Local tradition has it that the Orang Dampuans - one of the Papuan tribes and forebears of present day Yakans in Basilan – were the early inhabitants of Sumisip. They were the early settlers in the long coastline of Basilan Island until the arrival of the Muslim missionaries from Borneo and Sumatra and later from the seafaring people of Sulu who embraced Islam in the 14th century afterhaving contact with the Arab traders and missionaries.
When other seafarers fromSulu came and established settlements in the coastal areas, the Yakans were forced to retreat and sought refuge to the interior of the island and formed small villages in the mountainous and hilly parts of the area. Despite their conversion to Islam, the descendants of this tribe retained throughout the centuries most of their original customs, mode of dressing and dialect. By nature, the Yakans are peaceful people who devote most of their time in farming and prayer.
History of Sumisip
The first early settlement of the Yakans in Sumisip was evident in Dipayen, Irelley and Balung-Balung, all sitios of Barangay
Guiong. The first trading center (tabuan) with other tribes (especially the Sama Bangui-ngui and Tausug tribes)in early days was in TapianGuiong, located along the mouth of Guiong river near the coastal sitio of Kasanyangan between the present location of SahayaBohe’Bato and Barangay Basak.
Guiong was the popular place before Sumisip was created into a municipality. The term “SUMISIP” itself is a slight modification of the Yakan word “sumipit”, which refers to a forked river divided by a dry delta in-between and whose streams flow side by side with a grassland located between Kaum-Air and Look-Bait.
In 1964, Jesuit missionaries arrived in Sumisip, and soon thereafter, Christian settlers from the Visayas, the Cebuanos, Warays, Boholanos and Ilongos came as they were brought in the area as workers for the Rubber Plantations owned by multinational companies in Tumahubong and Mangal. Others were hired by logging concessionaires and agricultural plantation.
Sumisip was created as a municipality (together with nine other municipalities) by virtue of Presidential Decree 593 dated December 2, 1975, amending PD 356 dated December 27, 1974. These Nine Municipalities were Sumisip, Tapiantanah Group Islands, Pilas Group of Islands, Malamawi, Tuburan, Tipo-Tipo, Lantawan, Maluso, Lamitan and Isabela, Basilan was a city at that time.
On December 11, 1975, PD 840 amended PD 593 that reduced the number of municipalities of Basilan Province from nine (9) to only seven (7) and these are: Sumisipto include Tapiantanah Group of Islands, Maluso, Lantawan to include Pilas Group of Islands, Tipo-tipo, Tuburan, Lamitan and Isabela.
Prior to the creation of Sumisip into a Municipality, the first Panglima (Jurist), appointed by the late Datu Kalun to be the representative of the people of Guiong was the late Panglima Tukul. He was the sole authority that conducts and resolve family affair of the people during the Sultanate Government.
Vision Mission Statement
Vision
Onward Sumisip: Center for agro-industrial enterprise and eco-tourism in Basilan where people are God-fearing, disciplined, self-reliant, empowered, living in peaceful environment in harmony with nature, under the leadership of effective and innovative change makers whose pursuit of development is determined by the greater majority, and the fruits of labor are shared by all.
Mission
To work together to improve and strengthen the delivery of demand-driven services through wise utilization of resources, in partnership with government agencies, civil society organizations, religious sectors and the entire people of Sumisip.
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