Maguindanao | The Blue Lagoon and Pink Mosque

For the third time I solo backpacked Mindanao. This time I visited the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Davao Occidental. Past noon when I arrived at Cotabato airport located in Awang Datu Odin Sinsuat  Maguindanao. I decided to just walk from the airport terminal to the highway and hail a jeepney headed to the downtown Cotabato then have my late lunch in one of the eatery there. 

After that I scout for budget accommodation then I found Padama Pension house few blocks from the Cotabato City Mega Market. I left my backpack then boarded a jeepney to the Bangsamoro People’s Complex. I wasn’t able to enter the premises because I’m wearing short and slipper which they implement strict dress code.  I instead boarded a jeepney back to the city and stroll in the old Cotabato City Hall and look some goodies in the Mega Market. I bought pastil, pineapple and Pikit coffee.

I head back to my guesthouse took a rest and prepare myself for my trip in Maguindanao the following day.

On my second day I leave Cotabato City early and boarded a jeepney to Margues in Datu Odin Sinsuat. I’m so excited to see the Blue Lagoon. Together with locals it took less than an hour to reach barangay Margues.  I get off near the elementary school then walk towards the lagoon. This now a big drawn to the locals and people of Cotabato were they spend their weekends swimming and enjoying that natural wonders.  I was so amazed to see it for myself.  Locals swam and some washes their clothes there.  I took some photos then leave that place. There’s another lagoon nearby but I opted to skip it and take a jeepney bound to Datu Saudi Ampatuan. 

The Masjid Dimaukom (Pink Mosque) construction was financed by Mayor Samsodin Dimaukom. The mosque was painted pink to symbolize peace and love and was built by Christian workmen to symbolize unity and inter-faith brotherhood.

In that town most structures were painted with pink.  From there I took a jeepney to the nearby province of Sultan Kudarat.

This is part of the 3rd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Maguindanao | Sultan Kudarat | Davao Occidental  | Davao del Sur

Lanao Del Sur | The Islamic City Of Marawi

From Mukas I boarded a bus bound to Iligan City. I spend a night at famous pension house located at the back of Adventist Medical Center along Andres Bonifacio Avenue. I leave Iligan at around 5 am. From the highway I hail a habal habal to the south-bound terminal where jeepneys that fly to Marawi City embark.

Marawi City is predominantly a Muslim City which accounts for 95% of the population. Sharia criminal law exists but without stoning, amputations or other harsh Islamic punishments as they are against the law of the Philippines. The distribution of alcoholic products and gambling is forbidden and women must cover their heads. Non-Muslims though are exempted to this rule. Other than Sharia law in personal matters, these laws are not applicable elsewhere in Lanao Del Sur.

An hour of land travel finally I reach the main campus of Mindanao State University. The Lanao Lake is overlooking from the campus of the university also inside where Aga Khan Museum and King Faisal mosque. 

From MSU i took a tricycle to the Lanao Del Norte provincial capitol. I enter the capitol ground. The government building and offices were huge. There is also a mosque inside. From there I walk the nearby Marawi integrated terminal and boarded a van bound to Cotabato City.

It was a short visit to Marawi City. Some of my friends warned me that it is too dangerous there but it’s worth to take the risk to visit unfamiliar places.

This is part of the 2nd leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Budget | Zamboanga Del Norte | Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Del Sur | Misamis Occidental | Lanao Del Sur | Cotabato City | North Cotabato | South Cotabato | Saranggani

Budget Accomodations In Bongao (Tawi-Tawi)

HARRY'S PASSENGERS' PLACE
Salamat Road Bongao Tawi-Tawi
Tel No. (068)268-1071

HOTEL JUANA
Salamat Road Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
AC - P980.00

AMT TRANSIENT HOME
Brgy. Pag-asa Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
0939-9202046/0998-3479452
Fan Room- P300.00/AC- P600.00

ARRON'S PENSION HOUSE
Ridjiki St. Bongao, Tawi-Tawi

RAAYAT PENSION HOUSE
Salamat Road Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
Tel No. (068)268-1037
Room Rates from P280.00-P650.00

ESTHER PENSION HOUSE
Salamat Road Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
Fan Room- P500.00/ AC-P1,000.00-1,200.00

FORTUNE DINERS INN
Ridjiki St. Bongao, Tawi-Tawi

Backpacking Sulu Archipelago Expenses

day 1
trike form airport to pier-250.00
tinis restaurant-45.00
ferry to basilan-150.00
terminal fee-11.00
boat to malamawi-10.00
habal-habal to white beach(rt)-200.00
lunch-119.00
ferry to zamboanga-150.00
terminal fee-4.00
blue pearl pension-400.00
hopia&water-29.25
total=1,389.75

day 2
trike to airport-60.00
breakfast-30.00
terminal fee-100.00
trike to juana pension-50.00
hotel juana-980.00
cofee-29.00
total=1,449.50

day 3
hotel juana-980.00
breakfast-60.00
biscuit&water-90.00
malaysian noodles-70.00
banana-45.00
trike to sanga bridge-20.00
malaysian noodles-60.00
total=1,325.00

day 4
trike to aiport-100.00
terminal fee-60.00
jeep to cityhall-8.00
brunch-197.00
jolibee-75.00
ferry to jolo-470.00
jeep to yakan(rt)-24.00
chowking-49.00
water&bread-91.25
habal-habal-20.00
mt.dew-30.00
terminal fee-11.00
puso& egg-50.00
total=1,185.25

day 5
breakfast-56.00
trike to capitol-30.00
ferry to zamboanga-470.00
terminal fee-15.00
halo-haslo-40.00
sati-48.00
cp charging-25.00
pizza-67.00
mt. dew-17.00
total=768.00

day 6
pancit& coffee-35.00
cp cahrging-20.00
spagetti& coke-68.00
betadine-55.00
snack-29.00
load-50.00
total=257.00

day 7
breakfast-55.00
trike to airport-30.00
mt. dew-17.00
burger-66.00
halohalo& cake-80.00
water-20.0
total=268.00

day 8
load-50.00
water refill-3.00
cofee& kakanin-27.00
coke-35.00
total=115.00

day 9

trike to bus terminal-170.00
bus to vitali-100.00
habal-habl to merloquet(rt)-300.00
breakfast-50.00
puto&mt.dew-18.00
van to zamboanga-100.00
computer rental-23.00
medicine-158.20
water-34.25
litson manok-170.00
red palm pension-600.00
total=1,723.45

day 10

jeep-16.00
tsokolate-170.00
terminal fee-100.00
total=366.00

grand total-8,846.95

*airfare not included

Sulu | The Unexpected Adventure

As I draft my itinerary for my Sulu archipelago trip I scrapped the idea of going to Jolo. My friend Ian convinces me to push it though. He told me that it is safe and I can do a day trip there and nearby town of Patikul.

sulu provincial capitol

As soon as I arrived in Zamboanga City from Tawi-Tawi I headed to the ferry terminal to purchase a ticket bound for Jolo, the capital town of Sulu province. There are strict security measures at the Zamboanga ferry terminal. 

I am among the early passengers that boarded the ship. The ferry departed at around 8 in the evening. I bought 2 puso and 3 hardboiled eggs for my dinner. After eating I lie down and just observing my fellow passengers. It seems that most of them are all locals of Sulu. I can’t understand their conversations so I just smile and nod at them every time they asked me i replied them in Tagalog. I’ll admit that I felt that nervousness over again and my heart is beating too fast. You know the feeling of being a total stranger. Military personnel were roaming around the ferry for security inspection.

busy street of jolo

4 am when we arrived at Jolo. It is still dark so I decided to stay for a while inside the ferry. Relatives of most of the passengers get inside to fetch them. I witness a heartfelt moments among them. It is almost 6 am when I leave the ferry. I just went out and walk directly outside the port terminal. I drop by a coffee shop. Then after that I headed to the Masjid Jammi Tulay Central Mosque. This is the biggest mosque in the province of Sulu.  I saw a boy cleaning outside and I asked permission if I could go inside and took some pictures of the mosque and he allowed me.

masjid jammi tulay central mosque

From the central mosque I ride a tricycle going to the Sulu provincial capitol which is surrounded by different kinds of flora. Its mosque inspired architectural design is also impressive. There is a museum beside it but unfortunately it is closed. I have still have a lot of time because I aborted the idea of going to the beach in the town of Patikul. I instead walk leisurely from the capitol ground going back to the town center.

national museum in sulu

I passed by Balikatan Park. There is also a shop selling bolo and knifes. Military and police men were visible in every corner. For lunch i tried the famous satti an exotic food.

I’m almost done and I decided to kill my remaining time in the ferry terminal to wait for the schedule back to Zamboanga. The management of ferry announces that they are cancelling the trip. Due to unfavorable weather conditions affecting Mindanao all ferry trips to/from Jolo Sulu were suspended.

I even tried to catch a PAL Express flight back to Zamboanga City but unfortunately it is fully booked and were 20 of us listed as chance passengers.

jolo airport

At first I can’t believe it. Of all the places that i will be stranded it would be in Jolo in Sulu, not only for one day but 3 whole days. My friends in Manila worried about my situation. Good thing there is a strong mobile signal there that I can update them from time to time on Facebook. That personal experience thought me that indeed Sulu like any other places in the Philippines is safe although I take some precautionary measures.

dorol and a native coffee

facade of the ferry terminal

satti

inside the ferry terminal building

To date I consider this as one of my memorable trip being able to survive Sulu on my own. And I am proud that i made it without a local Tausug guide.

How to get there:

Major carriers fly to Zamboanga City from Manila daily. The flight takes 1.5 hours. From Zamboanga City, take a ferry to Jolo in Sulu. The ferry departs at 8 pm on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. PAL Express also flies to Jolo Sulu every Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

This is part of the 1st leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Zamboanga City | Basilan | Tawi-Tawi | Sulu

Tawi-Tawi | A Diverse Cultural Experience

The main objective of my Sulu archipelago trip is to visit the famous province of Tawi-Tawi, an island blessed with so many beautiful natural wonders. From Zamboanga I boarded a PAL Express flight bound to Tawi-Tawi.

Tawi-Tawi Provincial Capitol

After an hour I arrived at Sanga-Sanga Airport in Tawi-Tawi. The iconic Bud Bongao is visible from afar. I go straight to the town center to look for a place to stay for 2 nights. I stayed at Hotel Juana along Salamat road.

I wander around the busy town. I found this coffee shop and got curious about the food there offering. I go inside sit for a while then I ordered coffee and they served different kind of delicacies place in a tray. How can i eat all of this? The lady told me that I’ll only pay the food I consumed. It was a filling breakfast for me.

I headed to the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Capitol which is located on top of the hill. It is overlooking the vast Celebes and Sulu bay and the busy town of Bongao.

Bud Bongao

I decided to climb Bud Bongao past noon. This is considered as a burial site of Muslim locals. This is also a place where they pray and meditate. It took me an hour to reach its peak. There is a Muslim family praying inside the shrine (tampat). I rested for a while then one of their family members went out. I say hi to them and give some chocolates to her children. They shared to me that their father prayed that her children be a good person and also seeking help that she can find a decent job. We talk for a while then I leave them and I headed to the peak. I went down and visited some of the stilt houses along the road back to the town center.

On the second day I roamed around and I found out that there’s a lot of budget accommodation in Bongao and also observing the business activities along the Chinese pier. 

Some of the restaurants in Tawi-Tawi serve Malaysian cuisine.

Chinese Pier

Along the streets of Bongao you can a lot of pawnshop, sea foods and vegetables. Tricycles were also the mode of transportation. I got to witness also the harmonious interactions of our Christian and Muslim brothers. That two days stay in Tawi-Tawi was a life-changing experience for me. 

How to get there:

Major carriers fly to Zamboanga City from Manila daily. The flight takes 1.5 hours. From Zamboanga City, take a ferry to Bongao in Tawi-Tawi. PAL Express and Cebu Pacific Air flies also to Bongao daily.

This is part of the 1st leg of my solo backpacking in Mindanao.

Zamboanga City | Basilan | Tawi-Tawi | Sulu