Known as the City of Flowers, Zamboanga City is the gateway to Western Mindanao and a mix of Chavacano, Tausug, Yakan, Badjao, Sama and Subanen culture. Its trademark vintas with their trademark colorful sails ply the Basilan Strait, especially during festival occasions. Zamboanga’s Chavacano dialect is unique mixture of pidgin Spanish and various Visayan tounges. As such, various landmarks recall Zamboanga’s Hispanic past.
Fort Pilar (built 1635) is a weathered old fort that enshrines the city’s patron sait, Nuestra Senora del Pilar. There’s also has a brach of the National Museum within the fort itself. Rio Hondo and Taluksangay are ethnic villages on stilts. Pasonanca Park has a treehouse, while Climaco Freedom Park is the site of the famous slain mayor’s grave. The terrace of Lantaka Hotel has a centuries-old lantaka or Spanish cannon (another city landmark), with sun-bronzed Badjao hawkers selling seashells below.
Other must are the Yakan Weaving Village, the pink sand beach and Samal graveyard of Sta. Cruz Island, and the seaside Justice R.T. Lim Boulevard, with its beautiful sunsets and nearby beach resorts.
Known as the Orhid City the capital of Dipolog in Zamboanga Del Norte boasts of Linabo Peak (which is reached by 3,003 steps), Pamansalan Oisca Forest Park and Waterfalls and grey-sand Sicayab Beach. Dapitan City was where national hero Jose Rizal was exiled; the Rizal Shrine features his restored house. In front of St. James Church is a giant relief map of Minadanao in grass which the hero himself designed. Offshore from world-class Dakak Beach is coralline Aliguay Island.
Pagadian City is the capital of Zamboanga Del Sur, which abounds with lakes, caves and waterfalls. Points of interest include the Dao-dao Island, Tukuran Beach, Lake Dasay in San Miguel; Pulacan Falls, and the lovely highland Lake Wood. Lupayan is the home of the Subanen community.
Zamboanga Sibugay is the country’s newest province (established in 2001), with Ipil as its capital. Attractions include mangrove-covered Olutanga Island, white sand Eleven Islands at Bolong; and mountain forest reserves stretching from Kabalasan to Ipil. Baluran Falls in Imelda features a wide basin. At Titay are the Moalboal Caves with their strange formations. The Kolibugan, a Muslim minority, are found along the shores of Sibugay Bay.
Fort Pilar (built 1635) is a weathered old fort that enshrines the city’s patron sait, Nuestra Senora del Pilar. There’s also has a brach of the National Museum within the fort itself. Rio Hondo and Taluksangay are ethnic villages on stilts. Pasonanca Park has a treehouse, while Climaco Freedom Park is the site of the famous slain mayor’s grave. The terrace of Lantaka Hotel has a centuries-old lantaka or Spanish cannon (another city landmark), with sun-bronzed Badjao hawkers selling seashells below.
Other must are the Yakan Weaving Village, the pink sand beach and Samal graveyard of Sta. Cruz Island, and the seaside Justice R.T. Lim Boulevard, with its beautiful sunsets and nearby beach resorts.
Known as the Orhid City the capital of Dipolog in Zamboanga Del Norte boasts of Linabo Peak (which is reached by 3,003 steps), Pamansalan Oisca Forest Park and Waterfalls and grey-sand Sicayab Beach. Dapitan City was where national hero Jose Rizal was exiled; the Rizal Shrine features his restored house. In front of St. James Church is a giant relief map of Minadanao in grass which the hero himself designed. Offshore from world-class Dakak Beach is coralline Aliguay Island.
Pagadian City is the capital of Zamboanga Del Sur, which abounds with lakes, caves and waterfalls. Points of interest include the Dao-dao Island, Tukuran Beach, Lake Dasay in San Miguel; Pulacan Falls, and the lovely highland Lake Wood. Lupayan is the home of the Subanen community.
Zamboanga Sibugay is the country’s newest province (established in 2001), with Ipil as its capital. Attractions include mangrove-covered Olutanga Island, white sand Eleven Islands at Bolong; and mountain forest reserves stretching from Kabalasan to Ipil. Baluran Falls in Imelda features a wide basin. At Titay are the Moalboal Caves with their strange formations. The Kolibugan, a Muslim minority, are found along the shores of Sibugay Bay.