The island of Basilan is located at the tip of Zamboanga Peninsula in Western Mindanao. Surrounded by the waters of Basilan Strait on the north, Moro Gulf on the east, Sulu Sea on the west, Mindanao Sea on the south.
Basilan means "Iron Trail", from the native words basi (iron) and lan (trail or way). When Zamboanga became a chartered city in 1936, it included Basilan.
But on July 1, 1948, Basilan itself became a separate city. The city was converted into a province on December 27, 1973.
The province is the homeland of the Yakans, a Filipino tribe recognized for their colorful dresses. The men wear close-fitting jacket with long sleeves, striped trousers below the knee and a 15 meter long red sash called kandit, a headcloth called pis and a small betel nut box at the waist. The women wear jacket with black buttons, a short skirt over their trousers and accessories like rings, bangles, earrings and large comb.
Majority of the townspeople speak Chabacano dialect. Islam is their religion with a mixture of both traditional and autochthonal beliefs.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood and dominates most of its land area. Their major products include coconut and coffee. Other crops are palay, corn, cacao, cassava, black pepper and African palm oil. The island’s rich bodies of water produce grouper, tuna, squid, octopus, marlin and fishponds supply milkfish, prawns and shrimps.
Yakans are also known for their weaving artistry and colorful festivals. The museum of Lamitan displays the color and highlights of the traditional Yakan Festival called the Lami-lamihan.
The major attraction of the province is Malamawi Island, the gateway to Basilan. The island features a lighthouse that guides ships and vintas to the channel, the Badjao and Samal cemeteries, the only lake in the province with wild ducks and Panigayan Fishing Village where spearfishing is recommended.
Access to the province can be thru Zamboanga City. From there, a boat ride of 2 hours will take you to the province capital.
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