A Treasure Worthy To Be Found: Basilan (Part 2)

...continued

Warm-hearted

The second day was the day when we went to the Samal Bajau community and mingled with our brothers and sisters there. We visited two villages (Teheman and… forgive me, but I forgot the name of the other village!) that day.

The long bridge to Teheman's second gate.

The first gate of Teheman  was just a walking distance away from the house we were staying in. Before getting to the actual village community, we first walked on a long bridge surrounded by mangroves which connected the village to the island. Take note that the Samal Bajaus were also called sea gypsies because they live over the sea. Literally, over the sea , since their houses are built on thick,long wood stalks. Before, when the bridge was not yet built, the Bajaus would paddle on small boats to get to the island. When the tide is high, the sea water reaches just inches below their houses. But when the tide gets low, one can easily walk under one house to get to the other house. It was low-tide during our visit, so we experienced walking under the Bajau's houses.

Kids are very fond of the camera.

After the long walk, we already reached the second gate where we were enthusiastically met by children. Bro. Joseph already oriented me that the children loved the camera. One wouldn't need to ask them if they can be taken a picture of. They'd tag you on the arm and shout, "Ate, picture! Picture!" They would voluntarily pose before the camera and give a big smile.

It amazed me how warm these children welcomed us. They didn't even know us, but they welcomed us like we have been there and have seen each other before. Not just only the children, but the mothers as well, who sat beside the edge of the bridge making food for lunch. Their welcome felt so warm it made me feel like we were of family to them. And so, how can they be hard to love? The people were all wearing smiles.

If you zoom in this picture,
you'd see the little girl
paddling inside a vat.

We visited one (or the only, if I'm not mistaken) classroom they had in the Teheman community. The lessons were taught using the dialect of the Bajaus. I think it's just appropriate to use the town's dialect in giving examples to the students so that the students can relate directly with the lesson (how can a student fully understand the concept of an igloo if they themselves do not know or experience what it is?). 

I also had my share of Bajau lessons:

-Good morning = Ahap Subuh

-Thank you = Magsukob

For us to transfer to the other nearby village, we boarded on a paddle boat. While we were, well… paddling, a small girl caught my eye. I laughed when I saw her paddling, not on-board a small paddle boat, but on a vat (palanggana in Filipino's terms)! How resourceful can Filipinos really get! I took a picture of her and she waved back at us.

Before alighting the paddle boat, we caught sight of an abundant number of starfishes just near the shore! My aunt and I were so amazed that Nanay Sybia, a Bajau mother who paddled for us, picked up some of the little five-armed cuties and put them inside the boat. While taking photos of the starfishes, I saw Nanay Sybia holding a sea urchin. She said that they usually gather sea urchins along the shore during low tide and have them as lunch or dinner. Unfortunately, we didn't had the chance to taste the sea urchins.

We reached the other Bajau community by walking under the house because the sea was on low tide (we were told that the houses' restrooms were also on top of us so we were extra careful not to be hit by something gooey! Haha).  However, once the sea rises up, they use the narrow bamboo bridges connecting one house to the other. I also tried using the bamboo bridge to get to another house, and I must say, one must really know how to balance well and learn to really make use of the bends of your feet and toes to hang on to the bridge. I can say that walking along it is a talent!

At that community, I visited some mothers who weaved mats or banigs made out of Pandan leaves for a living. These mats are called tepo by the Bajaus.  I asked one mother to teach me how to weave. As I took a strand over another  to secure the weaving,  I cannot help but think how skilled these mothers were in weaving and how good their hand and eye coordination were.

And just for the record, these mothers do not weave just for the sake of weaving. They weave because weaving is part of the Bajau's tradition and culture. It is in weaving that the women interpret their dreams and their ambitions in life. It is in weaving that the Bajau women feel that they belong to a community. Bro. Joseph told me that at some times, when the women convene and weave, they also sing. Not popular songs that we usually hear over the radio, but songs that come from their heart. They put the lyrics and the hymn together in an impromptu manner. Amazing.

After weaving the colored strands of the leaves, they would make them into bags, wallets, bracelets, earrings, and hats. Then they eventually sell them in the Bajau Community Center. Their products range from P5 (accessories) to P280 (bags).

You may check their site here: http://csfi.claretphilippines.com/

In fairness to the weavers and sewers, they also have their share of artistic talents. They do have beautiful and sellable designs. I even bought some of their merchandise to bring as pasalubongs to my friends and family back here in Manila.

When it was time for us to go, the people, especially Nanay Sybia, wished as well and said they hope that we return to their place. I do hope to return. That is, if I'll be successful in finding them a market here. :)

A weaved bag given to me as a souvenir. :D

After the experiences I encountered during my trip to Basilan, I was just in awe most, if not all, of the time. The island was literally full of life (in all aspects -- people, nature, culture). What's just so sad is that, because of the selected negative media thrown to the place, only selected people dare go and visit this Treasure Island. The news keeps on highlighting the conflict going on in the province, leaving out important stories which are worthy of telling  and hearing about. Stories which are positive and empowering.

I hope the government continues to strengthen the state of Mindanao and help protect its image. The whole island has a whole lot to offer people if only given the chance.

And as to the fear and doubts I initially had, I am proud to tell you, my friends, that I conquered them with a heartily smile. Since I got back to Manila safe and sound, I can whole-heartedly testify that Basilan can be livable, that Basilan can be a friendly province, that Basilan can offer something new and show off their potential if only given the chance. If only we take on courage and open our minds to this possibility. 

The Province of Basilan (Lalawigan ng Basilan in Filipino/Tagalog; Provincia de Basilan in Spanish/Chavacano) is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula. Its capital, Isabela City, is administered as part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region. To know more about the province, you may visit their website: http://www.basilan.gov.ph/

A Treasure Worthy To Be Found: Basilan (Part 1)

On the first week of February this year, my aunt and I went to visit one of the places people seldomly go to because of the conflicted  state that the news allegedly reports its at -- we journeyed to the province of Basilan. Although I stayed there for just a short period of time, a 3-day,2-night stay to be exact, I brought home bountiful snippets of the province's treasures through photos, local items, and stories.

When I was telling some of my friends about my plan to visit Basilan, I was not surprised when the first expression they always gave was a feeling of concern with a dash of fear. I won't blame them because the news kept on showing the war going on in some places of the province between rebels and the army. In truth, I was also a bit concerned for my life. With all these kind of news going on, I also had my own doubts due to safety issues. But, what the hell, I just turned to my mantra about death, "If it's your time to join the Lord in Heaven, nothing and no one in no circumstance can stop that time." "Kung oras mo na, oras mo na," is how we say it in Filipino.

Perhaps, that initial expression my friends gave me was also taken as a challenge from my end. Deep down, I then had the urge to face the doubts I had and at the same time show my friends that Basilan is a friendly place.

And so I pushed on with my journey. And I didn't regret any part of it.

Simple

Zamboanga Int'l Airport view
from the runway

We flew to Basilan via Zamboanga City. As such, I also had the opportunity to visit Zamboanga International Airport. It reminded me of the old look of the airports of Cebu and Davao where some of the buildings were still made out of wood. It was consisted of just one floor and the arrival system was also just simple -- you walk into the airport, get your check-in baggage, and exit through the arrival gate.

View from outside the
arrival gate

So, yes, it's not quite developed and modernized yet in terms of structure, but I loved how simple it was. Maybe because I just also love the idea of simplicity itself. Being simple means no pretentions, no sugar-coating -- just being an airport for the sake of being an airport.

My aunt's friend fetched us and accommodated us first in their convent where we had lunch. After, we then headed to Basilan via the Supercat.

While on-board the water vehicle, one distinctive sight I encountered were the white-sand shores of the islands we passed by. According to my Aunt, almost all the islands of Basilan have white-sand beaches, some of them even untouched. I was just amazed on how abundant they were of white-sand beaches. Samantalang ang laging pinupuntahan lang ng mga turista ay Boracay, Palawan, at Puerto Galera where the visitors are all crammed together, especially during summer wherein there are many potential tourist spots in this part of Mindanao.

Notice that white strip between the sea and the trees?
Yep, that's just one of some their islands' white sand shores!

  

Abundant

Upon arriving in Isabela, the capital city of Basilan, Brother Joseph Villarin of the Claretian Missionaries, and who I am working with for the Bajau community, met us and brought us to the town of Maluso where we'll be residing for the rest of our stay.

During our 45-minute travel from Isabela to Maluso, we encountered many checkpoint stations along the way. The driver and Bro. Joseph testified that encounters between the rebels and the soldiers really happened in some of those areas before. They even pointed the places where a certain priest was abducted. But, lucky for us, the towns we're passing through were safe as of that moment.

Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by Fr. Edgar, the town's parish priest, who happened to be my aunt's grade-school classmate, too. They graced us with plenty of food, particularly fish, chicken and vegetables. They shared with us that seafood in Basilan, as well as crops, was many and cheap. Indeed, their seafood were bigger and more stuffed than the usual ones we eat here in Manila. We were always and very full during our whole stay.

Breath-taking

The original reason why I made the trip to Basilan is to meet and experience the Samal Bajau village. But, our hosts were very kind enough to take us to one of the beaches of the province during the first day of our stay. As I have seen the many white-sand shores we passed by a while ago, I got excited since I'll have the chance to actually experience it.

 Before going to the island, we were first escorted by a real army team in a real army truck! It's the coolest thing that happened in my life so far! I was so amazed! We were escorted because Fr. Edgar was with us so we needed necessary precautions. After riding the army truck, we rode an army boat to reach the island.

Pardon the color setting of my
camera. The original color of the sand
is really White.

The island we went to was named "Taikila" and it indeed had white sand and blue waters. It. Was. BREATH-TAKING. I wouldn't have thought islands like this would exist in Basilan. I actually thought I was in Boracay. Minus the hustle and bustle. Minus the overflowing number of people. Minus modernity. I just wanted to stay there and immerse myself and take every single bit of that shore in. It was just so beautiful. But the water was a bit more salty compared to the beaches I've gone to in Boracay, Davao, Bohol and Batangas. So I just stayed on the shore most of the time while eating snacks that my aunt's friends brought.

As we left the island, we were fortunate enough to witness the sun set over the sea. Another breathtaking scene I'll never forget. I don't know, but the sun was redder and brighter at that moment. It was lovely. It was peaceful.

Our scenic sunset encounter

Please check out my next post for the continuation... :)

Maybe It's Time We Try the Abundance Mentality

I think I am in a period again where I should reconsider my beliefs I currently have in m y life. Well, not in all beliefs, but on how I view wealth.

I went to a Feast gathering this afternoon to hear mass and to refresh myself spiritually. And it's just funny how God works in your life. As long as we know what we deeply desire, He finds and gives us ways on how we can achieve them. Even if it requires us to change ways and change our mindsets.

What I deeply desire for: I deeply desire to become an entrepreneur, where I'll help create opportunities for the people I work with and I work for to grow.

What my belief was before: You don't need money to be happy. You don't need to become rich to help other people.

What I think my beliefs will be changing to:

2 phrases that struck me during the Feast:

• God gave you the ability to become wealthy. Use the ability given to you. Do not settle for mediocrity. If you can push yourself a little bit further, then push yourself a little bit further. God has given you talents and skills not to be kept for yourself. Rather, he has given you gifts for you to share and prosper. Hindi porque mahirap ka, hanggang dyan ka nalang.

• You cannot help the poor if you are poor.  It's just like saying "you cannot give away anything if you do not have anything to give". Fill yourself first so that you may be able to fill others. Hindi masama maging mayaman. Dahil kung mayaman ka na, mas marami kang pagkakataon makatulong sa iba. One should just learn how to manage and use his wealth well and good. In the phrase "vow of poverty", it doesn't mean that you should live without money. It just means that you should live in simplicity. Not too much for yourself, but more for others.

Thus, with the above things learned, I'll be soon reflecting on the next few steps I'll be making in my life. (Oh Lord, bless me as I turn tables in my head).