Jolo, Sulu

Jolo is located on Jolo Island. Jolo is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Sulu, Philippines. Jolo is the capital municipality of the Sulu province. The island of Jolo is the second largest island in the Sulu Archipelago after Basilan Island. The island is bounded by the Sulu Sea to the north, and the Celebes Sea to the south. The provincial capital, Jolo is situated on the Northwest side of Jolo Island. Jolo is the largest town in the Sulu province. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 87,998 people in 12,814 households. Part of its population is of Chinese descent, mainly from Singapore.^[1] Of the population, 90% are Muslim, the remaining 10% are Christian. ^[2]

Jolo was the center of the government of the Sulu Sultanate. While Manila was just a small settlement, Jolo was already a developing city.

Barangays

Jolo is politically subdivided into 8 barangays.

• Alat
• Asturias
• Bus-Bus
• Chinese Pier
• San Raymundo
• Takut-Takut
• Tulay
• Walled City

Origin

The Sulu Archipelago is an island chain in the Southwest Philippines between Mindanao and Borneo; it is made up of 900 islands of volcanic and coral origin covering an area of 2,688 sq km. Jolo is a volcanic island, which lies in the center of the Sulu Archipelago covering 890 sq km. There are numerous pyroclastic volcanoes and craters around Jolo, and the last known eruption took place in 1897.^[3]

It is said that the Chinese traders who frequented the place named Jolo after ho lang. Ho lang meaning ‘Good People’ reflects the Chinese perception of the natives. Chinese traders would leave goods on Jolo’s shore, and find them undisturbed on their return. The phrase was eventually extended to ho lo meaning ‘Good Community’.^[4] The native inhabitants on the island are the Tausug. The Tausug are part of the larger Moro group which dominate the Sulu Archipelago. The Moro had an independent state known as the Sulu Sultanate, which was politically and economically centered on Jolo. Jolo was the regional entrepot and developing city years before The Philippines even was even a country. The Sulu economy formed its base around commerce and through the network of nearby trading partners.

In the 14th century, Arab traders landed on the island to introduce and convert its inhabitants to Islam. The town of Jolo became the residence for Sulu Sultanates, until the Sultanate was abolished in 1936. The Seat of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu was in Astana Putih, which is Tausug for ‘White Palace’. In 1521, the explorer Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain. The Spanish failed to conquer and convert the Muslim areas in the south. After consolidating the northern part of the Filipino islands, the Spanish failed to take over the well-organized Muslim Sultanates. However, in 1876, the Spanish attempted to gain control of the Muslims by burning Jolo and were successful.^[5] In March 1877, The Sulu Protocol was signed between Spain, England and Germany which recognized Spain’s rights over Sulu and eased European tensions in the area. In 1899, Spain sold the Philippines to the USA who attempted to forcibly incorporate the Muslim areas into the Philippine state. The American colonizers eventually took over the southern regions with force.

Trading and Chinese Immigration

Since the 15th century, the Sulu Sultanate traded local produce with neighbors and with countries as far as China by sea. In 1870, the Tausug lost much their trade redistributive trade to the Chinese because of the Spanish cruising system and the Chinese immigration from Singapore. Mostly originating from the Fujian province, it was these Chinese who dominated trade in Jolo. Singapore had served as a training ground for which they learned the Malay language and became experienced in dealing with Southeast Asians. Prior to this, most of the Chinese in Jolo worked as craftsmen, skilled and unskilled laborers and domestic servants for wealthy Tausug and Chinese. The Chinese benefited greatly from Jolo’s status as an entrepot, and exercised profound influence over the Sulu Sultanate. Most of the import and export trade was done with Singapore which was estimated to be worth half a million dollars annually. The Sultanate also benefit from importing rice from the Philippines, as the Sulu region had a chronic rice shortage. The Sultanate was unable to bring agriculture to its full potential because the area is prone to erratic rainfall and drought. However, the Sultanate was not keen on the Chinese monopoly. By 1875, Sultan Amal ul Azam wanted an English merchant to establish himself to break the monopoly at Jolo. However, trade suffered heavily in 1892, when three steamers used for trade were lost in a series of storms on the trade route between Singapore and Jolo. The traders in Singapore lost so heavily as a result that they refused to accept trade unless it was paid for in cash. Along with the fear of increased taxation, many Chinese left to other parts of the Archipelago as Jolo lost its role as the regional entrepot. The Tausug had already abandoned trading when the Chinese arrived. Thus, Jolo never fully gained its previous trading status. However, the Chinese continued to dominate trade throughout the Archipelago and Mindanao.^[6]

Cultural Distinctions

Bangsamoro or Moroland is the homeland for the Moro, which is a Spanish term used for Muslims. The majority of Jolo’s people’s are Tausugs, the ethnic group that dominates the Sulu Archipelago. Tausugs derives from the words tau meaning “man” and sug meaning “current”, which translates to “ people of the current”, because they were known to be seafarers with military and merchant skills. The Tausugs are known as the warrior tribe with excellent fighting skills.^[7] The principal dialect of the natives of Sulu is Tausug. English is also spoken widely in Sulu.

Before the Tausugs adopted Islam, the Tausugs were organized into kauman and were governed by a patriarchal form of government with the individual datus as the heads of their own communities. The source of law was the Adat of which the Tausug followed strictly.^[8]

The majority of the Filipinos are Roman Catholic. The Tausugs were the first Filipinos to adopt Islam when the Muslim missionary Karim ul-Makhdum came to Sulu in 1380. Other missionaries include Raja Baguinda and the Muslim Arabian scholar Sayid Abu Bakr, who became the first Sultan of Sulu. The family and community relations are based on their understanding of the Islamic law. The Tausug are also heavily influenced by their pre-Islamic traditions.

Tausug woman in traditional garb, performing the Pangalay

A large portion of the population in Jolo is of Chinese descent. Between 1770 and 1800, 18,000 Chinese came from South China to trade and many of them stayed. In 1803, Portuguese Captain Juan Carvallo reported that there were 1,200 Chinese living in the town. The reorientation of the Sulu trade patterns caused an influx of Chinese immigrants from Singapore.^[9]

The Tausug arts and handicrafts have a mix of Islamic and Indonesian influences. Pangalay is a popular celebratory dance at Tausug weddings, which can last weeks depending on the financial status and agreement of the families. They dance to the music of kulintangan, gabbang, and agong. Another traditional dance of courtship is the Pangalay ha Agong. In this dance, two Tausug warriors compete for the attention of a woman using an agong (large, deep, brass gong) to demonstrate their competence and skill. ^[10]

In present day Sulu, there is a degree of lawlessness and clan-based politics. These clan lines are based along family ties, which started after Arthur Amaral proposed marriage to a woman from a rival clan. The rejected proposal caused a family feud which forced families to take sides. There are 100,000 rifles circling the Sulu archipelago. Almost every household owns a gun, and the clans often settle disputes with violence. Most of the disputes between clans revolve around land. The clan-based society makes it extremely difficult for police to impose law. There are several gun shootings and the Filipino Army is often called in to settle disputes.^[11] In April 2008, the Jolo Zone of Peace, which was supported by Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), was established where firearms are restricted to mediate conflicts between the clans. The Sulu government is attempted to spread this zone of peace into the countryside. ^[12]

Economic Condition

In Jolo, most of the residents are in the agriculture industry. Agricultural products include coconut, cassava, abaca, coffee, lanzones, jackfruit, durian, mangosteen and marang. Jolo is the only municipality in Sulu that does not farm seaweed. Fishing is the most important industry; otherwise people engage in the industries of boat building, mat weaving, coffee processing, and fruit preservation.^[13]

Economic development in Jolo has been hampered by instability, violence and unrest caused by the presence of several Islamist separatist groups in the Bangsamoro. The long-running separatist insurgency has made these Muslim-dominated islands some of the poorest regions in the nation. Jolo has faced a large degree of lawlessness and poverty. ^[14] Jolo is a main stronghold for the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, and these conditions are ideal for militant recruitment. However, the situation has improved since the US has invested in developing the region. In 2007, United States Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes and US Ambassador Kristie Kenney visited Jolo to learn about US government-sponsored projects for ‘development, peace and prosperity’ in the region. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has funded a ‘farm-to-market’ road between Maimbung and Jolo to help farmers transport agricultural produce to the market. On her visit, Kenney announced the $3 million plan to improve the Jolo Airport.^[15] Since 1997, USAID has spent $4 million a year in the region.^[16] Other institutions involved are the World Bank, JICA and AusAID.

Sulu governor Benjamin Loong supports the US Special Forces projects “Operation Smiles” of providing medical care, and building roads and schools. The US Special Forces and Governor Loong hopes that winning respect and alleviating poverty from the people will stop terrorist recruitment. Governor Loong claimed that many residents have already turned away Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah members.^[17]

The Filipino government has spent over P39 million for development and infrastructure in Sulu.^[18] In October 2008, the Provincial Government of Sulu in cooperation with the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) and the Jolo Mainland Water District (JMWD) started the construction of a 54 million pesos project to upgrade the water supply system in Jolo. ^[19]

Political and Societal Significance

The Moros are geographically concentrated in the Southwest of The Philippines. The Moros identify mostly with the majority Muslim nations of Indonesia and Malaysia because of their geographic proximity, and linguistic and cultural similarities. The Moros have faced encroachments from the Spanish, Americans and now face the national Philippine government. Thus, the struggle for the Moro independent state has existed for over 400 years.

Jolo has been the center of this conflict. Between 1972 and 1976, Jolo was the center of the Muslim Separatist Rebellion between the Muslim militants and the Marcos regime which killed 120,000 people. In 1974, fighting broke out when the government troops stopped the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)from taking over the town. ^[20]

Currently, the Moro National Liberation Front is the Ruling Party of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). In 1996, the MNLF was granted leadership of the ARMM in response to the calls for Muslim autonomy, Abdusakur Tan is the governor of Sulu and Husin Amin is the mayor of Jolo. Politicians in these region rise to power with the help of clan connections.

The most radical separatist Islamic group Abu Sayyaf claims to be fighting for an Islamic state independent of the Roman Catholic Philippine government. The group has strongholds in Jolo and Basilan. Driven by poverty and high rewards, a significant number of local residents are suspected to work for them. The Abu Sayyaf has committed a series of kidnappings. On April 23, 2000, the Abu Sayyaf raided the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan and kidnapped 21 tourists from Germany, France, Finland and South Africa and brought them back to Jolo, and asked for $25 million in ransom money. The Abu Sayyaf has also kidnapped several journalists and cameramen in Jolo. The US has already spent millions of dollars for information leading to the arrest of militants. The US has offered up to $5 million in bounty and Manila as much as P10million reward for information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf leaders.

The island was considered dangerous for foreigners, especially Americans, as militants threatened to shoot or abduct them on spot. Much of the anger comes from when American colonizers killed 600 men, women and children who had retreated up Mount Dajo in 1906 after refusing to pay taxes during the Philippine–American War, in the First Battle of Bud Dajo. ^[21] However, the American image has improved since American development plans for the region.

Three months after September 11th, George W. Bush announced that the US was opening a second front on the War on Terror in the Philippines. The Archipelago became the testing group for The Philippines anti-terror plan “Clear, Hold and Develop”. In August 2006, Operation Ultimatum was launched and 5,000 Philippines marines and soldiers, supported by the US Special Forces began clearing the island of Jolo against a force of 400 guerillas. By February 2007, the town of Jolo was deemed cleared of terrorists.

See also

• Active volcanoes in the Philippines
• Potentially active volcanoes in the Philippines
• Inactive volcanoes of the Philippines

References

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information

Coordinates: 6°03′07″N 121°00′07″E / 6.052°N 121.002°E / 6.052; 121.002