Tawi-tawi: Your adventure destination

By Ayo Gunting

January 9, 2011, 1:11am

Lake Danao in Mapun, Tawi-Tawi

 White sand beaches, majestic waters, unbridled mountain ranges and caves….sounds like an adventure, doesn’t it?

Part of the Autonomous Region of Mindanao, south of the Philippine Islands, Tawi-tawi provides more than just an ordinary vacation.

“Tawi-Tawi is the backdoor gateway of the Philippines to the rest of Southeast Asia, and the farthest province of the Philippines down south,” Vice Gov. Ruby Sahali –Tan explains. “Ninety percent of the population are Muslims - Badjao, Samal, Tausog and Joma Mapun.”

 “The vision of the Gov Sadikul Sahali is to develop the province into a new cultural and ecotourism Mecca of the Philippines and to develop a literature showcasing the natural beauties and wonders hidden within its three hundred and seven islands and the underlying seas.”

It’s no wonder that the island’s governor should have such a terrific vision. Tawi-tawi is truly a beautiful island with a lot to offer. Although devoid of commercial structures, the island’s endemic varieties of flora and fauna, miles of white sand covering beaches, and picturesque dive sites are part of the things that make this place worth visiting.

Wonderful Tawi-Tawi

Adventure and wonder await those itching to explore uncharted reefs, caverns, and coves.

In the provincial capital, Bongao, on top of a hill, you can see not only the town but also the neighboring islands. At Bongao Peak, which can be climbed in an hour, you can see a unique breed of monkeys. Interestingly, these tame but fascinating creatures are known to imitate the movements of people they see.

If you want to see wild boars first-hand, Sibutu is a place you’d want to spend vacation time in. This place also boasts of the rare labuyo (wild rooster) and other numerous species of birds. Meanwhile, if you want to see tallah-tallah (seagulls) or witness sea pawikan (sea turtles) lay their eggs, then head on to Gusong Reef, the place abundant with such a rare breed. Turtles Islands, on the other hand, is where you can see the largest of turtle eggs.

Mapun or Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, on the other hand, is renowned for flora and fauna which can only be found here.

Get a glimpse of its history

Tawi-tawi, though rich in nature’s wonders, is not limited to it.

If history is what you seek, you might want to visit Tubig Indangan (located in the island of Simunul), the site of the oldest mosque in the country. A mosque is a place of worship of the Muslims (whose religion is Islam). One fascinating thing about mosques is architecture. These places of worship usually include brilliant mosaics, paintings, domes, and minarets, which is why mosques are frequently visited by history and photography fanatics.

This particular mosque was built by Sheik Karim al Makhdum (beside it is his tomb), which is why the mosque is named Sheik Karim al Makhdum mosque. The ancient structure is now recognized as a National Shrine by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Shopping, shopping, shopping!

After sightseeing, appreciating nature, and taking in history, you can spend the rest of the day at Sitangkai. Known also as “Venice of the South”, this place offers an array of buys from shawls, clothes, to accessories.

To make this place even more interesting, instead of streets… (Can you believe it?)… canals serve as walkways.

Surely, this is just the type of adventure that will give you the exhilaration that you need. It’s always exciting to experience new things and see new sights. Come and visit Tawi-tawi — a true gem of the Orient.

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