Zamboanga City

Zamboanga (the City of Flowers) is located on Mindanao, in the Philippines. The city sits on the Basilan Strait[?]: the mountains of Basilan Island[?] are visible from the city. The people of Zamboanga speak a unique dialect: chavacano, a mix of the Spanish language and local dialects. Zamboanga City is home to Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Demographics of Zamboanga

• 1994
  • population -- 464,000

History of Zamboanga

The area around Zamboanga has been occupied by indigenous people for approximately 30,000 years.

Fort Zamboanga was founded, in 1635, by the Spanish, and was the focus of a number of battles between Moro pirates and the Spanish until 1718, when a modifications to the fort were made.

During the US administration of the Philippines following its acquisition by the United States as a result of the Spanish-American War in 1899, Zamboanga hosted a number of American regional governors, including General John "Black Jack" Pershing[?] (Pershing was Military Commander/Governor of the Moro Province from 1909 to 1914).

Prior to World War II, Zamboanga was the location of Pettit Barracks, where part of the US Army's 43rd Infantry Regiment was stationed. After the successful invasion of the Philippines, the Japanese occupying force landed at Zamboanga on 2 March 1942[?], and formed a defense headquarters in Zamboanga, which was taken by US forces in 1945.

In the 1990s, Zamboanga was notorious as the site of repeated kidnappings and attempted kidnappings and extortion of Westerners by fundamentalist Moro Muslim separatists known as the Abu Sayyaf.

In 17 October 2002, the Zamboanga bombings occurred, and in 2003, Zamboanga was used as a base for 300 United States military advisors to the Philippines army in their operations against the separatists.

The Philippines government has warned foreigners, including diplomats, to stay away from the city.

See also:

Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

See also:

• Geography of the Philippines
• History of the Philippines

External Links

• Website of Zamboanga City (http://www.zamboanga.com.ph)

• Useful website containing detailed history of Zamboanga City (http://www.zamboanga.com)

• International Herald Tribune article on dangerous expatriate life in Zamboanga. (http://www.iht.com/articles/90598.htm)