ZAMBOANGA
PENINSULA
HISTORICAL ATTRACTION
In

This is the major historical landmark
of Dapitan City. It refers to the more
or less 16-hectare estate of Dr. Jose
P. Rizal which he purchased in
Barangay Talisay from his lottery
winnings. The landmark was meant
to be a place of punishment but
instead, the shrine is serving as an
icon of inspiration for many
generations who come to see the
ingenuity of the national hero during
his days.
THE RIZAL
SHRINE

The Real Fuerte de Nuestra Señora del
Pilar de Zaragoza (Royal Fort of Our
Lady of the Pillar of Saragossa), also
Fort Pilar, is a 17th-century military
defense fortress built by the Spanish
colonial government in Zamboanga
City. The fort, which is now a regional
museum of the National Museum of the
Philippines, is a major landmark of the
city and it symbolize the cultural
heritage. Outside the eastern wall is a
Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of
the Pillar, the patroness of the city.
FORT PILAR

Named after General John Joseph
"Black Jack" Pershing to honor his
victory over Muslim insurgents, this
plaza is situated just across the
zamboanga city hall.
Although small in size, it is also a
looker in the heart of the city. At
night, it shimmers in festive lights
to attract passersby, and it barely
misses. Pershing plaza is a good
hang out place or a rendezvous of
some sorts for family, friends and
lovers.
PLAZA PERSHING

Smack at the very heart of the city center,
where well-preserved colonial structures are
clustered, the zamboanga city hall is
considered one of the important heritage
sites in the city. It recognized as a national
historical site, it was originally used as the
official residence of the Us military governor
of the then moro province. Later on, it
became the government seat of the former
zamboanga province. It has been serving as
the administrative seat of zamboanga city
since 1937. Rizal park or plaza rizal is just
across the city hall.
ZAMBOANGA
CITY HALL

Gastronomy
Gastronomy

Tiyula Itum is a Filipino beef soup
prepared with beef or goat pieces
that were cooked with lemongrass,
ginger, turmeric and charred
coconut meat.
Tiulah Itum / Tiyulah Itum
Chavacano Cuisine
Kurma is a popular dish in the city. It is
the local version of curry. Kurma had the
best texture and just the right amount of
spice, probably caused by the careful
braising of the meat in coconut milk
during the dish’s preparation.
Kurma
The local version of barbecue, Satti. The
chicken and beef strips were grilled to crisp
perfection. It was served with rice cooked
inside woven coconut leaves. This dish was
smothered in a thick spicy sauce like the
two previous dishes.
Satti
Piyanggang Manuk is a chicken dish made by
boiling a chicken and then grilling it afterward.
The chicken was characterized by its tender meat
and the smoky flavor. This chicken dish was
served with a very creamy blackened coconut
curry sauce.
Piyanggang Manuk / Pyanggang
Manok

A traditional viand, the Chupa Kulo is a dish
of cooked snails served with a thick, sauce-
like broth made from squash and coconut
milk. The snails were not deshelled, so the
meat stayed moist and flavorful inside. Eating
the snail meat required sucking it out of the
shell.
Chupa Kulo
Chavacano Cuisine
A flavorful blend of smoky grilled
eggplant, mango, and salted egg, the
Ensalada Chamba is a dish we could eat
at any time of the day. The diced
mangoes’ sweetness blended the dish’s
flavors so well.
Ensalada Chamba
One of the most famous dishes in the peninsula is
the curacha. A giant sea crab and spiny lobster
hybrid, is a rare crab abundantly found in
Zamboanga and the nearby Sulu. The dish can only
be served and eaten fresh here. Unlike ordinary
crabs, the bulk of the meat of the curacha was inside
the crustacean’s body, not inside its claws.
Curacha
The Knicker Bocker is the Chavacano
version of halo-halo. The glass was
filled with sliced frozen fruits, gelatin,
and light strawberry ice cream on
top.
Knicker Bocker

lso called Zamboanga Rolls, this dessert,
usually eaten as a snack, is made from fine
rice flour and water. The thick mixture is
then poured into a strainer with small holes,
rolled, and fried in a pan. These crispy rolls
had a very light and pleasing taste like a
wafer.
Lokot-lokot
Chavacano Cuisine
One simple but truly delicious local food is
Saging Prito, fried Saba bananas with a light
coating of brown sugar. One interesting
version of Saging Prito is the one served in
Lantaka Hotel. It is served with coco jam dip.
Saging Prito / Saging
Rebosao
Zamboanga has its own version of
Tamales. Unlike in Pampanga with
Pork, chicken, and Egg toppings,
Zamboanga Tamales is stuffed with
Vermicelli noodles and prawns.
Tamales
Another seafood dish we sampled was the
Baked Imbao—a beautiful and flavorful plate of
imbao, a type of small mangrove clam. The
clam was naturally salty, but the butter and
garlic toppings added more flavor and texture
to the dish.
Baked Imbao

Beliefs, Customs,
Beliefs, Customs,
Traditions &
Traditions &
Rituals
Rituals

Beliefs
Beliefs
SUBANEN:
The tribe has no religion although it is
believed that they had a holy book at one
time. In marriage, the parents of the man look
for a woman he will marry and both sets of
parents set the wedding date. Polygamy and
polyandry are practiced but separation is not
allowed nor is marrying nearest relatives.

Beliefs
Beliefs
NORTHERN SAMA:
an Islamic people group, following the Sunni
traditions while mixing them with elements of
animism. They believe that the spirits of the
dead remain in the vicinity of their graves,
requiring expressions of continued concern
from the living. They have reported that some of
these graves are the source of miracle working
power.
The Sama peoples believe that during a particular
month, Allah permits the souls of the dead to return
to this world. To honor them, the living offer special
prayers to the dead and clean the graves.

Beliefs
Beliefs
KOLIBUGAN:
The Kolibugan embraced Islam and are
mostly found on the island of Olutanga, off
the coast of Zamboanga del Sur.
"Kolibugan" is a Sama-Tausug slang for
half-breed, because the tribe was former
Subanuns who intermarried with Sama
and Tausugs and embraced Islam.
However, they retain the Subanun dialect.

Beliefs
Beliefs
BAJAU:
The Bajau are Sunni Muslims of the Shafi
school. Claims to religious piety and
learning are an important source of
individual prestige, and persons
considered descendants of the Prophet (
salip ) are shown special deference.
Perceived differences in degrees of Islamic
practice are also associated with the
relative status of different Bajau groups.

The Zamboangueño customs are based on European
and Ibero-American notions of patriarchal authority,
etiquette, familial obligation, as well as a feeling of
superiority—characterized by excessive pride,
vanity, jealousy, boastfulness and snobbishness—
over their less-Westernized neighbors. They are
mostly devout Roman Catholics.
Customs

a suitor could not sit unless
permitted to do so by the lady’s
parents, or the heavy cross-
examination of the suitor who had
to answer satisfactorily all
questions as to his lineage,
credentials, and occupation, or the
courtship curfew, the need to
cultivate the goodwill of all the
members of the lady’s family.
an annual celebration in honor of the
patroness of the City of Zamboanga—
Our Lady of the Pillar. The
Zamboangueños are known for their
fervent devotion to Our Lady of the
Pillar or better known to them as
“Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar”.
This is brought about by the miracles
believed to have been performed by
Our Lady.
Traditions
COURTSHIP Zamboanga Hermosa
Festival

Regatta de Zamboanga is one of the
highlights during the celebration of
Zamboanga City’s Fiesta Hermosa
where racing of vintas are anticipated
every October. These iconic vintas bring
color to the shores of R.T. Lim Boulevard
where the event is annually held. Vintas
are traditional boats originally used by
indigenous people in Mindanao that
plays important role in culture and
history of the indigenous communities.
Considered as the country’s biggest
celebration of avifaunal diversity,
Zamboanga City Bird Festival is
celebrated by bird-watchers,
conservationists, and tourists from
local and foreign origins. Zamboanga
is not only rich in endemic birdlife but
also attractive for migratory birds since
it provides a suitable ecosystem for a
myriad of bird species. During this
Zamboanga peninsula tradition,
participants of all ages parade in
colorful bird costumes.
Traditions
Regatta de
Zamboanga
Zamboanga City Bird
Festival

Rituals
The head of a host family, usually a village chief
called ‘timuay’, plans the ritual system to express
gratitude to the spirits. The rituals ensure harmony
among family, clan and community members, as
well as among the human, natural and spiritual
worlds. They include asking the spirits for
permission to gather materials from the forest,
presenting coin offerings, inviting the spirits of the
departed to feast, invoking spirits of water and
land, and music and dance.
Thanksgiving Ritual of Subenan
BUKLOG

Rituals
Death rites follow Islamic practice. The body is
bathed and shrouded and buried in a grave
niche with its head facing Mecca. If death
occurs in the morning, the body is ideally
buried before nightfall; if at night, before noon
the following day. After a grave is filled, it is
often covered with sand or crushed coral and is
marked with a stone or wooden marker. Burial
is accompanied by a period of vigil lasting up to
seven nights.
Death rites

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Thank you
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