Alcoy - Cebu Province Destinations

Alcoy

Alcoy is the home of a species of bird known as black shama locally referred to as siloy.

Alcoy is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cebu. It is approximately 93 kilometers from the provincial capital Cebu City and is bounded by the municipalities of Dalaguete to the north, Boljoon to the south, Badian and Alegria to the west, and Cebu Strait to the east. Alcoy's old name was Mambaje and was once a part of Dalaguete. Its first parish priest, a Spaniard, noted the unusual resemblance of the town both in its provincial and pristine charm and its smallness to a place in Spain called Alcoy. He proposed that Mambaje be renamed after the province in southern Spain.


Alcoy is mainly an agricultural town with Nug-as, a mountain barangay, producing 90% of commercial crops. The rest of the communities rely on subsistence fishing and backyard farming. The country's largest dolomite quarry is mined in Barangay Pugalo. It is for this mining activity that the town of Alcoy has earned for itself a monicker, the dolomite town of the Philippines. Currently, it is also the world's biggest dolomite mining found in Asia.


Alcoy's tourist attractions include white beaches, coves and islets, barrier and coral reefs, mangrove forests, verdant hills and valleys, towering mountains, and fertile farmlands in the highlands. The waters of Alcoy teem with marine flora and fauna. Diving and snorkeling are options for visitors to see the underwater spectacle. Leisurely boating or canoeing are another possible activities to appreciate the natural wonders of Alcoy seawaters.


A barrier reef extending more than a mile runs parallel to the shores of two coastal barangays of Pugalo and Pasol. Almost two miles offshore from Pasol, there is an undersea mountain that rises up a few meters below the surface of the sea which is replete with a variety of reef fish and other colorful marine organisms, a great diving site, which is still undiscovered by professional divers.


Tingko Beach is a popular getaway located in Daan Lungsod, Alcoy. It is situated in a small but deep lagoon across a coral island, called Mabad-on Reef, which is completely submerged during high tide and exposed during low tide. It is separated only by a very narrow channel from the mainland.


A few meters beyond the northern reach of Tingko Beach stands the centuries-old Spanish-built Bantayan sa Hari (watch tower) on a promontory. Nearby are charming white houses, a row of beautiful white-washed houses over craggy shores, specially built for out-of-towners who want to stay in town temporarily for a short vacation with minimal fee. The beach also has crude huts with running water and toilet facilities. Camping is also possible on the beach where you can bring along tents for more fun and enjoyment.


The town of Alcoy is the home of the largest population of the black shama locally known as “siloy,” which is an endangered species of birds and endemic to the island of Cebu. The Siloy Festival promotes the Mag-abo forest, the town’s scenic white sand beaches and dive spots as the main components of the local government unit's eco-tourism program. The festival is celebrated on the month of August.


Sources:
Wikipedia 

WikiPilipinas

Cebu Daily

Fly Philippines

 

 

 

Attractions at Alcoy

Siloy Festival