The Spaniards called this place as Refugio Island. Refugio means "Refuge" as the island used to be a place of refuge or a shelter. On the other hand, the American called this place “Safe Away” island, which was meant to be safe from from danger or damage.
Lately, the local residents called their place “Sipaway”. The island is endowed with natural beauty. Visitors would enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving along the reefs with pristine corals and abundant marine life. They would enjoy swimming in clear water and watch the beautiful starfish, sea urchins and other sea weeds.
However, some of these things are slowing becoming part of the past. A resort is now built owned by a foreign national. Tourist come and go. But residents are no longer free to go to the shore along the resort, nor can they enjoy the facilities in the resort since it's quite expensive for them. Locals also believe that the water is now getting polluted. Electric is sporadic. For drinking water, locals have to get it from San Carlos City (-riding a motorboat) or pray for rain to come.
The total population of the island is 4,373. Out of this number, 577 are pre-school children. The means of livelihood is fishing and 90% of the workforce is unemployed. Some of them engage in fishing the primitive way --- using bow and arrow, hook and line, catching fish by the use of bare hands, gathering shellfish, the use of torch or small fish nets. However about 10% owned a medium size fishing boats.
About 10% of the population owned the land and some of the land owners have houses both in Sipaway and San Carlos City and elsewhere. 90% are squatters living in temporary houses made of bamboos and nipa. There are no doctors or drug store in the island. There's one midwife for each barangay. Most of the diseases found in the island are preventable such as fever, cough, diarrhea, ulcer, anemia, malnutrition, TB, arthritis, hypertension and parasitism. For their medical needs, the residents have to travel to San Carlos.
SHIELD stands for Sipaway Health Integrated Education and Livelihood Development based in the local UCCP church. The local church is located at Purok Caimito in Barangay San Juan, Sipaway with 325 members. Most of the members are poor except for few families who are landowners.
The foundation is working with the United Church of Christ-Philippines (UCCP)- West Visayas Jurisdiction to support the SHIELD program. Part of the program includes teaching ministry in which the local church opened a kindergarten School with one volunteer teacher. They have 30 pupils. Since all of the children come from indigent families, they could hardly contribute to the honorarium of the teacher and cannot afford to pay for the books. Other activities include livelihood programs, and life skills training. The project is also a recipient of the foundation's Balikbayan Box Ministry.
A motorized "bangka"
will be your transportation to Sipaway Island
from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental