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THE ASIA'S LATIN CITY|Travel Blog|Zamboanga City

Kresian Papellero
Mar 26, 2018
4 min read

ZAMBOANGA CITY

The Asia's Latin City

HISTORY

Zamboanga City is the third largest City in the Philippines dubbed as “Asia’s Latin City”, because of the Spanish influence in the past. It is the commercial and industrial center of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region. Zamboanga City is an independent, chartered city and was designated highly urbanized on November 22, 1983. The evolution of the name "Zamboanga" provides an interesting insight into its historical background. The early Malay settlers called the region “Jambangan”, which means Land of the Flowers thus makes Zamboanga City celebrates La Hermosa Festival.

These Malays who built their settlements by the river banks were the subanons, that is the “People of the River”. Their chief, Saragan, lived with his family atop the legendary Mount Pulumbato that today lords over Pasonanca and Climaco Freedom Park (formerly Abong-Abong Park) then later on, the Samals and the Badjaos who came on their frail vintas also settled here, building their frail huts along the shorelines and confused “Jambangan” with “Samboangan” which comes from the word “Sabuan”, the wooden pole used to help push their vintas in shallow waters or to tie them for anchorage purposes.

The Spanish colonizers found difficulty in pronouncing “Samboangan” and instead called the place “Zamboanga”.The city has rich and colorful history. It was the center of barter trading among Chinese, Malays and the native Tausugs, Samals, Subanons, and the Badjaos as early as the 13th and 14th centuries.

It was in 1569 when the Spaniards made their presence felt with a small Catholic Mission established briefly at La Caldera, now known as Recodo.Much later on June 23, 1635, the cornerstone of what is now known as Fort Pilar was laid by Father Melchor de Vera, a Jesuit Priest-Engineer and the Spanish authorities. This date marked the change of the name of the place from Samboangan to Zamboanga. It is the city’s founding date.

Sultan Maguindanao and Zamboanga Governor Finley at the inauguration

In 1899, immediately after the Spanish-American War in the Philippines, the United States of America established full authority in Zamboanga. A special form of government was established in Mindanao and Sulu. Zamboanga was made the capital. The first form of which was the Moro province and during the 12 years of its existence, the American Military Government in the Philippines converted Zamboanga into a city in the Commission Form, the first province of Mindanao to become a city. However, the government of the Moro Province was abolished to give way to a new form of government, the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. This form of government entrusted to the Filipino residents of Zamboanga practically all positions in government.

The commonwealth of the Philippines on 1936 declared Zambaonga as a Charter City. Progress and development in Zamboanga continued and in 1983, the Minister Interior Jose Roño proclaimed Zamboanga City as a highly urbanized city.

HOW TO GET THERE

By plane

There are daily flights to/from Manila and Cebu by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.Cebu Pacific also has regular flights to Cagayan de Oro & Davao and vice versa.

By boat

2GO ferries have one ferry a week sailing to/from Manila via Dipolog and Dumaguete.Aleson Shipping lines have a ferry going to and from Sandakan Malaysia.The Port of Zamboanga is an international port of entry. It has a schedule passenger trip to Sandakan, Malaysia and several shipping lines offer regular trips from and to Jolo, Bongao, Isabela City.

By Road

If you are from Luzon and Visayas, the Nautical Highways (RoRo) can bring you here. Rural Transit Buses to/from Dipolog or Cagayan de oro are also available.

CULTURE

Zamboanga City presents a unique cultural tourism experience to everyone who visits the city. You will see the blending of Western, Spanish and indigenous influences in architectural aspect and of with the people themselves. The dialect used here, is Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole language, which is considered as one of the oldest creole languages in the world. Among Asia's Latin City's iconic historic monuments that highlight its cultural diversity and beauty are the Zamboanga City Hall and the Fort Pilar, both historical infrastructure have been standing hundreds of years already.

Zamboanga City Hall Fort Pilar Shrine

PEOPLE

Like the Christians, the Muslims have also been an integral part of Zamboanga City after Pagans and Animists. It is estimated that approximately 25% of the people in Zamboanga City are sunni, traditional and folk Muslims mostly belong to the Sama and Badjao. Some barangays of Zamboanga City today are now populated by 100% Muslims due to migration from people of Sulu who are mostly Tausug. These barangays with Muslim majority population do not celebrate Fiestas. Instead, they celebrate Hari Raya (the eid celebration). However, Christians in the area do celebrate their Barrio's Patron Saint. Most of the Muslims are Sama and Migrant Tausug of Sulu, and of other ethnicities including Tagalog, Zamboangueño, Yakan, and Badjao people.

FESTIVITIES

The Día de La Ciudad de Zamboanga (Day of Zamboanga City) - celebrated every February 26, the day when Zamboanga was declared as a chartered city under the Commonwealth Government in 1937.
Zamboanga Hermosa Festival - a month-long festival held every October, is celebrated in honor of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of Zamboanga City.

Hermosa Festival

TOURISM

My favourite parts of this blog, is the tourist destination around the city. The city is rich in cultural heritage as you can read in the history of the city. It is a multicultural province where you can hear people speaking in different dialects and taste variations of food. The Tausug cuisine and the Chavacano specialties are the best tasting food in the city. It also shows the cultural diversity of the city.