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| revisiting zamboanga |
| Marj Akil shows you the ins and
outs of Zamboanga City |
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AMBOANGA CITY'S UNIQUE
history and culture are a
merry mix of
old and new.
Nowhere else is the
indigenous
Creole Spanish Chabacano
spoken. During its colonization
both the Spaniards and the Americans made
Zamboanga the capital of
the entire Mindanao through their respective
bastions of power: the historic Fort Pilar.
and the City
Hall. It's also here in the Province of
Zamboanga del Sur where you'll find all six
colorful tribes of the
Samal, Badjao, Subanon, Yakans,
Tausug, and the Chabacano. |
The city also boasts of a golf course that
once served as an airstrip. Built by US General
John "Blackjack" Pershing, the golf course looks
over Basilan Island. One side stretches along
the historic Yellow Beach where the US military
launched their campaign to liberate Zamboanga City in 1945. |
WHERE TO GO
You haven't been to Zamboanga
City if you haven't set foot on Fort Pilar. The
building built by the Spanish colonizers in 1635
was attacked by the Dutch in 1646, stormed by
Morris in 1720, cannonaded by the British in
1798, occupied by the Americans in 1899, seized
by the Japanese
in 1942, and reclaimed by the Philippines in
1946. Today, it has
a lovely inner
courtyard and a museum that houses, among other
artifacts, traditional outrigger canoes that
doubled as weather-beaten living quarters; and
relics of the 18 th century vessel. The
Griffin.
There's also the San Ramon Penal Farm, a 19th century
Spanish-built penitentiary located 22 kilometers west of the city. Here, handicrafts made by the prisoners
are sold in a nearby shop. Some inmates, though prefer
selling their items behind the pokey's fence. Have fun
haggling. |
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