Basilan is a fourth class island province located within the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. However, its capital, the fifth class City of Isabela, is situated in the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula. 
The province of Basilan is one of the 7,104 islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. It is also the largest and the northernmost island of the approximately 400 islands that falls under Sulu Archipelago. The land formation of the province is even with some heaving slopes, most particularly in Isabela City. Forests are evenly distributed across the island. 
Basilan, even though categorized as a fourth class province with regards to gross provincial income, is the only province belonging to Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao included in the list of least poor provinces in the Philippines, with poverty taking up only a quarter of the entire population. Furthermore, the gap of the province’s poor and rich inhabitants is among the closest nationwide. 
Agriculture is the highest earning industry in Basilan, with its main crops consisting of coconut, rubber and coffee. Other products are rice, corn, cassava, black pepper, and palm oil. In the coastal areas, the island provides tuna, marlin, octopus, squid, as well as fishpond-raised bangus, prawn and shrimp. Tourism and handicrafts also contributes in the income of the province. 
The people of the Orang Dampuan tribe from the present-day Papua New Guinea were the first settlers of Basilan. Their descendants, the Yakans, are known for their weaving skills, wedding ceremonies and colorful festivals. In the fourteenth century, Sumatran trader reached the shores and Islamized the island. 

Back then, the province was known as “Tagime”, which is the name of a datu who once ruled a large portion of the island before the Spanish conquistadors set foot on the country. Then, it was changed to “Basih Balan”, a weapon used by the inhabitants against the Spaniards. Basih Balan was shortened into “Basilan”, thus the present name of the province. 
The island was once a stage of Moro raids, along with Zamboanga, Iloilo and Cebu. To guard the Spanish interests and settlements, a stone fort named Fuerte de Isabela Segunda was built. In the American era, Zamboanga City was charted on the map, taking up the entire Basilan Island. However, in 1948, the island seceded and became an independent city. In 1973, Basilan became a province. Then, in the year 2001, the province joined the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 
The population of the island province consists of Muslim and Christian Filipinos, as well as several tribal groups, such as the Yakans, Zambuangeño Chavacanos, Bisayas, and Tausugs. About half of the people speak Chavacano. Other provincial dialects are Tagalog, Visayan, Yakan, Tausug, Samal, and Joloano. English is also widely spoken in urbanized areas. 

The indigenous people of Basilan, the Yakans, are known for their colorful costumes. A mix of both Christian and Muslim festivals dominates the island’s festivities. Overall, Christian and Muslim inhabitants of the province have a closer relationship than in any other places across the country.