Zamboanga City - "ASIA'S LATIN CITY"

[chuck23]

Zamboanga City Hall

December 2012

Rodel Falcasantos

[chuck23]

Breathtaking. Serene. Unique. ZAMBOANGA.

Views from Paseo del Mar

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


credits to the owner

[el palmesano]

really nice decoration of the city hall

[ermon_ZC]

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/...y-edict-259873

City Council approves ‘Asia’s Latin City’ edict

Sunday, December 23, 2012

MAYOR Celso Lobregat has commended the City Council for passing an ordinance officially branding Zamboanga City as “Asia’s Latin City.”

The branding is a moniker that was based on the Zamboanga City’s Spanish-derivative language called Chabacano.

The ordinance was approved on third and final reading by the City Council in a special session held on Wednesday of last week upon the request of Lobregat.

“With the ordinance, it is now easier to promote Zamboanga. The branding ‘Asia’s Latin City’ sparks curiosity. People will be inquisitive (about it),” Lobregat said, stressing that the city’s Chabacano dialect sets Zamboanga apart and unique from all other cities not only in the Philippines but throughout Asia as well.

The council voted 12-2-1 to approve the edict.

Those who voted in favor were Councilors Myra Paz Abubakar, Miguel Alavar, Luis Biel, II, Reynerio Candido, Vincent Paul Elago, Benjamin Guingona, III, Rodolfo Lim, Abdurahman Nuño, Lilia Nuño, Percival Ramos, Eduardo Saavedra and Rogelio Valesco, who are all sponsors of the ordinance.

Opposition Councilors Melchor Sadain and Rodolfo Bayot voted against the edict.

Councilor Jaime Cabato abstained from voting for political reason; firstly, being a member of the mayor’s LDP party, which endorses the “Asia’s Latin City” branding, and secondly, this coming March (campaign period) he will be joining another political party, which is opposed to the same measure.

Lobregat said that Zamboanga City’s old moniker as “City of Flowers” is no longer unique and exclusive for this city because other cities like Baguio, Tagaytay and even Davao can also claim as such.

Lobregat said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. during his first visit to Zamboanga last year had endorsed the branding, saying “it speaks well of the city’s culture and history because of its strong Latin influence.”

Besides, he said the City Council itself had passed series of resolutions as early as 2006 for the city government to participation in the project City Development Strategy-3 (CDS3), an enabling platform for good governance and improving service delivery, which in effect adopted “Asia’s Latin City” as the new brand name of Zamboanga.

He also quoted former Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Arias Romero who in 2008 said “Zamboanga is the only place in Asia where people speak a language Chabacano that can be understood by almost all people in South America and North America and not only that, there is a character of the people of Zamboanga that makes it truly Asia’s Latin City.” (Bong Garcia)

[el palmesano]

well also in central america and spain haha

[Mi Vida]

Si!

[Mi Vida]

Felices Pascua y Prorpero anio nuevo con todo!




Christmas is so alive in Zamboanga City! Families and friends flock to the City Plaza every night to watch the lights at the well decorated City Hall. The lights somehow dance to the tune of Christmas carols with bubble machines accentuating every blink of the Christmas lights. The adjacent parks were also decorated with Christmas lanterns, lights and a huge nativity statue.

http://www.pinoyadventurista.com/201...zamboanga.html

[Mi Vida]

Zamboanga City's version of Shibuya, Tokyo.



http://somedaywonderland.blogspot.com/

[el palmesano]

haha, or the little Piccadilly Circus

[capricorn2000]

spectacular celebrations.

[Mi Vida]

http://vimeo.com/56502547

must watch! Truly Asia's Latin City.

[chuck23]

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE IN ZAMBOANGA CITY
(ISSUE: DECEMBER 2012)
http://www.zest-inflight.com/blog/ar...mboanga%20City





Zamboanga City has long been known as mostly a historic and cultural destination. The most common images associated with this city are the vintas, or the traditional multi-colored sailboats as well as the preserved ruins of Fort Pilar, the city’s major landmark.
But this vibrant city, located on the southernmost tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao, has much more to offer. Here’s a look at the different activities that you can choose to do to fit your traveling style.



A If you’re an adventure-seeker:

If you’re the outdoor type, who prefers being in the sun and amidst nature rather than museums, head to Merloquet Falls, located in Barangay Sibulao, some 78 kilometers east of the city. This scenic waterfall is a rising eco-tourism destination suited for hikers and nature-trippers.
Because of its relative isolation, the area around the waterfalls remains pristine. Visitors can sit right below the cascades of the lower level for a relaxing and natural hydrotherapy massage. An upper tier has a series of interesting jagged rock formations. Entrance fees to the falls cost just PhP5 per person, while parking fees are PhP10 per motorcycle and PhP20 for cars and other vehicles.
A more accessible destination, just 20 minutes away from the Zamboanga City Port, is Santa Cruz Island, known for its lovely pink sand beach. The area is ideal for snorkeling and beach activities.
Tourists can also enjoy sailing in a vinta every weekend at Paseo del Mar, a plaza by the sea. This new attraction is offered to guests from Friday to Sunday for just PhP50 each for adults.

B If you’re a history and culture buff:



Fort Pilar and the National Museum are the major landmarks in the city that should be the first-stop of any history or culture buff. Originally founded as a garrison during the colonial period Fort Pilar now stands as an open-air shrine to devotees of Pilar. Locals show their devotion to the miraculous Lady of Pilar, the city’s patron saint, during the La Hermosa Festival held every October.
The National Museum, also located within the Fort houses a collection of paintings, cultural memorabilia and antique items about Zamboanga’s history.
Pasonanca Park with its famous treehouse is another historic landmark of Zamboanga City, where one can walk amidst a sprawling grounds and visit gardens. The park contains a campsite, amphitheatre, convention center, and other facilities.
The BPI Ayala Museum Zambaonga, located on the second floor of a building where the first branch of BPI in Mindanao was opened in 1912, is another new museum worth visiting. This museum showcases the colonial-era lifestyle of Zamboanguenos, with period furniture, vintage photographs, traditional clothing, weapons and banking memorabilia, on display.



Zamboanga City is also home to the oldest place of worship for Muslims in Western Mindanao. Taluksangay Mosque in Barangay Taluksangay, just outside the city center, was built by Hadji Abdullah Maas Nuno in 1885. Muslim scholars and religious missionaries from all over the world should never fail to visit this historic mosque.



C. If you’re a foodie:


As a coastal city, Zamboanga is rich in varieties of seafood. One of its major specialties, curacha (deep-sea crab), can only be caught in the deep waters of Zamboanga. You can indulge in this delicious crustacean at Alavar Seafood Restaurant, which is an institution in Zamboanga City.
The restaurant’s main branch along Don Alfaro Street serves fresh seafood like curacha, crabs, and prawns generously topped with Alavar’s special sauce, a blend of coconut milk and spices. Other must-try dishes here are the baked clams, seafood rice platter, and prawns. Cap your meal with the refreshing lychee-based cream shake known as Zamboanga White.
If you want to take home fresh seafood like curacha, lobster and freshwater crabs, head to the Flea Market in Guiwan.
Those on a budget can head to restaurants that serve satti, barbecued meat reminiscent of the Malaysian satay. Satti is served with a hefty serving of spicy sauce and puso (rice wrapped in coconut leaves), making it a filling yet affordable meal for breakfast or lunch.
The area of Paseo del Mar also has a number of al fresco restaurants to choose from. Bistro serves pasta dishes, fusion food and seafood platters, while Pinoy Patio (a branch of Palmeras) serves a delicious dessert called the Knickerbocker, a mélange of sliced fruits and gelatin topped with strawberry ice cream.

D. If you’re a souvenir hunter:
One of the major souvenirs in Zamboanga City is Yakan textiles; intricately woven fabrics with ethnic patterns, woven by members of the Yakan tribe. While the tribe is originally from the province of Basilan, many of them now reside and sell their products in the Yakan Weaving Village on Upper Calarian Road. You can buy beautiful handcrafted items like table runners, wallets, bags, accessories and decorative items which make great souvenirs, as well as brassware, traditional musical instruments, weapons, and other similar items.
If you’re just in the city, you can browse through the souvenir stalls located at Plaza del Pilar in front of Fort Pilar. You can find all sorts of Zamboangeno memorabilia like batik malongs, woodcrafts, miniature vintas, as well as the usual souvenir shirts, mugs and keychains.
For bulk souvenir shopping, the best place to go is the Barter Trade at Canelar. This market/bazaar sells a range of native items like Muslim attire, batiks, textiles, and clothes, and a range of Chinese and Malaysian food products.



E. If you’re a business or luxury traveler:
The most luxurious hotel in Zamboanga City is the Garden Orchid Hotel, just five minutes away from the airport. Business and leisure travelers may not even want to leave the hotel because of its spacious and comfortable rooms. A buffet breakfast is served here and the in-house Baron Restaurant serves a range of European dishes. The hotel boasts of several upscale souvenir shops, a cafe, a gym and spa, large swimming pool, WiFi and an Executive Club.
Leisure travelers may also want to kick back with a round or two on the greens of the oldest golf course in the Philippines. The Zamboanga Golf and Country Club, overlooking the Basilan strait, was established in 1910 when the Philippines was still part of American Territory.
The Lantaka Hotel By The Sea is another ideal place for business meetings and functions. Centrally located in the city, this historic hotel is walking distance from many tourist attractions, shopping areas and hip dining places.
Choose your own adventure, or mix and match the type of activities you’d like to try out, and you’ll be sure to have fun in Zamboanga City!

Text and Photos By: Kara Santos

[chuck23]

Zamboanga City Lights


Zamboanga City East Cast Growth Area


View towards Downtown


photos by: Arch. Rodel Falcasantos

[chuck23]

Plaza Rizal Panorama >>scroll

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Abet Lagula

[chuck23]

Old Zamboanga


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Plaza from Provincial building, August 27, 1933

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Zamboanga City Harbor bombing by the 5th Air Force “Sun Setters”, Mindanao, Philippines, Oct. 28, 1944

Zamboanga port area was bombed to prevent it from being used by the Japanese as an embarkation point to reinforce their forces on Leyte.

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August 27, 1933

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Sucabon Creek passing infront of the City Hall going to Pettit Baraacks, 1926

Photographer: Lieutenant (j.g.) Leonard Johnson, USC&GS

Original photograph is in the collection of the USA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

image hosted on flickr

Zamboanga City main street, 1926

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outskirts looking out of the city, 1926

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Divers at S.S. Resolute, Zamboanga, Mindanao, November 1, 1933

Keystone View Company



* Photographer: Robert Larimore Pendleton, 1890-1957

Other images are from the original negative that is in the American Geographical Society Library of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee USA collections.

[chuck23]

Zamboanga City Hall, 1905

image hosted on flickr

credits to the owner

[12jairien14]

Originally Posted by dela_cruz

[el palmesano]

beautiful old pictures!!