September 18: My Fondest Memories in Sulu

September 18: My Fondest Memories in Sulu
By Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano

Nostalgia engulfs my heart whenever I suddenly remember all of the fondest memories that I have had spent with my family and loved ones in my beloved homeland, Sulu. As a Tausug who was born and raised up in Sulu, I couldn’t forget it. For as long as I am still mindful, it will always be part of whom I am today.

I can still vividly recall when I was still a kid, whenever it is September 18 in Sulu, all of us in the house and together with our neighbors, we were excited to watch the parade outside of the vicinity of Mohammad Tulawie Central School. It would pass along the Scott Road, just only a few meters away from our house in Lower San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu. The parade was the opening of the week-long celebration of the Sulu Centennial which was organized by the LGUs of Sulu in commemoration of the founding anniversary of the Governance and Public Administration in Sulu which was established by Sultan Shariful Hashim, the first Sultan of the Sulu Sultanate.

The parade was really amazing. It was being participated by all LGUs, academe and other multisector across the 18 municipalities of the province of Sulu. There were several impressive floats exhibiting the beauty and richness of cultures and traditions of Sulu. Colorful and elegant Tausug attires were being worn by most of the participants during the parade. When I was already in high school, as an ROTC cadet, we also joined the parade by marched from Jolo downtown to Capitol Park.

Yours truly wearing Tausug attire

Yours truly during the parade

One of my unforgettable memories then was during the one-week celebration of Sulu Centennial, as one of our humble ways to earn for our “baon” to school, my eldest brother and I used to peddle ice drop at the Capitol Park for whole day and repeatedly shouting “bi na kamu ice drop.” Whenever our ice drop will be sold out, we will go home happy. Of course, during the course of our peddling, we were also able to watch some of the celebratory activities.

September 18 is one the remarkable dates for us in the family because it is the birthday of my younger sister Radzna. My beloved Inah narrated to me that she was planning to watch the parade since it was just walking distance to our house, but she started to feel some pre-labor pain that day. So, my sister was born on that day. That is why, we fondly joke our sister that her birthday is celebrated big-time across Sulu.

During those days, the Capitol Park was filled with so many people coming from all the municipalities of Sulu. Every municipality has their own booth to exhibit their own products, food and many more. During the week-long celebration, there were numerous activities and competitions participated by different schools and colleges across Sulu.

Noteworthy to mention, September 18 is being declared annually as public holiday for the entire Province of Sulu in pursuant to Provincial Ordinance No. 01, Series of 1993 dated August 09, 1993, in celebration of the Founding Anniversary of the Local Governance and Public Administration in Sulu in which is accordingly already 630 years today.

Qadaar Allaah, I may not reach the glorious days of Sulu Sultanate that was once a sovereign nation, but its beautiful history is amongst from the best and worthy to be remembered and cherished by every Tausug that truly they can be truly proud of.