THE PHILIPPINE

TOURISM, CULTURE & GEOGRAPHY

REGION IX
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
 ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
HOW TO GET THERE

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s

recommended that you use flight. Flying from
Manila to different provinces of Zamboanga
Peninsula (Zamboanga Del Norte, Sibugay, Del
Sur) is the most convenient option.

However, if you’d rather take your time with a

slower, more affordable travel option, you can
book a Ferry Ticket.
 ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE,AREA AND LOCATION

• Zamboanga Peninsula (Western Mindanao), also known as Region

IX, is in the southernmost portion of the country. It is the
smallest region of Mindanao with a total land area of 18.730.1
square kilometers (18.35% of Mindanao's land mass).
• Zamboanga Peninsula consists of the territory of the three
Zamboanga provinces and its lone chartered city of Zamboanga
City, plus Misamis Occidental. The Zamboanga Peninsula is
connected to the main part of Mindanao Island through an
isthmus situated between Panquil Bay and Pagadian Bay. The
boundary between the peninsula and the mainland is artificially
marked by the border between the provinces of Zamboanga Del
Sur and Lanao Del Norte. Zamboanga Peninsula lies between the
Moro Gulf, part of the Celebes Sea, and the Sulu Sea. Along the
shores of the peninsula are numerous bays and islands.
 ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
HISTORY
• The name and status of Moro Province were changed
to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu on August
16, 1916, causing Zamboanga to become a separate
province. In 1942, the Zamboanga Peninsula along
with the rest of the Philippine Islands was occupied
by the Empire of Japan at the beginning of the
Second World War.
• The Zamboang Peninsula was known as Sibugay or
Sibuguey during the coming of the Spanish
conquistadors. And later on was changed into
amboanga from the capital town of the province
which derived it’s name from the Malay word
“Sambangan’’ meaning; a place where wild flowers
grow.
 ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
POLITICAL PROFILE

Provinces and Capital

Zamboanga Del Norte - Dipolog City

Zamboanga Sibugay - Ipil
Zamboanga Del Sur - Pagadian City
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
THE OFFICIAL SEAL & TAGLINE

FROM ORCHID CITY TO SHRINE CITY

 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
HOW TO GET THERE

Fly from Naia (manila) to Dipolog Airport

(dipolog city). 3 hrs. 39 mins. time
duration. The flying distance is 445 miles
(716 km). Flight ticket can cost as much as
P4,500 - P5, 600 (one-way-fare)

You can also book a Ferry Ticket which is

slower but more affordable travel option.
Your trip will be a total of 995 miles (1600
km) and will cost you about P2, 550 –
P3,700.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE, AREA & LOCATION

• Zamboanga Del Norte is a province of the Philippines

located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao.
The Sulu Sea lies to the northwest of Zamboanga Del
Norte.

• The province occupies a total land area of 6,618 square

kilometers and is subdivided into 25 municipalities and 2
cities.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
PEOPLE, LANGUAGE SPOKEN, RECENT POPULATION & RELIGION

• The main dialect spoken is Cebuano. Chavacano, English and

Tagalog are also spoken, indicative of a high level of literacy. The
original and native Subanon dialect lives on, especially in the
highlands.

•Its population as determined by the 2015 Census was 1,011,393.

This represented 27.86% of the total population of the Zamboanga
Peninsula Region, 4.19% of the over-all population of the Mindanao
Island Group, or 1.00% of the entire population of the Philippines.

•Roman Catholicism is the major religion practiced. The other

religions are Islam and Born-Again Christianity.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
PRODUCTS

SPANISH SARDINES COCO OIL

CASSAVA CHIPS
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
CUISINE/DELICACY

PASTIL BIKO

KAKANIN LANSONG
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
ARTS & CULTURE

SOUT is a Subanen dance which Talek in a dance usually performed

aims to be able to showcase a
warriors skill with the use of a sword
and shield (k’lasag) which are
covered with different kinds of
shells called blasi.
by Subanen women, who hold on to
kompas or rattan leaves, during
festivals or wedding celebrations
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
ARTS & CULTURE

Pagsalabuk

The “20th Pagsalabuk (Subanen for get together)

Festival” is being celebrated here by the largely
Catholic community that still harbor animosity to
the vanishing Suban-on tribe, a historical hatred
that could be traced back to the 18th century.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
ARTS & CULTURE

Hudyaka Festival

which means revelry in Bisaya is an annual

festival that is attended by contingents
from the whole Zamboanga del
Norte province. The festival celebrates the
founding of the province and the cities and
municipalities of Zamboanga del Norte
usually send in contingents to compete.
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
TOURIST ATTRACTION

DAKAK BEACH
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
TOURIST ATTRACTION

SUNGKILAW FALLS
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
TOURIST ATTRACTION

LIBUTON CAVE
 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
THE OFFICIAL SEAL & TAGLINE

THE COLORS OF ETHNIC ZAMBOANGA

 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
HOW TO GET THERE
Flying from Manila to Zamboanga City
takes 1 hr. 45 mins. travel time and
will cost you about P3,306 regular
plane ticket.

When in Zamboanga City, ride any van

(UV Express) or Bus (Rural Transit)
passing Ipil from the Zamboanga
Integrated Bus Terminal located on
Divisoria. Buses depart at 30-45 mins
interval from Zamboanga City to Ipil.
Travel time is about 3-4 hours and fare
is P245.
 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE, AREA & LOCATION

• Zamboanga Sibugay is a province in the

Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula
Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Ipil and it
borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north,
Zamboanga del Sur to the east and Zamboanga
City to the Soutwest. To the south lies Sibuguey
Bay in the Moro Gulf.

• It covers a total area of 3,607.75 square

kilometres (1,392.96 sq mi) occupying the south-
central section of the Zamboanga Peninsula in
Western Mindanao, at 7°48’N and 122°40’E.
 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
PEOPLE, LANGUAGE SPOKEN, RECENT POPULATION &
RELIGION

• The vast majority of the people in Zamboanga

Sibugay speaks Cebuano and Chavacano.
Other languages such as Subanen and Tausug,
among others, are also spoken, followed by
English.

• The population of Zamboanga Sibugay grew

from 110,085 in 1960 to 633,129 in 2015, an
increase of 523,004 people. The latest census
figures in 2015 denote a positive growth rate
of 1.53% or an increase of 48,444 people,
from the previous population of 584,685 in
2010.
 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
PRODUCTS

Calamansi Juice Drink Zandal

Sibugay’s Best (Chili-Garlic)

 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
CUISINE/DELICACY

BALBACUA CURACHA

KNICKERBOCKER
 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
ARTS & CULTURE
SIBUG SIBUG FESTIVAL

The province was once the third district of Zamboanga

del Sur until it was founded as a separate province on
24 February 2001. Former Governor George T. Hofer is
hailed as the founding father of the province. His
78th birthday last 26 February was celebrated with a
street dance competition participated in by eight
delegations from different parts of the province of
the Sibug Sibug Festival. Each delegation represented
the different festivals around the province. Festival
queens in elaborate costumes danced and led the
different delegations around the famous rotunda in
Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. 
 ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
ARTS & CULTURE

KABASALAN
Kabasalan comes from the word basal, meaning to play the agung,
a musical instrument which is a favorite pastime of the Subanon. It
was during the old times that the whole peninsula was resonating
with the sound of that instrument. Every Subanen family owns a
set of the instrument.
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
TOURIST ATTRACTION

BULUAN ISLAND
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
TOURIST ATTRACTION

TAGBILAT FALLS
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
TOURIST ATTRACTION

STA. CRUZ ISLAND

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
TOURIST ATTRACTION

PASONANCA PARK
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
OFFICIAL SEAL & TAGLINE

THE ISLAND’S SEASNAKE SANTUARY

 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
HOW TO GET THERE

Fly from Naia (manila) to

Zamboanga del Sur takes 4hrs
15mins. time duration.

By Boat: 2GO ferries have one

ferry a week sailing to/from
Manila via Dipolog and
Dumaguete
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE, AREA & LOCATION

• Zamboanga del Sur is a province located in

Zamboanga Peninsula Region in Mindanao. Its
capital is the City of Pagadian. Incorrectly
grouped with Zamboanga del Sur is the highly
urbanized City of Zamboanga, which is a
chartered city and governed independently from
the province.

• It covers a total area of 4,499.46 square

kilometres (1,737.25 sq mi) occupying the
southern section of the Zamboanga Peninsula in
Western Mindanao. It is located at longitude
122°30 and latitude 7°15 north.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
PEOPLE, LANGUAGE SPOKEN, RECENT POPULATION &
RELIGION

• The major dialect is Cebuano, spoken by 61.31% of the

population. Also spoken are Tagalog, Sub anon,
Chavacano, Ilonggo, Maguindanao, Tausug, Boholano,
and Ilocano.

• The population of Zamboanga del Sur in the 2015 census

was 1,010,674 people.

• Roman Catholic is overwhelmingly dominant among the

Visayan, Chavacano, and Luzon-originated ethnic
groups. This is embraced by more than two-fifths of the
population. Other religions are Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Seventh-day Adventist and Iglesia ni Kristo.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
PRODUCTS

WEAVED PRODUCTS DARK WINE

FURNITURE MADE OF RATTAN

 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
CUISINE/DELICACY

SEAFOOD PAELLA TIULAH ITUM

BEEF/CHICKEN SATTI
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
ARTS & CULTURE
Pangalay Tribe: Badjao
Origin: Zamboanga del Sur

A pangalay native to the Badjao,

sometimes known as the "Sea Gypsies."
Pangalay is a dance that emphasizes the
agility of the upper body. The rhythmic
bounce of the shoulder with simultaneous
alternating waving of arms are the basic
movement of this dance. The pangalay is
commonly performed at weddings and
other social gatherings.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
ARTS & CULTURE
MEGAYON FESTIVAL
Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur
last week of September

The fiesta commemorates the unity of the three

groups of settlers that led to the founding of
Zamboanga del Sur: the Subanons (Subanens),
Muslims, and the local settlers. Megayon is the
Subanen word for unity. The unique cultural
dances of each group are performed.
 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
ARTS & CULTURE

PASALAMAT FESTIVAL: A colorful and grandiose

thanksgiving celebration

The Pasalamat Festival is one of the most colorful

and grandest celebrations in Pagadian City, dubbed
as the “Little Hongkong of the South.” Dance ritual.
The event is the annual cultural and
religious festival held on the third Sunday of
January, in honor of its patron Saint Santo Niño.
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
TOURIST ATTRACTION

LAKE DASAY
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
TOURIST ATTRACTION

PULACAN FALLS
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
TOURIST ATTRACTION

Panikian Island
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
TOURIST ATTRACTION

Blue Lagoon Buhisan Cliff