The island province of Camiguin is the second smallest province in the Philippines, next only to Batanes in terms of land area and population. Known as The Island Born of Fire, Camiguin came to existence due to seismic shifts caused by volcanic eruptions. Despite its size, the island has the largest concentration of volcanoes in the country that outnumbers its towns. Camiguin has always been referred to as the island with seven volcanoes and five towns, but a mapping in 2019 showed that there are actually at least 14 volcanic features in the second smallest province of the Philippines.

The fourth day of our Northern Mindanao journey was aptly from the highlands to the sea. Following our excursion in Dahilayan Adventure Park on the day prior, we made the three-hour drive to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, and checked into the MMC Hostel Balingoan near the port. The following morning started in the pre-dawn shadows; by 0:30 AM, we were already aboard the ferry to Camiguin, ready to trade the pine-covered ridges for the shores of an island born of fire.

All aboard! Early morning ferry ride to Camiguin.

Most of us in the ferry went to sleep as soon as the voyage started. The cool breeze in the sea, the heaving of the ship and the splashing sound of the water were as if the perfect lullaby to bring us all to slumber. When we woke up, the sky was already brightening up, showing us the sea and the island of Camiguin through the early morning mist.

We docked in the Port of Benoni in Camiguin Island a little before 07:00 AM. We were first asked to pass through the port security gate of the island, and it was there that we were jolted by excitement. Finally, we were in Camiguin!

We first had a quick bite in a local eatery near the port before we proceeded in our exploration of the island province. We then headed to the boarding port for boats traveling to Mantigue Island, our would had been first destination in Camiguin. Yes, would had been. Unfortunately, we were already in the port to Mantigue Island when the weather acted up; the skies turned dark and the winds blew hard. It was for that reason that no boatman would want to risk going through and against the huge waves of the sea.

It was a lost opportunity to visit Mantigue Island, but we just decided to move forward to our next destination. Before we did though, I managed to get a few shots of the area.

While admittedly somehow disappointed for not being able to visit Mantigue Island, it was not as if anyone wanted the cancellation. In any adventure, after all, regardless of how renegade it could be, safety is the utmost priority. That hiccup was not able to dampen our spirits, because after all, we already made it to the island with landscapes often as green as emerald, forged in the crucible of the earth.

So that we waste no time, our Aura Adventures group went ahead to visit the provincial capitol of Camiguin in the capital town of Mambajao.

Camiguin used to be governed as part of Misamis Oriental. In 1957, it was made a sub-province. Nine years later, in 1966, it was established as a province of its own.

The provincial capitol that we visited was the new capitol building of the island province that was completed in the year 2000. The building follows a modern architecture, seen as a departure from the typical colonial design prevalent in different provinces in the Philippines.

The Renegade Duo in front of the Camiguin Provincial Capitol.

Our exploration of the island born of fire had already started with the visit to the provincial capitol despite the would had been trip to Mantigue Island being cancelled. With more places to visit, we could only keep our sprits high. Being in Camiguin, after all, is a rare opportunity such thatwe were certain among ourselves that we would make the most out of it.

As the morning sun began to bake the volcanic soil, we pivoted our plans toward the lush interior highlands. If the sea wasn’t ready for us, the mountains certainly were. The island seemed to whisper that its best secrets are not always found on a shoreline. We leaned into the detour, realizing that in a place forged by eruptions and tectonic shifts, a change in plans wasn’t a setback—it was just the island’s way of showing us who is really in charge.