Zamboanga City

Onçe Islas: Your Complete Guide to Zamboanga City’s Eco-Cultural Isles

Posted on October 3, 2018

Dubbed “Asia’s Latin City”, Zamboanga City has long flaunted its strong Hispanic heritage as seen in its most famous historical landmark, the 17th-century colonial fortress Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, and the Spanish-based Creole called Chavacano used as a lingua franca among the different ethnolinguistic groups in the city. Onçe Islas or Eleven Islands, however – a cluster of mostly uninhabited islands and islets belonging to the remote barangays of Panubigan and Dita, 40km northeast of theRead More→

Garden Orchid Hotel: A Classy Choice in Zamboanga City

Posted on December 25, 2017

Established in 1993, Garden Orchid Hotel is one of the landmark hotels in Zamboanga City. I was billeted in this four-star hotel by the city tourism during the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. Through the years, the hotel has expanded. Now it consists of a main hotel building and much newer annex building, both structures sandwiching a garden and swimming pool. It’s the biggest hotel in the city with 205 rooms! More than its size, what stood out for me with thisRead More→

Zamboanga Hermosa: A Festival of Faith in Zamboanga City

Posted on December 23, 2017

It all started with my desire to see a vinta, a traditional paddleboat with multicolored sails. The most recognizable cultural icon of Zamboanga City often seen in postcards, I assumed it was an everyday sight, but after having visited the city a few times I realized that one could only see it on special occasions, most especially during the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival – also known as Fiesta Pilar – held every October. Unlike most other Philippine festivals which occur over aRead More→

DIY Walking Tour – Zamboanga City

Posted on November 22, 2011

Location: Zamboanga City (Downtown) Starting Point: Rio Hondo End Point: Cawa-Cawa Boulevard Distance: 2 km Duration: 3 hours Owing to its prominent Spanish heritage, the city of Zamboanga in Western Mindanao is dubbed “Asia’s Latin City”. A significant aspect is the Spanish creole called Chabacano spoken primarily by the Christianized population. However, the city is cultural crossroad shaped by centuries of immigration and colonization. The settlement was established as early as the 12th century, with the earliest inhabitants being theRead More→