“Peace in Tawi-Tawi is made by Tawi-Tawians themselves” – Sahali

The vibrant speech of Tawi-Tawi Governor Hadji Sadikul A. Sahali in opening the four-day anniversary celebration Saturday, and saying that “peace in Tawi-Tawi is of Tawi - Tawians themselves,” has allied this year’s 38th Kamahardikaan theme of “Sustaining Peace and Responsive Local Governance: Paving the way to a Progressive Tawi-Tawi.”

Sahali was truly sincere praising what he saw in the hearts of his people. He saw that peace is the language of their hearts and remarkably stressed that reigning peace in the province is not the work of anybody but the work of the people of Tawi-Tawi themselves.

“Tawi-Tawians love peace and because of this peace we have brought development; continuing development and progress for Tawi-Tawi “dayn ha kusug iban pamikil dihil katuh sin ALLAH” (from the strength and mind given to us by the Almighty),” Sahali said.

Under the scorching heat of the sun, participants to the sports parade vigorously listened to the governor’s brief message followed by Vice Governor Ruby Sahali’s introduction of the guest speaker, Artist Ligaya Fernando Amilbangsa, who also gave an artistic remarks while the sports fellows were pictured anticipating their chance of winning a prize at stake that moment.

“Governor Sahali is the best governor I ever met,” was the most pleasant remark that reverberated into the ears of all the constituents. The statement came from Her Excellency, Polyxenia Stefanido, ambassador of Greece to the Philippines while delivering her speech as guest of honor on the final day of the 38th Tawi-Tawi Kamahardikaan .

Stefanido, a former archaeologist before joining Greece Foreign Service, has witnessed in entirety the activities of the 38th kamahardikaan celebration. She was with her retired navy husband.

In her speech, Stefanido said she was fascinated by the activities of the celebration. She also conveyed her appreciation to the people of Tawi-Tawi for their hospitality, especially the Sahalis.

In the same manner, Malaysian Consul-General Mohammad Adzhar Mazlan, upon arrival, has immediately proceeded to Lomboy wharf to witness the fluvial parade at the same time giving a courtesy call to Gov. Sahali. He has also conveyed his appreciation to the people of Tawi-Tawi and to the provincial leadership in a brief message on the culminating day. He said Tawi-Tawi is like Malaysia, which also celebrates its Merdeka (independence) day.

Mazlan reiterated the good relationship of the Philippines and Malaysia. He said Malaysia is fostering the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF and hopes that the process will bring better result.

Meantime, the large number of participants (an estimate of about 5000) who joined the culminating parade has shown anew the increasing people support to the Sahali administration. “Sahali still holds political magic in his hand,” a political analyst said.

Asked to comment on the huge number of parade participants, Gov. Sahali said Tawi-Tawians are united in an effort for the sake of Tawi-Tawi. He said he is happy of the developments in the 38th Kamahardikaan celebration. He thanked the people, LGUs and the government line agencies for their unwavering support that brought the successful celebration of the founding anniversary.

Speaking on the brief program after the culminating parade, Sahali stressed, “Way na tawarun ku kaniyu ha tungud sin parakalah ini, kitah ku in pagtuku niyu kakuh, landuh tuud in pagsarangsukul ku kaniyu (I have nothing to ask more of you in this celebration, I saw how you support me in this endeavor and I thank all of you so much).”

In another development, a monument of Dr. Jose Rizal located in front of Radyo ng Bayan Tawi-Tawi, was unveiled in a simple ceremony before the culminating parade.

Governor Sahali, a mason, together with about a dozen of his brethrens to include Engr. Ben Ajihil, Dr. Aldrin Ibbo, Prof. Abduljim Hassan, and many others unveiled the project. (Nash Tahang)

Budjang Tawi-Tawi 2011

The search for Budjang Tawi-Tawi ended when Ms. Danica Zeline B. Yarrada clutched six awards in the coronation night, which influenced the judges’ decision to finally name her winner of the search. She was crowned Budjang Tawi-Tawi 2011 by no less than the Governor Hadji Sadikul Sahali and First Lady Juana Sahali, who was the search chairwoman.

Yarrada hailed from Mapun municipality. She was chosen as Ms. Belleza, Ms. Mosimo, Ms. Tawi-Tawi Tourism, and bested in talent, summer looks and interview.

Ms. Rodeliza Venica Amor Bergantes garnered the First Runner-up post. A Sitangkai maiden that has beauty and brain, she has bested Batawi and Clear Smile categories.

Ms. Arawiwa Sappayani of Turlte Islands likewise garnered two categories. She excelled in Badjao Attire and Evening Gown.

Search for Budjang Tawi-Tawi has been the central and traditional highlight activity of every kamahardikaan celebration eve from the time of the past governors. Many say there is no province day without the Search for Budjang Tawi-Tawi.

Madame Juana Sahali was quoted as saying that Tawi-Tawi also produces beauties similar to those in the national pageants. Budjang Tawi-Tawi she said is an exposure to Tawi-Tawi beauties who may take a bigger chance forward.

Agal-Agal Festival: A showcase of Tawi-Tawi’s green gold

The crowd-drawing agal-agal festival remains a highlight activity of the annual celebration of the province’s kamahardikaan. In this year’s 38th founding anniversary, influx of domestic visitors has been noted. There were people from Manila, Cebu, Davao and Zamboanga who came just to witness the festival, which showcased the prime marine industry of Tawi-Tawi.

The provincial government in its effort to boost the industry has indeed strengthened its campaign to promote this festival in its eye-catching theme of celebration, “Promoting Tawi-Tawi as Tourism Destination through Seaweeds Industry.

“We only need 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 pointed out earlier.

In this year’s celebration, delegations from the island municipalities, except for Tandubas, have contested all categories in the agal-agal festival. From costumes and props, choreography and music to float designs have made the contesting municipalities exhaust their imaginations to produce better if not best presentation to capture judges’ appreciation.

Panglima Sugala has bested all other participating municipalities. It got the most impressive performance to outsmart all other contestants. Their presentation, street dancing, costumes, props, music, and float enthralled the judges and the watching crowds.

Green gold

Tawi-Tawi’s agal-agal in a lesser extent is comparable to Saudi Arabia’s vast oil reserve or a “black gold” as it is known in the corporate circle. Tawi-Tawi is likely parallel to Saudi Arabia’s economic history. If oil is black gold to Saudi Arabia, seaweed (agal-agal) is green gold to Tawi-Tawi. For many Tawi-Tawians, this income earner has become the legendary “pot of gold at the end of a rainbow” for them.

Tawi-Tawi gears up for 38th founding anniversary; promotes vast tourism potentials

The provincial government of Tawi-Tawi steps up its preparation for the upcoming celebration of its 38th founding anniversary next month dubbed “Kamahardikaan sin Tawi-Tawi” as it centers its preparations for the promotion of the province’s ecotourism potentials.

Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali said the province will showcase this year the many impressive tourist destinations and tourism potential sites to domestic and foreign tourists during the anniversary celebration of Tawi-Tawi.

“Showcasing the eco-tourism potentials and products of the province during the holding of the 38th founding anniversary is very important during the affair, and this is the very reason why I asked them to center their preparations on the eco-tourism potentials of the province,” Sahali said.

Adding that Tawi-Tawi’s founding anniversary is one of the most appropriate activities to showcase the eco-tourism potentials to the visiting tourists.

“We only need 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 pointed out.

He assured tourists who wanted to visit this capital town during the celebration that the province has many good hotels and resorts where they can be accommodated during the duration of their stay.

Tawi-Tawi was previously part of the province of Sulu, and on September 11, 1973, Presidential Decree No. 302 was issued separating Tawi-Tawi from Sulu, with this town as the seat of the provincial government.

Sahali said that most of the people in this province belong to the Sama cultural group, and within this group are subgroups, and were named based on the location of the individual.

The Sama Sibutu are those from the Sibutu-Sitangkai Island Group, Sama Simunul are those from the Simunul-Manuk Mangkaw Island Group, and other subgroups.

While those who belong to the Jama Mapun are largely found in the Cagayan Mapun and Turtle Islands Group.

Many of the people from the Turtle Islands and Cagayan Mapun are conducting their marketing in Sabah, since it is only some 14 kilometers away from the island, Sahali explained.

The Badjao – also called “Sama Dilaut” – population is diminishing due to diseases and migration to other areas in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, he claimed.

The Tausug, Orang Suluk or Aa Suk are migrants from the Sulu province and came to Tawi-Tawi in search for better livelihood opportunities or run away from the seemingly unending conflict and violence in Sulu, he added.

Fishing and agar-agar (seaweed) farming are the leading source of livelihood of the people of Tawi-Tawi, the governor said. (Nonoy Lacson, RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)

Giant human skeletons discovered in Saudi Arabia

Recent gas exploration activity in the south east region of the Arabian desert uncovered skeletal remains of human of phenomenal size. This region of the Arabian Desert is called the Empty Quarter or in Arabic, 'Rub-Al-Khalee'. The discovery was made by the ARAMCO Exploration team.

As Allah (All Praises and Glory to Him) states in the Quran that He had created people of phenomenal size the like of which He has not created since. These were the people of Aad where the Prophet HUD was sent. They were very tall, big, and very powerful, such that they could put their arms around a tree trunk and uproot it. Later these people, who were given all the powers, turned against Allah and the Prophet and transgressed beyond all boundaries set by Allah. As a result they were destroyed.

(Read Chapter 7 Surah al A'raf (The Heights or Elevations) verses 65 to 72 of the Holy Qur'an about Prophet Hud and the people of Aad via this link: http://www.muslimconverts.com/quran/NobleQuran/translation/surah7).

Ulema's (Muslim Scholars) of Saudi Arabia believe these to be the remains of the people of Aad. Saudi Military has secured the whole area and no one is allowed to enter except the ARAMCO personnel. (Forwarded by Al Kunting)

Signs of Qayamat (Forwarded Message from Al Kunting)

آيات قرب القيامة
ط Why is it so hard to tell the truth but yet so easy to tell a lie?
ط Why are we so sleepy (نعسان)in mosque but right when the prayer is over, we suddenly wake up?
ط Why is it so hard to talk about Allah but yet so easy to talk about nasty stuff(الفواحش)?
ط Why is it so boring (ممل)to look at a Islamic Article but yet so easy to look at a nasty one(فاحش)?
ط Why is it so easy to delete a Godly e-mail but yet we forward all of the nasty ones?
ط Why the mosques are's getting smaller, but yet the dance clubs are getting larger?

Do you give up?
Think about it ....
Are you going to forward this, or delete it Just remember-Allah is watching you.
Prayer Wheel lets see the devil stop this one! Here's what the wheel is all about..
When you receive this, say a prayer (دعاء(for the person that sent it to you....
There are no costs, but wonderful rewards(مكافأة عظيمة).
Let's continue praying for one another.
As we look at this article we realize how true the Messenger (P. B.U.H) was these signs were prophesized 1400 years ago!!!
Take a look.... Now this is scary(مخيف) but soooooooo TRUE!!!!
ط Camels will no longer be used as a means of transport;
ط People will ride on saddles(المركبات الفاخرة) that aren't saddles (cars?)
ط The distance on earth will become short; تم طي المسافات
ط Horses will not be used in wars;
ط Muslims will defeat the Byzantines which will end with the conquest of Constantinople( Istanbul )
ط The Jews will gather again to live in Bilad Canaan; (بلاد كنعان)
ط Very tall buildings will be built; (أبراج منتشرة في جميع أنحاء العالم)
ط The disappearance of knowledge(زوال العلم) and the appearance of ignorance, (ظهور الجهل)with much killing;
ط Adultery(الزنا) will become widespread, and the drinking of wine will become common;
ط The number of men will decrease and the number of women will increase until there are 50 women to be looked after by one man.
ط Islam will become worn out (بالية و رثة)like clothes are, until no one will know what fasting, prayer, charity and rituals (شعائر)are;
ط Allah will send a disease to fornicators (الزانى)that will have no cure (Aids?);
ط People will begin to believe in the stars and reject AL QADAR (THE DIVINE DECREE OF DESTINYالقضاء و القدر);
ط Men will pass by people's graves and say: 'Would that I was in his place'; (large amount of suicidal deathsوفيات انتحارية?)
ط The Euphrates will uncover a mountain of gold for which people will fight over (the river of Alfurat that lies near Syria );
ط Two large groups of people will fight one another, and there will be many casualties; they will both be followingthe same religion (World War III?);
ط Approximately 30 DAJJALSدجّالون will appear, each one claiming to be the messenger of ALLAH;
ط Earthquakes زلازل will increase;
ط Time will pass quickly;
ط Afflictions أمراض و بلاويwill appear;
ط Killing will increase;
ط Wealth will increase;
ط Women will be wearing clothes but not wearing clothes التعري كما نراه
ط THE PROPHET (s.a.w.) SAID: 'IF MY UMMAH BEARS 15! TRAITS سمات/صفات (QUALITIES), TRIBULATION محنة WILL FOLLOW IT..' (DAY OF JUDGEMENT) SOMEONE ASKED,'WHAT IS THEY O MESSENGER OF ALLAH?' HE (s.a.w) SAID:
ط When any gain is shared out only among the rich, with no benefit to the poor;
ط When a trust (أمانة)becomes a means of making profit ;
ط When paying ZAKKAT becomes a burden;
ط When voices (رفع أصوات كما نشاهده الآن)are raised in the mosque;
ط When the leader of a people is the worst of them;
ط When people treat a man with respect because what he may do;
ط When much wine is drunk; red wind or the earth swallow them, or to be transformed into animals.'
ط 'IMRAN IBN HUSAYN SAID: 'THE PROPHET (AS) SAID, 'SOME PEOPLE OF THIS UMMAH WILL BE SWALLOWED BY THE EARTH, TRANSFORMED INTO ANIMALS, AND SOME WILL BE BOMBARDED WITH STONES'. ONE OF THE MUSLIMS ASKED, WHEN WILL THAT BE O MESSENGER Of ALLAH?' HE SAID, 'WHEN SINGERS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WILL BECOME POPULAR, AND MUCH WINE IS DRUNK.''
ط THE GREATER SIGNS علامات كبرىOF THE HOUR The Quran will disappear in one night, even from the people's hearts, and no Ayyah will be left on earth. (Some groups of old people will be left who will say: 'We heard of fathers' saying 'LAILLAHA ILLA ALLAH' so we repeat it)
ط The appearance of the MAHDI;
ط The appearance of the DAJJAL (Anti Christ);
ط The appearance of Ya'juj and Ma'juj (biblical Gog and Magog);
ط Isa (Jesus) will come during the time of Dajjal;
ط The rising of the Sun from the west;
ط The destruction of the Ka'ba and the recovery of its treasures;
ط The smoke.

8 Tawi-Tawi youngsters hurdle PMA entrance exam

Bongao, Tawi-Tawi – Eight home-grown Tawi-Tawi students passed the 2010 Philippine Military Entrance Examination given last August 29, 2010 at Datu Amirbahar Jaafar Convention Center in MSU Prep High Campus.

The Philippine Military Academy Cadet Qualification Test (PMACQT) is considered to be the toughest exams in its category where mortality is highest at only 15% or less passing percentage. This year’s record showed that only 1,195 takers made it out of 8,007 applicants all over the country. One hundred twenty (120) applicants from different schools in Tawi-Tawi took the exam.

Of the eight qualifiers from Tawi-Tawi one female student from Science High School named Rose Ann M. Villarin passed the exam. The rest includes Nurwaylid Ikkao Askalani, Abdel-Aziz Abdurahim and Kevin Angelo Pon, all of them senior students of MSU Science High. Midzuan Hamis Omar is a senior student at MSU Prep High. Geoffrey Peta Cata-an and Ar-Mher Alih Ismah are both 2nd and third year BS Computer Science students respectively enrolled in MSU-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology & Oceanography. Mohammad Ishmael Jamahari Jamiri is also a product of MSU Science High and is currently enrolled in College in Zamboanga City.

‘I’m so proud of our youngsters who passed the PMAEE’, said Tawi-Tawi Governor Hji. Sadikul Sahali when asked for comment on this matter. ‘This is a milestone in our history not only making Bongao (Tawi-Tawi), starting this year, as one of the 35 PMA Examination centers in the country but also dismiss the notion that we are at the bottom in terms of literacy rate in the country. ‘Eight passers’ is already a huge success considering that there were centers who didn’t register even a single passer,’ the governor stressed. ‘Hopefully we can increase the number by next year and years to come so we can have more PMA officers in the AFP’.

The successful conduct of the exam in Bongao is largely attributed to the Office of the Provincial Governor with whom an Oversight Committee was created to plan, facilitate, assist and disseminate the information on the conduct of examination. The committee, chaired by Prof. Johnny Lee, went further by organizing review sessions ‘open to all applicants for free’ and held a ‘mock exam or trial test’ not only to familiarize the takers with the type of exam but also to simulate awareness ‘to follow the correct instruction’ which is the hallmark of a military-type of examination. Prof. Lee was ably supported by committee member Capt. Erick Kagaoan (PMA Class 87) of Task Force 62 who offered and shared his expertise by giving lecture/orientation on what to expect in the examination. Three teachers from Science High School were tapped by the committee to provide the review on Science, Mathematics and English which is the core subject mentioned in the PMA exam forms. Lt. Col. Fatima Irene Tillah Rasul, MNSC (Res.) was also in town as PMAEE Coordinator for Region IX and ARMM. She was the one who provided the materials for the mock examination.

‘It was really the concerted effort of the oversight committee members as well as the all-out support of the Governor that led to the successful conduct of the exam’, Lee emphasized. ‘Tuly the exam is so tough and without good planning to guide our applicants it will be extremely difficult to pass it’, he added. Prof. Lee is the father of soon-to-be captain 1st Lieutenant John Robert H. Lee, a member PMA Class of 2004. Lt. Lee is currently assigned in Baloi, Lanao del Norte as Philippine Army Artillery Commander. (JRL-TTM)