Zamboanga City

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City of Zamboanga Ciudad de Zamboanga Lungsod ng Zamboanga
Seal
Nickname(s): Asia's Latin City
Location of Zamboanga City within the map of the Zamboanga Peninsula on the island of Mindanao
Country	Philippines
Region	Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
Class	1st class city; highly-urbanized
Districts	1st and 2nd Legislative districts of Zamboanga City
Barangays	98
Established	June 23, 1635
Incorporated (city)	February 26, 1937
Government
- Mayor	Celso L. Lobregat (LDP)
- Vice Mayor	Mannix Dalipe
Area
- Total	1,483.38 km² (572.73 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	774,407
- Density	522/km² (1,353/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	62
Website: www.zamboanga.gov.ph

Officially, the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano de Zamboanga/Spanish: Ciudad de Zamboanga). Zamboanga is a corrupted word for the Bahasa Sug jambangan, which means garden. The highly-urbanized city is located on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is one of the first chartered cities and the sixth largest in the country. Zamboanga City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province, though it is usually grouped with Zamboanga del Sur for statistical purposes.

Philippine Commonwealth Act No. 39 of 1936 signed by President Manuel L. Quezon on October 12, 1936 in Malacañang Palace created and established Zamboanga as a chartered city. It has been known variously as "El Orgullo de Mindanao" (The Pride of Mindanao), nicknamed the "City of Flowers," and affectionately called by Zamboangueños as "Zamboanga Hermosa" - Chavacano/Spanish for "Beautiful Zamboanga." Today, the city is commercially branded for tourism by the city government as "Asia's Latin City," a clear reference to Zamboanga's identification with the Hispanized cultures of "Latin America" or the USA's "Latino" subculture, the current City Mayor, Celso Lobregat is himself descended from a Spanish-Catalunian bloodline (The Llobregat River runs through Spain's biggest Mediterranean city - the City of Barcelona). Zamboanga City was formerly a part of the Commonwealth Era Moro Province of Mindanao. Its ancient inhabitants were vassals of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.

Zamboanga City brings its best foot forward during the popular Fiesta Pilar, celebrated in honor of the city's patron saint, La Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Zaragoza Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza, Spain. A statue honoring the saint is prominently embossed above the façade on the eastern wall of the meter-thick walled fort called El Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (also called El Real Fuerza de San José in its early days). This Spanish military fort was built on June 23, 1635, by the Spanish Jesuit priest Fr. Melchor de Vera in defense against pirates and slave raiders. Zamboanga City is one of the oldest cities in the country and is the most Hispanized. It is also one of the largest cities in the world in terms of area, with over 1,480 km², including its 28 surrounding islands. Its recorded population in 2007 was 774,407.

Zamboanga City has been the center of commerce, trade, health services, and education for the entire Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX). It is the seat of the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (popularly known as Zamboecozone). The people of Zamboanga speak a unique Creole language called Chavacano - a blend of Spanish and European, Mexican-Indian words with a spattering of several local dialects, and with Cebuano as its main substrate language, primarily using Visayan grammar and syntax in sentence construction. A more modern version of this colloquial patois dialect is strongly influenced by Filipino/Tagalog and English as well. Zamboanga, along with neighboring Isabela and Lamitan cities on Basilan Island are the only cities in Asia where the majority of the population speak this Spanish-patois dialect.^[1] Chavacano used to be spoken widely in the Provinces of Cavite and Laguna, as well as the Malate District of Manila due to the sizeable number of Spanish Mestizos living in these areas. World War II, however, decimated the Chavacano populations of these places, leaving Zamboanga and its satellite cities of Isabela and Lamitan with a majority Chavacano-speaking population.

Zamboanga is home to three major universities: Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Western Mindanao State University, and the newly-elevated Universidad de Zamboanga. The city contains the first Catholic diocese in Mindanao, today's Archdiocese of Zamboanga which was created in 1910 and elevated to an archbishopric in 1958.

[edit] History

Celso Lobregat, mayor of Zamboanga City, 2006

The area around Zamboanga Peninsula was occupied by indigenous people as early as 30,000 years ago.^{[citation needed]} The first inhabitants were the Subanons and Lutaos and later, the Islamized ethnic groups of Samals, Bajaus, Tausugs, and Yakans.

Oral history accounts note that the early Austronesian settlers - the highlander Subanons or the people who live by the suba or river and the Lutaos of the plains called the place "Jambangan", which meant "a place abundant with flowers". Eventually, the lowlanders (the descendants of the early Austronesian settlers), the boat dwellers and sea gypsy tribes - the Bajaus and Samals collectively called the place "Samboangan." Apparently, "Samboangan" came from the word "Jambangan." In one of the earliest Spanish maps, the place was already called Samboangan, which meant as "docking point." Samboangan, though, was thought to have come from the word "sabuan" - the wooden pole used by the Samals and Bajaus in pushing their boats on shallow waters. To this day, a Chavacano would still call a boat oar "saguan". The early Spaniards called the place "El Pueblo de Lutao" or the Place of the Lutaos.

Fort Pilar, now an outdoor principal Marian shrine, was founded in 1635 by the Spanish colonial government. The fort was the focus of a number of battles between Moro pirates and Spanish soldiers until 1718 when modifications to the fort were made.

The city was the capital of the Republic of Zamboanga during its brief existence from May 18, 1899, to November 16, 1899.

During the American colonial period, Zamboanga City hosted a number of American regional governors, including General John J. Pershing who was military commander/governor of the Moro Province from 1909 to 1914. Gen. "Black Jack" Pershing became the Supreme Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I when the US entered the war in 1916. The entire Moro Province of Mindanao was administered directly from the city, effectively making the Zamboanga Mindanao's first and only Capital City. Soon after the establishment of the Commonwealth was the center of commerce, trade, and government of Mindanao Island, being the capital of the Moro Province. Pre-World War II, Pettit Barracks was where part of the US Army's 43d Infantry Regiment (PS) was stationed. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines, the Japanese occupying forces landed at Zamboanga on March 2, 1942. They established a defense headquarters, which was eventually overtaken by U.S. and Filipino forces in 1945.

For much of the 1950s, the mayor of Zamboanga City was Cesar Climaco, a flamboyant personality who pursued policies of good governance and cleanliness.^[2] Later a prominent critic of Ferdinand Marcos, Climaco again became mayor in 1980, at a time of growing violence in the city. He was assassinated in 1984.

Zamboanga City has had a diverse heritage. It has been, over time, a major Spanish fort, a U.S. governed capital of the Moro Province of Mindanao Island, one of the first chartered cities in the Philippine Commonwealth, and a war-torn town after World War II during and after the Japanese occupation. Zamboanga became a strife-torn city under martial law and recurrent terrorist attacks have tarnished an otherwise spectacular, if exotic, image of Southern elegance and refinement seen in but a few other Philippine cities. More recently, the city helped elevate the entire Zamboanga Peninsula region when it topped Gross Domestic Productivity (GDP) growth among all other areas in the entire Philippines in 2006.^{[citation needed]} Zamboanga City is also highly regarded as the "Sardine Capital of the Philippines" as a hefty 80% of canned sardines consumed in the Philippines originate from this traditional seafaring port.

The Philippine Department of Tourism is helping Celso L. Lobregat, the city mayor, to promote the city as an attractive tourist destination. Its numerous natural, historical, and cultural tourist attractions are a boon to new travelers to this ancient "City of Flowers."

In 2007, Zamboanga was divided into two separate Congressional districts in the eastern and western areas of the city (including the city proper), as a result of the 2000 Census change in population count. After the elections of 2007, Erbie Fabian re-elected as congressman, became the first representative of the city's second (east) district. Maria Isabelle Climaco is the representative of the first (west) district in the congress.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

Urban Sprawl of Zamboanga City

The city is located on the southwesternmost tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, on the island of Mindanao. It is 460 nautical miles (850 km) south of Manila, 365 nautical miles (676 km) northeast of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, and 345 nautical miles (639 km) northwest of Manado in Indonesia. It is bounded on to the west by the Sulu Sea, to the east by the Moro Gulf, and to the south by the Basilan Strait and Celebes Sea. It is about 1 hour and 50 minutes away by plane from Manila and an hour away from both the cities of Cebu and Davao. The highest mountain in the city is the Batorampon Point,

[edit] Component islands

Zamboanga City has 28 islands off the mainland coast. All of these islands come under the city's jurisdiction. The biggest of these islands is Sacol (about 12 km. long and 8 km. wide). Three of these islands (Vitali, Malanipa, and Sacol) are inhabited mostly by fishing residents and have their own barangays. The others are frequented only by fishermen and scuba divers. Eleven of these islands on the Moro Gulf coast form a cluster known as the Eleven Islands, the largest being Cabugan Island (approx. 11 hectares).

The most popular of these islands among Zamboangueños and tourists alike are the Santa Cruz Islands—famous for their pink coral sands. The islands are rich in coral, shell varieties (over half of the world's known shell varieties are found in the Sulu Sea which surrounds these islands)^[3] , and sea life.

The islands are:

[edit] Barangays

Zamboanga City has 98 barangays:

Map of the City of Zamboanga showing location of barangays

[edit] Climate

The city has a naturally mild climate with a pronounced dry or wet season — relatively dry from November to May, wet during the rest of the year. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the city was 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) on August 15, 1999.^{[citation needed]} The coldest temperature recorded was 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) on February 27, 1965.^{[citation needed]}

Tropical cyclones or typhoons rarely affect the city because it is outside the typhoon belt. Average temperature is about 28 °C, while annual rainfall is 1,362.01 mm.

[edit] Government

Since 1983, Zamboanga City has been a highly-urbanized city, independent from Zamboanga del Sur. Zamboanga City received its own representation for the Philippine Congress beginning in 1984. The former lone congressional district is divided into two separate districts: the West District (I) from the City Proper to Labuan, and the East District from Tetuan to Limpapa(II). The government is composed of a mayor, vice mayor, two district representatives, and eight councilors in each district.

[edit] Unsupported Plan

In recent years, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Zambasulta chapter proposed to divide Zamboanga City into seven municipalities creating a new province to "hasten the development of rural or remote areas." Opinions in local tabloids urged Zamboanguenos to support the creation of the province. But most of Mayor Celso Lobregat strongly opposed the creation of the province, which he and his allies in the City Council claimed will result in damage to the local economy and hold back progress in Zamboanga. But local opposition politicians claim Mayor Lobregat fears that he will lose control of Zamboanga City should the proposal to create another province pushes through.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Population

In 2007, the Census of Population and Housing of the government's National Statistics Office recorded the city population of 774,407 people with an annual growth rate of 3.56 percent. Compared to the national population, Zamboanga City's 774,407 is only 0.8 percent of the total Philippine population of 88.7 million people.^[4]

Top 10 most populous barangay in the city:

[edit] Transportation

• Land Transportation and Government Projects

Taxi service in the city is not well-established, although there are some independent taxis. The common mode of transportation in Zamboanga is by a Jeepney or a Tricycle. There are two types of city buses: the green bus and the blue bus, but still pending with the city government approval that it may affect the Transport Sectors. A new bus terminal was planned for construction at the MCLL highway between Divisoria-Boalan area and is seen to be one of the most modern bus terminals in Mindanao when completed. The modern bus terminal serves as a prologue of East Coast's development as a business district. Zamboanga City is connected through other provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula and the whole island of Mindanao by the Maria Clara L. Lobregat Highway.

Ninety-nine percent of the local road network is paved with concrete.^{[citation needed]} In the rural areas, the government has constructed 667 kilometers of farm-to-market roads. A law established a free port and special economic zone in the city known as Zamboecozone, which is the only free port in the country outside of Luzon.^{[citation needed]}

• National and International Sea Port

sea also Port of Zamboanga

Zamboanga City has 19 seaports and wharves, twelve of which are privately-owned. The biggest and most modern is the government-operated main port which can accommodate 20 ships at any given time. There are 25 shipping lines whose vessels regularly call at the port of Zamboanga. A new international seaport will be open soon outside the city proper that can accommodate international ships and vessels. This port will be established at the Zamboecozone, which is under construction, it will be the one of the Biggest and Modern Private Sea Terminal in Mindanao even in the Philippines.

Zamboanga City has also fastcraft services to Sandakan, Malaysia. One Shipping Cargo Company from Vietnam is also serving the route's from and to Zamboanga.

• International Air Port

The local airport has been upgraded and has since been called the Zamboanga International Airport. It will be named after the late Mayor of Zamboanga city as Maria Clara L. Lobregat International Airport in 2008. Its 2,610-meter primary runway can serve international flights. The government has earmarked P100 million in 2008 to completely rehabilitate the existing facilities, including the air navigation equipment.^{[citation needed]}Plans call for a 3,210-meter runway and a modern terminal building with five jet bridges. This planned airport is to be built within the City's east coast barangays Talabaan, Mercedes and Taluksangay. Upon completion, it will be Mindanao's largest Airport.

• These are following carriers that serve ZIA.

• • Philippine Airlines- Manila
    • PAL Express- Cebu, Davao
  • Cebu Pacific- Cebu, Davao, Manila
  • South East Asian Airlines- Bongao, Cotabato, Jolo, Sandakan (Malaysia)
  • Asian Spirit- Bongao, Jolo, Sandakan (Malaysia) - (Will be resume on the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2008)

[edit] Economy and industry

Central Business District of Zamboanga City

The Zamboanga economy is largely agricultural and aquacultural-based. Agriculture and fishing provide activity and income to 70 percent of the population. The city territory includes 560 km² of arable lands and 700 km² of permanent crops, mainly coconut. The city's farmers produce 86,000 metric tons of coconut a year, 26,000 metric tons of rice, and 11,000 metric tons of corn.^{[citation needed]}Average annual production of fish – from the sea or raised in fishponds inland – is about 1,600 metric tons.^{[citation needed]}

Seaweed farming occupies close to 2,000 Zamboangueño farmers and 4.07 km² offshore. Average annual production is 14,000 metric tons.^{[citation needed]} Some consider the city’s economic prospects as bright with the value of investments increasing since 1993. From 1993 to 1994 the increase was 332%. From 1994 to 1995 it was 42%.^{[citation needed]}

Zamboanga is noted for sardine exports to the Philippine market. The sardines are also exported to the United States, Europe, Middle East, and the Far East. There are canning factories located in the west coast of Zamboanga producing popular sardine brands, but many of them had closed down due to the high cost of operating them. Sardine fishing and processing account for about 70 percent of the city's economy or P3 billion, according to press reports.^[5]

Exports grew by 6 percent in 1995, and it continues to grow.^{[citation needed]} The top export items are coconut oil, marine products, and processed food. As part of its effort to boost economic development, the Zamboanga City government has committed 44 percent of its total budget to economic and infrastructure projects in recent years. Zamboanga's economy also relies heavily on the heavy trade and commerce between the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, all part of the Muslim autonomous region, and its northern neighbors of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, serving as a commercial entrepot and transhipment point for these provinces.

Zamboanga City is home to 66 banks (including branches), 53 pawnshops, 24 credit cooperatives, and seven lending institutions. Most of the banks operate automated teller machines. Supplied with energy by the National Power Corporation, the city at present has more electricity than it can use. In 1994, only 72 percent of the available power was consumed, with this ratio increasing by three percentage points in 1995.^{[citation needed]}

Local economic planners have identified opportunities for investors in food processing, wood and forest-based products, coconut-based products, marine products, gifts, toys and house wares, machine and equipment fabrication, garment manufacturing, ceramics, and low-cost housing.

[edit] Infrastructure

Western Mindanao Power Corporation produces 100 megawatts of electricity and is located near Sangali Fishing Complex in the east coast. This is to augment the supply of electricity currently provided by NAPOCOR. In 1994 only 48 percent of the total water production was consumed; in 1995 only 58 percent.^{[citation needed]}

The Zamboanga City Water District is expanding its reservoir and distribution system to meet the growing industrial demand for water. Zamboanga City is also the communications center of Western Mindanao. Local communications services include conventional and cellular telephone systems with direct distance dialing, paging services, telegraph and facsimile services, and the Internet.

[edit] Shopping centers and malls

As the center of commerce in Western Mindanao, Zamboanga is home to five shopping Malls and numerous department stores, supermarkets and retail stores.

Mindpro Citimall (opened in 1996, the second mall in the city *Alta mall being the first one which is currently closed already), Southway Square (opened in 2007) and Shoppers' Center, Zamboanga's newest mall are three of the major malls located in the city proper. Yubenco Star Mall, located in Putik, Zamboanga City, is a shopping complex. Other shopping arcades in the city are LimTown Center (at La Purisima St.) and Midtown Plaza Mall (at Nuñez Extension).

A Gaisano branch is planned to rise in the city. According to press reports. The investor is presently looking for its proper location for the mall in Zamboanga, as reported.

Moreover, a new 10-storey mall is slated to open. Upon completion, it would be the tallest commercial building in Asia's Latin City. Shoppers' Mall, managed by Huylian Development Corporation, has been two years under construction, and the expected opening of this mall will be three to four years from now.

A Robinsons Mall and an SM Mall are likewise slated to be built in the city. These proposed shopping malls are planned to be constructed in the east coast of the city, somewhere near barangays Boalan, Divisoria or Putik.

Plaza Fair, a retailing investor from Manila, had already opened its 2nd department store branch in Mindanao in Midtown Plaza Mall in Nuñez Extension in 2008.

[edit] Education

See: List of Tertiary schools in Zamboanga City

Zamboanga City is home to three major universities, three computer college branches, and numerous colleges and institutes in Zamboanga Peninsula Region.

The Western Mindanao State University (formerly Zamboanga Normal College founded 1914) is the first to be granted as a university in 1978. It is the only state university in the city. Its campus is located in Baliwasan and has offered college and vocational programs. The Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU), founded in 1912, and became the latest Jesuit-run school to become a university in 2001. ADZU has been awarded by PAASCU with a five-year reaccreditation on PAASCU's latest survey. ADZU has also been awarded by CHED with a one-year autonomous status, the only university granted with such a status in the entire Western Mindanao. The Ateneo ranked second among the only three Universities in Mindanao granted with either one of CHED's Autonomous and Deregulated status (others being ADDU and NDCU respectively). The University now operates a new and wider campus located in Tumaga for its high school department and will be eventually shared with the Grade School, whose building is said to be constructed there within four years time. The new ADZU high school building currently holds the title for being the largest building in the City. Zamboanga Arturo Eustaquio Colleges changed its name to Universidad de Zamboanga (UZ) in 2005 after upgrading its status to a university. It is the only private, nonsectarian University found in the city.

Other notable schools and colleges are Pilar College, Nuevo Zamboanga College, Immaculate Conception Archdiocesian School, Immaculate COnception Elementary School, Hansel and Gretel, Montessori de Zamboanga, Zion Evangelical School, Zamboanga Chong Hua School, Regional Science High School for Region IX, Zamboanga City State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College, Claret School of Zamboanga and the St. Joseph School and numerous other Grade School and High School and Colleges. The Zamboanga-owned and pioneer Computer School in the region - Computer Technologies Institute (COMTECH) Inc., AMA Computer College and STI each has also satellite campus in the city.

[edit] Foreign relations

Zamboanga is an important part of BIMP-EAGA area which stands for Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area. BIMP-EAGA is an agreement among the four Southeast Asian neighbor countries for economic cooperation. It has put Zamboanga City in touch with towns in Malaysia and Indonesia. As a result of contacts arising from BIMP-EAGA, an air and sea route has been opened between Zamboanga City and Sandakan in Malaysia.

[edit] Sister Cities of Zamboanga

• Dipolog City, Philippines - 2005
• Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines - 2006
• Sorsogon City, Sorsogon - 2006
• Zaragoza, Spain - 2008
• Trece Martires City, Philippines - 2008 pending
• Tallahassee, Florida, USA - pending

[edit] Friendship Cities of Zamboanga

• Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

[edit] Hospitals and health centers

The city is also home to medical centers and hospitals. These provide quality health care service for Zamboanguenos.

Brent Hospital and Colleges, Inc. (Located at R.T.Lim Boulevard) was founded on February 2, 1914 by Charles Henry Brent, the first Protestant Episcopal missionary bishop in the Philippines. It also runs a school within the extensive Hospital Compound, offering nursing and allied health courses.

Zamboanga City Medical Center is the largest medical facility in Region 9 in terms of bed capacity. The hospital was founded in 1918 as the Zamboanga General Hospital. ZCMC, better known simply as "General", is located in the corner of Veterans Avenue-Fort Pilar road.

Zamboanga Doctors' Hospital, Veterans Avenue, is the first privately owned hospital established in 1964.

Ciudad Medical Zamboanga, one of the most equipped and advance medical centers in Zamboanga, is a five-storey medical complex located at Nunez Avenue. It was formerly known as Zamboanga Polymedic Hospital. Simply called by locals as "Ciudad" is one of the newest hospitals in this city. Located at Maria Clara Lobregat Highway, formerly known as Nuñez Extension.

Western Mindanao Medical Center, located at Veterans Avenue Extension, was established in 1990, with state-of-the-art facilities and newly reconstructed building. It is located near Tumaga.

Universidad de Zamboanga Community Medical Center (formerly the Zamboanga Arturo Eustaquio Colleges Memorial Medical Center) along San Jose Road, is a university-owned hospital equipped with advanced medical facilities and has a 24-hour pharmacy located inside the Medical complex.

Other specialized hospitals are: Zamboanga Children's Hospital (a special hospital for pediatrics, located at Pilar Street); Salvador A. Cabato Memorial Hospital (located at Tetuan Highway); Edwin Andrews Air Base Hospital (located within the vicinity of Edwin Andrews Air Base, the sole command of the Philippine Air Force in Mindanao); Camp Navarro General Hospital (located inside Camp Navarro, the Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command); Zamboanga Puericulture Lying-in Maternity Hospital (located at Pura Brillantes Street); and the Mindanao Central Sanitarium (located at Pasabolong).

[edit] Tourism and attractions

The Philippine Department of Tourism has selected Zamboanga City to highlight as a tourist destination to be promoted nationally and internationally.^[6] Tourism to the Zamboanga Peninsula has trended upward in recent years. Domestic and foreign tourist arrivals increased 8 percent to 439,160 in 2005, according to data from the regional tourism office. The same report notes that Filipinos accounted for 80 percent of the tourist arrivals. Moreover, 50 percent of those tourists visited Zamboanga City.^[7]

Local tourist destinations include Fort Pilar, a landmark of the city's history and culture. Spaniards laid the fort's cornerstone on June 23, 1635.^[8] The former garrison also features Our Lady of Pillar shrine. The Fort area includes a national museum and a patio. Several events commemorating citywide celebrations and feasts are also held at the site.

Beside Fort Pilar is the Pettit Barracks site that US forces under Gen. C. Bates occupied after the capture of the city on November 15, 1899. It was named Pettit Barracks after Col. James S. Pettit, 31st Infantry, US Volunteer Commanding Officer of the Second Military District. He was later promoted to General, became the Inspector-General and later, the in-Charge of Civil Affairs of Zamboanga, Inspector-General's Department, US and Philippine Infantry. Occupied by Japanese forces in 1942-1945, the barracks were recaptured by United States and Philippine liberation forces on March 10, 1945, and turned over to the Philippines on July 4, 1946.

Nearby Fort Pilar is Campo Muslim - Rio Hondo - Sahaya. This stilt village over the waters of Rio Hondo is populated by colony of coastal Tausugs, Samas, and Badjaos.^[9]

Another famous tourist attraction within the vicinity of Fort Pilar is the Lantaka Hotel by the sea, the oldest hotel in the city.

Located at the heart of the city is the old City Hall, which used to be the Capitol Building of the Moro Province of Mindanao and later of Zamboanga Province until 1952. The construction of this building started in 1905 and was completed in 1907 by the United States government. The structure is Mindanao's oldest government structure.^[10] Today, the building serves as the City Hall of Zamboanga City and the mayor's office.

The Pasonanca Park (variously renamed as Freedom Park - after the EDSA Revolution, and then as Cesar C. Climaco Park) a recreation spot located at the north of city proper, is known for its greenery, its natural spring public swimming pools, picnic groves, Indian "teepee" Boy Scout campsite, and the famous Pasonanca "Tree House". The mountainous Abong-abong, located near Pasonanca, houses the famous pilgrimage site with cross at the top overlooking Zamboanga City, site of the annual "13 Stations" during Holy Week. One of the attractions in Abong-abong is the fabled Mt. Pulongbato, an extinct volcano that is shaped like a turtle when viewed from afar and resembles a heart when seen from above.

One of the popular tourist spots is the modern Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, which was originally located in the present Universidad de Zamboanga. The seat of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga was reconstructed in La Purisima St. in 1998-2002. Other attractions include Cawa-Cawa Boulevard (now R.T. Lim Boulevard, known of its Regatta of Vintas), the Yakan Weaving Village in Upper Calarian, and the Taluksangay Mosque, as well as a number of resorts such as the Zamboanga Golf and Country Club (the oldest Golf course in the Philippines), La Vista del Mar Beach Resort, and the Boalan Inland Resort.

City officials broke ground in 2007 for the “Paseo del Marina Zamboanga”, a seafront parkway located adjacent to the walls of Fort Pilar. The Paseo encompasses 2.5 hectares in what was a former slum, which required relocating 300 families.^[11] The walkway faces scenic Basilan Strait.

[edit] Travel concerns

A separatist movement fought by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and other armed opposition groups since 1972 for an independent Islamic state in the region that includes Zamboanga City has prompted some nations to issue warnings regarding the city and region as a travel destination.^[12]

Political and military tensions in the region during the 1980s raised fears that Zamboanga City was unsafe for outsiders. Yet not only safety of foreigners was of concern. Kidnappings, assassinations, and bombings were so commonplace at the time that then Mayor Cesar C. Climaco erected a billboard on the front of city hall tallying the city’s violence. A mayor in South Philippines taunts Marcos, Special to the New York Times. June 15, 1982.

However, Philippine Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon in 2001 charged that a U.S.-issued travel advisory to western Mindanao, including Zamboanga City, The practice of issuing travel advisories is discriminatory to developing countries like the Philippines. These advisories misrepresent the real situation in Mindanao. US Travel Advisory Irks Dick, Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 10, 2001. Moreover, some critics point out that the U.S. never issued a travel warning to New York City or Washington D.C. after the 9/11 attacks.

The International Herald Tribune noted in 2003 that the president of a Zamboanga university, Father William Kreutz, observed that the security risk in the city had calmed down since the 1990s. Still even the Philippine government warned tourists against going to Western Mindanao at the time.^[13]

On February 27, 2008, Philippine Sen. Loren Legarda said in a speech in Davao, Mindanao, to the League of Municipalities that “the ongoing conflict between rebel groups and the government continues to pose grave threats to the lives, property, and overall security of the people of Mindanao.”^[14]

Entertainment and recreation=== The city has also popular recreation sites. Catribo Complex, Latitude and Grand Alejandra's Place are among the popular discos in the city. Many restaurants and commercial complex can be found in the city, some of which are: mano-mano na Greenfield Restaurant, Harry's Grill, The Lobby Bar, Family Fried Chicken, Manang Terry's Chicken Inato, Mang Inasal, Park 88, Country Chicken and many more.

Mindpro's six cinemas are the city's only existing movie theatres as the result of popularity of malls and the closure of old cinemas such as Rizal and Viva Theatres.

There are convention areas designed for regional and national events and conferences as well as social gatherings. These are: Garden Orchid Convention Center, Marcian Convention Center, Zamboanga City Colliseum in Tetuan, Zamboanga City Convention Center, Astoria Regency in Pasonanca and Patio Palmeras Convention Centers.

Sport venues of the city include the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex, were National and Regional Sport events are done others include the Summit Center & Zamboanga City Coliseum, are the two main venues of major concerts and sport events that take place in the city.

[edit] Holidays and Holy Days

Zamboanga City is home to a diverse culture. It is a melting pot of different kinds of people. It boasts a long and worth-knowing history. These diversity and duration are just two of the many reasons behind the City's numerous colorful and solemn festivities. These festivals dates are generally non-working holidays. A few of the major celebrations in the city are listed with some bits of must-know facts.

[edit] Holiday

• Dia de Zamboanga

February 26, 1937- the date when Zamboanga was declared a chartered city under the Commonwealth Government. Charter Day of the City became a non-working holiday. A roster of special activities are lined up annually to mark the occasion. The signing of the City's Charter by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon was witnessed by Assemblyman Juan S. Alano, Representative of the Moro Province of Mindanao, then Zamboanga City Mayor Don Pablo Lorenzo, and a number of other public officials, as well as a young school girl, Maria Clara Lorenzo, who eventually became a well-loved Representative and City Mayor of Zamboanga until her death in 2004.

[edit] Christian Holy Days

• Holy Week

March/April (movable) A city procession known as the Santo Entierro (Holy Funeral) on Good Friday highlights the observance of the season of Lent. Celebrated in most parish churches in the city and in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Santo Entierro is a procession of Christ's images, many of the Stations of the Cross, along the city's main streets, depicting his last hours before, during, and after the Crucifixion.

• Flores de Mayo

May 1 - 31 A religious feast celebrated in all Catholic churches in honor of the Virgin Mary. Little children in white gala dresses walk up the altar to offer flowers to the image of the Blessed Mother, as the Catholics call her. In some parts of the city, the traditional Santacruzan is also held. The Santa-cruzan is a procession of the Reyna Elena and other local beauties with their escorts, decked out in Maria Clara gowns and barong tagalogs, along major streets.

• Santacruzan*

Last day of Flores de Mayo A religious feast celebrated in many Catholic Parishes in honor of Reyna Elena (Queen Helen)and her son Constantine who went to the Holy Land to search for Jesus' Cross.

• Zamboanga Hermosa Festival (Fiesta Pilar)

October 3-12 Highlighted by the October 12 Fiesta Pilar in honor of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pillar at the legendary Fort Pilar. The festival features week-long novena masses, cultural shows, agricultural fairs, cutural exhibits, a two-day mardi gras parade, the bandoreal, a regatta, torch parades, fireworks, and carnivals. The festival commences with a solemn procession and a grand mass at the Fort. With thousands of pilgrims converging in Zamboanga City, this is the peninsula's biggest festival.

• Fiesta de La Immaculada Concepcion (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)

December 8 Feast day of Zamboanga City's Patron, the Blessed Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception; traditionally celebrated with a procession and a concelebrated mass highlighted by either First Communion or Ordination rites.

• Fonda de Barangay or Fiesta de Barangay

Week-long celebration in the Barangay/Barrios honoring their patron saints. The celebration usually starts with novena masses held every day for 9 straight days prior the feast day of the patron saint. every night, the barrio is lit up for celebration and merry-making that includes pageants, trade fair, parade, cock-fighting, carnival, musical competition and "baile."

• Christmas

December 25 Celebration of Jesus Christ's Birth. City hall, churches, schools, streetlight post, houses, streets, commercial places, parks and most of the other places in the City are covered with lights, filled with joyous sounds and other Christmas Decorations.

[edit] Muslim Holy Days

• Isra Wal Miraj

May 9 An Islamic event celebrating the nocturnal journey and ascension of Muhammad.

• Eid al-Fitr/Hari Raya Puasa

(movable) An Islamic event commemorating the end of the Muslim fasting season.

• Maulidin-Nabi

December 27 An Islamic celebration honoring the birthday of Muhammad.

[edit] Demographics

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008)

The most common languages and dialects in the city are Chavacano, Cebuano, Tagalog, English, Fookien (a Chinese dialect) and Tausug.

The most dominant religion is Christianity with 75%-85% adhering to the faith. The majority of which are Roman Catholics. The remaining percentage belongs to other non-Christian faiths (Islam, Buddhism, etc).

Muslim immigrants or visitors from the islands south of the Zamboanga Peninsula (Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan) compose much of the Muslim population in the city.

[edit] Famous Zamboangueños

There are Zamboanguenos who are famous for their fields of endeavor, especially in music, entertainment, and sports. These are the following:

• Marc Velasco- singer and composer, whose song "Ordinary Song" became a top hit in 2000.
• Chris Cayzer- Aficionado Perfumes model and singer, who had his first concert here in Zamboanga on July 2007 with Lovi Poe, another Aficionado model and singer/actress. His Zamboangueño parents were based in Australia, where he grew up.
• Alana Mas Soriano - singer, theater-artist.Went into the international scene as member of the famous female trio and recording artist under Viva Records known as FOJ later VANNA VANNA when they released their international records under Christian De Walden. Their hit singles were "Hurting Inside", "I Need Your Love". Alana is a solo artist now with her band known as Alana & Friends. She is the daughter of Alberto & Alilou (nee Mas) Soriano of Sta. Maria and the granddaughter of the famous singer Antonio "Tony" and Lottie Mas of Pasonanca.
• Susan Jane Ritter- beauty queen titlist; co-winner of Magica Dream Girl 1995 with Genesis Canlapan (actress Patricia Javier's real name) and later semifinalist in the 1997 Miss International in Japan.
• Armarie "Arms" Cruz- one of the "Final 12" and the lone Mindanao bet of Philippine Idol (now Pinoy Idol after GMA-7 acquired its franchise rights from Fremantle Media).
• April Ross Perez- 2002 Miss Earth Semifinalist and first Zamboanguena to win the Miss Philippines-Earth Title.
• Antonio Salcedo- Filipino Sprinter. Represented the Philippines in Several Far Eastern Games in the 1920s.
• Francisco Mortera - Mr. Asia Pacific Gold Medallist in Bodybuilding
• Simeon Toribio- Filipino High Jumper, 1932 Olympics Bronze Medallist in Athletics. He later settled in Bohol and represented it in Congress.
• Harry Tañamor- Filipino Amateur Boxer. Two-time Bronze Medalist, silver medalist (2007) in World Championship in the Light Flyweight division.
• Roberto Gomez- World Pool nine ball 2007 runner-up. Beaten By Daryl Peach onto the finals 17-15.
• Tim Yap- Well-known singer, fashion icon and the owner of The Embassy bar in Manila.
• Comic Relief - arguably the most successful and popular Chavacano acts in the history of Zamboanga. Known for their melodic & catchy Chavacano songs. Their songs continuously tops the chart and has been known to revolutionize the way Chavacano songs should be played at. Spawning such hits as: "NUAY MAS", "NECESITA", "MI ESTRELLA", NUAY ETU, NUAY MANYANA" & "CUANDO?". Their song "CUANDO?" is already a phenomenal hit and a household song in Zamboanga City.
• Frio - is an all male band and all Zamboanguenos (except for lead singer Alain Echem from Lamitan City, Basilan - also a Chavacano), had release their debut album last 2006-07(self titled album) and with their carrier singles "ALIVE",COULD HAVE BEEN and HILING(official soundtrack of the teleserye "sana'y maulit muli"),LOVE RADIO JINGLE(is currently playing at all love radio station nationwide). They had their first back to back concert last October 2006 with 6cyclemind and guested at Chris Cayzer's concert last July 2007. And now they are still been appearing on TV shows and are currently recording their 2nd album.
• Noynoy Falcasantos - PBA Player, from Tetuan
• Chester Tolomia - PBA Player, from Sta. Maria
• Jayson Mendoza - PBA Player, from San Jose
• Hidilyn Diaz- Olympic weightlifter, 2008 Beijing Olympics
• Rexel Ryan Fabriga- Olympic diver, 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Marizia Camille- MySpace site model. The most famous site model on MySpace.
• Poy Palma - Honorary Scholar of Pinoy Dream Academy

[edit] See also

• Wikitravel Entry on Zamboanga City, Philippines
• Media of Zamboanga City

[edit] External links

• Chavacano de Zamboanga Wikipedia
• Zamboanga City official government website
• Zamboanga.com
• Zamboanga City Gallery
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Mega Sardines
• Zamboanga City : Asia's Latin City?
• [1]

Online news

• Zamboanga City, Daily
• Zamboanga Online News
• The Official Website of Zamboanga Today Newspaper
• The Mindanao Examiner

[edit] References

Coordinates: 6°54′N 122°4′E / 6.9, 122.067