Reaching Out

My official photo entry for an online contest.

Salubong in Olutanga Island

The Salubong ("Sugat' in Cebuano) is a Filipino tradition done early in the morning of Easter Sunday, wherein the images of the Risen Christ and Sorrowful Mother symbolically meet in a pre-dawn procession.

The celebration starts with two different processions that start at different points. The first one consists of the Risen Christ carried by men while the second consist of the Blessed Virgin Mary (covered with a black veil to denote her mourning) carried by women. These two processions meet at the church courtyard from different routes.

At this point, the ceremony of the meeting begins with the choir singing alleluias as Mary approaches Jesus. Then, an angel descends on top of the head of Mary and lifts the black veil from her, exposing a happy mother who is seeing her son. Little angels will then sing songs of joy.

History of Olutanga

(Photo Credits: Olutanga Friendster)

Long time ago, before the Spaniards came to the country, the island of Olutanga was inhabited by a native tribe, under the leadership at Panglima Santikan and his wife Indah Dindah. This tribe were known as “LUTANGAN”, the origin of the name of the island Olutanga. The main economic activities of this tribe was fishing and some “slash and burn” farming. The island then was dominantly covered with virgin and verdant forest. The Lutangans, because of their nomadic character and love of the sea, wondered from coast to coast around the island in search of rich fishing grounds.

It was only during the Spanish era, that the Lutangans had started to live semi – permanently along the sea shores. Then as years passed, the Tausogs, Samals and the other tribes came to live in the island, which was later named Olutanga after the Lutangan tribe. The first Christians who came to the island were hunters in search of wild life such as wild boars, deer, tamaraws, etc.

Later in the 1920’s, the Cebuanos, Ilongos, and other tribe from Luzon and Visayas came to the island to settle and farm. In 1948, the opening of the Hercules Lumber Company in Subanipa (the trading center of the island now renamed Solar) paved the way for the steady flow of people from the Visayas and Luzon. The establishment of the Lumber Company in the island and the influx of settlers reduced the verdant forest into an agricultural land.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND

Olutanga (the whole island) was formerly a regular barangay of the Municipality of Alicia. On November 17, 1957, Olutanga barangay was elevated into a municipal status, with a juridical personality by virtue of Executive Order # 274, enunciated then by the late President Carlos P. Gracia. Originally, Olutanga was attributed to the whole island itself. However, ten years later on May 18, 1967 the barangay of Mabuhay on the north-eastern side of the island, was created into a municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 4876. Twenty (20) years later, on November 11, 1977, the Municipality of Talusan was created by virtue of Presidential Degree No. 1237 signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. This new Municipality was carved from the Municipality of Olutanga representing the northwestern sector of the island.

The first appointed Municipal Mayor was Honorable Eufemio Quijano. He was later elected as Municipal Mayor, but he served only served for one term. The next Mayor elected was Hon. Gonzalo B. Pidor who served for two terms from 1964 to 1971. He was followed by Hon. Cecilio C. Macion, 1972 to the EDSA Revolution era. Then, in the 1993 local election Dr. Joel G. Capotulan was elected as the Mayor to the present.

Source: Bert2776

Olutanga Fiesta

One of the best things about being able to travel from one island to another island is the opportunity to witness different spectacles and beauties of cultures expressed in different island festivals. Oh, the Philippines has a thousand and one festivals! Now add this one -- Timbaya Festival. This is held during the patronal and town fiesta of the Municipality of Olutanga in Olutanga Island every August 15, on the feast of the Assumption.

The Simple Wharf of Alicia

Location: Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay

Alicia Wharf is located at the coastal portion of the poblacion of the Municipality of Alicia about one (1) km. from the Town Hall. It is in the vicinity of the fishermen's village, along the coast of Sibuguey Bay, province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

The port is linked by an unpaved road about 22 Kms. from the National Highway in Imelda Town. It is utilized by some fishing boats coming from the fishing grounds of the Moro Gulf.

No shipping company is servicing the trade route from the Municipal Port of Alicia to other ports of the region. Only motorized bancas that are privately owned are docking at the port.

The RoRo Port of Hula-Hula

Location: Hula-Hula Port, Mabuhay, Olutanga Island, Zamboanga Sibugay

The RoRo Port of Hula-Hula is located at the channel dividing the island of Olutanga from the mainland of Zamboanga Peninsula in the Municipality of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province. It is the receiving platform linking the RoRo port of Guicam which is on the other end (Alicia) to Olutanga Island.

Cargoes handled at the RoRo Port of Hula-Hula are the buses and delivery trucks of traders and businessmen serving the island of Olutanga Island, most of which are agar-agar, copra, fishes, ice and consumer goods.

Loyola High School of Olutanga

Location: Solar, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay

Loyola High School is one of the leading high schools in the island of Olutanga for several years already. It was established by a Jesuit priest named Fr. Argarate, SJ. Today, the school is administered by the Dominican sisters.

Diocese of Ipil

Location: Diocese of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay

The Diocese of Ipil (Latin: Dioecesis Ipilen(sis)) is a Roman Catholic Diocese located in the city of Ipil in the Ecclesiastical province of Zamboanga in the Philippines. It is an ecclesiastical territory in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. It occupies an area of 4,850 square kilometers extending from the boundary of Zamboanga del Norte on the north to Olutanga Island on the south, from the town of Tungawan on the west to the town Margosatubig on the east boundaries set by Pope John Paul II himself when he decreed the separation of this ecclesiastical territory from the Archdiocese of Zamboanga on December 24, 1979.

On May 1, 2010, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI elevated the Prelature of Ipil to a full diocese, the 58th in the Philippines, and appointed as its first bishop, Most Rev. Julius Sullan Tonel who had served as its Bishop-Prelate.

Gift from the Olutanga Sea

Location: Calais, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay

"Manginhas" is a Bisayan term which means to go into the shoreline when it is low tide to catch anything to eat. Olutanga is one island blest with the bounties of the sea. In that one sunny low tide when I joined the local folks, I was deeply impressed not only by the enchanting beauty of the island, but also of the great catch we all shared at the end of the day.

The Kabugan Island of Olutanga

Location: Calais, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay

Kabugan Island is one of the many famous islands in Olutanga Island. "Kabugan" comes from the word "kabug" which means "bat". From the word itself, you will not wonder why bats are in the area. The island's name speaks already for itself. Thousands of bats congregate in this part of the world in broad daylight. They are a lovely sight. Unfortunately, this place has not yet been declared a bat sanctuary.

The Mangroves of Olutanga Island

Location: Olutanga Island, Zamboanga Sibugay

Mangroves protect shorelines from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves and floods. They also hel prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled roots systems. They maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from lands.