TAUSUG POSSESSES RARE COURAGE

Neldy Jolo

As a renowned Muslims, Tausug are fierce warriors that have been defending their faith since the era of Spanish Conquistadores, American Imperialist, Japanese Colonial-Asiatic and Filipino Neo-imperialist.

Tausug engaged in continuous defence war with Spanish for more than 300 years left a heinous scar in the face of world military history of resistance. Tausug being known as one of the finest, valiant and ferocious freedom defenders of the world is also famous as the best divers in the world, especially for pearls. 

By Rameeta (Rameer Tawasil)

The Tausug indigenous belief in relation to the unseen creatures like jinn (genie) and saytan (devil) is interconnected with Islamic belief. The sinner dead will be held in hell to serve the sentence of the sins acquired while still alive. The Tausug also believed in a sort of karma boomerang to human while still alive, that goes “suli iban kisas di maraa mapatay”, roughly means “whatever person did in life cannot be brought to death”.

There are different choices of Tausug tawal-tawal (whisper-chant) and charms that has a significant element for their daily lives. This is to hope for success and luck, especially when going to the battlefield and visiting any social-economic gatherings and activities. 

By just turning the face from the enemy, even more fatal if it is running away from a defence fight, thus a memory-engraved shame. Tausug will never submit to defeat until death succumbed.

As a heterogeneous identity of people, Tausug are found mainly in the three areas: coastal areas (ha higad or parian), hinterland areas (ha gimba), and island areas (ha pu’). 

Tausug Maligay by Rameeta

Tausug as the communal identity of the citizens of the nation Sulu Archipelago and of the state of Sulu Sultanate Darul Islam speak Sinug called Bahasa Sug. Sinug is spoken as lingua franca with other dialects such as: Sinama, Binisaya, Tagalog and Malay as well as English.

The legendary mountain known Bud Tumantangis is still alive in the hearts and minds of the Tausug folklorist. The existence of Bud Tumantangis as the highest peak in the Sulu archipelago other than historic Bud Dahu, Bud Taliapao Bud Kaha, Bud Bungau ad Bud Tapul is a tale of the Tausug valiant ancestors.

Bud Dahu is seen from the Jolo port.

Tausug will be feeling the nostalgic renditions the Bud Tumantangis when start sailing from and to the place. The drama of the silhouette could be seen from far away sight upon leaving and approaching the port of Jolo. Bud Tumantangis derived from the Sinug words “bud” mountain, “tuman” mark or true and “tangis” cry that deciphers as “true-crying-mountain”.

Tausug edifying belief can be seen in their rites and dances; these are reflecting nature of the ebbs and waves flowing back and forth that signify their sails at sea. A traditional Tausug dance is popularly known as pangalay, accompanied by a kulintangan and agung with the janggay, metal-made accessories put in fingers of the dancer. Pangalay is derived from the Sinug word “langay” means “gesture” and “alay” means “offer” hence, “a gesture of offering” for the Tausug foreign and local visitors.

Sulu Darul Islam Flag is right now flying in the different place in it territories, courtesy of Yazir Rajim

Tausug acquired courage from Islam is afar doubt and bravery is believed to be indisputable, “Tau Maisug” or people of the courage became their venerated forename everywhere. Be it in writing and in oral traditions still possesses rare courage. Maisug was drawn from the root word “Isug” that is for courage and bravely. Maisug literally mean “possessing courage or bravery”. Yazir Rajim, a Tausug author revealed in his book “Kakaun Sug, Beyond Recipes,” that it is from the food “where the courageous Tausug starts”.

Tausug is a collective name to the various ethnics and sub-ethnics thriving in Sulu archipelago regardless of faith but mostly are Muslims. They are: Buranun, Tagima, Baklaya, Champan, Banjar, Ilanun, Sama, Subanun, Chabacano, Bisayan, Palawani, Mulbug, Jama Mapun, Laumsuba, Arab, European and many others. Due to the intermarriages between them, they could hardly distinguish their ethnicity and sub-ethnicity.

Tausug is also known as Sulug, Suluk and Solok to the people around likusantara (Southeast Asian region). Tausug was derived from the Sinug words Tau “people” and Sug “sea current”; hence moniker “people of the current” was natural. It is the Tausug ancient tradition to sail, dive pearls and trading, because their ancestral home-islands are having strong tidal currents that were been receding back and forth to South China Sea to the Celebes Sea from Sulu Sea.