Zamboanga City: A Melting Pot of Cultures

In Zamboanga, there are constant reminders of the city’s exotic past as a major East-West trading port. Zamboanga remains a melting pot of cultures, with the colorful vinta sails and the imposing stoneworks of Fort Pilar symbolizing the city’s rich heritage.

Zamboanga ia also a shopper’s paradise, where a vast array of imported Asian wares compete for attention with local handicrafts such as brassware, woodcarving and shell products.

Fort Pilar Shrine

Fort Pilar was built in 1635 by a Jesuit priest engineer and Spanish authorities to ward off attacks from Moros and foreign invaders. The fort was eventually converted to a shrine and miraculous powers are attributed to the statue of Our Lady of the Pillar.

Plaza Perishing is a quaint remnant of a typical Spanish square, renamed in honor of a former American Governor of the Moro Province. Pettit Barracks was established by US Occupation Forces in 1899 and named after its commanding officer.

Sand is pinkish at the Great Santa Cruz Island

The major natural tourist attraction is Great Santa Cruz Island, which is known for its pinkish sand beach. On the island is a fishing village, a lagoon and an old Muslim burial ground.

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