Today is a deeply personal milestone for us. We are heading back to Siquijor, and it’s not just another stop on our road trip; it’s a journey back to where our lives changed forever. It has been exactly three years to the day—March 15th—since Jessa told me right here on this island that I was going to be a father. Looking at Liam now, three years later, it’s incredible to think about how much has happened since that moment.
We started the day by leaving Dumaguete to catch the ferry. The boat was packed, so we ended up spending most of the crossing sitting in the car. It gave us time to reflect on that anniversary three years ago. We had come to Siquijor to celebrate, only to get the news the very next day that the entire country was locking down due to COVID-19. We went from a short anniversary trip to being "stuck" on the island for three months.
Once we drove off the ferry, our first mission was to find the place where we stayed during that life-changing anniversary: Isla de Paz in San Juan. I had checked online, and it said they were fully booked, but I was hoping they might have kept a room open for walk-ins. Walking back onto that property brought back so many memories—I could still see myself lying in the hammock, processing the news of the pregnancy and the lockdown. Unfortunately, they really were full, so we couldn't stay in our "sentimental" room, but it was still great to show Liam where his story officially began.
The search for a new "home base" turned into a bit of a challenge. We checked out a resort called Siquijor Eastern Garden, which looked stunning in the photos. However, when we got there, the swimming pool was so dirty that it was unusable. I’m not willing to pay resort prices if we can’t even use the main amenities, so we kept moving. Traveling with a toddler means you have to be flexible, but you also have to have some standards for where you’re going to spend your time and money.
Eventually, we found a place called Infinity Sands, located just outside of San Juan. It’s a beautiful spot for about 1,800 pesos a night. The room is perfect for Liam, and the overall vibe is exactly what we needed. We finally settled in just as it was getting dark.
To cap off our five-year wedding anniversary, Jessa got all dressed up for a proper dinner date. We headed to a nearby resto-bar that had fantastic live music playing from a balcony. The food was excellent—Jessa had adobo, and we shared some incredible buffalo chicken, while I went for the grilled yellowfin tuna. It was a perfect, low-key way to celebrate five years of marriage and three years of being parents.
We ended the night back at the hotel with a glass of wine, just enjoying the quiet and the fact that we're back on this "enchanted" island together. We have a lot of exploring to do over the next few days, starting with Secret Lagoon if the weather holds up.
Thanks for being part of our story, and I’ll see you in the next one!
