*

*Region 9: Zamboanga Peninsula

Zamboanga Peninsula. Designated as Region IX, the region consists of three provinces, namely, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, its component cities of Dipolog, Dapitan, Pagadian, and Isabela and the highly urbanized city of Zamboanga. The region was previously known as Western Mindanao before the enactment of Executive Order No. 36 on September 19, 2001. Pagadian City is the regional center.

**Total Area.

Province/City CapitalPopulation

(2010)Area(km²)

Pop. density(per km²)

Zamboanga del Norte

Dipolog City 957,997 7,301.0 131.2

Zamboanga del Sur Pagadian City 959,685 4,499.5 213.2

Zamboanga Sibugay

Ipil 584,685 3,607.8 162

Zamboanga City ------------- 807,129 1,483.4 544.1

Isabela City ------------- 97,857 140.7 695.5

*Maps

*Physiographic Map

Dapitan City

Dipolog City

Provinces & Chartered Cities***

Isabela City

Zamboanga City

Zamboanga del Norte

Zamboanga del Sur

Zamboanga Sibugay

*Political Map

*Surrounded by bodies of water, the region has, thus, relied on fishing as one of its major industries.

* The Zamboanga Peninsula lies between the MORO GULF, part of the CELEBES SEA, and the SULU SEA.

*Physiography

*The peninsula is connected to the main part of Mindanao through an isthmus situated between PANGUIL BAY and PAGADIAN BAY.

The boundary between the peninsula and the mainland is artificially marked by the border between the provinces of ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR and LANAO DEL NORTE.

*Physiography

*Roman Catholic

*Iglesia ni Cristo

*Islam

*Buddhism

*Religion:

*Agriculture and Fisheries

*Agriculture and Fisheries

• PALAY is the major temporary crop in the region. Total palay production increased by 2.62%.

• COCONUT is the dominant permanent crop.• All provinces have the same top three crops namely,

COCONUT, RUBBER & BANANA both in 2002 and 1991.

*Agriculture and Fisheries

*Male operators dominated the agricultural operation. (30-54 age group)Implies that gender stereotypes persist within this

region.

*Majority of the household members engaged in agricultural activity were working in their own holding.

*People behind Region IX*Dr. Jose Rizal – Phil. National Hero was exile in Dapitan.

*Lt. Col. Alejandro Suarez – A Guerilla who facilitated the landing of American soldier in Tawi-tawi, Siasi and Jolo in 1945.

*Vicente Alvarez – Former 1st Pres. In the Republic of Zamboanga during the American and Japanese era.

*General “Black Jack” Pershing – A military commander/governor of the Moro Province from 1909 to 1914. And became the Supreme Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I.

*Cesar Climaco – A prominent person in the city was elected as a Mayor and pursued the policies of good governance and cleanliness.

*Indigenous Cultural Communities

*Ethnic Composition*SUBANON (“people of the river”)

*The Subanens are considered the aborigines of Zamboanga, settling in the city before the Spaniards occupied it.

*Subanen, derived from Suba (river), means People of the River.

*Form a single distinctive cultural and linguistic group and are mostly farmers who grow upland rice, root, and tree crops.

*Settlements today are thinly spread over southern Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, stretching northward, then eastward to the hinterlands of the neighboring province of Misamis Occidental.

*Ethnic Composition*KALIBUGAN*from the Subanon community who

submitted themselves to the practice of intermarriages and change of faith (Islam)

*Sama-Tausug slang which literally means "half breed”

*remain Subanon in speech and in their culture

*lack a distinctive political organization

*live their lives as subsistence farmers cultivating upland rice, roots, and tree crops

*Ethnic Composition

*TAUSUG (“people of the current”)

*most politically dominant group in the Sulu Archipelago; formed the Sultanate of Sulu in the 15th century

*experienced sailors and are known for their colorful boats or “vintas;” superb warriors and craftsmen

*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.

*Fishing is one occupation many Tausugs are engaged in

*plant upland rice inter-cropped with cassava, coconut, abaca, and coffee

*Ethnic Composition*BAJAU (“sea gypsies”)

*nomadic, seafaring people, living off the sea by trading and subsistence fishing

*erect houses on stilts, and travel using “lepa-lepa,” handmade boats in which many lived

*Claims to religious piety and learning are an important source of individual prestige

*Originally expert horsemen & known for weaving and needlework skills

****often intentionally rupture their eardrums at an early age in order to facilitate diving and hunting at sea

*The SAMALS originated from this group

*Ethnic Composition*YAKAN*descended from migrating Dayak from

Northeast Borneo and Sama from Johore

* have Malay features, known as fierce warriors and are primarily farmers

*boast of their intricately designed hand-woven cloth no other tribe can imitate

*“Folk Islam" -- a combination of Islamic principles and traditional beliefs

*prominent person of each community is the Imam who combines birth religion and socio-political leadership

*culturally influenced in some respect by the Tausugs

*Ethnic Composition*OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS

1.TIRURAY – with clear proto-Malayan features; classified into 3 groups based on subsistence orientation (riverine, coastal, mountain); artistic skill in basket weaving; animistic beliefs; traditionally use dry cultivation; retained religion in spite of proximity to Maguindanao

2.MANOBO – traced to Malay people; primitive farming methods; patriarchal way of life; polygamy; animistic beliefs

3.MARANAO – “people of the lake;” centered on Lake Lanao; largest Moro & cultural minority in the country; known for Sarimanok, exotic dances and artistry; Muslim; existence of feudal standings

4.MAGUINDANAON – “people of the plains;” kulintang music; Muslim; carving and textiles

*Languages and Dialects*CHAVACANO: Spanish-based

creole language (derived from the Spanish word "chabacano", meaning "poor taste," "vulgar," "common," "of low quality”)

*CEBUANO (Bisaya)

*ZAMBOANGUEÑO

*MAGUINDANAON

*SAMA

*SUBANON (Tuboy-Salog; Kanluranin/Siocon; Lapuyan

*Culture and Livelihood*Hudyaka Festival – celebrate founding of Zamboanga

del Norte

*Sibug-Sibug Festival – celebrate founding of Zamboanga Sibugay

*Buklog Festival - thanksgiving festival of the Subanen

*Kinabayo Festival – held in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte; colorful pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish wars

*The Hermosa Festival or the Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival or popularly known as Fiesta Pilar (held each year in Zamboanga City) Held in honor of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pillar, the

patroness of Zamboanga City which is held every October 12

*Megayon Festival - highlights the cultural diversity of the three groups of people that populate Zamboanga del Sur Unique cultural dances, traditional costumes

*Culture and Livelihood

*Farming and fishing are the main economic activities of the region.

*It also has rice and corn mills, oil processing, coffee berry processing and processing of latex from rubber.

*Its home industries include rattan and furniture craft, basket making, weaving and brass work.

*Art: weaving, basketry, metalwork, basketry

*Music: kulintang ensemble (gandingan, dabakan, etc.)

*Zamboanga del Norte

Zamboanga del Norte…The early history of Zamboanga del Norte is shared with that of Zamboanga City, which had been the center of the entire Mindanao area, most notably during the American era. When Zamboanga City became a chartered city on October 12, 1936, it encompassed the southern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula and the island of Basilan, making it the largest city in the world in terms of land area.This all changed in 1948 when Basilan was made into a separate Chartered City, and further, when Republic Act No. 711, issued on June 6, 1952, created two more provinces out of Zamboanga City. One of these provinces was Zamboanga del Norte.*

Zamboanga del Norte

*#1 in Commercial Fish Production: 357,124.70 mt.

*SARDINES CAPITAL of the Philippines i.e. With companies such as

Mega Fishing Corporation based in the region

*Supplies 70% of the Philippine domestic requirements for DRIED FISH Total of 104 big dried fish

processors in the region

*Agriculture and Fisheries

*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.

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

*MINDANAO RELIEF MAP, Dapitan - Situated in the city plaza, the map was made by Dr. Rizal as a teaching aid.

*HISTORICAL SITES 

*RIZAL SHRINE, Dapitan- The original estate purchased by Dr. Rizal during his exile from 1892 to 1896. Contains a number of historic structures and a collection of Rizal memorabilia. (C)

*HISTORICAL SITES 

*HISTORICAL SITES 

Magsaysay Park

A landscaped park providing an oasis of greenery right in the center of  Dipolog City. It is a converging point for many  people from all walks of life for simple strolling and relaxing. The hectare sized lot just beside the City Hall and fronting the Holy Rosary Cathedral is an ideal place for small  outdoor meetings in a nature setting.

*HISTORICAL SITES 

Located at Barangay Dicayas in Dipolog City, Japanese Memorial Park is one of the major components of the highly\ successful tourism industry not only in the city, but also in the entire province of Zamboanga del Norte. In terms of significance, the place is very much valuableto the people of the area because it serves as a constant reminder of the rich history and colorful past of the area.

Japanese Memorial

Park

*HISTORICAL SITES 

Barangay Minaog’s Miss Universe Park

This park was name after the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant of 1996 was held partly in both Cities of Dipolog and Dapitan.

HOLY ROSARYCATHEDRAL, Dipolog City- Erected in 1895, the altar was designed by Dr. Jose Rizal.

*CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SHRINES

ZAMBOANGADEL NORTEST. JAMES CHURCH AND CATHOLIC RECTORY, Dapitan City - The old Spanish masonary and architecture are still recognizable.

*CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SHRINES

*CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SHRINES3003 STEPS TO LINABO PEAK, Dipolog

City - Fourteen Stations of the Cross punctuate the route to the summit.

Dakak Beach Resort, Dapitan City

*TOURIST SPOTS

*TOURIST SPOTS

Sungkilaw falls is an awesome falls that lies beneath the mountains of Diwan, Dipolog City. It boasts a spring on the east part that flows to a very rapid fall down to a river.

Sungkilaw falls

*TOURIST SPOTS

Sicayab

Cliff

Sicayab Cliff is among Dipolog’s natural wonders, like Linabo Peak and Sungkilaw Falls, flocked by visitors and tourists for the undisturbed work Mother nature has been doing on them for thousands of years.

*Zamboanga Del Sur

Zamboanga del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Pagadian City is the capital. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga Sibugay to the west, Misamis Occidental to the northeast, and Lanao del Norte to the east. To the south is the Moro Gulf.

*Zamboanga

del Sur

*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

ZAMBOANGA DEL SURFORT PILAR, Zamboanga - Built in 1635 to repel foreigners and Moros, the historic fort now contains a museum.

*HISTORICAL SITES 

* *Zamboanga Sibugay

Zamboanga Sibugay. Its capital is Ipil. Zamboanga Sibugay was created in 2001 when the third district of Zamboanga del Sur was carved out of that province. Zamboanga Sibugay is the 79th province created in the Philippines.

Zamboanga Sibugay

*Isabela City*

Isabela City. The city is located on the northern shore of Basilan. Across the Basilan Strait to the north is Zamboanga City.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.

*** Isabela

City

*ISABELA CITY continues to be under the jurisdiction of Basilan for the administration of provincially-devolved services and functions. But for the administration of regional services, the city is part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region despite the rest of Basilan being under the authority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

*Political Division

** The City of Zamboanga. Zamboanga is the 6th most populous and 3rd largest city by land area in the Philippines. It is the commercial and industrial center of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

* Zamboanga was the capital of the former Moro Province, now Mindanao, from 1903 to 1913. On September 15, 1911, the Municipalidad de Zamboanga was converted into a city by the legislative order Act. No.272. Known for Hispanic influences in its culture, it bears the nickname Ciudad Latina de Asia (Asia's Latin City). Zamboanga is the third oldest city in the Philippines, with a mayor-council form of government.

*Zamboanga City

Zamboanga City

* Events/Celebration:

*Sibug-sibug Festival

Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay | February 22-26The festival commemorates the founding of the  province.  It is a ritual where dancers and performers dressed in native Subanen costumes dance to the tempo of sounds produced from the kulintangs, gongs and tambols while offering fruits, vegetables, rice and other produced of the land to the gods placed in a container together with incense . 

*Hermosa Festival

Every October the scenic City of  Zamboanga, as the "City of Flowers", celebrates.its grand annual Zamboanga 

Hermosa Festival or the popularly known as Fiesta Pilar with 12 days and nights of events and celebrations. The beautiful city of Zamboanga welcomes thousands to the region's biggest, most extravagant celebration of the year. The two day celebrations are mainly in honor of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pilar Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragosa, which is also commonly known as the “Fiesta Pilar” at the legendary Fort Pila who has a special fiesta in October. The people of Zamboanga passionately believe that the lady has served as their unifying cultural and historical symbol.

*Province/City

* 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.

*Population & Demography* 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 ethnik dance, the

living traditon and diverse culture of the province.

*Population and Demography

* 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.

* At the earlier days of the festival, the presentation was not actually Subanen or ethnic,  it is  just distinct ballroom dancing, on the streets, where dancers promenade in the tune of Tango,  Samba or Swing without the use of any musical instrument except with the accompaniment of drums in any sizes with a beat creating a melody of the dances mentioned above. It was later changed into a more ethnic in nature.

*END

*Benzar Madendog BSSW