zamboanga

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→

Ramadan in Rio Hondo

Posted on September 11, 2011

After a three-day fieldwork in Tawi-Tawi for a travel story, I spent two days in Zamboanga on the way back to Manila late last August. Having relatives in Zamboanga, I have visited the city twice before and have seen the most important landmarks in the so-called “Latin City of Asia”, a moniker referring to the strong Hispanic influence in the city, evidenced by the Spanish-based Creole primarily spoken by the Christian population called Chavacano. As it was the last fewRead More→

Pagadian Eats: Manga-on Ta!

Posted on November 9, 2010

The following article is a commissioned article I wrote for this month’s issue (November 2010) of SMILE, the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific Air. You may browse the magazine online at http://www.cebusmile.com Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap says every day feels like a fiesta in Pagadian, where you can enjoy Filipino food with southern hospitality served on the side PHOTOS EDGAR ALAN ZETA-YAP SPRINGLAND RESORT AND RESTAURANT National Highway, Brgy Tuburan, Pagadian City, Tel +63 (62) 214 1881. Open daily from 6amRead More→

Zamboanga City

Posted on March 16, 2008

Nestled on a southern peninsula of the Philippine archipelago is Asia’s Latin City, which boasts of a rich Hispanic heritage, evident in its local Creole tongue called Chavacano, a distinct mix of Spanish and FIlipino dialects. A symbol of Zamboanga City’s cultural heritage is Fort Pilar, a 17th century Spanish fortress built to protect the settlement from pirates and invaders. Today, this military bastion is an outdoor shrine and museum in honor of the patron Virgin of Spain, Our LadyRead More→