Region 9:

Zamboanga Peninsula

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.

It now has three provinces and five cities — the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, and

Zamboanga del Sur as well as the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Pagadian,

Zamboanga, and Isabela.

Physiography

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

•Bays: Sindangan, Sibuco, Sibuguey, Dumanquilas, Maligay, Taguite &

Pagadian•Rivers: Kumalarang, Sibuguey, Dinas &

Labangas.

ZAMBOANGA RANGE – forms the backbone of the Zamboanga

Peninsula stretching from Mt. Dabiak in Zamboanga del Norte and arching to Zamboanga City in the Southwest.

NO ACTIVE VOLCANOES

•Zamboanga del Norte – hilly & mountainous with plains along the

coastlines.

•Zamboanga del Sur – flat coastal plain with interior mountains.

Maps

Climate

Dry Season from November to April.

Wet Season from May to October.

Provinces

Zamboanga del NorteZamboanga del Sur

Zamboanga Sibugay

Cities

ZamboangaDapitanDipologPagadianIsabela

Zamboanga CityIn 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,

a local dialect composed of Eighty percent (80%) Spanish words and the

remaining Twenty percent (20%) a mixture of other local dialects such as

Visayan, Ilonggo, Subanon, Yakan and Tausug.

Dapitan CityThe City of Dapitan is also known as

the "Shrine City in the Philippines" because the place where Jose Rizal, the

National Hero, was exiled. It is also known for the old St. James Parish and

the beautiful beach resort of Dakak. The city continues to exude an atmosphere of

primeval charm amidst a growing presence of modern-day sophistication.

Dipolog CityThe City of Dipolog is also known

as the "Gateway to Western Mindanao" and "Orchid City" of the Philippines and

the "Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines." Peace-loving and genial

Dipolognons proudly celebrate their rich culture and colorful history. It is a city

whose rich natural wonders beckon everyone to its natural shores.

Pagadian CityThe City of Pagadian is also known

as the "Little Hongkong of the South“ because of its topographical feature that is reminiscent of Hongkong, China. It

also has an affluent Chinese community that officially celebrates the Chinese

Lunar New Year. The city of Pagadian is the regional center of Zamboanga

Peninsula.

Isabela City- is a component city and capital of the

province of Basilan. Isabela City continues 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.

Population & Demography

•In the latest census count of 2007, the total population of Region 9 reached 3.230 million, up from 2.831 million recorded in census year 2000.•Yearly average increase of 57,000 people•Region IX accounts for 15% of Mindanao’s population and about 3.6% of the national population of 88.6 million.•1.83% average annual growth rate

•Population will reach 3.487 million in 2010 and 4.205 million by 2020.•Zamboanga City has the largest and fastest growing population. (3.54% annually)•More people reside in rural areas.•There are slightly more males than females.•People with ages 15-64 years old comprised a larger percentage of the population.

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.

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. Seven Sama

groups inhabit Zamboanga City: the Sama Banguingui, Sama Laminusa,

Sama Ubian, Sama Siasi, Sama Daungung, Sama Kaunlunga, and

Sama Bitali.

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.

Yakans

Yakan enclaves are however, also found in Isabela City and nearby

Zamboanga City. They 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.

The loom that they use, being the type normally used in Indonesia, has one end fastened to the wall

and the other, ending in a cord, is worn around the waist of the

weaver.

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.

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•Magindanaon•Sama•Subanon (Tuboy-Salog; Kanluranin/Siocon; Lapuyan)

Cultural Festivals

•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 and 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 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

Art:weaving, basketry, metalwork

Music:kulintang ensemble

(gandingan, dabakan, etc.)

Agriculture and Fisheries

•Total agricultural land area comprised almost half of the entire land area (45.2%).•Due to the increase in the no. of farms and area planted over 1991 estimates, the average farm size increased from 2.87 ha. (per farm) to 3.11 ha. in 2002.•Area harvested likewise increased by 5.8%.

•ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE has the highest number of farms.

The total farms for the province accounted for 41.2 % of the total farms in the region.•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.•Zamboanga City showed a large increase in fishery production, which offset the declines in other provinces.•Region 9 makes up 10% of aquaculture production in the country. (2nd among regions)

•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

•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.

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.

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 MarThe 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 ClubThe 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 ResortThe 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

Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City Fort Pilar houses the National Museum. It has

wide collections of cultural memorabilia and paintings which could be a good reference for the history of the people of Zamboanga.

VintasThe 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.

Shrine of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Rizal’s Bedroom.

Rizal House Sala of House

Dormitory and School

Kitchen

THE END!