where the Marine Reserve Area of Jordan is located. There are no available overnight cottages or picnic huts in this area. This place is good for excursion, swimming, and snorkeling.
2. GALLOPA’S BEACH – Tando, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Contact Person: Mr. Elmer Gallopa Contact Number: 09162307042 Note: Good for excursion only. No overnight cottages available
3. MARINE RESERVED AREA – Sitio Lusay, Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Person: c/o Municipality of Jordan Contact Number: 033-2381643 / 2381331 / 5813445 It is located in the beach area of Barangay Lawi. It is a Municipality’s project for the preservation of endangered species. The sea turtles or pawikan, after being hatched, are cared for in aquarium-nursery and after few months are released in the sea. The fully grown turtles periodically return to the beach during mating seasons and lay their eggs in the sand.
Marine turtle
4. SEA TURTLE TEMPORARY FEEDING & CARING STATION – Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Person: Bgy. Capt. Eduardo Gotera Contact Number: 09067126889 A community project managed by the Barangay Lawi Tourism Council. It aims to preserve the endangered Olive Ridley & Hawksbill sea turtles or pawikan that are nesting on the beach area of Barangay Lawi. It is a floating cage of sea turtles that people could view and touch the real sea turtle. But it tagged and released in the sea after a few months or a year. The station accepts donation from visitors for maintenance purposes.
5. TINIGUIBAN ISLET (Pulang Pasayan) – Pandaraonan, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Contact Person: Ms. Shirley Cadena Contact Number: 09196493626 This is a 1,544 square meter islet right in front of SEAFDEC Igang Marine Sub-Station. This is where rare red shrimps may make appearance inside the pool during high tide. The beach is good for swimming and snorkeling. There are no available overnight cottages.
6. TATLONG PULO BEACH – Sinapsapan, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Person: c/o Isla Naburot An islets which boast its lush, greenery, white sand beaches, private coves, rich and colorful marine life and unique inland terrain. There are no available overnight cottages.
FALLS/SPRINGS
1. MACOPO FALLS – Sta. Teresa, Jordan, Guimaras It is a falls with water pools ideal for swimming and is fed by a mountain spring. There are no available overnight cottages or picnic huts. 2. SAD-SAD FALLS – Sta. Teresa, Jordan, Guimaras There are no available overnight cottages or picnic huts. 3. LABI-LABI SPRING – Daragan, Buenavista, Guimaras There are no available overnight cottages or picnic huts.
CAVES
1. BIRI CAVE – Poblacion, Jordan, Guimaras It can be reached at the side of the mountain. Its entrance is low and narrow and can be accessed by crawling. 2. BUCOY CAVE – Balcon Maravilla, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Person: Mr. Arnel Gange Contact Numbber: 09184824389 Its entry passage is so low that one has to crawl to enter. Inside in the semi-darkness, one is greeted by phosphorescent glow of crystalline rocks or quartz which resembles twinkling Christmas lights or twinkling fireflies. A mini-lake, 6 meters deep and 5 meters wide inside the cave can be used for bathing. 3. BUHO RAMIREZ CAVE – Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras It is a small cave but the entire entrance is going down more or less about 40-50 ft. deep. It has 3 openings with gushing water. Studies show that it could be a good source of spring water that can supply 2 barangays with 429 households. 4. BUL-UGAN TAPI CAVE – Tacay, Buenavista 5. CAPITOGUAN CAVE – Balcon Maravilla, Jordan, Guimaras It is considered as bats sanctuary. Its guano deposits are best organic fertilizer for plants. It is 250 meters long and the entrance is about 12 meters in height. It has abundant stalactites and stalagmites formed by years of dripping waters from the dome of the cave. 6. DALIRAN CAVE – Old Poblacion, Buenavista, Guimaras Contact Person: Mr. Juanito Solleza It is accessible by jeep or by tricycle from Buenavista wharf in 10-15 minutes. 7. HIGANTE CAVE (GIANT CAVE) – Espinosa, Jordan, Guimaras According to legend this cave was used by a giant hence it was called higante cave. It is abundant with stalagmites and stalactites which formed an intriguing shape. People who visit this place always leave a coin and made a wish just for fun. It has 3 entrances: 3×4 ft. wide, 2×3 ft. wide, and 2×3 meters wide. It is 200 meters long more or less and could be found on top of a hill. 8. HUROT-HUROT CAVE – Espinosa, Jordan, Guimaras It has two openings 1-1/2 x 2 meters and 2 x 1 meters. It is 50 meters more or less in length. 9. KUWEBA TUDYONG – (formerly known as San Marcos Cave), Lucmayan, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Contact Person: Mrs. Concepcion Baylon Contact Number: 09184900087 10. PIRATE CAVE – Lawi, Jordan Natives tell it’s the pirates’ secret hiding place and storage of their pirated goods. Note: Guimaras cave identified by Western Visayas Caving Association - 14 mapped - 12 explored / unmapped - 10 unexplored
RELIGIOUS SITES
1. BALAAN BUKID SHRINE – Balcon Melliza, Jordan, Guimaras This was discovered in 1956 by an Itallian priest, Rev. Fr. Bergil Pixner, OSD, Prior of Dornition Abbey, Mt. Zion, Jerusalem. The image of Mother & Child enshrined at the chapel was designed by a certain Crisogono Domingo, a leper patient of Sta. Barbara Leprosarium. The Shrine was managed by the Knights of Columbus of Jaro and lately it was turned over to the Parish of St. John the Baptist by Msgr. Angel Lagdameo, Bishop, Archdioses of Jaro. During the Lenten Season and every 1st of May, both local and foreign visitors particularly devotees flock to this place for a pilgrimage on the 14 stations of Jesus Crucifixion. 2. CONSOLER’S OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY (CIHM) – San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Persons: Rev. Fr. Florentino Lim /Sr. Maria Guia Gaitan Contact Numbers: 09192807414 / 09189016745 It is a 7-hectare monastery for men and women, established in 2000 by Rev. Fr. Florentino Lim, a former Trappist monks and Sisters of CIHM. It offers retreat and recollection on donation basis. They have outreach program for the poor (aetas) and reforestation, they give seedlings for planting. 3. HOLY FAMILY – Tamborong, San Lorenzo, Guimaras Contact Person: Mr. Ruben Anecito Contact Numbers: 09164759201 / 09179450479 / 09157035200 Owner: Monsignor Josefino Ramirez Managed by: Eucharistic Disciples of St. Pius X Total land Area: 52-57 hectares Amenities: Grotto of Holy Family, Chapel, Prayer Room, & life size Station of the Cross (7 Sorrowful & 7 Joyful Mysteries) It offers day recollection on donation basis. no entrance fee (donation only), no overnight cottages available, and bring your own drinking water 4. NAVALAS CHURCH – Parish of St, Isidore the Worker in Navalas, Buenavista, Guimaras Contact Person: Rev. Fr. Nonito C. Pelovello Contact Number: 09205322688 It is the oldest existing Roman Catholic Church in the province of Guimaras that has survived the ravages of time; built in 1880-1885. A bigger bell, said that be more than four feet tall, formerly hang at the belfry was carted away and dumped into the sea near Isla del Siete Pecados by Muslim raiders. Only the façade remain untouched but the ceilings and structure inside the church was already renovated. 5. OUR LADY OF THE PHILIPPINES – TRAPPIST MONASTERY – San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Person: Guest Master Contact Numbers: 033-5813393 / 5813385 / 09184212852 The only men’s monastery in the Philippines runs by Cistercian Order of Strict Observance, established in 1972. This place is always open to those who seek the solace & self examination through meditation & retreat from taxing endeavors of the materialistic world. The Cistercian was founded in 1098 near Dijon, France. In 17th century, at the monastery of La Trappe in Normandy, a reform of the Cistercian Observance was under taken. The monasteries descended from that reform movement were organized into what is called the Trappist – which is a separate Order of Cistercians, in the year 1892. Cistercian monasticism is a form of Benedictine monastic life, being based on the Rule of St. Benedict as interpreted by the twelfth century monks at Citeaux, France. The primary role of Cistercian life is to seek union with God and to witness to His Holiness and His desire for the salvation and sanctification of all persons and to unite all people in their adherence to Him through their faith in Christ and His Catholic Church. In 1997, church and modern guesthouse with private facilities were built. They welcome guests who wish to spend days or even weeks for prayer, meditation and retreats. Their livelihood involves agriculture, growing vegetables for their own and guests consumption, mango orchard, Processing plant that process the mango, pineapple, guava fruit into jelly, jam, juice, dried, piaya, cookies and others. All products are displayed at their Gift shop and at GTIC-Pasalubong Center. Note: Church Visit – Please turns off or have your cellular phones set on silent mode; observe silence and no entry signs. You can write your petition/intention and drop it at the box located at the entrance of the church. Wearing of shorts and sleeveless are not allowed entering the church. Shopping @ Trappist Gift Shop – Religious items purchased is blessed by the monks upon request.
ADVENTURE SITE
1. GUIMARAS ADVENTURE PARK – Alaguisoc, Jordan, Guimaras Contact Person: Mr. Vince Corpus / Mrs. Elna Corpus Contact Number: 09068731535 / 09175587836 A 28-hectare exciting and thrill – filled place called the Guimaras Adventure Park where one could experience the adrenalin rush as he/she battles with other players in paintball, war games, rappelling, target shooting & horseback riding. It is Ideal place for team building, leadership training, company outings, camping or just plain fun.
