Adventure in the Island of Basilan

August 15, Friday

After attending the installation of Bishop Glenn Corsiga as Bishop of the Diocese of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, we made our way to Zamboanga City, taking the opportunity—while already in the area—to visit the island of Basilan. I had heard that there is now a cemented circumferential road around the island, making it easier and safer to travel to its different towns and parishes.

We booked our online tickets for the 6:45 a.m. Weesam fast craft from Zamboanga to Isabela de Basilan. The trip took only an hour. Upon arrival, we were warmly met at the port by Fr. Ronel Antonio, the Vice Chancellor, and Bro. Joan, who immediately brought us to the Bishop’s Residence. There, we were welcomed by Bishop Leo, with whom we shared a hearty breakfast.

We had a long and meaningful conversation, especially about Bishop Leo’s health. He had undergone a delicate heart operation with a dissection last December—more serious than a bypass procedure, he said. Thankfully, he has since recovered well, although he is still easing into full activity while continuing his exercises to achieve a complete recovery.

Our original plan was to go to the beach that morning, but the resort we had intended to visit was fully booked. Instead, our hosts decided to take us on a tour around the island after breakfast.

Our first stop was St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Cabunbata, Isabela—the parish of Fr. Roel Casas, who served as the Administrator of Isabela de Basilan before Bishop Leo’s appointment. We arrived just as Fr. Roel was finishing Mass.

From Cabunbata, we made a brief stop at a place once known as a kidnapping site during the time when the island was terrorized by Abu Sayyaf rebels. Now stands a grotto of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a quiet reminder of the island’s complex past and the people’s enduring faith.

Next, we traveled to St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Matarling, a barangay of Lantawan, located approximately 14 kilometers from the main road leading to the sea. Interestingly, Lantawan has two parishes—both located in the barangays rather than the town proper. Matarling is the parish of the Chancellor, Fr. Floyd Costan, who was then in the U.S. doing mission appeals for the prelature. In his absence, our guide, Fr. Ronel, was overseeing the parish.

We then visited the parish in the town of Maluso, followed by a stop in Sumisip, a predominantly Muslim town with no parish church. Heavy rain prevented us from getting out of the van to take photos of the municipal hall, which stood prominently on a hill with a steep approach.

Our next stop was Claret School of Tumahubong, also in Sumisip—a place marked by a tragic chapter in Basilan’s history. It was here that Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, CMF, along with some teachers and students, was abducted in March 2000. After weeks in captivity, he was martyred on May 3, 2000, during a clash between the rebels and civilian paramilitary forces.

We met Ms. Angie Grado, one of the teachers abducted with Fr. Rhoel, who shared a quiet moment of remembrance with us. Her husband now serves as a CAFGU guard for the school. The school director, Fr. Derek, together with two Claretian brothers, welcomed us warmly.

We also visited San Vicente Ferrer Parish in Tumahubong, administered by Fr. Derek. Since it was already around 11:30 a.m., we decided to have lunch there. Fr. Ronel had brought food, which we combined with the parish’s simple meal—a pleasant and spontaneous lunch shared in fraternity.

After lunch, we proceeded inland to Mahatallang, a barangay in Sumisip, to see the Mahatallang Peace Monument (also called the Kasanyangan Monument), located at the rotunda. This area had been the site of fierce encounters between the military and rebels from 1972 to 2017. The monument now stands as a symbol of peace and resilience for the people of Basilan.

From Mahatallang, we headed to Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Parish in Lo-ok, Lamitan, where we saw a miraculous image of the Santo Niño, surrounded by small garments with amor seco seeds still embedded in them, which signified that the child had really gone out on a journey.

Our next visit was to the main parish church of Lamitan, the site of the Lamitan siege of May 27 to June 3, 2001. The main incident occurred at the prelature-owned infirmary adjacent to the church. The parish priest, Fr. Yoy, welcomed us and shared local delicacies, including panyalam—a sweet, fried treat made of sticky rice and flour.

We passed by the provincial hall before heading to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Sta. Clara, still within Lamitan. Our final stop for the day was Begang Parish in Isabela, where we met the Vicar General.

Having breakfast with Bp. Leo (center).

A formal pose in front of the Bishop's residence with Fr. Ronel Antonio, the Vice Chancellor of Basilan, Frs. Vlad, Edgar, Bp. Leo and Fr. Bryand. 

Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish (F-2008)
Cabunbata, Isabela City

With the parish priest, Msgr. Jose Roel Casas

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish (F-1987)
          Matarling, Lantawan, Basilan Province

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (F-1962)
Maluso, Basilan Province

Claret School of Tumahubong (F-1968)
Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan

Angie Grado, one of the teachers who was with Fr. Rhoel when he was abducted pointing to the place where they hid when the Abu Sayyaf came. 

Picture with Angie and the Claret priest and brothers assigned to the school and parish. 

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish (F-1969)
Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan

A view of the mountains from the convent of Tumahubong. In the not so distant past, one could hear the roar of canyons and gunshots from this vantage. 

Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Parish (F-1995)
Look, Lamitan City, Basilan

At the right side of the church facing the altar is the image of the Sto. Niño which is much revered. Amor seco seeds are seen attached to his clothes and stories abound about the sighting of a boy wandering around. 

Just above the doorways, below the roof are painted Stations of the Cross

St. Peter the Apostle Parish (1886)
Lamitan City, Basilan

The panyalam, made of sticky rice. 

With Fr. Yoy Balosbalos, the parish priest of Lamitan

The Infirmary which is owned by the Prelature and is just besides the Lamitan Church is where the Lamitan siege of 2001 started. 

Chronology of the Lamitan Siege is posted near the Infirmary.

At the Provincial Capitol in Sta. Clara, Lamitan City.  Since 2017, Lamitan became the capital of the province of Basilan. 

St. Anthony of Padua Parish (F-1956)
Sta. Clara, Lamitan City, Basilan

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish (F-1984)
Begang, Isabela City, Basilan

With the Vicar General, Msgr. Rodel Angeles (3rd from left)

Painting of the Virgen sang Barangay at the side of the altar.

The parish convent of Begang. 

 

August 16, Saturday

We began the day with Mass at 7:00 a.m. in the Bishop’s Chapel, followed by breakfast. Bishop Leo had eaten earlier as he was scheduled to celebrate a fiesta Mass in Tairan, but he came down to greet us before leaving.

At 8:30 a.m., we left for our much-anticipated beach outing. From the pier, a boat brought us first to the Marang-Marang Floating Cottage, where local women welcomed us with floral leis and generous servings of native snacks. We took time to snorkel around the cottage—though the side facing the mangroves was shallow and grassy, the opposite side dropped steeply into deeper waters.

There was a moment of panic when Fr. Vlad’s sunglasses slipped through the bamboo floor into the sea below, but Brother Nguyen, our Vietnamese companion and skilled swimmer, dove under the cottage and impressively retrieved them on his second attempt.

From Marang-Marang, we crossed to Malamawi Port, just opposite the Basilan mainland, and took a van to Pahali Beach Resort—better known as Malamawi White Beach. Visitors are no longer allowed to bring outside food, so we ordered our lunch there. Despite some coral stones along the shore, the beach had fine white sand and turquoise waters, perfect for another round of snorkeling.

We enjoyed barbecued and fried chicken with liboo soup for lunch before leaving around 1:30 p.m. Heavy rain met us at the port, but it stopped just as we reached the mainland of Isabela. We returned to the Formation House for a short rest.

By late afternoon, we headed to Fuego-Fuego Park, about eight kilometers from the city by car (or roughly two kilometers by boat, since it lies by the sea). On the way, we stopped by Vianda na Kanya Resto to order supper. At the park, I noticed another Circumnavigation Marker, similar to those I had seen in Canigao and Maribojoc.

Since it was still early for our 6:30 p.m. dinner, we took a short drive to the nearby Christian village of Baluno, a thriving community of nearly 3,546 residents—almost all Catholics. The neighboring Barangay Tabiawan, where the Vianda restaurant is located, is also largely Catholic.

The Bishop's chapel in Isabela

The Provincial Capitol in Isabela, Basilan. Although the capital of the province is already in Lamitan, some provincial offices are still in this Capitol building in Isabela. 

The first stop of our island hopping was the Marang-marang floating cottage where some native snacks were prepared for us. 

Multicolored stilt houses of the Bajao village in Marang-Marang, Isabela which one can see upon entering Isabela 

From the Marang-marang floating cottage we were brought to the Malamawi port where took a van to bring us to the Pahali Beach Resort. 

At the Pahali Beach Resort in Malamawi Island, Basilan.

Fuego-Fuego Park
Isabela City, Basilan

The Chapel in the Christian village of Baluno in Isabela de Basilan.  The barangay is mostly inhabited by Catholics. 

Vianda na Kanya Restaurant is a popular restaurant serving Filipino cuisine in Isabela which is about five kilometers away from the main city of Isabela but is along the way to the Fuego-fuego Park.

August 17, Sunday

Our final activity in Basilan was the Sunday concelebrated Mass with Bishop Leo at the Basilan Cathedral. The four of us priests joined him at the altar, together with two deacons, in a solemn and heartfelt celebration of the Eucharist. After Mass, we took a quick breakfast at the Cathedral before hurrying to catch the fast craft back to Zamboanga.

Thus ended our journey to Basilan — with grateful hearts, richer memories, and a deepened admiration for the people’s unwavering faith amid the island’s complex and storied history.

Altar of the Sta. Isabel de Portugal Cathedral of Basilan. 

The last sight to be seen upon leaving Isabela are these brightly colored stilt houses of the Bajaos near Isabela City