Region 9: Zamboanga Peninsula

Provinces

Zamboanga del Norte

Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay

Cities

Zamboanga
Dapitan
Dipolog
Pagadian
Isabela

Location/Composition
The Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula, as it is known now, was formerly Western Mindanao is in the
southernmost portion of the country. It is bounded by: Sulu Sea on the north; Illana Bay and Moro Gulf on the
south; Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Panguil Bay on the east; and the Celebes Sea on the west.

Physiography
The Zamboanga Peninsula is surrounded by bodies of water; the region relied on fishing as one of its major
industries.

• Zamboanga del norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga

Peninsula region in Mindanao.
• Its capital is Dipolog City and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the
south and Misamis Occidental to the east.
• The Sulu Sea lies to the northwest of Zamboanga del Norte. Zamboanga del Norte is the largest
province of Zamboanga Peninsula in terms of land area.

The ZAMBOANGA Peninsula was known as Sibugay or Sibuguey during the coming of the Spanish
conquistadors. And later on was changed into Zamboanga from the capital town of the province which derived
it's name from the Malay word “Sambangan” meaning: a place where wild flowers grow.

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – hilly & mountainous with plains along the coastlines.
NO ACTIVE VOLCANOES

Commerce and Industry

Zamboanga del Norte's main crops are coconut, corn, palay, banan, cassava, and vegetables. Its known
mineral deposits are gold, chromite, manganese, asbestos and silica. Fishing and farming are the primary
economic activities. Leading industries include coconut production as well as rice, corn and banana
production. The region is the third highest in fish production in the country.

Agriculture and Fisheries

Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte is renowned for pioneering the production of in-glass or bottled sardines
in the country.
Region 9 ranks third in terms of seaweeds production contributing roughly 12% of the total national output.
• Total of 104 big dried fish processors in the region

TOURIST/ATTRACTIONS

DAKAK in Dipolog - The very popular Dakak Beach is most known for its beautifully shaped cove and powdery
white sand.

Pulacan Falls in Labangan -These natural wonders are popular with tourists because of their beauty and
majestic power.
Libuton Cave -the Libuton Cave in the municipality of Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte is one of the
ecotourism sites being developed and promoted by the Dipolog-Dapitan-Polanco-Katipunan-Roxas-Manukan
(DDPKaRoMa) Alliance.

FESTIVALS
KINABAYO FESTIVAL, (June 12 to July 25 of every year )
- held in Dapitan City and Zamboanga del Norte; colorful pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish wars.

HUDYAKA ZANORTE FESTIVAL

-Hudyaka which means revelry in Bisaya is an annual festival that is attended by contingents from the whole
Zamboanga del Norte province.

Dipolog P’gsalabuk Festival

-P’gsalabuk is a Subano term that means “togetherness”. This is the biggest festival of Dipolog City celebrating
unity

Buklog Festival - thanksgiving festival of the Subanen

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

-is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Pagadian City is the
capital.
Zamboanga del Sur is subdivided into 26 municipalities and 1 component city. These divisions are further
subdivided into 681 barangays.

The name of Zamboanga was derived from the Malay word "Jambangan", meaning a pot or place of flowers.
The original inhabitants of the Zamboanga peninsula were the Subanons. The next group of settlers to arrive
were Muslim migrants from the neighboring provinces. The Maguindanaoans and Kalibugans were farmers;
the Tausugs, Samals, and Badjaos were fishermen; and the Maranaos were traders and artisans. Mat weaving
was the major occupation of the Muslim settlers.

Languages and Dialects

-The most commonly spoken language is Cebuano. Also spoken, although in small percentage, are
Zamboangueño, Tagalog, English, Hiligaynon, Maguindanao, Iranun, Subanun, and Ilocano.
• Chavacano: Spanish-based Creole language (derived from the Spanish word "chabacano", meaning
"poor taste," "vulgar," "common," "of low quality”)
• Cebuano (Bisaya)
• Zamboangueño
• Magindanaon
• Sama
Subanon (Tuboy-Salog; Kanluranin/Siocon; Lapuyan

Agriculture and Fisheries

• Raising of chicken is the primary poultry raising activity. (Zamboanga del Sur contributed most.)
• Other agricultural activities:
 Ornamental & flower gardening (excluding orchid) are more common.
 High percentage increases in mushroom culture & sericulture/silk/cocoon activity

Tourist/Attractions
-PITOGO ISLAND IN PITOGO
-Pulacan Waterfalls in Labangan
-LAKEWOOD in pagadian city -The lake got its name when Gen. Leonard Wood, the governor of the Moro
Province in 1904, ordered Capt. Cornelius Smith to explore the inner territories of Mindanao starting from
Iligan to Misamis. They stumbled upon the lake, which the natives called “Danao.” Capt. Smith renamed it
“Lake Leonard Wood,” which eventually became “Lakewood.”

-Lake Dasay -Lake Dasay is the second largest mountain lake, after Lake Wood, in the province of Zamboanga
del Sur, Philippines. With an elevation of about 230 meters, it covers a 40-hectare area surrounded by
forestland and is located in the town of San Miguel.

-Manga Falls in barangay Manga

-Mt. Susong dalaga in barangay Lourdes -Susong Dalaga is a semi-perfect cone with good forest cover
-Lourdes Waterfalls-Also located at barangay Lourdes, about 32 kms. from Pagadian proper.

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
-is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Ipil and
it borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga del Sur to the east and Zamboanga City to the
southwest
Zamboanga Sibugay was formerly part of Zamboanga del Sur. Attempts to divide Zamboanga del Sur into
separate provinces date as far back as the 1960s. Several bills were filed in the Philippine Congress, but
remained unacted. The new province was finally created by Republic Act No. 8973 passed on November 7,
2000 and signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 24, 2001. Zamboanga del Sur
Third District Representative George Hofer was elected as its first governor in 2001.

Economy
The leading industries are in the areas of semi-processed rubber, rice and corn milling, ordinary food
processing, wood and rattan furniture making, dried fish & squid processing, and home-made food processing.
New industries include concrete products, garments, wax and candle factories, lime making, and other home
and cottage industries.
Major crops produced include rice, corn, coconuts, rubber, fruit trees, vegetables, tobacco, coffee, cacao, and
root crops. Livestock and poultry productions are predominantly small-scale and backyard operations. Coal
mining in large and small scale and precious metal mining in small scale category are likewise present in some
areas of the province.

Tourist/ attractions
-Sibuguey Bay -Sibuguey Bay is a large bay of Moro Gulf, off the southwestern coast of Mindanao Island, in the
southern Philippines. The bay and Moro Gulf are part of the Celebes Sea.

-Tantanan Bay-It is the largest fish sanctuary found in the province. Tantanan Bay is located within the
municipality of Alicia, encompassing an area of five hectares.

-Pulo Laum
Pulo Laum is a barangay of the philippine municipality Olutanga in the province Zamboanga Sibugay in
Zamboanga Peninsula which is part of the Mindanao group of islands.
Pulo Laum belongs to the barangays of Municipality Olutanga which are in the outlying area.
In the Island of Olutanga, hundreds of venomous sea snakes called “walo-walo” can become a man’s best
friend.

-Buluan Island, Floating Cottage, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay

-Litayun Island municipality of Alicia
-Moalboal Cave in the municipality of Titay.

ZAMBOANGA CITY
In 2006, Zamboanga City was re-labeled from "City of Flowers" to "Asia's Latin City". The new label is the
brainchild of Mayor. Celso L. Lobregat believing that this was a more relevant and significant label given the
fact that the people of Zamboanga speak Chavacano,

Historically, the City of Zamboanga has always been sentimentally referred to as "The City of Flowers." It's
ancient founders, the Subanons, named it "Jambangan" in their native language, meaning "a place of
flowers." According to legend, the place was resplendent with flowers and full of their ever-changing
blooming colors.

FIESTA
Kinabayo Festival
-The city of Dapitan is due to celebrate its Kinabayo Festival in tribute to the celebration of its Patron St.
James or Señor Santiago through a combining religious, cultural and sports events. The Kinabayo Festival will
kick off this July 16 and will culminate on July 31 with different events taking place within Dapitan City “The
Shrine City of the Philippines”.
One of the highlight events is the Kinabayo Festival Street Dancing Competition and the search for Miss
Dapitan. Kinabayo Festival is a free interpretation contest open to all interested groups based within the city.
The interpretative dance must pervade the “Sinug” with the use of San Fransico leaves as a form of adoration
to the City’s Patron Saint. Kinabayo dance step called “prancing” and the musical piece “Gozos ni Sr. Santiago”
are strongly advised to be used during the dance ritual.

Megayon Festival- is a colorful thanksgiving festival for rich harvest of crops in Tigbao, Zamboanga del sur,
Mindanao, participated in by thousands of participants from the Subanean ethnic group. The festival also
portrays unity and solidarity as it showcases, through street and ethnic dance, the living tradition and diverse
culture of the province.

PAGSALABUK FESTIVAL
CELEBRATED FROM MAY 20 TO JULY 1 EVERY YEAR The term “Pagsalabuk” is of ethnic origin that
means “gathering” that came from the early tribal settlers called the Subanos or river people who were
part of the second wave of Malay migrations to the Philippines.

ISABELA CITY
-is a 4th class city and the capital of the province of Basilan, Philippines. It is also colloquially known as "Isabela
de Basilan" to differentiate the city's name from the province of Isabela in Luzon island.
While administratively the island province of Basilan is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM), Isabela City itself is in not part of this region and is placed under the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

Religion
According to statistics compiled by the Philippine government, the most dominant religion in the city is
Christianity with 73% of the population adhering to the faith. The majority of Christians are Roman Catholics
with minorities of Protestants, Iglesia Ni Cristo and Jesus Miracle Crusade. The remaining 27% percent belongs
to other non-Christian faiths such as Islam and Buddhism.

Catholics - The city contains the first Catholic diocese in Mindanao, today's Archdiocese of Zamboanga which
was created in 1910 and elevated to an archbishopric in 1958.
Protestants - With the inception of the American era, Other religions were introduced. Seventh Day
Adventists, Church of Latter day Saints, Iglesia Ni Cristo and United Church of Christ in the Philippines are
included.
Muslims - The Muslims have been an integral part of Zamboanga City since the beginning. Before any other
religions were practiced in Zamboanga City, the Muslim religion already had a firm hold of the area.
It is estimated that approximately 22% of the people in Zamboanga City are Muslims. Some barangays of
Zamboanga City are populated by 100% Muslim. These barangays with Muslim majority population, do not
celebrate "Fiestas". Instead, they celebrate Hari Raya

Ethnic Composition
About a third of the region’s population is composed of ethnic people. These groups, usually erroneously
classified under the general heading of Muslims, are actually distinct from each other in culture. They are
generally divided into the Tausugs, Yakans, Badjaos, Samals, and the Subanons of Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

YAKAN
Basilan's earliest settlers was traditionally believed to be the Orang Dampuans originating from the islands of
Eastern Indonesia, who were the ancestors of the native Yakans. They are variously called the Orang Dyaks or
the Tagihamas.
-Yakans are peace-loving people, originally pagans until the spread of Islam in the island. Yakan men and
women are distinguished by skin-tight trousers and bulky waist sashes which serve as protection from bladed
weapons or as hummocks in the hills at night
-These days, Yakans are engaged in both dry and wet agriculture. They grow upland rice, corn, coconut, and
root crops. Hunting continues but is mainly for amusement.
They boast of their intricately designed hand-woven cloth which no other tribe in the country can
imitate.

Subanens
The Subanens are considered the aborigines of Zamboanga, settling in the city before the Spaniards occupied
it. The term Subanen, derived from Suba (river), means People of the River. The Subanens form a single
distinctive cultural and linguistic group and are mostly farmers who grow upland rice, root, and tree crops.

Badjaos
Often referred to as the Philippine “sea gypsies”, the Badjaos, until recently, spent their lives on their small
boats which frequent the waters around the numerous islands of the Sulu Archipelago.
Today, about two-thirds of the Tawi-Tawi Badjaos still use boats as permanent living quarters. Some of
their villages are in fact flotillas.
The Badjaos are of two groups: the southern Badjaos of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, who call themselves a single
“bangsa” or ethnic group; and the northern Badjaos (the Basilan and Zamboanga groups). Though water
people, they go on land and are buried on land. They make frequent trips to their cemeteries to seek favors
from spirits of their deceased ancestors and relatives.

Samas
The Samas are a grouping of tribes that generally inhabit the shorelines of northern and southern Sulu, Tawi-
Tawi, Basilan, as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby islands.
They are peace-loving people whose means of livelihood is fishing. Their staple food is the cassava or
puto as it is locally called. They also eat fruits and vegetables, showing a partiality to mangoes.
Their principal musical instrument is the gabbang or nose flute

Tausugs
The Tausugs, considered the most politically dominant group in the Sulu Archipelago, inhabit the island of Jolo
and are dispersed into several communities in the smaller islands of Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Southern
Palawan.
They have a rich culture, an amalgam of different cultures and foreign influence that dates back to as early as
the 13th century.
when Sulu was trading with China, India, the East Indies, Arabia, and Japan.
They formed the Sultanate of Sulu in the 15th century. Jolo, which has been the seat of power, is
predominantly Tausug.
Fishing is one occupation many Tausugs are engaged in. They also plant upland rice inter-cropped with
cassava, coconut, abaca, and coffee.

TOURIST AND ATTRACTION

Built as a tribute to a famous Yakan leader, it is a triangular park located in the heart of Lamitan City's bustling
downtown.
Datu Kalun Shrine, Lamitan.
which showcases the Lami-lamihan Festival. It also serves as the information center for Lamitan City.

Kaum Purnah Mosque in municipality of Isabela in Basilan

an old and imposing mosque, the sight of which greets visitors on ferries as they sail the channel into Isabela.
Santa Isabel Cathedral, Isabela City, an art deco cathedral with a mosaic altar reminiscent of Roman-Byzantine
cathedrals, named in honor of the patron saint of Isabela.

Basilan Provincial Capitol, site of Fort Isabela II. The original fort was bombed and destroyed towards the
end of World War II, having been used by the occupying Japanese forces as a munitions dump. A newer
Capitol Building was built on the spot where the old Basilan City Hall stood after it was burned in the early
1990s. The new building is a celebration of Muslim and Christian influences which shaped modern-day
Basilan, and still occupies the highest point of the city proper.

Natural Tourist Attractions

The region is blessed with numerous tourist attractions. Besides many enchanting islands and islets, there are
cultural and historical shrines as well as exotic scenic spots and pristine beaches. Among these are Santa Cruz
Island, Vista del Mar, Zamboanga Golf and Country Club, and Dakak Beach Resort.

Vintas (slim boats) with colorful sails and a number of beautiful mosques are just a few of its ethnic
attractions. Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City, a walled fortification built by the Spaniards and the Shrine of Dr.
Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine national hero, in Dapitan City, are a must-see for historical buffs.

Vintas
The vinta (locally known as lepa-lepa or sakayan) is a traditional boat found in the Philippine island
of Mindanao. These boats are made by Bajau and Moros living in the Sulu Archipelago, Zamboanga peninsula,
and southern Mindanao. It has a sail with assorted vertical colors that represents the colorful culture and
history of the Muslim community. These boats are used for inter-island transport of people and goods.

Sta. Cruz Island

Known for its pinkish sand beach which gets its unique hue from coral bits washed up from the sea
bottom. The island is ideal for swimming, skin/scuba diving, beachcombing, and sunbathing.

Vista del Mar

The beach itself is lacking in its content and visual appeal, but nevertheless remains popular with city
residents and continues to attract throngs of people into its warm shallow waters.

Zamboanga Golf and Country Club

The lack of sand bunker hazards is noticeable, as is the abundance of trees. The front nine of this
course is relatively flatter and straighter than the back nine, which is more of a challenge. Enjoy the view of
the Basilan Strait as you play in this 18-hole golfing paradise.

Dakak Beach Resort

The closest place to paradise one could ever experience, with its beauty and serenity. Dakak started
operating on 1988, was conveniently positioned in the southern part of the Philippines and surrounded by
mountains in its west. Situated at Taguilon, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Dakak tactfully eludes the
typhoon belt, making it anideal all-season destination for travelers

Shrine of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Rizal House
Sala of House
Kitchen
Rizal’s Bedroom.
Dormitory and School

Prepared by:
JESSICA PRIAS-MOSCARDON
BEED-4

Region 9 Zamboanga Peninsula

Uploaded by Jessica Prias Moscardon on Oct 14, 2015
https://www.scribd.com/document/284872913/Region-9-Zamboanga-Peninsula

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Zamboanga Sibugay - Poem by Ging Taping
It's so nice to be back to where your heart belong.
if only I could stay just for awhile
'please I would love to'..
reminiscing those old days
the valleys the mountains and the hills are standing still
seasons sculpted each perfect curvature.
Clouds gliding down the Bermuda grass
like a blowing cotton falling from the sky
shrouded the countryside.
bare feet walking on farm dyke the view savor my eyes.
wind blows softly swayed my hair so i grasp and clip to my ears
Mayas chirrup in the rice field but Scarecrow stir them away.
Clasped hands i'm feeling cold morning breeze embracing me.

Its been long years memory blast

picture vivid clearly I was waving goodbye
the hardest part in parting ways
You want to go but you left your heart
It's tearing me apart.

Now I'm leaving again soon.

bring my heart back to Manila
Don't worry i packed all the memories
I once had with you Zamboanga Sibugay

Ging Taping
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/zamboanga-sibugay/#content

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My Beloved Zamboanga City - Poem by Didith Marcelo

Oh my beloved hometown is now restless, horror rumbling everywhere, rubbish rebels sneak day and night to look beyond damage and
death.

Oh greed when you was born demons absurd, you cause trouble, ruin lies, poor soul arose everywhere as they are sinking to their
fears, they beg for justice but chaosity brought as an answer.

We wonder where is the finger of God to point out and subdue those rubbish. But someone tells me 'a conspiracy is going on.'

Didith Marcelo
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-beloved-zamboanga-city/

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