Adlaw Pagtabuh-Tabuh, Tawi-Tawi | Panglima Sugala’s Barter Market

October 4, 2022October 8, 2022 Rex Lim Lim 2022, ADVENTURE, BLOG, BUDGET, GUIDE, HOW TO, ITINERARY, TOURIST SPOTS, TRANSIT PINAS, TRAVEL GUIDE

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Batu-Batu, Panglima Sugala: Barter trading or exchange of goods was the way of life back in the day, but we were lucky enough to still witness this well-preserved culture in Tawi-Tawi.

… I see you lookin’ at my P-I-C (I know), zoom in (uh-huh), zoom out (okay)

The southernmost province of Tawi-Tawi has always been my dream destination and we failed to visit it two years ago because of the imposed ECQ of April 2020. As the restrictions slowly lifted, we braved and flew to the farthest province that was once shrouded by killings and insurgencies. Later on, we realized that Tawi-Tawi is a paradise that dares you to discover.

Adlaw Pagtabuh-Tabuh

Table of Contents

After a filling breakfast of Tausug delicacies and native coffee from our gracious host, Ate Sidang, we carried on and rode our rented boat for the day that will take us to Panampangan Island.

A typical Bangbang Sug tray filled with Tausug goodies.

But, since it was a Saturday, our guide, Kuya Bensar told us that we would stop by the barter market to purchase some fresh fish for our lunch.

After an hour, we arrived at a jam-packed port filled with all sorts of Tausug pump boats in Brgy. Batu-Batu in the municipality of Panglima Sugala. This Saturday market is called Adlaw Pagtabuh-Tabuh, every Saturday, the Sama and Badjao people, farmers, and fisherfolks, of Panglima Sugala flock to the town market in Brgy. Batu-Batu to participate in this ethnic market.

Going Cashless

What lacks in the usual amenities found in most of our markets, it compromises with the chaotic yet peculiar way of selling or trading their goods. Everything is just arranged on the floor, from local crops, fruits, shellfish, seaweeds, sharks, and even manta rays, it was a colorful sea affair. Moreover, each and every one transacted in a language I can’t even decipher.

This visit to the Adlaw Pagtabuh-Tabuh in Panglima Sugala is such a unique opportunity wherein we had the chance to witness a tradition that is so well preserved it has remained unchanged for decades.

Barter as we all know is the exchange of goods or services between two parties, we have done it with other traders such as Chinese and Malaysians since time immemorial. Filipinos traded with Chinese traders and neighboring countries using the barter system before the arrival of the Spaniards in 1521. Basically, before the rise of credit cards, our ancestors were already doing cashless transactions!

Tumpok, Buwig, and Just Playing it by Ear

In this market, locals can come to market to even have their used clothing be exchanged for fresh fish. Also, as modern times have crept in, cash in Philippine pesos is widely accepted.

There are no price tags, no weighing scales, just pure instincts. Most of the products are arranged in bundles, baskets, or plates, then they play it by ear and conclude negotiations if they both agree that the trade or the purchase was fair enough for both parties.

Mainlanders would trade their crops for fish and other marine products from the Sulu and Celebes Sea and vice versa.

For example, we could buy two tumpoks of Gamay or Lato, equivalent to almost two plate-full of seaweeds for only a hundred pesos. At two hundred pesos, we had an enormous Anak Bung or Talakitok, and another hundred fifty pesos afforded us around eight pieces of Taballung or Cowfish. Bananas and Cassava products are sold in buwigs or bundles.

Trust and Success

In this part of the Philippines, I learned that trust trumps money on all levels. Consequently, a certain level of trust and good connection with people will yield more than what your money can afford.

Just like in life, successful people are often not the ones who have more in their pockets, but the ones who have more friends and acquaintances that are willing to lend a helping hand in times of need.

I was lucky enough to witness something special such as the Adlaw Pagtabuh-Tabuh where they honor and preserve age-old traditions just like how it was back in the day.

How to Get There:

The municipality of Panglima Sugala is located in the province of Tawi-Tawi

This municipality is 25 kilometers by land from Sanga-Sanga Airport in Bongao and is an hour away by pump boat from the Chinese Pier also in Bongao

Batu-Batu in the municipality of Panglima Sugala, the closest mainland port is just 13 nautical miles away from the famous Panampangan Island.
Cebu Pacific flies daily to Tawi-Tawi via Zamboanga.
Philippine Airlines now also flies to Tawi-Tawi via Cotabato
You can contact Nursida Nurrullaji or known by many travelers as “Ate Sidang” to assist you on your Tawi-Tawi tour through her Facebook Page HERE