stranger

The first time i went to Tawi-Tawi was in August 2007. Part of the itinerary was to go to this island which is a six hour boat ride from the main island of Bonggao. I was with Kuya Sai and Jean that time, for the impact assessment survey of our project.

Jean and I, being both first timers in the island, took Kuya Sai's advice to heart. we wore baggy clothes, the most dugyot clothes we could get ourselves into so as not to catch attention from the people.

and then four months after, Jean and Kuya Sai came back to Tawi-Tawi for the baseline survey. i did not go with them because i had to lead the same survey in Maguindanao and Lanao Del Sur. while they were on their way to another island, they sat next to this man who dressed like the locals. But as Jean was recounting the story to me a few months ago, she remembered he appeared different from the people in the area. he spoke fluent tagalog with no hint of a visayan/muslim accent and seemed educated in some way.

it was a long trip, and in the middle of it got into talking with him.it was the usual conversation at first, talking about the weather and all. and then out of nowhere he said,

"Di ba pumunta kayo sa ********** nung August? Nasan na yung isa pang babaeng kasama ninyo?Hindi niyo yata kasama ngayon?"

Sh*t, he remembered. All three of us.

Who the hell is he? Some intelligence guy from the military? Or from the other group?


*****

Another story is about an old man whom Adrian shared the cabin with on his way back to Tawi-Tawi from Zamboanga a couple of months ago. This was the time when the MOA-AD was the hot topic and there was an ongoing fighting all over the region. The old man introduced himself as someone from Malacanang, who is going to Tawi-Tawi to check on the situation in the area.

Right after they arrived in Bongao, which is the main island, communication signal was cut from the entire island. Which meant that Smart and Globe didnt work, even PLDT which also powered their internet connections. The entire island was totally isolated from the outside world in terms of communication.

****

Nakakaloka. I enjoy going to these areas once in a while but I wouldnt dream of actually living my life there. Which is a constant debate between me and panda because hell, he lives in zamboanga.