BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi - The provincial government of Tawi-Tawi will showcase its various interesting tourist destinations and tourism potentials during the celebration of the province's 37th founding anniversary dubbed "Kamahardikaan" which is scheduled from September 25 to 27, this year. According to Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali, the anniversary celebration is the most appropriate time to showcase the province's tourism potentials. "What we need now is a serious and aggressive promotion of our tourism attractions, destinations, and potentials and add more colors to the celebration to get the much-needed boost in the tourism field," Sahali said. Accommodating tourist in this province is not a problem because there are enough good hotels and resorts in this capital town, the provincial chief executive here said. Sahali also said that the 11 municipalities of Tawi-Tawi will also join in showcasing the tourism potentials of their respective towns. He said that this town is known as the microcosm of religious and cultural diversity. The Bongao Peak showcases a breathtaking view of the nearby Sabah in Malaysia, while the Bolobok Cave is one of the oldest caves - since 800 A.D. - that is located in Barangay Lakit-Lakit, this town. It is also said to be the original settlement of its early inhabitants. The town of Simunul is the site of the oldest Mosque in the Philippines and home of the revered Sheikh Makdum, the pioneer in the spread of the Islamic religion in the country. It was in Tubig-Indangan, Simunul, where the first Muslim missionary Sheik Karimul Makdum set foot to build the first mosque in the country in 1380 A.D. While Sapa-Sapa in Sibutu is known as the home of the descendants of the Malay royalty of the Federal State of Borneo.
The towns of Sitangkai, South Ubian, Tandubas, and Turtle Islands are known as the "Venice of the South." He added that tourists can also experience various underwater activities like scuba diving, deep sea swimming, and snorkeling at the white sand beaches of Sangay Siapo Island, Panampangan Island, Tango Island, and Saluag Island. Tawi-Tawi is irregular in shape, with splashes of white sand beaches and has a total of 307 islands and islets, 88 of which are characterized by extensive reefs. Travel to Sabah Malaysia will only take few hours by fastcraft. Sahali maintained that Tawi-Tawi is a peaceful and safe province in this part of the country. High-quality fish and crustaceans like lobsters and coconut crabs are abundant in this province due to its fair tropical climate. The inhabitants of the province are composed of four ethnic groups - Sama, Jama Mapun, Tausug, and Badjaos, while the rest are Christians and indigenous groups. The prevailing dialect is Sinama.
