ARMM Geographical Features

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (abbreviated ARMM) is the region, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that is composed of predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan (except Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is the only region that has its own government. The regional capital is at Cotabato City, although this city is outside of its jurisdiction.

(Except Isabela City)

BASILAN

The Province of Basilan (Lalawigan ng Basilan in Filipino/Tagalog; Provincia de Basilan in Spanish/Chabacano) is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula. Its capital, Isabela City, is administered as part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region. Basilan is home to three main ethnic groups, the indigenous Yakans, and the later-arriving Tausugs and Chabacano. The Yakans and Tausugs are predominantly Muslim, while the Chabacano are mainly Christian. There are also a number of smaller groups. Although the official language is Filipino and English, the major language is Yakan, but other languages are well represented, including Tausug, Samal, and Chabacano.

Basilan, although classified as a 4th-Class Province in terms of gross provincial income, has one of the lowest incidence of poverty in the Philippines (26.19% of the general population), ranked 20 among the Philippines' 80 Provinces (in comparison, Maguindanao which is ranked last at no. 80 has a poverty incidence of 44.24%). More importantly, the gap between Basilan's rich and poor residents are among the narrowest in the country (ranked 3rd nationwide), pointing to one of the most equitable distributions of wealth anywhere in the country (GINI Coefficient 0.2826, which is slightly better than the Provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Cavite, Batanes and Batangas).

Governor of Basilan

BASILAN
(TOURIST ATTRACTIONS)

Basilan Provincial Capitol

BULINGAN FALLS

LANAO DEL SUR

Lanao del Sur (Filipino:Timog Lanaw) is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf. Found in the interior of Lanao del Sur is Lanao Lake, the largest lake in Mindanao. Lanao del Sur forms the western portion of Northern Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by Lanao del Norte, on the east by Bukidnon, on the west by Illana Bay, and on the south by Maguindanao and Cotabato. The landscape is dominated by rolling hills and valleys, placid lakes and rivers. The climate in the province is characterized by even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, without a distinct summer season. The province is located outside the typhoon belt.

GOVERNOR OF LANAO DEL SUR

LANAO DEL SUR

(TOURIST ATTRACTIONS)

Lake Lanao is a large lake in the Philippines, settled in Lanao del Sur province in the countrys southern island of Mindanao. With a surface area of 340 km. (131 square miles), it is the largest lake in Mindanao, and the second largest lake in the Philippines and considered as one of the 15 ancient lakes in the world.

CAPITOL MOSQUE

The Torogan is the traditional residence of the reigning Sultan of the Maranaw people and his family. It is where the community traditionally gathers for wedding thanksgiving rites, enthronements and vigils for the dead. For more than two and a half centuries, the Dayawan torogan served as a school for living traditions and an important cultural center for the different peoples in Lanao del Sur, one of the provinces of the Philippines.

DELICACIES of LANAO DEL SUR

MAGUINDANAO

Maguindanao (Filipino: Magindanaw) Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south. The province is divided into two congressional districts. In October 2006, the first congressional district was split off into a new province, Shariff Kabunsuan. However, the ARMM's Act creating the province was nullified by the Supreme Court in July 2008, on the basis that creation of a province is a function of the Philippine legislature. The area has since reverted to the province of Maguindanao.

Esmael Toto" Mangudadatu or (Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu) (b. August 15, 1968) is the Governor of Maguindanao, in the Philippines.

MAGUINDANAO
(tourist attractions)

Maguindanao Provincial Capitol

MAGUINDANAO MOSQUE

PEARL FARM BEACH

MAGINDANAON DELICACIES

SULU

Its capital is Jolo and occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. It is home to the historical Sultanate of Sulu.

Sulu's main island, Jolo is 15th largest island of the Philippine Archipelago in terms of the area, spanning 1,600 square kilometers. Sulu is a part of the Sulu Archipelago, which stretches from the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula to the island of Borneo. The main island and also its islets are located between the island-provinces of Basilan to the northeast, and Tawi-Tawi to the southwest.

The Tausug are referred to as people of the current, reflective of their close ties to the sea. The handicrafts of Sulu mirror Islamic and Indonesian influences. Skilled artisans make boats, bladed weapons, bronze and brassware, pis cloth, embroidered textiles, shellcraft, traditional house carvings, and carved wooden grave markers.

GOV. ABDUSAKUR M. TAN

SULU
(tourist attractions)

BEST DELICACIES

TAWI-TAWI

Tawi-Tawi is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The capital of Tawi-Tawi is Bongao. The province is the southernmost of the country sharing sea borders with the Malaysian State of Sabah and the Indonesian East 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, the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island and the Turtle Islands, just 20 kilometers away from Sabah.

Hadji Sadikul "Dick" Adalla Sahali (born June 18, 1941) is a Filipino politician and current Governor of Tawi-Tawi, an island province in the Sulu Archipelago. Politically, TawiTawi is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

TAWI-TAWI
(tourist attractions)