Houses on Stilts

HOUSES ON STILTS

Renting a boat to go island hopping, cluster of houses on stilts by the seashore is a typical sight. The predominantly Samal tribe/ethnic group of Tawi-tawi lives in these houses on stilts an affirmation of their culture that is closely linked to the sea.

Children playing by their houses bridge platforms and diving into the water is a common scene. A boat by the houses step ladder down to the sea is ready-to-go anytime just like the typical car in the garage.

Of course, Tawi-Tawi won't look the same without the houses on stilts built by the Tausugs and the Badjaos. Tawi-Tawi is also known to be an area for migrants from Malaysia and Indonesia, though I heard most of them are not happy that they are here. Nevertheless, they put up residence on bamboo stilts on the shallow white sand beaches along the coast.

Some of the areas we passed by were entire communities that looked like a village on stilts. Some houses were abandoned though. Some even had the flags of their tribes on poles.