BEACHES AND CHURCHES: JOLO: A Journey Beyond the Cathedral Walls

November 22, 2025

The Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, which covers the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, has only four parishes. In the Province of Sulu, there are two parishes: the Parish of Jolo which is the Cathedral dedicated to the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, which serves the entire Jolo mainland, and the parish on the island of Siasi. The other two parishes are located in the Province of Tawi-Tawi: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Bongao, and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Cagayan de Mapun. Cagayan de Mapun lies between Tawi-Tawi and southern Palawan and is closer to Malaysia; it is approximately a 36-hour boat journey from Bongao.

In addition, there are six mission stations scattered across the islands of Tawi-Tawi. The Apostolic Vicariate has only two diocesan priests incardinated to it, along with two diocesan priests from other dioceses who are serving on loan. About eight Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) priests serve the remaining parishes, mission stations, and OMI-run schools, the largest of which is Notre Dame of Jolo College.

The Province of Sulu is composed of 19 municipalities, 11 of which are located on the Jolo mainland: Jolo, Indanan, Kalingalan Caluang, Luuk, Maimbung, Omar, Old Panamao (sometimes simply called Panamao), Panglima Estino (formerly New Panamao), Parang, Patikul, and Talipao. The remaining municipalities—Banguingui, Lugus, Pandami, Pata, Siasi, Tapul, Pangutaran, and Tongkil—are situated on the islands surrounding Jolo.

Tawi-Tawi province has eleven municipalities: Bongao (the capital), Languyan, Mapun, Panglima Sugala, Sapa-Sapa, Sibutu, Simunul, Sitangkai, South Ubian, Tandubas, and Turtle Islands, forming part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the Philippines.

For quite some time, I had wanted to go around Jolo. On the two occasions I had been there previously, our movements were limited to the Cathedral and the Bishop’s residence within the Notre Dame of Jolo compound. At that time, security conditions did not allow us to go beyond those premises. Marine soldiers accompanied us at all times, and even stepping outside the Cathedral was considered unsafe.

For this reason, we were pleasantly surprised when Bp. Charlie Inzon, OMI, the Apostolic Vicar of Jolo invited us for a visit on the occasion of his 60th birthday celebration. This invitation came a few months before he would be announced as the next Archbishop of Cotabato. Thus, when we finally arrived in Jolo on November 22, the celebration took on a dual significance: it marked both his 60th birthday and his despedida, as he was to be installed in Cotabato on December 8.

Our roundtrip tickets to Zamboanga covered four days—from Saturday to Tuesday—since flights to Jolo operate only twice a week. We were advised not to check in any luggage in Manila, as the connecting flight to Jolo departed shortly after our arrival in Zamboanga.

There were four of us priests from the CBCP who were able to make the trip. Upon our arrival in Zamboanga, we were warmly welcomed by Fr. Christian, a priest on loan from Palo, together with Sister Thesalonica, who met us at the airport with garlands and a welcome tarpaulin. We were brought to our accommodations, a building used by the teachers and staff of Notre Dame College of Jolo, just a few steps from the Bishop’s house. Shortly after settling in, we were each given a malong and a postcard containing the itinerary for the coming days.

Bishop Cha had also invited his siblings and relatives from both his mother’s and father’s sides—some from Sorsogon and others already residing in Manila. In all, more than forty members of his extended family were present.

The first activity on the itinerary was a visit to Tanduh Beach in Barangay Tumangas, Parang, Sulu. Unlike most Philippine islands that stretch from north to south, Sulu Island runs from east to west. Tanduh Beach lies on the easternmost part of the island, about 25 kilometers from the town proper of Jolo. We were surprised to see many locals already enjoying the beach that Saturday morning, as it is one of the more accessible and popular beaches for residents of Jolo. The white sand and turquoise waters were striking.

That evening, we had dinner at the Bishop’s house with Bishop Cha’s family and the priests present. During dinner, Bishop Cha shared the story of the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that had previously been enshrined in the Cathedral. He had replaced it with a larger image, and the original now resides in his private chapel. During the bombing of the Cathedral on January 27, 2019—which claimed the lives of 27 people—the original image bore marks of the explosion, not on the front but on the back. Given that the image faced the congregation near the altar, it was remarkable that the damage appeared only behind it. Bishop Cha shared the belief that the Blessed Virgin had shielded the people by covering them with her mantle.

At present there are only two weekly flights from Zamboanga to Jolo serviced by the with their aircraft called .

We were met complete with garlands and a welcome tarpaulin.

For the duration of our visit two army soldiers were deployed to secure our safety but ordinarily, there are no longer any soldiers on guard at the Notre Dame College of Jolo. There are no more marines in Sulu, instead a division of soldiers are already stationed in the island ensuring peace and order.

, the rector of the Cathedral.

There were plenty of beach goers that Saturday

A billiard hall by the beach.

Bp. Cha with his priests on his right: Frs. Gau, Christian, Ricky and Jade.

The statue of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel now housed at the Bishop's private chapel which formerly was in the Cathedral. Shards from the shrapnel were only found at the back of the statue when in fact the image was at enthroned at the altar facing the people.

November 23, 2025

The following day, at Bishop Cha’s request, I celebrated the 6:00 a.m. Mass at the Carmelite Monastery. In attendance were the Carmelite nuns, along with religious from the OND and Dominican congregations, the Marist Brothers, and other faithful. After a hurried breakfast, we joined Bishop Cha at the Cathedral, where he celebrated Mass.

Afterwards, we traveled to Bulangsih Beach, located about 50 kilometers northwest of Jolo in the municipality of Panamao. On the way, we passed through the town proper of Luuk before continuing along the coastal road toward Bulangsih. The beach had exceptionally fine white sand and crystal-clear waters. We used a beach house maintained by the military, as there was a nearby military post.

From Bulangsih, we proceeded to Seit Lake, known for its heart-shaped outline. The vantage point from which we viewed the lake was located within the military camp.

That evening, we had supper at Bud Agad Resort, which offers a panoramic view of the town of Jolo.

The Monastery of the Carmelite nuns.

A picture taken with the Carmelite nuns after celebrating the mass.

Some of the faithful who died during the suicide bombing of Jolo Cathedral on Jan. 27, 2019.

was assassinated near the Cathedral on Feb. 1997.

Bp. Cha at the tomb of Bp. de Jesus just beside the Cathedral

With Bp. Cha by the tomb of Bp. Ben de Jesus.

A pose before the mass started.

The diocesan clergy of Jolo, of whom only two are incardinated and another two on loan from other dioceses and the Rector of the Cathedral who is an OMI priest.

The relatives of Bp. Cha.

Father and daughter suvivors of the bombing in 2019. She was going up to the altar to do the second reading when the first bomb exploded. Her mother was one of the casualties.

With Fr. Ramil Bacolcol, the one of only two diocesan priests incardinated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo. He was the celebrant of the mass when the Cathedral was bombed in Jan. 2019. Previously in 2010 he also survived another bombing at the in the nearby police station.

The Jolo Cathedral

A typical Jolo house with posts above the floor.

Bulangsih Beach, Panamao

The CBCP priests

The heart-shaped Lake Seit.

With the chief soldier of the Camp in Panamao

The new barangay hall of Anuling in Patikul, the lot donated by the Apostolic Vicariate.

With the only two diocesan priests incardinated to Jolo: Fr. Ramil Janguin and .

The swimming pool at the Bud Agad Resort.

On Monday, November 24, Bishop Cha’s 60th birthday, Mass was celebrated at the Monastery of the Poor Clares. Present were his family members, several parishioners, the Cathedral parish priest, and the diocesan clergy of Jolo—two incardinated priests and two others on loan to the Vicariate. Breakfast for all those who attended the Mass was served on the grounds in front of the Bishop’s house.

After breakfast, we were given a tour of the town. Our first stop was Bud Datu, another mountain view deck overlooking Jolo. We then visited Jade of the Sea, a seaside resort complete with water slides, followed by the National Museum of the Sulu Archipelago. We also stopped for photos in front of the Provincial Capitol. In the afternoon, we visited the still-unfinished seaside boulevard, which ended at Imbi Thiya Beach Resort in Barangay Tanduh Bagua, Patikul, Sulu.

Our final stop was the chapel at the police camp in Asturias, a place of deep significance. It was here that Fr. Ricky Bacolcol first survived a bombing incident while celebrating Mass. The second was the bombing at the Cathedral on January 27, 2019.

The birthday and despedida celebration for Bishop Cha was held at the Notre Dame of Jolo College auditorium. While the program was ongoing, we received word that our flight to Zamboanga scheduled for the following day had been canceled due to bad weather. Within thirty minutes, arrangements were made for us to leave abruptly and take a boat to Zamboanga that very night. Through the assistance of local contacts, beds were secured for us in the ordinary class.