Showing posts with label Basilan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basilan. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Basilan : Isabela City
Isabela City is the capital of Basilan. The province of Basilan belongs to ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) but the city of Isabela is administered as part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region. The city is located on the northern shore of Basilan. Across the Basilan Strait to the north is Zamboanga City. (wikipedia).
The native language is Chavacano, a Spanish creole, understood by 80% of the population.
Here are some of basic Chavacano
Yes - Si!
No - No!
Good morning! - Buenos Dias!
Good Afternoon! - Buenas Tardes!
How are you? - Quetal 'tu?
How much is this? - Cuanto 'ste?
Thank you! - Gracias!
Welcome - Bienvenidos!
How to get to Isabela, Basilan:
Ride a fastcraft ferry at Zamboanga City for an hour at Php 150, kids half fare. Regular ferry fares are at Php 100 and will take an hour and a half to reach Isabela, kids' rates are at Php 40.
The native language is Chavacano, a Spanish creole, understood by 80% of the population.
Here are some of basic Chavacano
Yes - Si!
No - No!
Good morning! - Buenos Dias!
Good Afternoon! - Buenas Tardes!
How are you? - Quetal 'tu?
How much is this? - Cuanto 'ste?
Thank you! - Gracias!
Welcome - Bienvenidos!
How to get to Isabela, Basilan:
Ride a fastcraft ferry at Zamboanga City for an hour at Php 150, kids half fare. Regular ferry fares are at Php 100 and will take an hour and a half to reach Isabela, kids' rates are at Php 40.
on board Weesam Express Fastcraft
arrival at Isabela Port
at Isabela Port with my kids
in front of Basilan Provincial Capitol
Yahoooo!!! there's a Jollibee store in Basilan... Jollibee will always be a kid's haven wherever it may be located...
my kids at Jollibee playground
Jollibee's 500th store: Jollibee Basilan opened in early 2005
bancas crossing Malamawi
After enjoying Malamawi Island, we roam around Isabela...I just used my point and shoot camera for the other locals not to notice us in taking pictures.
the City Hall of Isabela
Basilan Provincial Capitol
Basilan's map at the back located at the city plaza
vintas
the altar with an intricate mosaic from Italy
Sta. Isabel Cathedral has been bombed several times and most of the time there are armed personnel guarding some of the gates of the church to monitor closely the people entering the area.
A Muslim area but you'll be surprised that there is a large number of Catholics in Isabela. Roughly there are 73% Roman Catholics and only 27% Muslims. Yakans and Tausugs are predominantly Muslims while Chavacanos are Christians.
Muslims gathered outside Sta. Isabel Cathedral, proving that Muslims and Christians in Basilan are in good terms.
our service jeep owned by Poe Reynera, the Manager of Malamawi White Beach
We braved to go to Basilan because we have a local guide in going around Isabela. You can also message thru his blogs Sir Dong Ho, a travel blogger, who is also a native of Basilan. I came to know Sir Bobby Reynera in Sir Dong's blog and he commented that it is safe to go to Basilan, not knowing that he is the owner of the 11 hectare Malamawi White Beach and the 48.9 hectares on the northern end of Malamawi Island located on top of the mountain. He is developing it for future tourism purposes to somehow address the negative image of Isabela. A true hearted Basileño, he tried to serve his fellow Basileños by running at the local elections last May 2013 as a vice mayor of the city but sadly he loss. He has generated jobs by hiring some Badjaos to maintain his beach resort and Hacienda Bobby Rey.
Mr Reynera has provided us with a guide starting from Zamboanga City port up to Malamawi White Beach in Isabela City. And surprisingly it is the Manager of the White Beach, kuya Poe Reynera, together with his son, who fetched us at the port. If travelling alone or in a group it is better to have a local guide so that the guide will only roam you around safe places. Or better contact Dept. of Tourism Isabela when going to the city.
going back to Zamboanga City
the regular ferry at Php100 for adults and Php40
For travel assistance :
* Hja. Gigi Carama-Junudi, Basilan Provincial Tourism Officer, Provincial Capitol Building,
Isabela City, Basilan.
* Jayson Tubil, Isabela City Tourism Officer, Isabela City Hall Complex, Isabela City, Basilan.Bobby Reynera - Owner of Malamawi White Beach - 0916-7138518
You can also visit Basilan's official tourism website at
http://basilan.gov.ph/index.php/tourism-basilan
We also visited Malamawi Island
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The hidden paradise of Basilan...Malamawi Island
We never told anyone that we will be going to Basilan...because I know that once they knew that we will visit the province, I will be hearing a lot of negative things.
We booked our flight in February of 2012 going to Zamboanga City via Cebu Pacific for our November travel at only Php1,066 per person round trip.
We booked our flight in February of 2012 going to Zamboanga City via Cebu Pacific for our November travel at only Php1,066 per person round trip.
I had plenty of time researching on where to go in Zamboanga City and I could not let the chance not to go to Basilan. . . I came to visit the blog site of Sir Dong Ho, and I was so excited to visit this so called notorious province called Basilan, as media would have dubbed the province.
Sir Dong was not able to give me a contact person or someone who could accompany us in Basilan but he's very much willing to entertain all your queries...until I came to read a comment from Sir Bobby Reynera that it was relatively safe to go there. I contacted him and he answered quickly that he will give a local guide from Zamboanga to Basilan.
Kuya Jungjung Corpuz met us at Zamboanga City ferry terminal in Canelar and upon arriving at Isabela City port, I was surprised that the Manager of the Malamawi White Beach, Kuya Poe Reynera, together with his son fetched us at the terminal...
We crossed this body of water for only 10 minutes at Php5 fare but Kuya Poe rented the whole boat, and I have no idea how much he paid for the whole boat trip...
Upon crossing, a truck was waiting for us and anyone who wanted to hitch a ride could do so...
Habal habal is the main transportation in Malamawi Island...you can reach the beach area in 30 to 45 minutes...
road going to the White Beach
mom and daughter excited to go to the beach
upon arriving at the beach...tinusukan agad kami ng malaking payong...Wow! VIP =)
armed personnel guarding the beach area
sarap buhay
This is Life!
buko given by Kuya Poe
shallow waters
kuya and ate having some siblings talk =)
baby James enjoying the sun and the beach
unlimited buko
Muslims playing volleyball
a glimpse of a Muslim woman sipping some fresh air
want to get wet...
untouched beauty of Malamawi
pangarap talaga nya ang mag model =)
beach so serene
the perfect view
my two boys enjoying the sun
with kuya Poe Reynera, Manager of Malamawi White Beach, and dad's relative he met here, Ate Chit Quicho
time to say goodbye
going back to Isabela city and then to Zamboanga City
Basilan is not as scary as many people think. I found the city just like any ordinary city. The media has put so much bad impressions in it. I hope that someday more Filipinos or even foreigners will also experience the beautiful tropical waters of Malamawi Island.
Cottages in White Beach ranges from Php100 to Php300 (but we get this for free =)
Entrance fee : Php10
Habal habal : Php150 roundtrip
Cottages in White Beach ranges from Php100 to Php300 (but we get this for free =)
Entrance fee : Php10
Habal habal : Php150 roundtrip
How to get here :
From Zamboanga City, ride a fastcraft ferry for an hour or less at Php150 for adults and Php75 for kids. Regular ferry rates are Php100 for adults and Php40 for kids but this would take an hour and 30 minutes.
When going to these places, dress as simple as possible, be polite and humble all the time. Look for a local who can guide you around Isabela. Travel safely.
Thank You Sir Bobby for your warm generosity. I never expected that we will feel so much important in this humble but beautiful city. I hope someday a pure heart like yours will lead the city of Isabela. Wake up Isabela, we need someone like him to renew and reborn the city.
Contact Numbers :
Bobby Reynera - 0916 7138518
Dept. of Tourism Isabela - 0917-6344989
The rates are as of November 2012
Dept. of Tourism Isabela - 0917-6344989
The rates are as of November 2012
