A Glimpse of Languyan, Tawi-Tawi

1/06/2016 02:23:00 PMFJ HAMJA

Municipal Hall of Languyan, Tawi-Tawi

Languyan is one of the two first class among the eleven municipalities of Tawi-Tawi. This municipality is partially urban and has a total of 20 barangays within the Region - XV or ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) in the Sulu Archeapelago. Ninety percent of the population are Taosugs and the rest ten percent came from the Sama, Bisaya and Badjao tribe.

Languyan best is known to many natural resources such as minerals, wildlife, seaweeds and other sea and agriculture products. It is the only municipality in the province that has a pearl farm and home to the Altawitawi Nickel Mining Corporation and S.R. Languyan Mining Corporation that has an operations in Tumbagaan Island and in Brgy. Bakung.

Languyan is famous in the province for the hospitality of the people. Visitors from other municipalities and other parts of the country come here every celebration of its Kamahardikaan (Anninversary) in October.

Some famous spots in Languyan are the Biddarili Water Falls (Angel Falls), Sikullis Beach, Bud Tawi-Tawi (Mt. Tawi-Tawi - Largest mountain in Tawi-Tawi) and many others. The municipality is also considred as the home of seawater crocodiles in the province. You need to ride a speed boat for atleast one hour or a lantsa for five hours to be able to get in this island.

This municipality has a lot to offfer, it's loafty mountains, white sand beaches, waterfalls and many other gifts of nature.

On the way to Brgy. Darul-Akram

One thing that would amazed you in this municipality is their solar street lights that lighten your ways from the downtown to other barangays.

Every October, Languyan celebrates its Kamahardikaan or independence it gained from Bongao 38 years ago. There are several categories to be contested by the 20 barangays which include the Search for Budjang Languyan, Ball Games, Shoot Fest, Salakot Competition and the highlight is the Maligay Festival. There iss also a raffle draw open all residents of Languyan as well as its visitors. Last Kamahardikaan, the prices were Laptops, Ipads, Tablets, Bicycles, Motorcycles and Cash.

Last October 2014, all the barangays in Languyan competed in a Salakot Competition. A Salakot is a rest house, but not a typical rest house. It is made-up of nipahut as its roof, bamboos and woods as its wall. But all the Salakots must have a Maligay touch.

This is what we call "Maligay". Maligay is like a small house decorated with several delecacies like native cookies, cakes, piyanggang, fruits and the like. Maligays are usually present in special occassions of Tausug, Sama, Badjao and other Muslim inhabitants in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and in Mainland Mindanao. The word Maligay came from a Malay word "Mahligay which means Castle or Palace".

Foods decorated in the maligay.

Sikullis beach at Brgy. Sikullis is one of the most favorite white sand beaches in Languyan. On this beach you can have a paronamic view of Mt. Kualabaro.