Jolo-Basilan-Tawitawi Adventure Photo Gallery by Gio Sabio at pbase.com

Jolo-Basilan-Tawitawi Adventure

Somebody once told me that the best beach in the Philippines is not Boracay but a certain Quezon Beach in Patikul, Sulu. As an avid fanatic of Boracay, I was skeptical about his claim ... until I recently got the chance to actually set foot in the fabled Quezon Beach. True enough, it's definitely a notch greater than Boracay in terms of fine sand, clear waters, and the immensity of the beach area. To top it off, it's far from being commercialized. It is probably the best beach in the Philippines!

Thanks to Kah Dorang's family, Farida, Ricky and our Jeepload of bodyguards. We wouldn't have felt any safer in Jolo without their assistance. Thanks to Barb's relatives in Zamboanga and Tawi-tawi for the wonderful hospitality.

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DSC00143_QuezonBeach.jpg	MacroBug2_2.jpg	DSC00358.JPG	DSC00029_Zamboanga.jpg
DSC00081_2.JPG	DSC00042_QuezonBeach.jpg	DSC00075_Macro.jpg	DSC00067_Zambo.jpg
DSC00309_StaCruzZambo.jpg	DSC00174_Jolo.JPG	DSC00521.JPG	DSC00241_LamitanBasilan.jpg

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post a comment

juh		13-Jul-2008 10:42
Its me again from Jolo, by the way Patikul is not located in Jolo. Patikul is another town in Sulu province. Jolo and Patikul are belongs to Sulu province. Thank you for showing the Other side of Jolo, Sulu. May maganda pa katulad ng Quezon beach, yung tinatawag nila na Ramos beach na makikita sa Banggas town, yan yung isla na sa tapat lang ng Jolo town.

juh		13-Jul-2008 10:33
I'm from Jolo, yang mga picture ay matatawag ko na The Other side of Jolo. Quezon beach is located in Taglibi. 20 mins ang byahe mula Jolo town proper. It was name after Manuel L. Quezon. Maganda talaga dyan lagi kami dyan, mga once a monthe siguro. Actually marami talaga magagandang beach dito sa province ng Sulu. Mayron pang isa na Ramos beach at iba pa. Safe naman dito sa Jolo town, pag pumunta ka sa labas ng Jolo safe din naman pero dapat may mga friends o kamag anak ka dito. Ang maaadvice ko lang wag kayo lumabas ng Jolo town pag wala kayong kakilala dito.

Guest		27-Mar-2008 17:48
this was the beach i was looking for!!!

chuvaness		06-Feb-2008 02:56
hello, am not sure if you get my first message but I'd like to borrow some of your Basilan pics for HELP BASILAN project. I hope you don't mind. Salamat. Nice shots, by the way.

G.Pietro Munaretto		09-Aug-2007 13:00
Le vostre immagini sono stupefacenti

hdbusa		27-Jul-2007 15:03
hey, oftentimes it is the media that blow things up out of proportion, and make the whole world so chaotic & dangerous to live, and rake alot of profits out it though. common guys, this is still a beautiful world, explore and enjoy, but use your common sense. The Philippines is still one of the most beautiful and peaceful countries in the world today.

SUSAN		11-Jul-2007 07:28
Well!!! I am so amazed!!!Am I really a stranger in my own country???I never thought that Jolo is that so beautiful!!! You have done a good job by capturing the very essence(beauty) of Jolo. Congratulations!!! May you succeed in this hobby of yours and please send it to different publication including FHM Magazine so not only bare skin of Filipina women are shown there but our countrymen may find for themselves how beautiful is the Philippines is...

David Yu		21-Jun-2007 07:27
Gio, you are really well connected there. When I landed at Jolo airport around 15 years ago, the marine there took my passport to register my name and nationality (for body identification purpose?) then sternly warned me not to set foot on a place named Patikul under any circumstances. Your pictures cured all curiorisities and regrets. Salute.

efren		18-Apr-2007 21:07
gusto ko sana magkaro_on ng kapayapan sa mindanao .......ang gira sa mindanao hindi personal na labanan sa kristiyano at muslim ito ay labana sa mga prinsepyo''''''wag sana natin pairalin ng init ng ulo...... walang mabuting maidudulot ang masamng paraan """""sana marunong tayo magpatawad sa kapwa natin pilipino

Glitter		28-Mar-2007 09:08
Tawi-Tawi is really a nice place.. the people living here adds up more to its beauty.. hope you can personally visit the real paradise island in the Phil...!

wendell		20-Feb-2007 03:26
hi..i really appreciate this site.. this is really great! i don't know who uploaded these photos but i say i really thank you for your efforts of promoting the Mindanao beauty.. I'd like to inform you that without consent, i linked this site in my website, igso.niceboard.com.. you can check this site and leave a comment or you can e-mail me at wdcano@gmail.com...

aldrin		19-Feb-2007 03:33
wow! that place is too nice! the shots were taken excellently! i never expected in such a place where war is frequent, there are such nice place as that!you know i have a friend who had grown from jolo, sulu and he usually tell me everything about jolo. i just imagine and try to have a picture of those stories. but now i have seen some true pictures of those. thanks! :aldrin from mindanao state university-general santos city

screw12		12-Feb-2007 12:16
Basilan is really a nice place especially Isabela city. Those people who are scared of going to this place will never experience the TRUE BASILAN and how is it to live in it. I DARE everyone to visit this place! Ang ganda! Do not be afraid. It is like an ordinary place in the world where peace dwells. Those who are creating negative stories about BASILAN, please stop it.

sloy		12-Feb-2007 11:53
Basilan is really a nice place especially Isabela city. Those people who are scared of going to this place will never experience the TRUE BASILAN and how is it to live in it. I DARE everyone to visit this place! Ang ganda! Do not be afraid. It is like an ordinary place in the world where peace dwells. Those who are creating negative stories about BASILAN, please stop it.

JIMMY		04-Feb-2007 06:33
THIS REALLY A PARADISE I LOVE THE PEOPLE AND MY COUNTRY.

BANZAII		04-Feb-2007 06:28
Maituturing kong " PARADISE " ang bansa natin sana magkaron na nang kaayusan ang lugar na ito isa ito sa maitatanging paraiso nating mga Filipino. Napaka ganda po. Salamat sa napakagandang mga pictures. Mabuhay Pinoy....

Gus		21-Nov-2006 09:03
Looks really nice!...but dangerous too!

Guest		23-Sep-2006 22:19
Wala na ba mga Abu Sayaf sa Jolo?

gerhon		27-Jun-2006 07:08
WOW its true beauty really sets in the south... im so amazed of these so beautiful shots... balik balik gyud to tan aw murag naa na gyud ko didto.. hehehe.. its so eautiful place to visit.. i pray someday.. some good men... will rise in mindanao.. and will make this place... a good place to rest, play, swim, and enjoy mother earth... good luck bro keep the good work... best shots... thanks...

nel asuncion		06-Jan-2006 23:08
how did you get there..what aircraft?is it safe 2 go there ?any accomodations to rent?how much roundtrip?whats the nearest airport?thnx a lot for ur pics...much appreciated.

Eyo		24-Nov-2005 05:52
Wow I would come here in a heartbeat. This place is beautiful. BUT I think I will wait when guns and bodyguards are no longer needed. I think I'll go back to El Nido for the time being. Thanks for sharing.

mercygay		15-Nov-2005 22:42
ang ganda talaga ng mga pictures mo! NAKAKA innngggit! how i wish kasama ako dyan, pero okey na rin para na rin akong nakapunta dyan. THANKS for sharing! GAMBATTE! ingats....

Pinoy-Nomads		14-Nov-2005 17:02
Nice photos. The Department of Tourism should try promoting this wonderful beach. One nice place to visit is Bongao, also in Tawi-Tawi. Happy traveling

Guest		14-Nov-2005 05:05
Ric A. 14-Nov-2005 05:02 Gio: Whoa! Your shots are simply unbelievably great! I would rather say it is a complete 360 degrees turn-around from the out-put of a Giovanni I knew of during our U.P. days.I do not mean you were inferior then but of course given our limited resources and idyllic exposures it seemed practically difficult to harness such a much required skill. Thank heavens! You were undeterred to move up. At first instance, I thought your shots are just perhaps an off-shoot of the techno-syncracies duly afforded to you by the corporate world you are presently evolving with. Yes, maybe.But after viewing all your compiled shots, I am deliberately convinced you are thespically gifted in photography. Admittedly, I envy your shots. My golly! Perhaps I can only be proud of my shots or few taken both from my international and extensive domestic travels. After seeing yours, I have the thoughts of shelving them all including the lucid lessons in photo-journalism I earned during college. It certainly amazed me that while many of us are either lured into or deeply burried in the dungeons of the respective complexities of our professions (not to mention its corresponding perplexities), you were still able to relish a very healthy communion with nature.And the girls? Oh! What nature's gift to bring you an exceptional blissful union. I will hold you culpable should you deny! Imminently, the shots are manifestations of your unleashed oozing acumen for photography par excellence. Dieu vous garde!

singapinoy		10-Nov-2005 01:27
The pictures are awesome and very well captured! My compliments! One question though- do you really require the presence of bodyguards? I am rather keen on visiting the places but a little apprehensive about the safety and security there.It will be first time for me. Any advise from anyone ? Rgds." A Singaporean who love to travel"

Gaurav		10-Nov-2005 01:20
Thanks for sharing. Your pictures are amazing. Especially the macro shots. Do you handhold the camera? How close are you to the bugs? And how do you ensure that you don't scare them away.

bobby claros		09-Nov-2005 13:02
amazing pictures!!!!! looking forward to your new gallery...

Bob		09-Nov-2005 12:27
Marvelous. I like pic #312...the picture talks..

Miguel Paolo Salazar		09-Nov-2005 12:26
Ang galing nang mga photos mo Gio, congrats...

Leng		09-Nov-2005 12:25
mahirap yatang mag-swimming na may body guards ...at armalite within your sight... how brave how brave.

Aryxz		09-Nov-2005 12:24
oh my gulay!!! mikki... ano ka ba kapatid!!! makalaglag panty ka daw sabi ng mga girls sa office. hahaha. napatili ang mga bading dito huh!

Flo		09-Nov-2005 12:23
Gio! You're right! Ang ganda nga! Pero nakakatakot talaga ginawa mong byahe ha. Ang galing mo na ding photog! Paturo naman! :)

Jed		09-Nov-2005 12:23
i've seen the pix and they are GREAT!!! how can one get there and if that would be me, how much time and money must i prepare?

Mon		09-Nov-2005 12:21
Hello Gio, Bilib talaga ako. Paano ka napadpad nang Jolo?

Eighron		09-Nov-2005 12:19
sirr! astig kuha mo tala lalo na yung DSC00312_BatubatuTawitawi.jpg ... pang Nat'l Geographic Channel!!

Marjun		09-Nov-2005 12:17
Giov, Just too much for me.. I'm drooling dude..You reached that place means ur really great! I think it's better to preserve it that way..place is so near from us but we feel it's on the other side of the globe because of it's remoteness and see only the bloodshed in basilan and not the pristine beauty of this place..!!

Dianne		09-Nov-2005 12:15
Hehe..ganda ng pictures nyo..

Gene Bryan		09-Nov-2005 12:14
ayos ganda ng pix!!!!

retzel		09-Nov-2005 12:11
is this for real? pa-indicate naman po ng details like how to go there, IT, budget, etc. ang ganda! pero safe po ba?!?

nick		08-Nov-2005 19:05
Gutted that such beauty cannot be freely viewed without huge safety concerns. As a foreigner I will probably never get to share this idyllic scene except through your pictures, many thanks.

click on thumbnails for full image