3-day Vacation at Zamboanga City

Finally had the chance to post a summary of our trip way back March 2016! I know it's very late already but I feel like the pictures and memories are gonna go to waste if I don't put it in a blogpost. So, I'm gonna take the chance to share this with you guys!

Zamboanga is such a very great place, but not very known to most people. I never thought that one day I could visit it. Thanks to my uncle who's in the Navy and is stationed on a naval base in Zamboanga City, he has made this all possible. He invited us to visit him because his retirement's gonna come soon, might as well enjoy his perks with the whole family. Though far from Iligan City, approximately 403.5 km, the 9-hour hot (because we're at the back of pickup truck), bumpy and nauseous ride was definitely worth it for the breathtaking view in Zamboanga City!

Photo screenshot on Google.

I never thought that the journey would take us to the very edge of Mindanao! I can't imagine that I've reached a place that far in my life, on a roadtrip, in a pickup truck where we covered ourselves with blankets to hide away from the sweltering sun, and that moment we felt like we were in an oven, just windy. When I heard the radio inside the truck blasting Zamboanga's local radio station singing their ID, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I was so happy that we finally arrived!!! It was just nearly dusk when we arrived at the naval base, so we still had time to stroll around and explore the place.

The naval base, also called as Camp Navarro, was reaaally huge. Based beside the sea, because of course it's the Navy, it was really majestic. There are marines who warmly welcomed us that made our stay a whole lot easier. They fed us 6 times a day with their not so ordinary menu, and in buffet meals!! And of course, we were flourished with SEAFOOD!! That was the best part!

This was just a three-day vacation so we did our best to enjoy it every minute and we took lots of pictures. It was a nice day at Zamboanga at that time. Even though, we should be tired from the trip and have "jet lags", we have a bar full of energy instead! We played volleyball, jumped to the shots, strolled around the base, and even went to the cinema after dinner! It was a treat from my cousin. She let us watch a Kung Fu Panda 3D movie and let the 'bodyguards' tour us in Zamboanga City at night. 

That time I realized that the place was peaceful contrary to the comments about Zamboanga occasionally having wars and rebel fights and bomb threats. I can't really see a hint of it. Their KCC Mall de Zamboanga is a striking exemplar of the serenity and peace in the place, because who would build a mall that huge when they know that it's going to be bombed someday anyway, right?

Day 2

The whole reason why we were able to go to such place at such time of the year, it's because it was Holy Week and there were no classes. No compromised academics and requirements, and if there was, they all become sacrifices. It was our first time to have Semana Santa on another place other than Iligan City. It was refreshing to know and experience other culture especially on how they celebrate their Holy Week.

One fascinating tradition they have is that during the Station of the Cross, they have reenactments on each station and the 12 disciples (marines who dressed like disciples) led the procession alternately carrying the cross and walk it to the next station.

Day two was focused on visiting some landmarks in Zamboanga City. 

The city, I tell you, was really large. The center of the city, I guess, is just an eighth or maybe sixteenth of the land, and the rest of the area consist of the remaining in 98 baranggays. Each baranggay would really span some kilometers before you reach the next. Indeed, the third largest city in the Philippines, Zamboanga City. We visited the following places. Imagine the roadtrip we had again.

San Ramon Prison

It was my first time to visit a prison. I didn't even have the chance to visit the one in Iligan City. Again, it's really refreshing to have a first again in this place. San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm. We have to go to the second floor to have a view on the whole place. By the time we were upstairs, on the balcony, the sight of shouting and begging prisoners welcomed us. They were displaying their handmade products to the visitors, hoping that they could have a buyer, hoping that they could earn some money and have a living even in jail.

Prison and Penal Farm of San Ramon, Zamboanga City, Philippines.

 I don't know if it was making me happy or sad at that time. Sad because of the thought of being in jail, deprived from most things, being away from their family, the loneliness. But happy because they've been given income generating activities, or temporary jobs, maybe something they don't have while they were outside, in freedom. At least they are productive in the time of their imprisonment.

Fort Pilar

Next place is this Fort Pilar Shrine. It's a famous landmark in Zamboanga City, to which many visitors and tourists take a land on. Unknown to many, Spanish revolution has also reached the civilization in Mindanao, especially in Zamboanga. This military fort was built by the Spaniards in defense from the native sultans of Zamboanga. It's just an astonishing sight for it to be seen standing still for decades (or for a century) amidst the forces of nature trying to age it away. Since then, it has been the symbol of the city's Cultural Heritage.

Fort Pilar of Zamboanga City, a military defense fortress

Barter Trade Center

If you're looking for pasalubongs, this trade center is a place to be!! Everywhere you look, all you see are goods, that suit for everyone, and will suit to your liking. You can never go home from this place without having to carry bags of plastics filled with their products. From local clothings and food to imported products from Indonesia and Malaysia and neighboring countries near Zambo, you can all find them there. I guess this is where city people buy their goodies and then sell them in the city with an overwhelming price, where they can have a big profit since they bought it in barter way cheaper. Boxes of wafers, biscuits, noodles, Pepero, canned-goods, etc (other international brands) in varying sizes are available there! Promise, you must not miss this place.

Photos from Google.

DAY 3

It's the last day of our vacation in Zamboanga City so of course, we want it to be the bomb! We visited a hidden paradise on our third day. It's not so popular and famous as Boracay but it's a promising place! 

Las Islas de Sta. Cruz

Perks of having an uncle that's in the Navy, we had used a Naval ship/boat to go to the island. It was really fashionable that we are so proud to have our uncle. It was really cool to be inside the ship! I feel like I want to quit all my acads and then sign up in Navy.

Me and my cousin with the Coast Guards.

Anyway, it was just roughly a 15-minute ride and the scene was really breathtaking. The waters were so clear, that your 20-20 vision is just a shame. Haha, just exaggerating.

That's me. So haggard haha.

It seems to me that the island is a long time secret but just now discovered because I really didn't know this place existed until I got there. Like, why does this beautiful place doesn't get its bragging rights? And guys, it's a pink island!! It should be more famous than it is right now. The place definitely does not deserve the attention its getting, so guys, do visit this place someday! Add this in your bucketlist! :)

I'm gonna have a separate post featuring this island so that I can explain more promising details of the place. We had a blast that day and had lots of food again, celebrating everything. You know that constipation travellers get? Hay, I had that that time. I was so bloated I could have floated in the sea.

That ends my 3 day vacation in Zamboanga City! We were so sad to leave the place early the next day. My heart aches because of nostalgia right now. I just miss the sea outside the house, the sea breeze and the strange calmness it sends to your body and spirit, the seafoods!!, and the relaxing feeling. I just miss them all. I wish we could go back again someday this year and have a proper vacation again from all these stressing schoolworks!