LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE MANILA
SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT: TOURISM MANAGEMENT
THC4 – PHILIPPINE TOURISM GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURE
PROF. CARL FRANCIS T. CASTRO, MBA-HTM, EnP
MODULE # 10: REGION IX – ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA
OVERVIEW:
This module intends to give a historical and geographical learning about the different tourist
attractions and destinations in Region IX.
LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
- To be able to identify the different attractions and destinations in Zamboanga Peninsula
- To know history, geography and culture of Zamboanga Peninsula
- To appreciate Zamboanga Peninsula as a tourist destination
LECTURE NOTES:
Zamboanga Peninsula (Tagalog: Tangway ng Zamboanga; Chavacano: Peninsula de Zamboanga;
Cebuano: Lawis sa Zamboanga) is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as
Region IX. The region consists of three provinces (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and
Zamboanga del Sur) and two cities (Isabela City and Zamboanga City; the former being part of
Basilan province and the latter a highly urbanized city). The region was previously known as
Western Mindanao before the enactment of Executive Order No. 36 on August 12, 2015. The city of
Zamboanga was designated as the regional center until Pagadian City was designated as its new
regional center, although Zamboanga City remains the region's cultural, economic, and educational
center.
GEOGRAPHY
The region is located on the eponymous Western Mindanao of the island of Mindanao, that 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 of varying sizes. The peninsula is connected to the rest
of Mindanao through an isthmus situated between Panguil Bay and Pagadian Bay. The region
consists of the three Zamboanga provinces and the highly urbanized independent city of
Zamboanga, and the boundary between the peninsula and mainland is artificially marked by the
border between the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
HISTORY
During the ancient era, the Zamboanga peninsula was a vast territory home to various ethnic
groups - the largest of which was the Subanen people. Later on, the southern coastal areas of the
region was under the influence of the Javanese Majapahit Empire, although the empire never did
conquer the area.
In the 14th century, the Sultanate of Sulu ruled the southwestern sections of the peninsula. By the
late 15th century and early 16th century, Malay missionaries further spread Islam in the southern
Philippines. Sharif Kabungsuwan, a Johore-born missionary of Malay and Arab descent established
the Sultanate of Maguindanao, which the entire island of Mindanao is named after. The Sultanate
also occupied the entire island except present-day Caraga region and eastern portions of Davao
region, stretching from the Zamboanga Peninsula to modern-day Davao City, while the Sultanate of
Sulu lost its territories in Zamboanga. Magauindanao's sultans provided Mindanao fierce armed
resistance against the Spanish occupation, especially under the lead of Muhammad Kudarat. They
soon allied themselves with the Sulu Sultanate. The Muslim natives of the region were collectively
known as Moros by the Spanish, meaning "Moor", though the Iberian Moors and the Philippine
Muslims had little cultural connection outside of following Islam. A large chunk of the Spanish-Moro
Conflict, the war between the Spanish invaders and Mindanao's Muslim natives took place in the
Zamboanga Peninsula.
In 1569 Zamboanga was chosen as the site of the Spanish settlement and garrison on La Caldera
(now called Barrio Recodo). Zamboanga was one of the main strongholds in Mindanao, supporting
colonizing efforts in the south of the island and making way for Christian settlements. It also served
as a military outpost, protecting the island against foreign invaders and Moro pirates and their
Chinese allies.
The Zamboanga Peninsula played a central role in the Spanish-Moro conflict. It was the site of
constant battling between Spanish soldiers and Moro pirate raids. While the Spanish settlers
successfully established churches in the region, they suffered heavily at the hands of Moro raiders,
and had to repeatedly withdraw from the region. While the Spanish achieved a tactical victory, but
launching several attacks against the Sultanate of Sulu, constant fighting and attacks persisted,
giving the Moros a psychological victory.
After the United States annexed the Spanish East Indies in 1898, the Peninsula hosted a briefly
independent state called the Republic of Zamboanga. It was incorporated by the Insular
Government into the Moro Province, which consisted of the Central and Western parts of Mindanao
and the Sulu Archipelago. 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 Peninsula was liberated in
1945 by joint American and Philippine Commonwealth forces fighting against the Imperial
Japanese Army.
On June 6, 1952, the province was partitioned into Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur,
while the chartered city of Zamboanga became an independent, extraprovincial unit.
Together with the Sulu Archipelago, the provinces that formerly made up Zamboanga Province
were re-organised into Region IX by order of Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated
Reorganization Plan of President Ferdinand Marcos, that was signed in September 24, 1972.
From 1975 to 1989, the old Region IX (Western Mindanao) was further divided into two sub-regions
by Presidential Decree No. 8233 dated August 21, 1975. Sub-Region IX-A consisted of Basilan,
Sulu and Tawi-Tawi with Jolo, Sulu, as the sub-regional center, while Sub-Region IX-B consisted of
the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, with the
chartered city of Zamboanga City as the sub-regional centre.
In 2001, Zamboanga Sibugay, was created from the province of Zamboanga del Sur with Ipil as the
seat of government with the virtue of Republic Act No. 8973.
In the same year, the residents of Basilan opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) in a plebiscite. However, the citizens of the capital, Isabela, did not want to join
so the city remained a part of this region as a result of Executive Order No. 36 last until 2014 only.
In 2004, Pagadian officially became the Regional Center for Region XVI- Zamboanga Peninsula,
despite opposition from Zamboanga City, the former Regional Center.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
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Merloquet Falls
Paseo del Mar
Fort Pilar
Rio Hondo Village
Yakan Weaving Village
Pasonanca Park
Great Santa Cruz Island
Little Santa Cruz Island
Bayangan Island
Go Island Hopping
Caragasan Beach
Nancy Falls
Canelar Barter Trade Center
Tagbilat Falls
La Vista del Mar
FOCUS QUESTIONS:
- What are the different attractions in Region 9?
- What are the different destinations in Region 9?
- What are the top tourist spots in Region 9?
EXERCISE / LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
- Research about the description of each tourist attraction and destination.
ASSIGNMENT/S:
- Study the history of each province in Region 9.
- Identify the gastronomical sites in Region 9.
RELATED READINGS
- Domestic Tourism by Carlos Libosada Jr.
- Philippine Tourism by Paul So
- www.tourism.gov.ph
- www.choosephilippines.com