These are the stories of the people of San Rymundo.

Reconstruction of Historical Events
By: Muedzullail T. Kiram

I came from the Municipality of Maimbung, 2nd district of the Province of Sulu, the town where the Moro Islamic Front (MNLF) was founded. Before the revolution of the ‘70s broke out, Maimbung was already a developed municipality, secnd only to the capital town of Jolo. Our hometown was peaceful and progressive due to the barter trade system between Maimbung and Sabah which gave our people their regular source of income. We bartered our copra and aqua-marine products as well as fruits with cigarettes and other basic commodities manufactured in Sabah, Malaysia.

We left the peaceful town of Maimbung when the MNLF Freedom Fighters declared the town as their military strong hold. My late father decided to abandon our estate known as the Darul Jambangan (the Garden Palace). He sent us to Manila to pursue our studies while remaining here to attend to his duties and responsibilities as mayor of Maimbung, Sulu.

After the 1974 rebellion, Sulu - most particularly the capital town of Jolo was placed under military control. My father advised us then not to come back until the situation settles and normalizes in the province.

In 1976, my parents sent us a piece of good news. They bought a house and lot at San Raymundo and gave us the assurance that San Raymundo was one of the safest places in Jolo.

Arriving from Manila, the people of San Raymundo welcomed us and we made a lot of friends with our neighbors. We found the place to be a peaceful community. Up to the time I finished my studies I stayed in San Ramundo, and considered myself a part of the whole community.

Recently the residents of Barangay San Raymundo elected me to the position of Barangay Kagawad (councilman). Since then I have focused all my time and energy in helping the community into a peaceful and progressive area. I made direct representation with other government and non-government agencies that have been assisting us with a community project urgently needed by our residents, a Day Care Center.

Having realized the Day Care Center, I started soliciting for the needed learning tools for the pre-school age kids enrolled at the center. A friend from America, Albert Santoli, based in Washington of the AFPC a non-government organization donated chairs, tables, books and other items for our center.

I have made up my mind to raise my family here in San Raymundo and let them also in the development of the community of which we are a part when their time comes.

San Raymundo Brgy. Kagawad