ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA:

*CONSISTS OF 3 PROVINCES NAMING:

-ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

-ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

-ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

*HAS 5 CITIES AND 67 MUNICIPALITIES

LANGUAGES USING:

CHAVACANO, TAUSUG,CEBUANO,SUBANON,YAKAN, AND SAMA

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
CAPITAL: DIPOLOG
• THE LARGEST PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
• LANGUAGES USED:
CEBUANO
CHAVACANO
SUBANON
HAS 25 MUNICIPALITIES
PLACES TO VISIT:
GLORIA’S FANTASY LAND
Gloria Fantasyland is one of the main
attractions in Dapitan, Philippines. It is a
world-class commercial center comparable
to Disneyland theme parks. It is the biggest
theme park outside Metro Manila and it is
composed of 35 rides.
 SUNGKILAW FALLS
• SUNGKILAW FALLS IS A 20-FOOT HIGH
WATERFALL SITUATED IN SITIO VIRGINIA,
BARANGAY DIWAN, THE FARTHEST
BARANGAY OF THE CITY. THE NATURAL
SPECTACLE IS POSITIONED IN THE MIDST
OF LUSH FOREST AND REACHING THE
FALLS WILL REQUIRE THE
ADVENTURESOME A TREKKING SPREE OF
APPROXIMATELY 400 DESCENDING STEPS
WINDING ALONG VERDANT TREES, FLORA
AND FAUNA.
 OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY
CATHEDRAL
• OR DIPOLOG CATHEDRAL, IS THE SEAT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF
DIPOLOG. ITS PRINCIPAL PATRONESS IS THE OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY
ROSARY*, AFTER WHOM THE CATHEDRAL WAS NAMED. IT IS ONE OF THE FIVE
CATHEDRALS WITHIN THE ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE OF OZAMIZ.

THE CHURCH BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1894 AND HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL
RENOVATIONS, THE LATEST OF WHICH WAS IN 2009 WHEN THE FACADE OF THE
CATHEDRAL WAS COVERED WITH MARBLE. THE PRESENT ALTAR IS A REPLICA OF THE
RETABLO ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY DR. JOSE RIZAL. THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF THE
CATHEDRAL IS THE CEILING MADE OF HARDWOOD.
DIPOLOG SUNSET BOULEVARD
• DIPOLOG SUNSET BOULEVARD, IS
AN ESPLANADE IN DIPOLOG, PHILIPPINES ALONG A
1.6 KILOMETERS STRETCH OF FORESHORE
SPANNING FROM STA. CRUZ OF BARANGAY
CENTRAL TO PUROK BULARAN OF BARANGAY
MIPUTAK. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH BASKETBALL
COURTS AND PLAYGROUND PART. IT IS ALSO THE
SITE OF THE ANNUAL "PAGSALABUK FESTIVAL"
AND MOTOR COMPANY TRADE SHOWS.
FESTIVALS:
• KINABAYO FESTIVAL
-“KINABAYO” COMES FROM THE FILIPINO WORD
“KABAYO”, WHICH MEANS HORSE. THE CITY
ANNUALLY STAGES THE FESTIVAL IN HONOR OF
THEIR PATRON SAINT, SAINT JAMES THE GREATER,
WHO IS ALSO THE PATRON SAINT OF SPAIN.
-HELD EVERY JULY 24, THE CITY OF DAPITAN
CELEBRATES THE KINABAYO FESTIVAL. KINABAYO
FESTIVAL IS AN EXOTIC AND COLORFUL PAGEANT
RE-ENACTING THE SPANISH-MOORISH WARS,
PARTICULARLY THE BATTLE OF COVADONGA. THE
ADDITION OF LOCAL COLOR AND INNOVATIONS
HAS MADE THIS ANNUAL FESTIVITY A POPULAR
ATTRACTION TO VISITORS OF DAPITAN.
HUDYAKA ZANORTE
• THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE FOUNDING OF THE PROVINCE
AND THE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF ZAMBOANGA DEL
NORTE
• IS TO SHOWCASE THE EXTREME CULTURAL TALENTS OF THE
PEOPLE FROM ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY
THE UNIQUE EVENT IN WHICH EVERY FILIPINOS SHOULD BE
PROUD OF. THE FINALE OF THE EVENT IS CALLED THE
HUDYAKA ZANORTE STREET DANCE PARADE IN WHICH WE
WERE EXCITED ABOUT WITNESSING. HUDYAKA IS AN OLD
DIALECT WHICH SIMPLY MEANS “MOMENTS OF MERRY
MAKING”.
• IT FOCUSES ON EDUCATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, LIVE
GALA FESTIVAL SHOWS, MUSIC AND ART COMPETITION AND A
GRAND FIREWORKS DISPLAY SHOW.
 FOODS IN ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
• HALANG HALANG
-SIMILAR TO TINOLA IN THE USE OF GINGER, PAPAYA AND GREEN LEAVES,
THIS VISAYAN DISH, WHICH LITERALLY MEANS “SPICY, SPICY”, HAS THE
ADDED RICHNESS AND HEAT FROM THE INCORPORATION OF COCONUT
MILK AND CHILI PEPPERS.

BALBACUA
or balbakwa is a beef knuckle dish similar in appearance to paksiw na pata but
tastes completely different. It is served with calamansi, and has a thick sauce
that is mostly salty but not too much so. It is the ultimate comfort food enjoyed
by many locals in Visayas and Mindanao, but the best one in Zamboanga is
served in King’s Balbacua in Sta. Maria Road near Edwin Andrews Airbase.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
CAPITAL:PAGADIAN

• THE HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY OF ZAMBOANGA, WHICH IS A CHARTERED

CITY AND GOVERNED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE PROVINCE.
• HAS 25 MUNICIPALITIES
• LANGUAGES USED:
-CEBUANO, SUBANON, CHAVACANO, TAUSUG, MARANAO, IRANUN
PLACES TO VISIT:
•GREAT SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
-A SMALL INHABITED ISLAND IN ZAMBOANGA CITY IN THE
SOUTHERN REGION OF THE PHILIPPINES THAT IS FAMOUS FOR ITS
PINK CORALLINE SAND. THE ISLAND, LOCATED 4 KILOMETRES
SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN AT THE SANTA CRUZ BANK IN THE
BASILAN STRAIT, BOASTS THE ONLY PINK SAND BEACH IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
PULACAN FALLS
• PULACAN FALLS IS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF LABANGAN 12 KM
FROM PAGADIAN CITY. IT COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 400
SQUARE METERS. IT IS THE SOURCE OF WATER FOR THE
LABANGAN IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
ABONG ABONG PARK
• CLIMACO FREEDOM PARK, FORMERLY CALLED ABONG-ABONG
PARK, IS LOCATED 7.5 KILOMETERS FROM ZAMBOANGA CITY.
THE PARK IS A HIKING DISTANCE AWAY FROM PASONANCA
PARK AND SOME 7.5 KILOMETERS AWAY FROM THE CITY. A
PROJECT DEVELOPED BY THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF
ZAMBOANGA AND SPEARHEADED BY THE LATE MAYOR CESAR
C. CLIMACO. IT IS IDEALLY LOCATED IN A VALLEY WHERE ONE
CAN HAVE THE SIGHTS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND PANORAMIC
VIEW OF THE CITY
FESTIVALS:
• MEGAYON FESTIVAL
-THE MEGAYON FESTIVAL IN ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR IS ONE OF THEM, AND
UNLIKE OTHER FESTIVALS WHICH HAVE BEEN CELEBRATED FOR DECADES,
THE MEGAYON FESTIVAL IS RELATIVELY NEW.
THE FESTIVAL IS A WEEK-LONG GATHERING HELD IN SEPTEMBER TO
CELEBRATE THE UNITY AMONG THE THREE SETTLERS THAT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE FOUNDING OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR: THE SUBANONS (OR
SUBANENS), THE MUSLIMS, AND THE LOCAL SETTLERS (MEGAYON IS A
SUBANEN WORD FOR “UNITY”). THE FESTIVAL IS ALSO HELD TO CELEBRATE
THE FOUNDING OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, THE
RICH HARVEST OF CROPS. BECAUSE OF THESE REASONS, THE MEGAYEN
FESTIVAL IS CONSIDERED AS ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR’S OFFICIAL FESTIVAL.
THE ZAMBOSUR SUMMER YOUTH FEST
• CELEBRATED FROM APRIL 4 TO 21, IS A MAJOR FESTIVAL IN THE PROVINCE OF
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR. IT HAS TWO MAIN FEATURES: THE SUMMER ART LECTURES
AND WORKSHOPS THAT ARE OPEN TO YOUTH, WORKSHOPS IN DANCE, MUSIC,
THEATRE, VISUAL ARTS AND NEW MEDIA, AND THE SPORTS CLINICS FOR VARIOUS
ATHLETIC DISCIPLINES ALSO TARGETED TO THE YOUTH.
THE KUTSITSA FESTIVAL
• CELEBRATED ON APRIL 26, IS A THANKSGIVING FOR
A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST. THE DANCE STEPS DEPICT
VARIOUS STAGES OF A HARVEST FOLLOWED BY
STEPS DEPICTING PEACE, UNITY, AND LOVE AMONG
PEOPLE.
FOODS TO TASTE IN ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
• TIULA ITUM
-“ITUM” MEANS BLACK, AND THAT IS WHAT THE DISH
ACTUALLY IS: A BLACK SOUP OR BROTH. IT IS SERVED HOT
AND SPICY, AND THE HOTTER AND SPICIER, THE BETTER.
THE BROTH IS MADE FROM BEEF OR CHICKEN THAT IS
FLAVORED WITH GINGER, TURMERIC, AND BURNED
COCONUT MEAT. THIS DISH IS SERVED IN MANY
OCCASSIONS: DURING WEDDINGS, RELIGIOUS FESTIVITIES,
AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS. THE TIULA ITUM IS A TAUSUG
DISH BUT IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DISHES IN
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR.
 SATTI
• IT COMES FROM THE HINDU-ARABIC WORD SHATEIN, WHICH
MEANS "FOOD OF SHAYTAN" (SATAN). ITS MAIN INGREDIENTS ARE
SMALL PIECES OF BEEF, GRILLED ON HOT COALS UNTIL IT BECOMES
RED-BLACK IN COLOR. EATEN TOGETHER WITH RICE COOKED IN
COCONUT LEAVES, IT IS DAZED ON A RED-COLOURED, SPICY
SAUCE. THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE NAME IS REMINISCENT OF HELL
WHERE THE SOUL IS BURNED IN ETERNAL FIRE AND SWIMMING IN
A FLOWING SEA OF BURNING SULPHUR.
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
CAPITAL: IPIL
• WAS FORMERLY PART OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR. ATTEMPTS TO
DIVIDE ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR INTO SEPARATE PROVINCES DATE AS
FAR BACK AS THE 1960S.
• MAJOR SUPPLIER OF OYSTERS IN ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
• HAS 16 MUNICIPALITIES
• LANGUAGE USED:
-CHAVACANO, CEBUANO, TAUSUG, SUBANON
PLACES TO VISIT
•MALAGANDIS FALLS
-TAGBILAT FALLS IS ALSO KNOWN AS MALAGANDIS FALLS AS IT
IS SITUATED IN THE INTERRIOR BARANGAY NAMED
MALAGANDIS. IT IS A TWO-LEVEL CASCADE ALONG THE RIVER
OF THE SAME NAME. THE UPPER LEVEL CONSISTS OF SMALL
CASCADES WHILE ITS BASE IS A 30-FEET TALL CURTAIN-LIKE
WATERFALL WITH PROTRUDED WALL THAT FORMS A CAVE. ON
FIRST LOOK, IT RESEMBLES THE CURTAIN FALLS OF TINUY-AN IN
SURIGAO DEL SUR AND CAMPAWAN IN BANGAGA, DAVAO
ORIENTAL. BUT UNLIKE THE TWO, TAGBILAT FALLS IS RAW AND
UNSPOILED.
BULUAN ISLAND MARINE SANCTUARY
• BULUAN ISLAND MARINE SANCTUARY IS A GEM IN ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY'S MUNICIPAL CAPITAL OF IPIL. BULUAN
ISLAND IS ACTUALLY PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT IT DOESN'T STOP LOCALS FROM VISITING THE PLACE. WITH JUST A
SMALL LAND AREA, THE ISLAND CAN BE ENCIRCLED BY BANCA IN 15 MINUTES, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW HUTS AND A
MILITARY DETACHMENT PRESENT. THIS KEEPS THE AREA SAFE. ON ANY GIVEN DAY, ONLY A FEW PEOPLE REALLY VISIT
THE ISLAND TO SWIM IN THE MARINE SANCTUARY
FESTIVALS:
• KASADYAAN FESTIVAL
-DECEMBER 15 TO 19 IN DIPLAHAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY THE
KASADYAAN GRAND CELEBRATION COMMEMORATING THE
FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF DIPLAHAN.
HIGHLIGHTES OF THE FESTIVAL INCLUDES STREET DANCING,
PARADE AND MISS DIPLAHAN.
 SIBUG – SIBUG FESTIVAL
• CELEBRATED DURING THEIR FOUNDATION DAY ON THE PROVINCE OF
SIBUGAY ON FEBRUARY 26, WITH COLORFUL ETHNIC STREET DANCING
WITH RITUALS ILLUSTRATING GOOD HARVEST, WEDDING AND HEALING
RITUALS. DURING THE FESTIVAL, IT ENDORSES IT’S NUMBER ONE
PRODUCT WHICH IS THE OYSTER OR TALABA IN TAGALONG WHICH HAS
BEEN KNOWN TO BE THE BIGGEST, JUICIEST, AND MEATIEST OYSTERS IN
THE COUNTRY. IN THIS TWO WEEK CELEBRATION, IN THE TOWN OF IPIL,
“TALABA LONGEST GRILL” HAS BEEN THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF THE
VISITORS AND VIEWERS. IN THIS MANNER, ZAMBOANGA CAN PROMOTE
THEIR OYSTERS TO THE WORLD. ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY RECENTLY
ACHIEVED A WORLD RECORD FOR THE WORLDS LONGEST TALABA GRILL
WITH FIVE TO 12 INCHES-LONG OYSTERS OR TALABA AS THE MAIN
FEATURE. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE PROVINCE OF SIBUGAY EARNED A TITLE
AS THE TALABA CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES.