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<i>**Hello againnnn, my dearest Hivemindsss!** It has been quite a long time since I posted a blog entry, likely 2 months already, in fact. I genuinely missed you… and honestly, I missed me in Hive as well. 😂 I didn’t know whether I would ever get motivated to write again. It became a bit noisy, and I lost my groove a bit. But now I am back and finally sharing something with you. So I guess you could say it’s my little comeback.
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I’ve been meaning to post this like... right after my second visit to Simala Shrine. But you know how it is, life throws us into adulting responsibilities and random existential crises, and before I know it, I forget I even run a blog. However, I decided to write this today. Yes, I visited Simala Shrine again! And this time I went with just my lover, not with my big noisy (but lovable) family. Romantic? Maybe. Peaceful? Definitely. Less noisy than last time? Absolutely HAHAHAHAHA. It seemed quieter this time. Bizarre as that may be, I love them so much though. Haha. Anyway, I found myself yet again standing beneath the mesmerizing castle like church in Sibonga, Cebu. It seemed grander than ever, was still scented with prayers and candles, and hypnotized me with its peaceful atmosphere. It was like giving off that calming aura that makes you question your whole life (in a good way). Compared to my first visit, this one felt more... introspective. Maybe it’s the company, maybe it’s because I didn’t have five cousins asking for photo shoots every five minutes (sorry, love you, guys!). **Btw, I'm writing this to be a travel blog, so I guess let's get it started!**</i>
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This castle-like church is definitely a safe haven for most Cebuanos. Here, you’ll bump into many people from different places, with different stories and intentions. As for me, it was for thanksgiving, all for the good things that are happening in my life. Though it was quite a long trip, about two hours to get here, and even though we commuted all the way from the South Bus Terminal, I didn’t worry a bit because I have a human Waze with me haha (aka my partner, who somehow knows every turn better than Google Maps alwaysss hahaha). 
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More than that, the Simala Shrine, or the Sanctuary Castle of Our Lady of Lindogon, is frankly right out of a fairy tale. The design is very amazing. It resembles a European castle simply standing in the middle of rural Cebu. You will find towers, arches, and long staircases that will make you feel like a king or queen as you breeze through. Also, the view, let’s not forget that either. The church sits on a hill, amongst the greenery and tranquility. Literal peace. As in, if serenity did happen to have a place, this would be it. That's why, it 100% feels so good when you’re here. It’s like your soul finally gets to take a deep breath.
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After lighting our candles, we took a moment to just sit and soak it all in. No rush, no pressure. Just me, my partner, and the calm energy of the place. I just loveee how big the place was, but heads up, if you wanna go here when it’s not crowded, go on weekdays instead of weekends, because there’ll really be many devotees flocking here on Saturday and Sunday.
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One thing I love about Simala is that it's not just a simple shrine where you whisper prayers and go. It feels more like a journey. Every hallway, every staircase, every mural tells a story. You’ll see letters from people testifying to answered prayers, from healing sickness to passing the board exams. Yesss, they all have shared their journey here, leaving all their wheelchairs, crutches, or other materials from people who got healed from their illness, and also some sort of exam kits like pencils, books, and all for the board exam takers who successfully passed their exams! Not just that, there's a lot of testimonies for you to find there. In this place, you can see people not just solely for the purpose of travel — you can see from the outside how much each individual has something in their hearts, going there alone, with friends, colleagues, and families.
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The other observation I made during this visit was the level of intentions people had. As in, you cannot simply find yourself in Simala Shrine. You come here, perfectly well aware that you do so. You endure the hours of travel, the heat, the traffic, the walking—all because you are hoping, or thanking, or perhaps just trying to get some peace in the midst of the life-drama, and you will actually experience that when you are here.
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Uncles and aunties lighting candles with trembling fingers, old grandmas crying silently, holding rosary beads, couples interlocked in hands but not uttering a single word, strangers weeping quietly just because it is not loud, but it is dense. In a significant sense. Sincerely speaking, it is kind of cozy to be in the atmosphere of faith. Secular, perhaps, but optimistic. As if we all are just trying our best, carrying our own baggage, just appearing in spite of it all. It is difficult to describe, but when one is inside Simala, it is as if everyone there is taking a deep breath together. 
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Even if you don’t say a word, just being there already feels like a silent conversation with the universe, and so when you happen to be in Cebu and you want to experience something more meaningful than the expected food trip or island hopping, then I guess you can take the detour. Visit Simala. Bring a prayer, bring a snack, bring someone you love, or only yourself. That’s enough.
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<b>Thanks for reading, sweeties! See you around!</b>





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[//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 9.98004 lat 123.61340 long Welcome to the Sanctuary Castle of Our Lady of Lindogon in Sibonga, Cebu: A Comeback Blog d3scr))