THE HUMBLING SOUTHERNMOST

Recently, I made a visit to four provinces in the southernmost part of my country: Zamboanga, the Bangsamoro Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The visit was actually not part of my plan this year but I thought I had to do it now before I missed it. True enough, the experience was memorable and productive.

 

VIVA ZAMBOANGA.  First stop was in the port pillar in Zamboanga. Mi viaje a Zamboanga para primero tiempo esta buen. Yo amo' los espanoles influencias preserva en nuestra cultural ahora. Tambien los cocinares y las palabras. Muchisimas gracias, Zamboanga.

 

Zamboanga is leading the region, living the people more advance than the neighboring provinces, and enjoying the reputation as the Asia's Latin city. Though if I may say it did not really impress me that much but Zamboanga has its own charm that is attractive to others, it is The Flower City anyway.  Being the person who loves vintage that I am, I like the Spanish remnants are visibly present up to this date, the old houses still exist and the architectural designs are dominantly obvious everywhere. And I am really grateful to taste the authentic curacha dish, a famous specialty originated in Zamboanga.  The Rainbow Mosque (Masjid Al-Islamia) is very catchy. Its colours are inevitable candies to tourists. There is only one destination I really looked forward to see in Zamboanga: the Pink Beach, but true enough to our tour guide disclaimer about expectation versus reality, we should not expect high as the sand is not really pink. Zamboanga is very colorful, if there is something that rewarded my craving to be in this place, seeing an original vinta upclose is my favorite moment in Zamboanga.

 

SOULFUL SULU.  Going to Sulu on the very first time gives me the feeling of out of the country vibes. Sulu is one of the components of Bangsamoro region. As a dominant Muslim place, hearing the calls for their prayer times puts me to feel like in the documentary movies featuring the life of people in rural places. The place is soulful and serene, leaving you the impression of simplicity, modesty, and old fashion. Sulu is layback and it is conservative here.  Being in Sulu dismissed my impression that the place is fearsome, an stigma that most always attached to this place due to past unrest encounters and terrorism incidents, tourist like me became evasive to visit this naturally beautiful place. I must admit, there was fear in me prior to come here especially as solo in Sulu traveler but my faith first and foremost fortified my decision, and when finally here, the visibility of men in uniform holding those firearms crossed to their chest gives the feeling of security to tourists like me.

 

My visit to Sulu was number of firsts to me like when I tried to eat foods that the locals do. Satti is a chicken or beef in barbecue stick served with sweet and spicy gravy and with some sticky rice. My first taste was easily approved. Then, Tausug's Chicken Piyanggang is grilled chicken marinated in burnt coconut meat, this gives unique spice taste. Then Tiyulang Itum, also called black soup because of the burnt coconut meat. The taste is actually similar to Tagalog's Sinuam. And I did not miss the chance to finally taste the unpopular Durian fruit for its potent smell. Though it is not actually when you are eating it, it is starchy but I did not find it good and sweet. I am expecting a jackfruit like but it is not, same with Marang fruit. And lastly, the fresh seafoods are cheaply affordable.

 

Being in Sulu is an experience. It is learning to observe their situations and respect their faith and traditions. Actually, Sulu is misunderstood.  It is generally peaceful here.  Being been there, you can left your heart or soul in Sulu.

 

BEHIND BASILAN.  Basilan is stunning. The nice white sand and wide esplanade of Malamawi Beach in Pahali made me counted it as one of the ideal picture perfect beaches. While here I tried Tausug's delicatessen Putli Mandi, a dessert steam rice cake from glutinous rice, usually purple, rounded into ball, and sprinkled with coconut strip. Also the Wadjit, a confectionery made from black and white glutinous rice stuffed with brown sugar filling, perfect with their native coffee.  While in Basilan, seeing the women wearing hijab wherever they go like in market, street, schools, and even in beach is testament of their solid faith. But behind these beautiful impressions, there is sadness forming in my heart while looking around at the actual pictures of the ordinary surroundings. Basilan brought me in mixed emotions that part of me was the eagerness to see its nature while on the other hand it undeniably caused me to feel sad. Instead of enjoying the ride of travelling, the sad reality of its situation, condition and unpleasant views of poverty pains my heart. There were apparent things that will really feel the life there is poor, slow, and sad. Well it can be subjective but as tourist you can feel there is something it is holding back. I supposed to enjoy but seeing the wooden houses sunk in shallow water and muds along the shore, scattering household wastes in the premises, hinting education is unaffordable, and seeing some children begging for alms instead made me affected witnessing the difficulties of life. These are the baseline of Basilan.  Basilan is left behind and this confirms my feelings when I checked, Basilan appears to be the highest poverty rate in the country. Our Muslim brothers and sisters are left behind. The community is neglected but it is very promising if supported.

Basilan has best beaches to brag its clean beaches, fine white sands, turquoise water,

and spectacular long shallow to deep shoreline. Behind the not good things that I have seen, indeed there are more beautiful things around Basilan like lively festivities, colorful artworks, and unexplored nature gems that can show to world.

 

AND LASTLY, TAWI-TAWI.  It is the last province and the southernmost in the Philippines, I like Tawi-tawi escapade the most among my quad-provinces travel collectively alled s "ZamBaSulTa", especially the Panampangan Island known for having the longest sandbar in the country stretching over 3,000 meters and vividly connecting to the next island when low tide. The place is so natural, unfiltered and very instagramable. What you see is what you get - the pure, soft and white sand was truly an experience.

While in Tawi-tawi, I had breakfast in Arabic setup, trekking the 1,122 feet summit and over 3,000 steps of Bud Bongao, explored the Boloboc cave, and visited the Pink Mosque (Masjid Dimaukom) situated in Mindanao State University.

 

Tawi-tawi is the last province in the South, it is geographically very near in Malaysia and Indonesia. Although I missed the Sitangkai which is the last baranggay closest to Malaysia but experience to be here is enough. Tawi-tawi has a lot more to offer; it has colorful culture, history and tradition, the untouched flora & fauna is priceless, there are interesting foods and the amazing locals who have stories to share. Tawi-tawi is under Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao though life is layback but Tawi-tawi has smiles in its face and it is very promising that is in waiting to develop. The dominantly Badjao ethnic group who are sea gypsies settled in water overlooking the picturesque emerald waters, they are popularly known for diving the coins thrown by ships' passengers while docking in the port. And definitely the fresh air to breathe is generous. And of course, getting me inside the Mosque is first to me and something that is really an honor. Paying respect to Masjid Sheikh Makhdum in Sangay Siapuh, Simunul Island was truly an opportunity to experience and my visit to Tawi-tawi is definitely for keep.

 

All in all, my travel to collectively Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi was not enough to enter in my top-5 most beautiful places I visited. But my number one takeaway here is the knowledge I have gained so, is it so productive gaining all these knowledge?  

Going to these places from Manila, the fastest and convenient way is a three and a half hour direct flight to Zamboanga.  Since Sulu and Basilan are close to Zamboanga as the main gateway, going there was back and forth from and to each other.  Travel can be thru bus, ferry and plane.  We used ferry which is one and a half hour to Basilan and seven hours to Sulu.  And finally, we needed to go back to Zamboanga going to Tawi-tawi thru 1 hour flight as aircraft is the most practical for travelers as times matter in counting.