Zamboanga City - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Log in / create account article discussion edit this page history Zamboanga City From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Coordinates: 6°54′N 122°4′E City of Zamboanga Officially, the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano de Zamboanga/Spanish: Ciudad de Zamboanga) is a highly-urbanized city located on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is one of the navigation El Ciudad de Zamboanga first chartered cities and the sixth largest in the country. Zamboanga City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. The word Zamboanga is an evolution Ciudad de Zamboanga Main page of the original Subanon word - Bahasa Sug jambangan, which means garden. Contents Featured content Philippine Commonwealth Act No. 39 of 1936 signed by President Manuel L. Quezon on October 12, 1936 in Malacañang Palace created and established Zamboanga as a chartered city. It has Current events been known variously as "El Orgullo de Mindanao" (The Pride of Mindanao), nicknamed the "City of Flowers," and affectionately called by Zamboangueños as "Zamboanga Hermosa" - Random article Chavacano/Spanish for "Beautiful Zamboanga." Today, the city is commercially branded for tourism by the city government as "Asia's Latin City," a clear reference to Zamboanga's identification with the Hispanized cultures of "Latin America" or the USA's "Latino" subculture. the City was formerly a part of the Commonwealth Era Moro Province of Mindanao. Its ancient inhabitants were Flag search vassals of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo. Seal Zamboanga City is one of the oldest cities in the country and is the most Hispanized. It is also one of the largest cities in the world in terms of area, with over 1,480 km², including its 28 Nickname(s): Asia's Latin City Motto: Adelante Zamboanga! surrounding islands. Its recorded population in 2007 was 774,407. interaction Zamboanga is home to three major universities: Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Western Mindanao State University, and the newly-elevated Universidad de Zamboanga. The city contains the About Wikipedia first Catholic diocese in Mindanao, today's Archdiocese of Zamboanga which was created in 1910 and elevated to an archbishopric in 1958. Community portal Recent changes Contents [hide] Contact Wikipedia 1 History Donate to Wikipedia 2 Geography Help 2.1 Location toolbox 2.2 Climate What links here 2.3 Component Islands Location of Zamboanga City within the map of the Zamboanga Related changes 3 Demographics Peninsula on the island of Mindanao Upload file 3.1 Population Country Philippines Special pages 3.2 Religion Region Zamboanga Peninsula (Region Printable version 3.3 Language IX) Permanent link 4 Government Class 1st Class City; Highly-Urbanized Cite this page 5 Transportation Districts 1st and 2nd Legislative districts of Zamboanga City 5.1 Land Transportation and Government Projects languages Barangays 98 5.2 National and International Seaport Official Languages Zamboangueño (Chavacano) "de Català 5.3 International Airport facto", English Cebuano Other Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Tausug, 5.4 Integrated Bus Terminal Deutsch Languages/Dialects Subanon, Samal, Spanish, 6 Economy and Industry in Zamboanga City Tagalog, Chinese Español [1] 6.1 Infrastructure Founded 13th and 14th centuries Français Established June 23, 1635 6.2 Banks Galego Incorporated (City) February 26, 1937 6.3 Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority Ilokano Government Bahasa Indonesia 6.4 Seaweed Industry - Type Local Government of the Italiano 6.5 Canneries Industry Philippines - Mayor Celso L. Lobregat LDP Kapampangan 6.6 Shopping Centers and Malls - Vice Mayor Mannix Dalipe NPC 7 Education Lietuvių - 1st Dist. Maria Isabelle G. Climaco LDP Nederlands 7.1 Universities and Colleges Congresswoman 日本語 7.2 Public Schools - 2nd Dist. Erico Basilio A. Fabian LDP Congressman Polski 7.3 Private Schools Area Svenska 8 Foreign Relations - Total 1,483.38 km2 (572.73 sq mi) Tagalog 8.1 Sister Cities [2] 5 m (16 ft) Tiếng Việt 9 Hospitals and Health Centers Elevation [3] Winaray 10 Parks and Landmarks Population (2007 ) - Total 774,407 Chavacano de 11 Culture - Density 522/km2 (1,353/sq mi) Zamboanga 11.1 Cutural Arts and Music - Demonym Zamboanganese, 中文 11.2 Media Zamboangueño, Zamboangueña 11.3 Cusine Time zone PST (UTC+8) 11.4 Entertainment and Recreation ZIP Code[4] 7000 11.5 Tourism Area code(s) 62 11.6 Festivals and Events Patron Saint Nuestra Señora del Pilar 12 Gallery Website www.zamboanga.gov.ph 13 See also 14 External Links 15 References History [edit] The early Malay settlers called the region “Jambangan”, which means Land of the Flowers. These Malays who built their settlements by the river banks were the Subanons, that is the “People of the River”. Their http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamboanga_City[2/26/2009 8:16:18 PM] Zamboanga City - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia chief, Saragan, lived with his family atop the legendary Mount Pulumbato that today lords over Pasonanca and Climaco Freedom Park (formerly Abong-Abong Park) then later on, the Samals and the Badjaos who came on their frail vintas also settled here, building their huts along the shorelines and confused “Jambangan” with “Samboangan” which comes from the word “Sabuan”, the wooden pole used to help push their vintas in shallow waters or to tie them for anchorage purposes. The Spanish colonizers found difficulty in pronouncing “Samboangan” and instead called the place “Zamboanga”. The city has rich and colorful history. It was the center of barter trading among Chinese, Malays and the native Tausugs, Samals, Subanons, and the Badjaos as early as the 13th and 14th centuries. It was in 1569 when the Spaniards made their presence felt with a small Catholic Mission established briefly at La Caldera, now known as Recodo. The city's patron saint is La Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Zaragoza Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza, Spain. A statue honoring the saint is prominently embossed above the façade on the eastern wall of Fort Pilar. Zamboanga Charter Signing Much later on June 23, 1635, the cornerstone of what is now known as Fort Pilar was laid by Father Melchor de Vera, a Jesuit Priest-Engineer and the Spanish authorities. This date marked the change of the name of the place from Samboangan to Zamboanga. It is the city’s founding date. The meter-thick walled fort is officially called El Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (also called El Real Fuerza de San José in its early days). In 1899, after the Spanish-American War in the Philippines, the United States of America defeated the forces of the revolutionary government of the Republic of Zamboanga under popular President and Gen. Vicente Alvarez y Solis thereby establishing full authority in Zamboanga. The U.S. military then appointed Alvarez's political opponent and U.S. friendly, Isidor Midel, to finish the Presidential term of Alvarez. In March 1901, a municipal election was held with the help of the U.S. administration, wherein Mariano Arquiza was elected President of the new republic for two years ending in 1903. Then after, the Moro Province was established in Mindanao and Sulu, and the original ancient Zamboanga was made its capital. The first U.S. form of military government was the Moro Province and during the 12 years of its existence, the American Military Government converted the original Zamboanga into a city in the Commission Form, the first U.S.-created province in Mindanao to become/revert to a city. Zamboanga was already a major city of government and military importance under the Spanish Administration. However, the U.S. military government of the Moro Province was abolished to give way to a new form of U.S. military/quasi local civilian government, called the Department of Mindanao Flag of the Republic of and Sulu. This form of government entrusted to the Filipino residents of Zamboanga practically all positions in government. Zamboanga The Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1937 declared Zamboanga as a Charter City. Progress and development in Zamboanga continued and in 1983, the Minister Interior Jose Roño proclaimed Zamboanga City as a highly urbanized city. Geography [edit] Location [edit] The City of Zamboanga is located at the southernmost tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula. It is approximately 460 nautical miles south of Manila, 365 nautical miles northeast of Kota Kinabalu Malaysia, 345 nautical miles northeast of Menado (Indonesia), bounded to the west by Sulu Sea, on the east by the Moro Gulf, on the south by the Basilan Strait and Celebes Sea and on the north Zamboanga Del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay. Its distance from Cebu City is about 372.57 nautical miles, and is 340.17 nautical miles from Davao City. The city is situated in Mindanao, the second giant of the archipelago of all the land mass of the Philippines. The city is situated at the southernmost tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, in the island of Mindanao, Philippines. It is approximately within the 1210 53’ 50’’ and 1220 23’ 25’’ east longitude and 60 53’ 50’’ and 70 29’ 20’’ North. The city commands the sea lanes of southwestern Philippines, and is the nearest major urban center to the ASEAN neighbors: Malaysia, Brunei, Sarawak and Singapore; and through them, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and southern China. Urban Sprawl of Zamboanga City Climate [edit] Zamboanga City enjoys a location free from the typhoon belt area. March to May is hot and dry, with temperature at 22 degrees Celsius. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool, with temperatures ranging from 22 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. Average humidity year-round is 77%. According to the local PAGASA the highest temperature recorded in the city was 38.7°C recorded on August 15, 1999 and the lowest is 15.6°C on February 27, 1965 respectively.