BUT BEAUTIFUL

I visited Tawi-tawi and I swear I was really stunned how naturally beautiful it is like its vast, spectacular, and majestic mountains, the resembling puzzled-pieces of green rice fields stretching to the horizon, the stunning sand bar and white sand beaches echoing the waves of blue water. These are canvass-worthy of artwork but despite these accolades, there was a part of sadness in me seeing Tawi-tawi on the other view.

It was a shady and cold aftermoon when the drizzle has just ceased though no petrichor, I saw the children walking around, some of them are bare footed walking on the damp passages, they were looking at tourists like me. No words needed, they were happy to receive small amount But what really pained me was seeing the sadness of these young eyes unhappy with their situation, too young that nothing they can do but be alone and left behind. I saw some older and elders too standing within their yard, picture of waiting the night to come. Their houses are made up of patched woods at least one-foot meter above the mud, seems to be standing there for the longer time, and there are makeshifts wooden bridges going to inner houses. The sky was clear and the ambiance was quiet but the silence there makes the feeling an everyday lonesomeness whose people want to escape the scarcity.

The face of poverty is disheartening and it is saddening, the feeling of in despair is playing Though I admire the generally immaterialism way of life here but the big probability of incapacity to taste a little luxury of life is depressing starting with unkempt hair children wearing loose dresses and their parents cannot afford to dress them nicely. The adults too and look tired from hard labor and sunburned skin color. Living is finding foodstuff to live, the place is blessed with this. You will never hungry just be diligent to plant in own yard and go to lakes or rivers to fish and you will have foods to eat. But life is truly not all about these, men are not always in bread alone. Children and grown up need to leam life's skill, knowledge through education, and plans for strong future. Your matured life should be improved and better than when you were before, there is something missing in you when you passed away same poor since birth.

The day before, Tawi-tawi on my first glance was picturesque of pure haven, no edit needed. I was overwhelmed with everything is genuine: smelling every earthy scent of rich soil and plants in misty forest, feeling the tender touch of the sun on my skin, and enjoying the humble downtown, I really like their layback, slow, quiet, and natural rustic and simple life and there is no doubt about that. The next day, helpless and guilty. There is guilt in me because while when I came into this place appreciating its beauty, there are its destitute people on their own humble abode and here I am making it indulgence of coming there.

I travelled the farthest place in my country to find the people who don't need much to be happy. They have this strong patience amidst of insufficiencies not because they are contented and do not want to pursue more but they have leamed to get the most of whatever they have. Tawi-tawi is telling me be me less is more. Tawi-tawi taught me expands my empathy to humble self and fosters the humility. Sometimes travelling is not all-fun, you need to see the downside of a place to find something new and nevertheless good. And Tawi tawi on my mind will be always beautiful and humble.