On board SuperFerry 6 en route to Zamboanga City last December, I discovered that one of my cabin mates was a Marine corporal bound for Jolo. When he learned that I was going to Basilan, where he had been previously stationed for a long time, he issued a warning in Filipino to this timorous traveler: "Be careful there." Actually, however, the Basileños, especially the riverine folk, are a friendly people, always waving t friends, acquaintances and even strangers.

Guerrero, A. M. (2000, February 27). Beguiling Basilan. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. D6.