Sulu: Part 2

After spending days in Jolo and Indanan municipalities in mailand Sulu via a Seair flight from Zamboanga City, our site coordinators and I were off to the small island municipality of Siasi. The island is accessible only by a 6-hour ride via an old, wooden and crowded ship. No list of passengers was made, only ticket stubs were required to enter the ship. As such, I held on tightly to a plastic bag containing my life jacket which had bright neon colors and reflectors all over it (as I brilliantly planned during my previous entry). The chaos inside the ship amid the repeated showing of an old FPJ movie made the trip more interesting. Outside, the long strips of white sand was a feast to the eyes. I was in awe. Boracay beach would pale in comparison.

Siasi is an old island town with grey wooden houses reminiscent of old Philippines. One would surely catch a nostalgic feeling and feel that time stood still. Because there were no lodging inns in the area, we were accommodated at the Mayor's residence. From my room, there was a great view of an old mosque. Wherever I look - people, houses, mosques - all have a sense of antiquity.

Sulu: Part 1

Not

Nothing beats an early morning flight over a brewing storm.

Last week, I set foot in Mindanao for the first time. What made it more meaningful was the fact that I got to spend a week in Sulu, one of the most isolated, conflict-prone and poorest areas in the country. Part of my work requires me to travel to some of our project sites in the ARMM. 

The trip was a learning experience for me as much as it was fun. Not only did I get to appreciate my work even more, the trip also opened my eyes to the beauty and richness of the Muslim culture, especially the Tausug's. Beneath the dark environment of Sulu and the air of conflict, it has a lot to offer. The deserted beaches made of pure white sand, the rich taste of its cuisine, the nostalgic rituals, and the smiles on children's faces - this is the other side of Sulu.