KAPE ZAMBO Y BUSY BEE: HIVE OF ARTISTS AND PHILANTHROPIES

Neldy Jolo

It is very common for human to wander to any handsome place that satisfy their fancy and happiness in life. I am one of them – a human too. I like to do urban adventure – considers Zamboanga City as one. The lights in the City Hall are overwhelming.

 

Zamboanga City is a common melting pot of different people from different islands of the Sulu Archipelago and the Peninsula as well as from countries of the 7 continents of the world. The city was known as the “City of Flowers” from the Tausug word Jambangan but it is now known the “Asia’s Latin City” that famously brought into being due to the broken Spanish dialect – the Chavacano aside from widely spoken ancient Bahasa Sug.

The people belong to various faiths, ethnicities, nationalities, faces, ages and those coming from the diverse interest in life flock here to find common ground that is happiness and peace. One of these people is artists and philanthropies.

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One of the hives here I like to hang my tedious mood is in the KAPE ZAMBO: Y BUSY BEE where many people like “busy bee” enjoying their moments. It is like I was throwing my boredom into the bin of satisfaction. It was in 2006 I first entered this hive.

I was invited by Rameeta (Rameer Tawasil), a genuine Tausug Painter – he was had his gig here. As have been nick as the “reunion and acoustic venue” many local performing acoustic artist having their gigs here.

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The ambience was fascinating – adding that the owner is a painter, kind and generous – gorgeous lady of arts in her own craft of unique genre – Ms. Bambut F. Montano. I was warmly welcome, seems to have met her before. Rameeta said Kape Zambo is one of his favourite corners in town – a place where people are welcome treated like in their own house.

After about three years of not having visited this hive and it is now the 9^th year of its existence– I am here again. This hive is common but unusual – it is the unusualness of what people are looking for.

The much vibes I missed here is now relieved, especially when I tasted one of their specialties, the Basilan Brewed Coffee – in an affordable price. Tausug coffee aficionado could visit here if they missed the scrumptious coffee in Jolo Island, Sulu. I still have to taste their Arroz Caldo and Ubud Fresh Lumpia.

The hive is found at Mayor Jaldon Street, Canelar (Fronting Metro Bank) and can be contacted at (062)-9924052/9227894 and email: kapezambo@yahoo.com for any catering services and deliveries, especially for pasalubong – the Fresh Homemade Peanuts, Cookies and the known Basilan Brewed Powder Coffee. It is open 7 days a week, every Monday to Sunday from 7:30pm-12am. Guests from different countries could go via Sabah, Malaysia and Manila, Philippines. Take flights direct from Manila to Zamboanga City and from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia via ferry, sometimes flights.

Photo: Neldy Jolo.

SULU FIRST MOSQUE: A GREAT HISTORICAL TOURISTS SPOT

Neldy Jolo
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It has been many weeks ago I wasn’t able to tell something about Sulu wonders. I wasn’t having a great time to guide you for the past few weeks. Please accept my apology. When I browse the photo album I spotted the picture of the first Mosque in Sulu, so I prepare to guide you to visit here. I remember when we visited this mosque in 2003. It was a privilege to have visited the mosque and shrine.

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Remaining old Pillars inside the Mosque and the Mosque at http://colloidfarl.blogspot.com

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Surely the tourists will have a great time to see the enchanting beauty of this place. The original old mosque structure is within the new built mosque that is seen today. There are four remaining old pillars inside. The most interesting here, it was said that measurement of the square length of the mosque was based from the two hands of the Sheikh. The Sheikh did he was just stretching out his hands to measure its length wide.

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The burial ground of Sheikh Muslim Missionary lies just beside this mosque. Other tomb of Sheik Al-Makhdum is in the Island of Sibutu beside of also one of the oldest mosques in Sulu. One friend from Bongao had it to say according to his research that there is even early mosque that was built here in 1315. 65 years before the mosque in Tubig Indangan was built. This is the oldest Islamic landmark as a national shrine in recognition to the contribution of Islam in the development of culture and civilization in the country, Sulu and Southeast Asia.

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It was believed that at the height of Muslim defense against American colonial government, Muslim leaders met with General Leonard Wood at the mosque wherein historical talks and agreements were forged. Gen. Leonard Wood was the one who order to "Kill or Capture the Six Hundred" Sulus in Bud Dahu, Sulu.

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The mosque is located in the town of Tubig Indangan, Island of Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu Archipelago. The island is the home of the Sama ethnic of Sulu. The Sama ethnic are lovely and peaceful people. This island is also known as the den of beautiful charming dames or ladies. Their beauties are blending of Sama ethnic Sulu and Arabs.

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Tubig Indangan, Simunul is about 30 minutes trip from Bongao City by wooden boat. There are many available boats in the port area for private hire -that is for an affordable charge. It is near the Bongao Central Market. The regular trip to the Simunul Island is once a day only. Tourists could reach this island via Malaysia and the Philippines. Please see the oldest post of the way to arrive Sulu.

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The mosque was name Sheikh Karim Al-Makhdum, in honor to the Muslim Missionary master when this was built in 1380. Al-Makhdum is a group Muslim missionary that was landed to Sulu and being called Makhdumin – the group of blessed Muslim Masters.

SULU: THE ISLAND COUNTRY OF SEA

Neldy Jolo

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Best Beach...

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Sulu is known as the Island country of Southeast Asia. The white powder-like sands are exactly overwhelming and much better than other beaches in the Southeast Asia as I see. It is comparable to Sipadan Island and Mabul Island beaches as well as Boracay beach and Sulu Sunset sugar beach resort at Sipalay in the Philippines.

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http://www.pbase.com/van9338/jolobasilantawitawi

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The name Igasan was derived from the name of the community leader around this area during the reign of the Sultanate of Sulu era.I remember in 2006, in a boat bound to Jolo from Bongao, there was a group of travelers and mountaineers who wanted to visit Igasan beach. I got befriend to one of them name Mikki then told me that they wanted to drop by Jolo and visit the beach.

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They were actually looking for someone who was endorsed to them by their Tausug friend in Manila, Philippines. We walk through the streets in Jolo. I took them to round the town reaching as far as Capitol Hill, the administrative center of Sulu and the Jolo Airport.

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Igasan beach is one of the popular beaches in Sulu. It is also known as Quezon beach in honor to the Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon when he swam here during his visit to the country around 1930’s. That is how Tausug honoring visitor when reaching their country.

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Igasan beach is about 25 minutes from the town of Jolo in Sulu. It is found in Patikul [Patik All] town. People can hire a motorcab or Jeepney for a minimal and very affordable charge, especially to the backpackers. Igasan beach is far from being commercialized. People can simply relax here to experience the whispering breeze and the magnificent crystalline water.

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If I remember right, one of them name Gio Sabio shouted, “Wonderful!” when he touches the sand and took pictures of the views here. And one of them, Angie Tan said “this is among the best beaches I had visited, I will tell my friends to come here, and hopefully I could come back”. A guest of Gio Sabio’s photo galleries commented that “this was the beach I was looking for!!!”

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Way to reach...

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All of the way from any countries for now to reach Sulu should pass by Philippines or Sabah, state of Malaysia.

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From the Philippines...

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Do book your ticket at any airline agencies or take any available sea route from different places in the Philippines, like Cebu, Palawan, Iloilo, Bohol and Manila. Upon reaching Zamboanga City you can easily get the schedule of the trips to Sulu. You can go by air or by sea. In sea route from Zamboanga City takes 6 hours to reach port of Jolo when you take the regular boat.

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If you want to reach Jolo early, you can either take the fast craft in a day for a few hours, that is fastest than the regular trip at night. Boat for Siasi Island and Bongao Island as well as Sitangkai Island is also available in a regular trip.

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From Sabah State of Malaysia...

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Do book ticket from any agencies to reach Sandakan from any places in Malaysia, like Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Sarawak. There is no passenger trip by sea route for Sandakan. From Sandakan purchase a ticket bound for Zamboanga City. The trip will take around 15 hours to reach Zamboanga City port, that is twice a week, every Monday and Thursday at around 4 PM.

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There is also a trip of fast craft that is direct to Sulu if you wish. The fast craft will pass by Bongao to Jolo. You can take any motor cab for a minimal charge here to bring you to the affordable hotels and inns in the country. You do island hopping, mountain climbing and many more. The trip is also Monday and Thursday but early morning, around 7 AM. The port is in Karamunting, Leila Road, Sandakan.

RECOMMENDED TO VISIT!

Neldy Jolo

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Sulu has been part of international turmoil. Thus needs help to bring back the peak of calmness. When I was in Jolo, I told myself that I am one of the luckiest men in the world. Sulu is bitterly known as the “Island of No Return” and “No Man's Island”.

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Many people wanted to visit Sulu, especially Jolo because of the reputation as centre for international pearl trading it has for centuries. I am proud that somehow Jolo still lingered in the mind of the international community.

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Asreesulu or Asreemoro contacted me then that he wanted to visit Sulu for sometimes because his ancestor was originated from here. I told him that “I can guarantee your safety” when will visit Jolo soon. I was actually afraid of what I told him because I cannot be sure of my words to him that “he is safe to visit Jolo.”

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Still my trust and confidence to let him visit Jolo was surrendered to God. I knew that Tausug people are not that bad as ever known to the people who hate them. Tausug people are just wanted to be given justice but some are not doing good things and let their people be part of the criticism of others as “uncivilized people”.

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I am strongly recommending Jolo, Sulu and other islands around it to be visited, not to give damn of the kidnapping here for I believe it is not the real natives here who facilitated this business. The Tausug people are just victim of the situation of the political, social, economical and cultural chaos. The Tausug people became the collateral of the Sulu people elite to serve the interest to own Sulu as their business assets.

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What Tausug people are waiting for now is the shining armour that could serve as the buffer of evil that strikes Sulu for so long. Bring back the glorified memories of Sulu from the cradle of peaceful end to the present conflict and dilemma..As I heard from a Tausug elder, he said “as long as the Bud Tumantangis still standing erect, no evil traits that can destroy and drown Sulu.” Thus Sulu’s memory of the past shall become the glory of the future!

Please visit http://theislandsofpearls.blogspot.com/2009/06/glory-of-memory.html

SULU MOST BRIEF HISTORY

Neldy Jolo

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Sulu is basically known as archipelagic and volcanic part of the Southeast Asian Nations. In the present era when we say Sulu, it is a province after illegally annexed to Philippines when Spanish ceded Philippines to American through Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1899.

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Bud tumantangis, highest peak in Sulu Archipelago

Sulu actually is a nation and a state since 1390 when following the anniversary of the Sulu Public Administration that is done every September of the year. Some historians claim Sulu officially became nation-state started in 1401 or 1405.

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Sulu was internationally recognized as a nation-state and never subjugated and conquered for 321 years (1578-1899) by the Spanish, 47 years by the Americans (1899-1946), 4 years by the Japanese (1942-1945) and 62 years by Filipinos (Protégé of King Philip II of Spain) (1946-2008).

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Sulu is called Sug or Lupa’ Sug by its populace, translated into ‘Land of the sea current’ from the word ‘sug’ means current in the Bahasa Sug or Sinug (Tausug Language). According to the Tausug mystic knowledge there was a mystical piece of land called Lupa’ Sug which is usually can be seen only by pious men if he is fortunate.

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Sayyeda Rukaya Alfad enumerated in her article “Sulu, the Land of Mysticism” published in Hangadhulat, MSU-Sulu Student Publication in 2005 that says “among us in the Far East [Sulu], there are four hidden things, such as; the Hidden Knowledge, the Hidden Wealth, the Hidden City and the Hidden Power [Islamic Sultanate Government]” therefore this is the Sulu Hidden Kingdom or the Sulu Stolen Kingdom. Only God Knows.

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Calliter wrote in his article “The Journey of a Tausug” that Tausug are generally refers to Sug as the Way. If he says ‘makusug in sug‘, he actually meant ‘it is hard to cross the way.’ If he says ‘dih masangsang in sug‘, he is actually saying ‘the flow, the force or the way of the current is unstoppable‘. Tausugs call themselves ‘People of the Way or Ahlus Suluk.’ We redefined the Way further as the Living Current where all life flows, and Lupah Sug as “The Land of the Living Current.”

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Indeed, Sulu archipelago is “the tip of the east” and “the hidden treasure in the east”. Tagalog phrase “saan man sulok ng mundo” (wherever in the tip of the world) might be influenced by word Suluk. People who practiced Suluk usually did it at the corner and the tip of the Mosque. Tagalog word “Sulok” could mean as “tip” or “corner”.

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Sulu is famous for its pearls and Pearl Farm in Marunggas Island as well its white sand beaches like Igasan Beach (Quezon Beach) and Bangas Beach (Ramos Beach), coral reefs and exotic fruits that suggests to tag Sulu as “Land of Exotic Fruits”. These possessions might be portrayal of the idea to the character of Sulu archipelago as a “Beautiful Woman” or “Queen” of world’s archipelagos.

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Excerpt from the manuscript: Sulu Archipelago: The Islands of Pearls and the Wisdom behind it written by Neldy Jolo and edited by Yazz Abdurajim