ALL ABOUT TAWI TAWI ALL ABOUT SULU
Tawi Tawi is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The capitals of Tawi-Tawi are Bongao and Panglima Sugala. It is the southernmost province of the country, sharing sea borders with the Malaysian state of Sabah and the Indonesian North Kalimantan province, both on the island of Borneo to the west. To the northeast lies the province of Sulu. Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in the Sulu Sea to the northwest, the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island and the Turtle Islands, just 20 kilometres (12 mi) away from Sabah.
Wild cattle, wild hogs, and monkeys of the brown and white variety are just some of the many exotic fauna that abound in the forests of mainland Tawi-Tawi. Lying at the southwestern tip of the Philippines, accessible in only a matter of hours from Sabah in Malaysia, Tawi-Tawi is a province to visit for its natural zoos and a world all its own. At Sibutu, wild hogs come in rampaging bands of black, reddish brown, white, and spotted black and white. A hunter's paradise, Sibutu also boasts of the sleek and rare "labuyo" or wild rooster, birds of the edible variety – the balud, tabon, kingfisher, orioles, dandunay of the peacock variety, and more – as well as pet birds such as green, gold, and white parrots, canaries, lovebirds, and so much more. Seagulls, known to the natives as “tallah-tallah,” have settled by the thousands at Gusong Reef in Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi to lay their eggs there. Gusong Reef is a top producer of the delicious turtle eggs, ranking second to the Turtle Islands. Bongao Peak is a veritable monkey sanctuary, which also provides a view of the expanse of sea and the necklace of islands for miles around. Tawi-Tawi can easily transport one to a whole other world. Eye-catching Sitangkai is considered the “Venice of Tawi-Tawi.” The Royal "Kupunga" rises straight out of an Arabian setting. The Malay influences as well as tribal arts and crafts are very much visible in the province. Here, it is not uncommon to see folks dressed in colorful malongs, the women adorned in beads and brass trinkets. Bongao, the provincial capital, is the only place in the province where simple amenities can be availed of. Lodging is spartan. Bazaars and small cafes crowd the commercial center. At the marketplace, foodstalls serve seafare and native delicacies like the "tapa" or cured boar's meat. GEOGRAPHY Tawi-Tawi lies at the southwestern tip of the country. Irregular in shape, with splashes of white sandy beaches and rock-bound coasts, the province has 107 islands and islets with a combined land area of 462 square miles. POLITICAL SUBDIVIONS The province is composed of ten municipalities: Balimbing, Bongao, Cagayan de Tawi- Tawi, Simunul, Sitangkai, South Ubian, Tandubas, Turtle Island, Languyan and Sapa-Sapa. There are from ten to more than thirty barangays in each municipality. Each barangay is administered by a Barangay Captain. CLIMATE Tawi-Tawi has two seasons: dry and wet The climate is generally moderate. The wettest months are from August to November. The other months of the year are generally dry with occasional rain showers. LANGUAGE / DIALECT The prevailing dialect is Samal, which is widely used in varied tones and accents. The Tausug dialect is also spoken, as are English and Filipino (Tagalog). Many local traders can speak Malay and Indonesian. MAJOR INDUSTRIES Agriculture, fishing, and agar-agar farming are the leading source of livelihood of the people of Tawi- Tawi, with quite a number engaged in the barter trade business. Copra is the top agricultural produce, followed by root crops, fruits, and vegetables. HOW TO GO THERE ? Sanga-Sanga Airport in Bongao is the gateway to Tawi-Tawi by air. Currently, only Cebu Pacific flies there with their daily flight from Zamboanga City. Check out their website for the latest flight schedule and fare. Sanga-Sanga Airport is located in Barangay Sanga-Sanga, approximately 15 minutes from Bongao town proper. By Land and Sea Aleson Shipping connects Bongao to Zamboanga with ferry trips during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Travel time is approximately fifteen hours and fare is at least P1,000. Going to Zamboanga City, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific connect the city from Manila, Cebu and Davao. By ferry, 2Go Travel connects the city from Cebu and Manila. And by bus, there are daily trips from Ozamis City and Dapitan. Going Around and Away Habal-habal and tricycle are the primary modes of transportation around the island of Bongao and the connecting islands of Sanga-Sanga and Tawi-Tawi, minimum fare is P10. From Bongao to the towns of Panglima Sugala and Languyan, there’s a jeepney that leaves daily from Bongao Public Market. Going from island to island is by boat. There are public ferries from Bongao to the islands of Simunul, Sibutu, Sitangkai, Sipangkot and Liyaburan. If you plan of going to other islands, you have to charter a boat. Sheik Makdum Mosque, the birthplace of Islam in the Philippines Where to Stay in Tawi-Tawi Most hotels, inns and lodges are located in Bongao, the capital of the province of Tawi-Tawi. On our visit there, we stayed at Beachside Inn Hotel and Restaurant located just along the main road and accross Simandagat Beach. They have fan and aircon rooms, a large hall, restaurant and a garden area. Their staff can also assist you in trekking Bud Bongao Where to Stay in Tawi-Tawi Barangay Sowangkagang, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Budget: As low as P750 for a single fan room Contact No: +639204815447/(68)268-1446/(68)268-1435 Other accommodations in Bongao are: Rachel’s Place Ilmoh Street, Lamion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Budget: As low as P700 per room Contact No: (68)268-1248 Hotel Juana Grill and Restaurant Datu Halun St., Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Contact No: +639154044478/(68)268-1018 Aaron’s Pension House Ridjiki Boulevard, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Contact No: (68)268-1601 Ibbo Beach Resort Barangay Pasiagan, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Danmar Resort Silisad, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Contact No: (68)268-1550 Things to do in Tawi-Tawi
|
Sulu (Tausūg: سوگ, Sūg; Chavacano: Provincia de Sūlū; Filipino:Lalawigan ng Sulu) is an autonomous island province of the Philippines, located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Jolo and it occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.
Far-flung Sulu is the southernmost part of the Philippines, lying between the Sulu Sea on the north and the Celebes Sea on the south. With fishing as its most important industry, it is classified as a First Class Province in terms of income. The glorious Sulu Sea is dotted with coral reefs, such as the pearl farm at Marungas Island, and provides some of the world's best dive spots. Tubbataha Reef is its best known site, a 33,200-hectare underwater splendor drawing divers from all over the world with its marvelous marine wilderness and special ecosystem. Because of its fabulous beauty, the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park was honored by UNESCO in December 1993 as the first natural site in the Philippines to be inscribed in the prestigious World Heritage List. The provincial capital is Jolo. Its walled city is the smallest in the world, with its historic brick walls that lay proof to the city’s historic and continuous strife. At the entrance of the city are four gates that were used as watch towers and several mounds that were the burial grounds of Spanish and American soldiers who died in the hands of the Muslim warriors. Another attraction of the city is the Provincial Capitol with its moorish-inspired architectural design. The province nurtures a harmonious coexistence of the two most dominant religions in the Philippines, Catholicism and Islam. There are Muslim mosques situated in each barangay, most notable being the Tulay Mosque. The existing churches of Christian faith in the province are the Jolo Parish Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel, and Jolo Evangelical Church. GEOGRAPHY The Sulu Archipelago is the southernmost part of the Philippines. It lies between the Sulu Sea on the north and the Celebes Sea on the south. The province consists of over 400 scattered and almost isolated islands, stretching from the tip of Zamboanga southwestward towards Borneo. It forms one of the three connections of the Philipines with Borneo. CLIMATE Sulu is outside of the typhoon belt. Its climate is warm, humidity is generally moist, but precipitation is constant throughout the year. February is considered the coldest month while May to August are the hottest, with mean relative humidity of 86%, one of the hottest in the country. January to April is considered the dry period, with a monthly average of 7 to 9 inches of rainfall. The mean annual temperature is 26 degrees centigrade and the maximum is 27 degrees centigrade. LANGUAGE / DIALECT The principal dialect of the natives of Jolo is Tausug. The rest speak Samal, Cebuano, Chavacano, Tagalog, and other dialects. English is widely spoken. MAJOR INDUSTRIES Far-flung Sulu is surprisingly a first-class province by income classification. While there is an absence of mineral deposits, Sulu nevertheless abounds in timber resources. Lying outside the typhoon belt, it is blessed with a year-round bounty from both land and sea. Due to the character of the soil and climate, the province of Sulu grows a greater variety of products than any other part of the country. In addition to all the crops of the islands, which are abaca, coconut, and fruits like oranges, lanzones, and jacks, other fruits that do not grow in the northern islands are harvested here, such as the mangosteen and durian. Fishing is the most important industry. Trepang and pearls are extensively gathered. Sea turtles and fish of all kinds are caught. Otherwise the people engage in the industries of boat building, mat weaving, coffee processing, and fruit preservation (durian and mangosteen) HOW TO GO THERE ?
First you need to get to the Port of Zamboanga. If you're coming from Zamboanga Airport, ride a multicab bound for Canelar. Alight at the plaza leading to the famous Zamboanga City Hall. The port is located at the back of the city hall. The ticketing office of Aleson Shipping Lines is located just outside the main departure hall of Zamboanga Seaport. For the complete list of boat schedules
|