Sulu's Antithesis
What once was just an annoying topic in our social studies dawned as reality during our trip to Jolo. Zamboangeños warned us of the people in Jolo. One of them said that those from Jolo are rebels, and are not to be trusted. When my friends where in Basilan, they pretty much said the same thing about Jolo. While those we talked to from Jolo claims that it's those from Basilan that you shouldn't trust.As an outsider, one sees the age-old rivalry between the Christians and Muslims, as well as the tradition of conflict among the people. It's disheartening to witness this culture of fear and mistrust being passed on from one generation to the next. If only they could step out of their fear and anger to thrive on the natural bounty that their place offers.
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"On that day, there was a parade in Jolo, the provincial capital, which was participated in by representatives of the province's 18 towns. It was a parade full of brilliant colors and booming sounds, extraordinary for showcasing the local culture and the diversity of natural resources that are found in the province.The men and women came out dressed in their best traditional clothing -- colorful silks that reflected the sun -- and accoutrements such as gold jewelry and indigenous weapons. Floats representing the different municipalities were decorated with local products -- fruits such as lanzones, durian and mangosteen, which were in season at that time, and products from the sea such as crabs, lobsters, seaweeds and shells. " This is quoting from Judy Gulane's article that I found on the Web.
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Though I studied other religions back in college, I never had a chance, until recently to be immersed in the world of Muslims. The family who took us in at Jolo city are Muslim. If not for the slight difference in their clothing, it would'nt have felt any different.The house where we stayed at is smacked in the middle of bustling Jolo. Jolo city is just like your typical provincial town, only that it obviously looks economically deprived. However, I noticed the bling-blings that Muslim women adorned themselves with. And the fine quality of the scarves that they use to cover their heads. There's also the presence of a growing Christian community. One of the sisters of our host family is running for a leadership role for a certain board of directors. That completely shattered the image I had of Muslim women as succumbing to their men.
The trip to Quezon beach was another surprise. Some 20-30 minutes away from the town proper is an unkempt beach which is perhaps the best kept secret of Jolo. Unfortunately, it's security that prevents travellers, even the locals, from visiting this place. Hay! Women can't even wear 'revealing' clothes at the beach so we had to settle swimming in our shirts and capri pants.Seeing is believing. Sulu has so much economic potential. Today's media should present a different Jolo, with its rich culture and natural bounty. It would be great to give this place a different kind of attention to help ease its tradition of conflict.
posted by kquill @ 6:35 PM
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musta ka na?
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