malamawi island: basilan's best kept secret

The last thing I expected to see at a private resort in Malamawi Island was a banana boat. I imagined that many have already saddled on this colorful inflatable device while being drawn by a jetski perhaps and then intentionally thrown overboard in the end. However, there were no excited tourists when my friend and I arrived there one fine afternoon last year. Except for the resort’s caretakers and a few persons that looked like college students enjoying the last few days of their semestral break, we had the whole stretch of immaculate shore pretty much to ourselves.

The boat's vivid colors provide an interesting contrast to the white sand, the sea with varying shades of blue and the dark outcast skies hovering over Zamboanga peninsula at a distance. It looked just like all the other beach resorts elsewhere in the Philippines, and to some extent it may even be better than the well-visited ones. But no one would have guessed that the postcard worthy image was taken at the island of Basilan in Southern Philippines.

Why no one frequents this beach, let alone get to Basilan is quite understandable though. The province is identified by several decades of unrest and conflict. Some of these events are also unnecessarily sensationalized by local media which led many to believe that there is always war going on in this part of the Philippines. But there was nothing of that when we went to Malamawi. Only the unspoilt sand, crystal clear seas and the unused banana boat greeted us that afternoon.

I have heard so many unsettling news about Basilan, only to be surprised by the beauty of one its white sand beaches. I am hopeful then that someday, tourism will not only mean additional income for the province, but will also play a unique role in dispelling historical myths, healing old wounds and putting perspective in differing ideologies.

These are just some of the many puzzle pieces that would allow many Filipinos, and not just the adventurous few, to enjoy Malamawi Island, one of Basilan's best kept secrets.




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How to get there

Isabela City, Basilan province’s capital is approximately 31 kms away from Zamboanga City. It can be reached in an hour on a fast craft. There are also ferries that would take 45 minutes longer but provide wonderful open air views of the Basilan Strait. Daily schedules are posted here. From the Isabela City port, there are smaller boats that would take you across Malamawi. The trip should not take you longer than 5 mins. There are habal-habal (public motorcycles) on the other side that would take you to the beach resorts on the northern portion of the island.




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