BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – All systems go for the celebration of 36th founding anniversary of Tawi-Tawi dubbed “Kamahardikaan Tawi-Tawi” festival as city streets have already been adorned with colorful buntings and streamers, while vendors of different kinds of fruits were already lining up along the busy commercial district of this town, Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali said yesterday.

He said the celebration will be held from September 24 to 27 with its theme “Yes, Tawi-Tawi Can! Sailing fast as Philippines’ new frontier for tourism.”

The “Kamahardikaan Tawi-Tawi” is an annual event that brings together the people of the province to this municipality to commemorate the creation of the province pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 302 dated September 11, 1973.

The province is in the southernmost part of the country sharing sea borders with the Malaysian State of Sabah and the Indonesian Kalimantan province.

To the northeast lies the province of Sulu and to the west is Sabah in Malaysia.

Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in the Sulu Sea to the northwest, while Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi and Turtle Island are just 20 kilometers away from Sabah.

Sahali wanted to make this year celebration more meaningful and entertaining for people of the entire province and visitors.

Aside from the usual sports competition, there will be religious programs and cultural events that showcase the colorful ethnic cultures of the sama, badjaos, jama mapuns and the tausugs.

Sahali said most of the activities are centered to jumpstart its eco-tourism program including environmental and health agenda that could lead to more local and national investment opportunities and job creations.

One of the highlights during the celebration is the agal-agal festival, giving the necessary emphasis on the number one product of the province - seaweeds.

Also, the “Paglomba-lomba ma Tahik Tawi-Tawi,” an aquatic competition geared to promote local boat racing as marine sports that could be harnessed into tourist attraction tools for the sports and eco-tourism industry.