A coconut connects two distinct themes in Calubian: salvaro, a sweet treat made mainly from coconut flesh, and the Lubi-lubi Festival, held in honor of the coconut. There are also caves, a farming area with diverse flora and fauna, and local craft traditions. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, this variety can help you choose a focus: nature, cuisine or cultural heritage.
Caves and Nature
Seven unclassified caves are located in the barangays of Cabradilla, Kawayanan, Pates and Tuburan. Ilagkat, Ginaksan, Dangpanan and Bulawanon are caves in Calubian. Another nature-focused attraction is Velez Farm in Barangay Kawayan, which is home to a variety of flora and fauna. The caves and the farm appeal to different interests: one focuses on the underground landscape, the other on the diversity of plants and animals. When finding your way around, note the similar-sounding place names: Kawayanan is one of the barangays with the seven caves, while Velez Farm is in Barangay Kawayan.
Local Cuisine
Biko is among the agricultural products for which Calubian is known. Salvaro is a local sweet treat made mainly from coconut flesh and associated with Calubian. The dish sinugba nga tinasik nga isda, or grilled fish, is associated with Don Luis in Calubian. The three examples are clearly distinct: biko is an agricultural product, salvaro is defined by coconut, and the fish dish by its preparation and connection to a place. This shows that Calubian’s culinary traditions cannot be reduced to a single ingredient.
Cultural Heritage and Traditions
A 2019 report describes the Lubi-lubi Festival as an annual celebration honoring the coconut, one of Calubian’s most important products. The coconut thus appears in two different contexts: as an ingredient in salvaro and as the reason for the festival.
The built heritage includes a shrine, a bell tower and several ancestral homes associated with prominent local families. The shrine and bell tower are examples of religious architecture; the ancestral homes give the built heritage a connection to family history. If you’re interested in architectural history, these buildings draw attention to different forms and family ties.
Intangible cultural heritage includes banig weaving using the Romblon plant and basket weaving using Sig-id, Nito, Batang-batang and bamboo. Weaving and basket weaving are distinct techniques; the named materials make both traditions tangible. Those interested in handicrafts can distinguish between the two traditions by their techniques and materials.
Several movable cultural properties related to agriculture, as well as indigenous games, are also part of the cultural heritage. Agriculture is therefore represented both in the local products and in the movable heritage, while the games add another cultural form.
Planning Your Stay
Different considerations apply when planning your stay: if the festival is the reason for your trip, check the latest dates. If you plan to visit the caves, Velez Farm or one of the buildings, check in advance whether visits are possible. This lets you distinguish a date-dependent event from potential site visits before planning your stay.
Discover more destinations: Catarman, Baybay City, Calbayog City, Tanauan, Palompon, Hilongos, Leyte, Malitbog.
View the regional travel guide: Eastern Visayas.
