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Zamboanga

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Zamboanga traces its roots back to Fort Pilar, which also serves as the foundation for its unique Chavacano language.

Fort-Pilar-of-Zamboanga-City.-Constructed-by-Spain-in-1635-under-the-the-supervision-of-Melchor-de-Vera
This plaque is prominently placed by the entrance of Fort Pilar.

Fort Pilar of Zamboanga City. Constructed by Spain in 1635 under the the supervision of Melchor de Vera. Fort Pilar became the check point to prevent slave traders moving their captured victims from north to south. Rajah Dalasi of Bulig Maguindanao was determined to stop the Spaniards from policing the slave trading hence 3,000 Moros made the bloody attack of the fort in December 8, 1720 (feast day of the Immaculate Conception). To this day, the Moros continue their persistent efforts to gain control over Zamboanga City. They now use the legal system, specifically through plebiscites, under the banner of the Bangsamoro.

Fort pilar is the foundation of Zamboanga City and its Chavacano language. The entire Zamboanga Peninsula was under the name of Zamboanga and was even once the Republic of Zamboanga for a brief period of time.

People who live in Zamboanga City are called Zamboangueños. The majority of the people who live in Zamboanga City speak the chavacano language. Of course several other languages are spoken in Zamboanga City but the local residents are really proud of their language and the name that they have coined it, “chavacano”.

Chavacano is the language of the Zamboangueños. Some refer to the language as ‘chabacano’, which the Zamboangueños don’t mind, as some of them use ‘chabacano’ interchangeably with ‘chavacano’. However, it’s commonly accepted that if you’re officially referring to the language of the Zamboangueños, it’s best to call it ‘chavacano’. Many Zamboangueños pronounce the letter “V” as “B”, the “F” as “P”, and the “Z” as “S”. For instance, they might say ‘chabacano’ but write it as ‘chavacano’, or say ‘prio’ but write ‘frio‘, or pronounce ‘crus’ but write it correctly as ‘cruz‘.

Some English to Chavacano Words:

1 2 3 4 … 1,533

As the Zamboanga Peninsula flourished it was later divide into 5 major areas. Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay. and Misamis Occidental

The prosperity of the zamboanga region depends a great deal on highways that connects all the provinces, municipalities and cities. Within the cities and municipalities farm to market roads are always under construction. By 2030 people can zip from Oroquieta City to the City of Zamboanga without cutting through Zamboanga del Sur or Sibugay.

With infrastructure in place, prosperity will surely follow.

Featured Local Government Unit of the Philippines

Featured News of the Philippines

Updated: September 21, 2023

Siquijor ventures into chocolate making.
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) sees Siquijor as another province producing high-quality chocolates. Engineer Mario dela Peña, DOST-Siquijor provincial director, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday that the department is assisting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the island province to embark on chocolate making as a new or added source of income. “We just learned that we can find the Creole cacao in Siquijor, whose beans or seeds are of higher quality,” dela Peña said. “You cannot just find this anywhere, and somebody who grows this variety has offered to provide seedlings,” he said.

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1210342

Taal’s renewed ‘vog’ emissions affect health of students, crops
BATANGAS CITY – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has called on school authorities in affected Batangas town to hold online classes to keep students safely at home amid Taal Volcano’s renewed spewing of volcanic smog or “vog”. In an interview on Thursday, Dr. Amor Banuelos-Calayan, PDRRMO head, revealed that her office has just received a report that several high school students from Balete town experienced skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and some even had asthma attacks. Apart from the human health toll, municipal officials in Balete have also reported an estimated PHP1.9-million damage to agriculture as highly acidic vog particles settle on top of crops.

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1210318

Last Updated on September 22, 2023