The bones, jars, shells, and other artifacts and fossils were found in the Bolobok Rock Shelter Cave Archaeological Site, which has been declared as an Important Cultural Treasure by the government in 2017.

The province of Tawi-Tawi was never officially controlled directly by the Spanish as the Sultanate of Sulu was in a perpetual war with Spain, resulting in the preservation of its Muslim and Bajau cultures.

[7] Before the armed rebellion of the MNLF in the early 1970s, Bongao was merely a backwater village ruled by the prominent noble Halun family, who used to own about three-quarters of the island.

The capital of the province was Batu-Batu (in Panglima Sugala) in the mainland situated in a cove with deep waters suited for anchors of the Philippine Navy.

The transfer of the seat of government ushered the rapid development of the island as the southernmost center of commerce and trade.

[13] Poverty Incidence of Bongao Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] The main thoroughfare is Datu Halun Street, where the Town Hall is situated.

Due to its relative peace and order situation, recent migrant Chinese from Zamboanga have also open business.