Region IX Zamboanga Peninsula: Geography and History

Region IX Zamboanga Peninsula

• Region IX, also known as Zamboanga Peninsula, is located in the southernmost part of the Philippines
• It was previously known as Western Mindanao
• It consists of three provinces: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay
• It also includes the chartered city of Zamboanga City located at the southwestern tip

Historical Subdivisions

• From 1975 to 1989, the old Region IX (Western Mindanao) was divided into two sub-regions by Presidential Decree No. 773, dated August 21, 1975
• Sub-Region IX-A included Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, with Jolo, Sulu as the sub-regional center
• Sub-Region IX-B included the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, with Zamboanga City as the sub-regional center
• Zamboanga Sibugay did not exist at the time

Cities

• Zamboanga Peninsula has five cities: Dipolog City, Dapitan City, Isabela City, Pagadian City, and the chartered city of Zamboanga City
• Isabela City is part of the island-province of Basilan

Regional Center

• Jolo, Sulu was the original regional center
• Presidential Decree No. 1555, dated June 11, 1978, moved the regional center to Zamboanga City
• Executive Order No. 429, dated October 12, 1990, moved the regional center to Pagadian City
• Memorandum Circular No. 75, dated November 12, 2004, confirmed Pagadian City as the regional center
• National government offices are preferred to operate there

Geography

• The Zamboanga Peninsula is the smallest region in Mindanao with a total land area of 18,730.1 square kilometers
• This is equivalent to 18.35% of Mindanao's land mass
• The region's waters contain 958 islands and islets

Composition

• The region consists of three provinces and five cities: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Dapitan, Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga, and Isabela
• Zamboanga Sibugay was created and Basilan was realigned with the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
• Isabela became a city in 2001
• The region has 67 municipalities

People

• About one-third of the region's population is of ethnic origin
• These groups include Tausugs, Yakans, Badjaos, Samals, and Subanons, found in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay

Subanens

• The Subanens are considered the original inhabitants of Zamboanga
• Subanen is derived from "Suba" (river)
• Subanens settlements are thinly spread over southern Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, extending towards Misamis Occidental
• Subanens form a single cultural and linguistic group, and are mostly farmers who grow upland rice, root, and tree crops

Badjaos

• The Badjaos are often called "sea gypsies" and until recently, lived on small boats around the Sulu Archipelago
• About two-thirds of the Tawi-Tawi Badjaos still live on boats or in flotillas
• Two groups exist: The southern Badjaos of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the northern Badjaos (Basilan and Zamboanga)

Samas

• The Samas inhabit the shorelines of northern and southern Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and nearby islands
• They are peace-loving people, mainly fishermen, whose staple food is cassava or puto
• The Sama have seven subgroups in Zamboanga City: Sama Banguingui, Sama Laminusa, Sama Ubian, Sama Siasi, Sama Daungug, Sama Kaunlunga, and Sama Bitali
• Their principal musical instrument is the gabbang or nose flute

Tausugs

• The Tausugs are considered the politically dominant group in the Sulu Archipelago
• They inhabit Jolo and are dispersed in smaller islands of Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Southern Palawan
• They have a rich culture dating back to the 13th century, when Sulu traded with China, India, the East Indies, Arabia, and Japan
• The Sultanate of Sulu was formed in the 15th century
• Jolo is predominantly Tausug
• Many Tausugs are engaged in fishing and plant upland rice inter-cropped with cassava, coconut, abaca, and coffee

Yakans

• The Yakans' home base is in Lamitan, the biggest district in Basilan province
• Yakan enclaves are also found in Isabela City and nearby Zamboanga City
• Yakans are peace-loving people who were originally pagans until Islam spread
• Yakan women are known for skin-tight trousers and bulky waist sashes
• They are engaged in both dry and wet agriculture growing upland rice, corn, coconut, and root crops

Airports and Seaports

• The region has 11 airports, including the Zamboanga International Airport
• Two airports are secondary, and nine are feeder airports
• Zamboanga Peninsula has 8 national ports
• The major port of entry is in Zamboanga City
• There are 14 fishing ports and 58 municipal ports, totaling 80 public ports
• In addition, there are 14 private ports in the region - 8 in Zamboanga City, plus 2 each in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and nearby Basilan

Zamboanga Del Norte: Dapitan

• José Rizal was exiled to Dapitan where he lived for four years
• Rizal decorated the central plaza with gumamela (hibiscus) and acacia trees and helped create a relief map of Mindanao to teach locals about geography
• He built a house for his family on 16 hectares of land after winning a lottery, now called The Rizal Shrine Park

Punto Del Desembarko De Rizal En Dapitan

• Dr. José Rizal landed in Dapitan on July 17, 1892
• The figures include: Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Capt. Delgras, the SS Cebu skipper, and three artillery men

P'gsalabuk Circle

• The P'gsalabuk Circle is located at Barangay Estaka and Turno Junction
• The resin-made figure symbolizes the diverse culture of Dipolog with the Lumads, Muslims, and Christians

Rizal Shrine

• The Rizal Shrine is the major historical landmark of Dapitan City
• It is a 16-hectare estate that Dr. Jose P. Rizal purchased in Barangay Talisay from his lottery winnings

Festivals in Dipolog

• P'gsalabuk is a Subano term that means “togetherness”
• Kinabayo is an annual observance of Dapitan City's Fiesta in honor of Saint James the Greater
• Two events comprise the celebrations Sinug' that entails veneration using San Francisco Leaves, and Kinabayo is a dramatization of the triumph of the Catholic Faith over Mohammedanism followers

Local Specialties of Dipolog

• Bottled Sardines (Spanish Style) is a a local specialty
• The tagline of Dipolog is SARDINES

Zamboanga Del Sur

• Zamboanga del Sur contains: four bays, three rivers, and three lakes
• The inhabitants speak Cebuano, with some also speaking English and Chavacano
• The first settlers were the Subanons or Subanens

Cuisine of Zamboanga Del Sur

• Tiula itum is a ginger and turmeric infused black soup
• Satti contains small strips of sautéed meat on a stick

Magayen Festival

• The Magayen Festival is a week-long gathering
• It celebrates harmony, diversity, and good harvest in September

Santa Cruz Islands

• Sta. Cruz Islands are known for pinkish sand from dead red organ pipe corals
• Skywater technology converts vapors from the sky into potable water

Zamboanga City

• The fusion of Hispanic and local ways of cooking created a distinctive taste in common Spanish dishes
• Paella is a sticky rice dish that has seafood (crabs, squid, clams, shrimp)
• Curacha is a deep-sea crab and indigenous to the waters of Zamboanga City and best served with Alavar Sauce.

Festivals in Zamboanga City

• Zamboanga Hermosa Festival is an annual celebration honoring the patroness of the City of Zamboanga—Our Lady of the Pillar
• The festival is one of the biggest and most awaited events in the city and the region
• The Regatta de Zamboanga is a highlight of the Zamboanga City's Fiesta Hermosa, featuring races of vintas every October.

Lokot-Lokot

• Lokot-Lokot is a roll of sweetness made of rice and served during special Muslim occasions
• It is made of rice grounded into fine powder and blended with water and other ingredients
• The snack is rolled using two wooden spoons called gagawi

Satti

• Satti is a local food commonly served in Zamboanga-Basila-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi, containing small beef bits skewered on a stick

Yakan Cloth

• Yakan people use indigenous fibers such as abaca and pineapple to weave
• Special weaves are Pinalantupan, Inalaman and Bunga Sama.
• Seputangan symbolizes prosperity and fertility and is used as a headdress of women

Zamboanga Sibugay

• Zamboanga Sibugay is a province in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao
• Its capital is Ipil
• Zamboanga Sibugay was created in 2001

Zamboanga Sibugay Tourist Sites

• Buluan Island in Ipil and Litayon Island
• Sibugay Sinking Island in Alicia, Bangan Island and Looc-Labuan
• Pandilusan Island in Payao that boasts of unspoiled white sand beach
• Baluran Falls in Imelda and Tigpalay Falls in Tungawan, all nested in lush landscape

Mt Kipit

• Mt Kipit serves as Ipil's backdrop

Sea Snake Sanctuary

• Olutanga contains a Sea Snake Sanctuary where one can witness thousands of trained and controlled sea snakes

Crocodile Sanctuary

• The Crocodile Sanctuary is located in Siay

Moalboal Cave

• Moalboal Cave is Located in Titay

Isabela Trivia

• Isabela is a component city and the former capital of the province of Basilan
• As of 2017, the seat of Basilan's government was moved to Lamitan
• Isabela continues to be under the jurisdiction of Basilan for the administration of provincially devolved services and functions.
• For the administration of regional services, the city is part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region
• The rest of Basilan is under the authority of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Zamboanga City

• Zamboanga City is an independent, chartered, and highly urbanized city in the region
• Zamboanga City is the lone member of BIMP-EAGA in the Zamboanga Peninsula
• It generates more than half of the economy of the region and has the largest airport and seaport and the region with most investors