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Dalam sejarahnya Tawi-Tawi kepulauan adalah wilayah Kerajaan
Sulu. Dalam sejarah, Kerajaan Sulu terbilang wilayah yang bersifat independent cukup
lama (dibandingkan kerajaan-kerajaan lain di Nusantara). Mengapa? Di bagian
wilayah Sulu di Tawi-Tawi dan sekitar merupakan salah satu wilayah di bawah
proteksi (kerajaan) Sulu yang kerap melakukan perlawanan kepada orang-orang
Eropa sejak era Portugis/Spanyol. Pada era Hindia Belanda, para bajak laut yang
dikejar Angkatan laut Hindia Belanda sangat aman berlindung di Tawi-Tawi
(ibarat pengejaran keuangan di berbagai negara pada masa kini sangat aman di
bank-bank Swiss).
Tawi-Tawi (Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Tawi-Tawi; Tausug: Wilaya' sin Tawi-Tawi; Sinama: Jawi Jawi/Jauih Jauih) is an island province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The capital of Tawi-Tawi is Bongao. It is the southernmost province of the country, sharing sea borders with the Malaysian state of Sabah and the Indonesian North Kalimantan province, both on the island of Borneo to the west. To the northeast lies the province of Sulu. Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in the Sulu Sea to the northwest, Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island and the Turtle Islands, just 20 kilometres (12 mi) away from Sabah. The municipalities comprising the current Tawi-Tawi province were formerly under the jurisdiction of Sulu until 1973 (1.087 km²; population 322.317 (2000)). Administrative divisions: Tawi-Tawi comprises 11 municipalities, all encompassed by two legislative districts and further subdivided into 203 barangays. Bongao — the capital of the province; Languyan — created by President Marcos for rebel leader Hadjiril Matba who joined the government in the 1970s; Mapun — Tawi-Tawi's northernmost municipality, formerly Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi or Cagayan de Sulu; Panglima Sugala — formerly known as Balimbing. However, in the EDSA Revolution, the word "balimbing" acquired a derogatory meaning associated with turncoatism due to the fruit's many sides. It is the former capital of the province; Sapa-Sapa; Sibutu — home to the descendants of Malay royalty in Borneo and not necessarily associated with the Sulu royalty; Simunul — site of oldest mosque in the Philippines and home of Sheikh Makdum, one of the early pioneers spreading Islam in the country; Sitangkai — southernmost municipality in the country; South Ubian; Tandubas; Turtle Islands — a turtle sanctuary and protected area; Most of the municipalities are located on the islands in the Sulu Archipelago. Two of them, Mapun (which is closer to Palawan) and Turtle Islands, lie within the Sulu Sea. (Wikipedia)
Lantas bagaimana sejarah Tawi-Tawi diantara Sulu dan Sabah? Seperti disebut di atas, Tawi-Tawi kepulauan berada di dalam yurisdiksi Kerajaan Sulu di masa lampau, yang mana pada hari ini provinsi berada di antara provinsi Sulu (Filipina) dan wilayah negara Sabah (Federasi Malaysia). Lalu bagaimana sejarah Tawi-Tawi diantara Sulu dan Sabah? Seperti kata ahli sejarah tempo doeloe, semuanya ada permulaan. Untuk menambah pengetahuan dan meningkatkan wawasan sejarah nasional, mari kita telusuri sumber-sumber tempo doeloe.





