Vamos a Zamboanga hermosa

Grande Sta. Cruz Island offers a distinct coastal experience shaped by its rare pink sand shoreline.

I BELONG to a group of former airline and travel agency managers who continue to bond through events that allow us to reminisce about the glory days of travel. A few months ago, we decided we needed to do another trip. I suggested a visit to Zamboanga, and since most of the group members have not yet been there, my suggestion immediately got the green light.

Unfortunately for me, some urgent office obligations eventually prevented me from making the trip. Nevertheless, the group shared with me their fun itinerary, prepared with the help of Zamboanga’s Tourism Officer, Sarita Sebastian. I decided to write about the attractions the group visited, based on what I saw during my previous trips to the city.

Their first stop was at the Sadik Grand Mosque. Set on a 50-hectare complex, it was designed to become one of the largest in Southeast Asia. It has grand, colorful domes, impressively tall minarets, Arabic calligraphy on its walls, and massive prayer halls that can accommodate as many as 45,000 worshippers. Definitely an Instagrammable structure, this mosque banners Zamboanga’s deep Islamic roots.

Once Islas on the other hand, opens up a cluster of island destinations for visitors seeking outdoor and marine activities 

Although he could not join the group, Zamboanga Mayor Khymer Olaso nevertheless hosted dinner for them at Craft Kitchen. Serving Asian specialties, this is one of the newer foodie destinations in the city and was renovated from an old heritage house. Aside from the main dining area, it also has a cool and breezy al fresco section. The restaurant’s interiors are beautifully designed, and its exterior is profuse with colorful blooms, living up to the city’s former tag as the “City of Flowers.”

On their second day, the group sailed to the famous Grande Sta. Cruz Island, popular as an eco-tourism destination for its unique pink sand beach, which is the result of pulverized red organ-pipe corals mixed with white sand. Aside from swimming and enjoying the sandbar, the island also has mangrove tours, vinta boat rides, and snorkeling in an area filled with non-stinging jellyfish. To preserve the island’s environmental balance, the city requires all visitors to practice proper waste disposal and eco-friendly protocols.

Of course, a visit to Zamboanga will never be complete without Pasonanca Park in the itinerary. This natural park features the iconic 1965 tree house, several freshwater swimming pools, a butterfly garden, and my late mother-in-law’s Jardin de Maria Clara Lobregat, which features her favorite orchids and roses. The park also has Boy Scouts camping wigwams and a museum honoring the history and culture of the city.

Maria Clara Lobregat’s legacy, the author’s late mother-in-law, lives on through a garden space that remains a familiar stop for visitors in Pasonanca Park 

Another colorful destination in the group’s itinerary was the Masjid Al-Islamia, popularly known as the Rainbow Mosque. The original mosque was painted white and green, but the attractive colors were repainted after the Marawi Siege in 2017 to signify a call for peace and unity. The many colors on its dome represent the city residents who, in spite of their varied traditions and religious beliefs, have managed to live together peacefully.

My favorite every time I visit Zamboanga is the Yakan Weaving Village, simply because it has so many beautifully woven items I can buy. The Yakan tribe is considered among the finest weavers in the country. Aside from men’s and ladies’ apparel, they also weave necklaces, bags, wallets, table runners, and placemats. An interesting section is the Weaving Station, where these beautiful products are skillfully crafted before your very eyes.

Another relatively new attraction in Zamboanga is Once Islas, an eco-cultural destination consisting of, as the name implies, 11 islands. However, only four of these islands are open to the public for swimming, snorkeling, or simply soaking in the sun. The islands are a showcase of nature’s wonders—powdery white sands, attractive limestone formations, interesting rock formations shaped by wind and waves, and amazing coves. All these make for an exciting island-hopping adventure.

From left: Pauline Velasco, Maribel Cantada, Ingrid Baltao, Bob Sison, Medz Sison, Annette Feliciano, Mary Ann Bringas, Patti King, Menchie Orobia, Jeanne Menguito, Helen Hao, Madel Martin and Ed Cailao explore one of Zamboanga’s most striking cultural landmarks 

And what completes a visit to any destination? Shopping! That’s where the famous Canelar Barter Trade Center comes in handy. Its name is actually a misnomer, as none of the goods being offered are for barter. The items are from Indonesia and Malaysia and are all at bargain prices, to be paid for in cash or e-payment transactions.

But the most popular item brought back home by everybody in the group was the Curacha, Zamboanga’s most popular culinary specialty. It is a spanner crab, which is a cross between a large sea crab and a big spiny lobster. This is best eaten with the famous Alavar sauce from the city’s restaurant of the same name. The group made sure that several cooler boxes of this crustacean made their way back to Manila.

When asked how their trip was, the group chorused, “Vamos otra vez a Zamboanga!” — Bob Zozobrado

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

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Credit belongs to: www.manilastandard.net