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Zamboanga Del Sur

With a total land area of 9,000 sq. meter. the largest province of the region. A mountainous area with only relatively few small coastal plains. Road conditions are such that large parts of the province are often inaccessible.

The climate is typically tropical with rainfall all months of the year, there are no marked seasons. The southernmost part of the province, including Zamboanga City, has a naturally mild climate.

Agriculture and fishery are the main sources of income. Most important crops are coconut, cassava, rubber, abaca, corn and rice. Deep-sea fishing is big business in this area with main catches of tuna and blue marlin.

Provincial capital is Pagadian City, a city with approximately 100,000 inhabitants and located in the extreme northeast corner of the province. The most important city of the province, however, is Zamboanga City, with around 500,000 inhabitants and one of the largest cities in the country.

How to get there?

There are two operational airports in the province: Zamboanga in the south and Pagadian in the northeast. Several airlines maintain regular flights to and from Zamboanga City. and Pagadian.

It is also possible to travel by passenger ferry. From Manila, Cebu and a number of other ports regular ferry services are available to and from Zamboanga City and Pagadian City.

The province can also be reached by car or bus from the north and the east. Roads, however, are often in a very poor condition.

What to see?

Zamboanga City. Zamboanga City is, in more than one way, an interesting city. It is the oldest Spanish bulwark in this part of the country, and the Spaniards left an indelible impression. Fort Pilar, Father de Vera's masterpiece abandoned in 1663, rebuilt in 1718, and was for centuries a bastion against Muslim, Dutch, Portuguese and British attacks. After World War II it was neglected, but it is now partly

restored. It is located close to the wharf. There is. a shrine to Zamboanga's patron saint. Worthwhile certainly is also a visit to the Marine Life Museum. Spanish inheritance culminates in Zamboanga's language, Chabacano, a mixture of Spanish and local languages, but with the accent mainly on Spanish.

The wharf is a good example of the barter-trade. From hundreds of miles around Zamboanga ships flock to its port. There are cargo ships, ferryboats, outriggers and local kumpits (a long type of motor boat) fighting for a place to unload cargo. Many come from as far as Borneo. For decades the Philippine government has tried in vain to stop smuggling activities here. In the end they made the only feasible choice: legalise the trade. It is a colorful spectacle.

A few hundred meters east of Fort Pilar is Rio Hondo, a village built over water, which is the home of the Samal. On the west side of the city is the Cawa Cawa Boulevard, a favorite swimming place, with a few beer-houses. Further down the road is Campo Islam, a mainly Tausug water village. There are also small Yakan settlements in the area. They are mostly involved in weaving. Continuing along the road you end up at Yellow Beach, the place where the Americans landed in 1945.

The countryside. About 20 kms east of the city is another Samal village on stilts in the water: Taluksangay. It also has a nice mosque. About 20 kms west of the city is one of the country's model-prisons, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm. Prisoners can build their own houses here and their families can live with them. Many, after having served their term, stay in the prison because they might never get such a good life again on the outside. Woodcarving is one of the main articles they produce.

Pagadian City. There is nothing much to see in this city. In the surrounding countryside are a few lakes, such as Lake Wood, and some caves, but the problem is the inaccessibility.

Diving. Although there are many reefs in the province, the problem is the accessibility and the lack of diving facilities. It is actually only suitable for live on board dive trips.

Where to Stay?

Most hotels in the region are concentrated in Zamboanga City. Accredited hotels in Zamboanga are: Garden Orchid Hotel (1st. Class), Grand Astoria Hotel (Standard), G.C. Hotel, Marcian Garden Hotel, Viva Pension House (Economy). The best-known hotel is the Lantaka Hotel, which has a beautiful pool and is located between the wharf and Fort Pilar. The only accredited hotel in Pagadian is Hotel Guillermo, which is rated as economy.

Where to dine?

It is not a surprise that Zamboanga City, with its cosmopolitan character, can boast a wide variety of good restaurants. For seafood try Alavar's House of Seafood, it is part of a chain that operates several restaurants in the country. For Filipino food the Abalone Restaurant is a good address. International cuisine can be found in the Vienna Kaffeehaus, close to the wharf. Of course in a big city such as this there is a wide variety of all kinds of fast-food facilities, places such as Jollibee, Shakeys, McDonald, Chow King, etc. is everywhere.

Entertainment. There are several night-clubs and discos, such as for instance King's Palace Disco, Love City Disco, Yagbulls, and, of course, a wide variety of beer-house.