Sta. Cruz..."Pink Island" of Zamboanga
Posted on Sunday, 3 August 2014
Sta.
Cruz…”Pink Island” of Zamboanga
by Apolinario Villalobos
Sta. Cruz Island, noted for its pinkish
beach is a mere fifteen minutes from Zamboanga City. Samals, Tausugs and
Badjaos consider it a sacred island where they bury their dead in a small
cemetery not far from the shores. The locals believe that the island is a live
coral rock once under the sea and surfaced out of Basilan Strait. The pinkish
color of the beach can be attributed to the granules of red corals that abound
around the island and got mixed with the white sands.
According to a local legend, the big Santa
Cruz Island and its twin island nearby were once desperate lovers, a Badjao and
a Samal maiden who unfortunately belonged to two warring tribes. Having thought
of no other way to escape, they took a narrow houseboat and paddled their way
towards the raging sea. As the storm abated the following day, their parents
searched for them to no avail. Instead, they found two islets connected to each
other by a submerged land bridge.
The cemetery of the Badjaos, Samals and
Tausugs communities on the island is conspicuous with the different markers
made of stones and woods that indicate the gender or age of the one lying in
state. The “okir” design dominates the different symbols on the markers. The
carved image virtually represents the dead, so that it is easily known if it’s
a boy, girl, old man or woman. Sometimes, even the cause of death is depicted.
As they believe that the spirit of the dead
has to make a voyage to the “other world”, a carving representing a boat, a
bird, horse or a crocodile is also added to the grave marker, to symbolize
means of travel. The grave markers are composed of two parts, such as, the
upright form known as the “sundok” and the rectangular frame on which the “sunduk”
rests, called “kubul”. The “sunduk” may be simply carved or elaborately
designed, depending on the fancy of the bereaved family. It does not
necessarily represent the social status of the family. The “sunduk” represents
the age and sex of the departed, hence, each grave marker is distinctively
different from each other.
For the men, the “sunduk” is usually
cylindrical with either a round or pointed top. Sometimes the marker takes the
form of a man simply done, similar to that of a paper cutout. It usually rests
on another carving in the form of an animal or just a simple box within the
“kubul”.
For the women, the marker is flat and wide,
sometimes with a leaf and scroll designs, or incised with the comb motif on top
or bottom. It is directly set on the ground or board, while securely fixed to
the “kubul”.
The “sunduk” for the adults is higher than
that of the children’s. It is usually three feet high as compared to the six to
fifteen inches high of that of the children.
Jult like the “sunduk”, the “kubul” may be
simply or elaborately designed. The simplest form being the plain, rectangular
frame of wood. The most elaborate ones are with scroll or leaf designs carved
on the four sides and with okir or naga motif on the edges. The “kubul” may
rest on top of a mound of earth and in the case of a particularly important
person, a canopy or shed, usually of wood, is built over it.
There are some “kubul” over which are built
concrete shed. Some are even painted with primary colors such as green, red,
blue or just plain white. The same is also done to the “sunduk” on which a line
from the Koran and the name of the dead are inscribed.
The Samal and the Badjao usually bury their
dead within just one “kubul”. It is not unsual therefore, to see in their
graveyards several “sunduk” within a “kubul”. As a custom, a white cloth is
tied around the “sunduk” representing the dead for whom members of the family
offer prayers. White flags that hang from the ceiling of the “kubul’s” canopy
indicate that prayers have been said by the family members.
The “pink” Sta. Cruz island has been the pride of Zamboanga aside
from the vintas with their colorful sails. As a bit of caution, however, it is
necessary to first check with local authorities if a trip to the island is
planned by those who would like to visit Zamboanga.
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