While Tawi-Tawi strongman, Governor Hadji Sadikul A. Sahali leads Kamahardikaan celebration, Tawi-Tawians rejoice the 37th year independence of a province created on September 27, 1973 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 302.
Three-day commemoration that began September 25 marks another milestone in Tawi-Tawi’s history, as people unite and rally behind the provincial leadership to support the revelry of the province day.
Although Governor Sahali said it is “a celebration in parsimony,” the usual activities though trimmed, manifested the high spirit of the celebration with highlights on Budjang Tawi-Tawi pageant and the Agar-Agar festival, aside from the sports activities that included the 5th Governor Sahali Invitational Cup, a tennis tournament contested by Zamboanga, Sulu and local players; DTI Techno-Forum and Trade Fair, religious programs, sports march, and the culminating parade, which featured participants from the 10 municipalities, government and private agencies in native garbs.
In his welcome speech, he thanked the municipal officials for bringing their delegations in support to the 37th kamahardikaan celebration. He emphasized that unity in the name of progress should be upheld in order that the province would move forward to achieve the needed development.
Sahali also stressed that cooperation and understanding between leaders and the constituents needs to be strengthened and rift brought by political difference during elections must be erased in order that unity is obtainable to make Tawi-Tawi achieved what it needs to achieve.
Speaking before crowds of the agar-agar festival, he again reiterated his gratitude to all the municipal officials who took their delegations to support the activities and emphasized to bygone political difference and called for a meaningful unity.
He gave special mention to mayors of Taganak and Mapun who, amidst distance of their municipalities, have raced fast towards Bongao to bring their delegations.
Sahali was impressed by the solidarity of support from the 10 municipalities manifested by the presence of its 10 mayors, local officials, and the people who rejoiced over the success of the celebration, which proved once and for all, that he commands respect, loyalty, cooperation and support for any provincial endeavor.
Addressing the overwhelming crowds who joined the culminating parade gathered at the DepEd compound, Sahali reiterated anew that peace, love and unity is the key to move the province forward; that solidarity among the people and the government vis-à-vis is a step to achieve a common goal, the so-called “development of the province and the progress of its people.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Ruby Sahali also conveyed her message of gratitude in her opening remarks at the Agar-Agar festival gathering at the DepEd Compound. She arrived from Manila on the second day of the celebration and was just in time for the gathering of major events in the commemoration.
Provincial Secretary Nurjay Sahali has also excellently organized the committees that prepared the celebration, which eventually contributed to the success of the affair.
Budjang Tawi-Tawi Pageant
The Search for Budjang (Miss) Tawi-Tawi is the main highlight event in the yearly celebration of Tawi-Tawi Kamahardikaan. Each municipality chooses the most beautiful and brainy bet to contest in the search.
On September 24, the traditional Search for Budjang Tawi-Tawi kicked off with 10 budjangs initially contested in a talent show at Datu Amirbahar Jaafar Convention Center. The next day, all the 10 candidates competed in their summer looks at Sandbar Resort and finally in the coronation night they competed in production numbers, badjao, batawi, casual, evening gowns and Question and Answer portion before meticulous but fair judges.
Of the 10 candidates, one surfaced to top them all. Miss Rizalia Francisco Salih of Panglima Sugala bested them in all categories, and won the title of BudjangTawi-Tawi.
Miss Aimeilyn Tiannok Jumli of Bongao was first runner-up, and Sherwina Abbas Sahipa of Mapun reaped the 2nd runner-up post.
The search was acknowledged fair and successful. The choreography was just fine and relatively handled by professionalism.
Chaired by First Lady Hadja Juana Sahali, the pageant also proved that Tawi-Tawi women also posses beauty and talent, like their counterparts in major cities of the country, including the Metropolis. “We have so many beautiful and talented women in the province, in fact, one of the contestants in the recent Miss Earth was a native of Tawi-Tawi,” Mrs. Sahali was quoted as saying.
Indeed, this local pageant, which has come to be a centerfold of every Tawi-Tawi kamahardikaan could just be a stepping stone for Tawi-Tawi women in national pageantry.
Agar-Agar Festival
Clad in native attires, the participants performed street dancing akin to farming the seaweeds. With floats (Sama Lepa) displaying materials and foodstuffs that demonstrate farmer’s life at sea while planting, cultivating and harvesting agar-agar seaweeds, the festival did showcase Tawi-Tawi’s number one product of export, a main economic source for most people in the islands.
Tawi-Tawi is considerably the largest producer of seaweeds in the country. This industry has brought a boom to the province’s economy. This festival is also a highlight activity, and categorically, a contested presentation.
Except for the Municipality of Languyan, which failed to participate in this year’s Kamahardikaan, all the 10 delegations exhibited apt in the agar-agar festival. The greatness went to Municipality of Panglima Sugala.
5th Governor Sadikul Sahali Cup
This is a “friendly invitational tennis tournament” stressed District Engineer Hadji Bensoud Ajihil, day before the celebration commenced.
Asked to give details, Ajihil said DPWH tennis courts would be the grounds for the tourney. Zamboanga and Sulu tennisters are invited to win a trophy and P20,000.00 in cash prize.
He said this activity is part of the 37th Kamahardikaan sports activities of which DPWH is assisting the provincial government in facilitating the tournament.
In the end, Zamboanga players bagged the trophy and cold cash. They went home with the honor of winning the invitational game.
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