The ancient name of Sulu was Suug, which means "current" in Tausug. The language of the Tausug is very similar to Butuanon and anthropologists believe that the Tausug may have been descended from settlers who came into Sulu from Northern Mindanao. Samal folklore, on the other hand, holds that their people migrated from the vicinity of Johore and settled in Sulu. Due to the strategic location of the island, it was actively trading with the Chinese and nearby Southeast Asian nations before the coming of the Spaniards in the 16^th century.

Islam was introduced into Sulu in 1280 by Tuan Masha’ika, who established the first Muslim community in the archipelago. Missionary work began in the early 14^th century with the arrival of Karim ul-Makhdum and the Sultanate was established in the 15^th century by Rajah Baginda. By the end of the 15^th century, Islamic political institutions had firmly taken root in Sulu. Before the Spaniards arrived in the 16^th century, Sulu’s influence as a religious and commercial center had extended to as far north as Manila.

In 1597, the Spaniards tried to seize Jolo in the first of several attempts to force the sultanate into submission. The Sulu people retaliated by launching raids on territories subject to Spanish rule that continued, with varying degrees of intensity, until the mid-19^th century. Spanish attempts to force the Sulus to submission were largely futile. In 1638, the Spaniards gained a temporary foothold in Jolo, but the fort was abandoned in 1646. The sultanate’s power reached its zenith in the late 18^th century when it’s realm stretched from the coast of Sabah in Borneo, to portions of Zamboanga peninsula and Palawan.

Towards the mid-19^th century, the Spaniards intensified attempts to force the Sulus into submission. The island of Balanguigui was razed, and its inhabitants brought into captivity by the Spaniards in 1848. In 1851, the Spaniards began the occupation of Jolo, forcing the Sultan to retire to Maimbung. The Spaniards razed Jolo in 1876 and built a protected settlement in the town. By 1878, the Sultan acknowledged vassalage to Spain but retained vast political and religious powers.

The town of Jolo was evacuated by the Spaniards in May 1899 and turned over to the American military forces. In August 1899, the Americans negotiated the Bates Treaty that established nominal control over the Sultanate. However, resistance to American efforts to enforce control over the sultanate resulted in armed resistance and war. The Sulus made a heroic stand against the Americans in the Battle of Bud Dajo in 1906. In 1915, the Sultan of Sulu signed into an agreement with the Americans relinquishing all political powers in Sulu and paving the way for its incorporation into the Philippines as a province.

The Spaniards first established a politico-military district for Jolo in 1878 and another for the town of Siasi in 1882. In 1903, Sulu became a district of the Moro Province and in 1914 became a province of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu.

Sulu was a hotbed of Moro secessionists in the 1970s. In February 1974, the town of Jolo burned as a result of fierce fighting between government forces and armed rebels who attacked the town. Hundreds of residents fled Sulu as a result of continued fighting. Sulu became part of an autonomous regional government in Western Mindanao in 1979 and in 1989, became one of four provinces which constituted the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Tausugs dominate the Sulu archipelago. They are referred to as 'people of the current', reflective of their close ties to the sea. They are known for their bravery, independence, and love for adventure. They are also an extremely proud people are also shrewd traders and excellent sailors and fighters. Protecting the family name is very important to the Tausugs that they would never tarnish their family honor with cowardice.

The Tausugs were among the first Filipinos to embrace Islam as a religion and a way of life. Their traditional religio-political structure is the sultanate. The sultan is the head of all ranks within the sultanate. Succession is by election by his staff although patrilineal succession is the ideal.

The typical Tausug house is made of bamboo and lumber. It has a sala, a rectangular room beneath a thatched roof. Some houses showcase elaborate woodcarving , and have slits instead of windows. This is both for protection and to keep its young maidens from view. They are fond of inviting many guests to their parties thus their sala is filled with thick mattresses and mats covered with colorful cloths, that are laid at the floor and large pillows placed against the wall.

The Tausugs are also a very artistic. Their traditional dress, jewelry, weapons, brass artifacts, music, dance and architecture, mirror their rich cultural heritage The handicrafts of Sulu mirror Islamic and Indonesian influences. Skilled artisans make boats, bladed weapons, bronze and brassware, pis cloth, embroidered textiles, shellcraft, traditional house carvings, and carved wooden grave markers. Jewelry is a measure of wealth, and is fashioned by Tausug goldsmiths using the simplest of tools to produce the most intricate and delicate pieces.

The Pangalay is popular festival dance in Sulu, it is performed in wedding celebrations among the wealthy families. They may last for several days or even weeks depending on the financial status and agreement of both families. Dancers perform this dance to the music of the kulintangan, gabbang, and agongs during the wedding feast. Pangalay ha Agong is another traditional dance of courtship. Two Tausug warriors vie for the attention of a fair maiden using their agong (large, deep, brass gongs) to show their prowess and skill.

Sulu’s terrain is a combination of mountains punctuated by valleys and stretches of undulating to rolling plains. The province has total land area is 1,600 square kilometers and a population of 536,201. The labor force is placed at 128,000. The main products of the province are rice and corn while the minor products include coffee, mongo, cassava, abaca, cacao bananas and coconuts. Livestock and poultry production are mostly cattle, chicken and ducks. Municipal waters provide local residents a source of livelihood.

The province is accessible through regular airlinks between Zamboanga and Sulu. Ferry boats also run the route from Zamboanga and Basilan to Jolo. The communication and postal services of Sulu consists of 4 private radio-telegraph stations, 17 telecommunications office, 18 post offices and one telephone system.

The trade and investment opportunities include the strengthening of traditional crafts such as the weaving of hats, mats, and baskets, wood carving, kumpit (boat) making, production of pots and weapons. Marine based industries such as fishing and the processing of fish based products and the production of carageenan are also attractive ventures waiting for additional investments. Sulu’s mild climate and fertile soil is also ideal for fruit production like durian, lanzones, mangosteen and bananas.

In its quest to develop its communities, the province of Sulu has gone against the common perception of having weak local governance and has forged the Metro Jolo Alliance. In a breakthrough effort with four local government units joining hands to attain peace and sustain development in their areas. Knowing that the development of Jolo can be adversely affected by the non-development of neighboring towns, Mayor Abusakur Tan of Jolo, with the support of the Local Government Support Program, began efforts to forge cooperation between several Sulu towns. The alliance was designed to address the problems of population pressure, poverty, poor infrastructure and exploring opportunities for growth.

The alliance has already accessed technical assistance to equip itself for the huge task that lies ahead of it. A multi-sectoral planning, a first in the ARMM area, was also conducted and produced a 10-year comprehensive strategic plan that also contains environmentally sound, and gender and culturally sensitive empowering provisions. Likewise, key strategic industries for development have been identified and in 1998, the alliance has prioritized the implementation of two high impact projects. While this development is still at its infancy, in this region known for strife and war, such a move is clearly a "dance of hope".

Development Initiative Highlights:

• To provide more employment opportunities and reduce poverty in the province
• To utilize timber resources for further development
• To develop and diversify the agricultural production
• To cultivate fishing and other marine-based potentials of the province