July 10, 2010
Yesterday, I flew with the French Ambassador and the President of the French Oil Drilling Comapany SOS and former Congress Speaker Joe de Venecia in a private plane to Tawi Tawi. We inspected the completed rehabilitated first mosque in the Philippines, established by Yemeni Sheik Makhdum and 6 Islamic scholars in the island of Simunul, Province of Tawi Tawi 629 years ago. Islam preceded Christianity in the Philippines. I was part of the inspection team in my capacity as Director- Commissioner of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, which prepared the detailed rehabilitation plans and supervised the rehabilitiation.
We were graciously hosted byt Tawi Tawi Governor Shahali and his provincial and municipal officers and provided security by thy military and police task force, headed by a young officer, PN Captain Erick Kagaoan.
We flew out of Manila at 6am and landed at 9am. Then we rode speedcraft boats to travel to Simunul Island from Bonggao Island for 30 minutes to inspect the mosque. Afterwards we returned to enjoy a very sumptuous lunch of seafoods, meat and chicken cooked in the local cuisine styles. After lunch we flew to Zamboanga City to meet with the regional military officers of Southwest Mindanao Command, before taking off for Manila at 4pm. We arrived safely in Manila at 6pm. Very tiring but great trip.
Gabby
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