The following is a commissioned article I wrote for this month’s issue (October 2011) of SMILE, the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific Air. You may browse the magazine online at http://www.cebusmile.com
My prayers on Bud Bongao — the sacred peak that juts out beyond Tawi-Tawi’s provincial capital skyline — were answered. On my last day, the weather ripened to give me my only opportunity to venture further south to the final frontier of Sitangkai. With the blessings of Juana Sahali — the governor’s wife and provincial tourism council chairwoman — who graciously hosted my visit, our speedboat ripped across the white-capped currents, sea spray seasoning the smiles on our sun- toasted faces.
Like the lonesome sailfin of some undersea leviathan, Bud Bongao’s limestone karsts shrank to a blue grey silhouette in the endless ocean. The day before, we ascended its summit with bananas in hand to bribe the simian mafia for a hassle-free passage. While mostly a seascape of stilted houses, mushroom islets, coral reefs and sandbars, Tawi-Tawi’s smattering of formations inland are equally impressive, especially on the main islands of Bongao and Sanga-Sanga where rocky outcrops punctuate the skyline, hosting populations of wild animals such as tropical birds, fruit bats and monkeys.
“Conquering Bongao Peak is a place that grants you unforgettable encounters with its resident long-tailed macaques in the heart of several tampats (sacred places in Islam) in the forest,” says travel photographer Ferdz Decena, who has visited the province twice out of sheer curiosity. During my climb, a Tausug mother joined us, carrying her infant son to the peak so as to win him good health. Aside from the expansive views at the top, Bud Bongao offers a cultural glimpse at the customs of the Muslim Tawi-Tawians, who scale the peak to offer prayers with the guidance of an imam (priest) at the shrouded royal tombs.
True to its name rooted in the Indo-Malay word “jaui,” meaning “far away,” the archipelagic province of 307 islands is most suited for those seeking an adventure, worlds away from the mainstream tourism circuit. More than its geographical isolation, the ethno-political insurgency marring the rest of the Sulu Archipelago also prevents the influx of tourists enjoyed by the country’s more popular frontiers like Palawan and Batanes. Even the mere mention of visiting Tawi-Tawi is always met by anxious reactions. By monitoring current affairs and seeking the guidance of locals, you can make visiting this untapped corner of the archipelago a safe and enriching experience. The province’s rich combination of Malay-Islamic heritage, sea-oriented cultures and incredible natural vistas, at high and low tides, make it a unique tourist destination that is unmatched by any other spot in the country.
While the province is comprised of mostly Sama-Badjao people, succeeding settlers such as the Tausug from Sulu, Christian migrants from the rest of the country, as well as Chinese merchants from Sabah, Malaysia have continued to shape a vibrant and harmonious society. “Surprisingly, people respect each other here despite the difference in religion,” adds Decena. “At first I thought Tawi-Tawi was a purely Muslim area, but different religions coexist peacefully here.” Joining him for bukah — the daily sunset meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan — at his stately home in Bongao, Governor Hadji Sadikul Sahali shared the insights he has gleaned from leading this province for a total of 10 years since 1998. “Peace is made possible in Tawi-Tawi, not because of arms or authority,” he reveals, “but because we all choose to live in harmony, whatever our creed or culture.”
Remnants of an ancient land bridge, this island chain now swathed in swift currents, has served as stepping stones of civilization for a millennia. In fact, archaeological excavations at the Bolobok Rock Shelter in Sanga-Sanga Island yielded Neolithic tools made of stone, shell and animal bone, which peg Tawi-Tawi’s prehistory to more than 9,000 years ago, when the first inhabitants arrived. Later on, the Sama majority — including their “sea-gypsy” cousins, the Sama Dilaut or Badjao — arrived in Tawi-Tawi more than 1,000 years ago, tracing their ancestries to as far away as Johor, Malaysia. According to Sama-Badjao folklore, they reached the Philippine islands when a chieftain secured the boathouses of his villagers to a mooring pole and, upon sticking it to the seabed, accidentally poked the eye of a sleeping giant stingray, which awoke and swam away, towing their boathouses along with it.
Past the floating wharf where larger passenger ferries dock, our speedboat finally ran aground a couple of kilometers off Sitangkai, in knee-deep shallows covered in sea grass, orange starfish and black urchins. My guides and I hopped on a passing motorized canoe to better negotiate the low tide and reach the main village. Built over a vast sandbank off a sliver of land only 14km away from Borneo, Sitangkai is an unconventional town. It’s a water- world free of any form of wheeled transport, and navigable only by foot across narrow catwalks linking stilted houses, or by wooden longboats called tempel on canals that give the Sama settlement its nickname, the “Venice of the Philippines.” Offshore, Badjao fishermen unfurl their white sails to catch the morning’s first breath.
In Tawi-Tawi, I realized that one could be geographically farthest as can be from Philippine civilization, yet closest to the heart of its legends, traditions and culture. For visitor assistance, please contact provincial tourism officer Salve Pescadera at +63 (910) 671 6367 or +63 (939) 837 3221.
i really must visit this place. gusto ko rin ma-meet yung mga badjao.. andami nila dito sa Manila pero mas gusto ko ma-meet yung dyan mismo..
I actually have the copy of your recent article at the smile magazine. galing. Ill be in Tawi tawi this coming November so i think reading your article is a great help.
Sayang wala akong copy ng Smile Magazine this month. Curious about Tawi-Tawi, but i think a trip this year is not possible. Priority ko yan next year 😀
@Batang Lakwatsero: Yes, it’s great to experience Badjao culture at its roots =)
@Chino: Thanks, glad to hear my article was of help! Enjoy Tawi-Tawi
@Myx: Do visit Tawi-Tawi soon, before mass tourism sets in! =)
I have a copy of the magazine… hope to meet you soon pa-autograph! =)
@IamDP: Cool – hope you enjoy my travel piece! =)
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Hala karon lang nako ni nabasa!!! Ginabangan jud nako ni sa una pa. Anyway, never thought that Tawi-tawi would be BEAUTIFUL. Judging from the photos, it looked a paradise! 😀 Muadto jud ko dira soon!!! 😀
Hi. Are there any tourist guides in Tawi-Tawi? I’ll be side-tripping for 1 night only (alone) on Nov 19 and wants to maximize my stay. Any travel tips (where to stay, transpo, etc.)? I’d appreciate any help. Thanks.
Hi Renz – thanks! Glad to hear how my travel stories are changing preconceived notions about offbeat places =)
Hi third, with one day/night, you can explore the provincial capital of Bongao, including Bongao Peak. The town center offers a few budget inns. Yes, its best to explore with a tourist guide.Please contact provincial tourism officer Salve Pescadera at +63 (910) 671 6367 or +63 (939) 837 3221.
i read this on SMILE and was enthralled at how you write your article very well EAZY plus the great photos you took. Your story about Tawi-tawi made me really want to go there soon!
Hi Edgar. My friend and I went to Tawi-tawi a few weeks back. Manong Ben extends his regards to you. He was also our guide in our Bud Bongao trek. He wondered why only a few photos made it to the magazine when you took a lot of pictures, including the goats along the highway. I could only smile to his observation. 🙂
Journeys and Travels, I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed my story! It’s great that more and more people are interested to visit this incredible island province. Changing perceptions and inspiring others to discover new destinations is a big part of why I write and shoot. Thanks so much for sharing!
baktin, I hope you enjoyed your trip to Tawi-Tawi. As for the photos, there’s only so much that can be published with a story… Nice to hear from Kuya Ben. Yes, I remember those goats! I hope my story will help Tawi-Tawi’s tourism industry, and create more sustainable livelihoods for its people. Thanks for sharing!
hi. i’d just like to say thank you for this post. your article has gotten me more excited with my upcoming trip to tawi-tawi this year and i’m even considering to extend my stay there after reading this. 🙂
@vin: Im glad to hear you enjoyed reading my article. Thanks for taking time to comment. Good luck, and send my regards to Tawi-Tawi!
nice! I hope Tawi-tawi will be accessed more now that they signed the peace contract. 🙂
Is Pearl of the South is the official motto of Tawi-Tawi Province?
Nope, I don’t think so. =)
Oh I see. Thanks!