Mapun (Cagayan De Tawi-Tawi or Cagayan de Sulu)
Mapun is a 4th class partially urban municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 22,011 people in 3,492 households.
Mapun (formerly Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi or Cagayan de Sulu) is an island municcipality in the Sulu Sea[1] on the southwestern extreme of the Philippines, located very close to Sabah. The people inhabiting the island are known as Jama Mapun or "people of Mapun". Their dialect is Pullun Mapun, which means "Mapun dialect".
The Jama Mapun are friendly, peace-loving people. Majority of them are Muslims although there are some who are Catholics and Seventh Day Adventists. However, there is no tension between them because of the difference in their religion. In fact, they have been living in harmony for many years.
Barangays
- Boki
- Duhul Batu
- Kompang
- Lupa Pula
- Guppah
- Mahalu
- Pawan
- Sikub
- Tabulian
- Tanduan
- Umus Mataha
- Iruk-Iruk
- Liyubud (Pob.)
- Lubbak Parang
- Sapah
Educational institutions
1. Lupa Pula Pilot School (formerly Lupa Pula Central School) - elementary pupils are primarily from Lupa Pula, Liyubud, and Mahalu. Considered as the number one elementary school in Mapun, with majority of its alumni being able to graduate from college. 2. Mahalu Elementary School 3. Duhul Batu Elementary School 4. Sikub Elementary School 5. Tabulian Elementary School 6. Sapah Elementary School 7. Boki Elementary School 8. Kompang Elementary School 9. Tanduan Elementary School 10. Pawan Elementary School 11. Guppah Elementary School 12. Iruk-Iruk Elementary School 13. Umus Mataha Elementary School 14. Lubbak Parang Elementary School 15. Imam Saat Elementary School
Secondary
1. Notre Dame of Cagayan (NDC) - a private school located in the border of Barangay Lupa Pula and Barangay Mahalu. 2. Mindanao State University (MSU) - a public school located in Mahalu 3. Tawi-Tawi Academy (TTA) - a private school located in Barangay Guppah
Tertiary
Mindanao State University Extension - a public school and the only college institution in Mapun. MSU-Extension offers two-year courses.
Majority of those who graduate from high school pursue their studies in other places, most notably Zamboanga City, Palawan, and Bongao.
Mapun Day
Mapun Foundation Day is celebrated by the Jama Mapun every September 5. This week-long celebration starts on September 1, with a parade and then a short program held in Lupa Pula Central School. Various competitions are held during Mapun Day, which includes singing competitions (in English, Tagalog, and Pullun Mapun), dance showdowns (modern dance, folk dance, pangalay, which is a native dance, and lunsay, which is a dance performed during weddings), Azaan competition, Tarasul iban Daman (Mapun's version of declamation and oration), and Leleng, to name a few. Each Barangay has their own representatives in the various events. However, the most popular is the "Budjang Mapun", which is a beauty. Each barangay has its own contestant in this event. The winner of the search for "Budjang Mapun" is usually sent to Bongao as Mapun's representative in Budjang Tawi-Tawi, a similar beauty search held in Bongao every Province Day. Every municipality in Tawi-Tawi has its own contestant.