HOMONHON LANDING

HOMONHON LANDING
March 16
Southeastern Samar

Homonhon, Eastern Samar- Reenactment of the discovery of the Philippines in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan.

Finally, on March 16, the activities will start with the offering of the Holy Mass and will be followed by a re-enactment of Magellan Landing and the commemorative program.

Eastern Samar had been a significant backdrop of the country’s rich colonial history through the island of Homonhon, where Ferdinand Magellan first set foot on Philippine soil in 1521 on his way to conquer the Philippines for the western world.

In his account, Pigafetta, the chronicler aboard Magellan’s ship, describes the island of Humumu, now Homonhon, as so: "We found two fountains of very clear water, we called it the `Waters of Good Signs,’ having found the first sign of gold in the said island. There also can be found much white coral and tall trees that bear fruits smaller than an almond and look like pines. There were also many palm trees, some of the good kind, some of the bad. Thereabouts are many neighboring islands. Hence, we called them the St. Lazarus Archipelago because we stayed there on the day and feast of St. Lazarus."

Pintados de Pasi Festival

PINTADOS DE PASI
March 14-16
Passi City, central of Iloilo province

The Pintados de Pasi Festival, in Passi City, central of Iloilo province, is perhaps one of the best known and established festivals of the Visayan region that have evolved through the years. It has played a big part in the lives of most Passinhons. It is the most popular spectator cultural event and the most popular for the community that has a large following. Theatrical-like street dancing performances are a celebrated part of the Pintados festivity that is characterized by heavy and aggressive body movements. Here, performers adorned in traditional body tattoo with elaborate geometrical designs in their body, including their arms, legs and torso dramatizes stories in which the towns’ ancestral beings laid down every feature of the area, especially, their way of life.

Characterized by heavy and aggressive body movements, the dances seem to have developed independent of any external influences, as in the combat dances, folk plays, ritual actions, or character types. Historical or cultural sources are essential materials in sustaining a festival such as theirs. The festivity changed over the years, though its cultural presentation remained popular up to this day, and has resurrected and form part in a celebration that reflected function and transition. It also represented a major change in style and subject matter.

ImageTourism, through this cultural celebration brings thousands of local and international visitors interested to know the city’s rich history, considerable scenic beauty, and a number tourism attraction. The Passinhon 2000 Incorporated devotes their efforts of promoting the festival in the local and national scene. These efforts focus on the cultural festivity—at least in the early promotional stage, is the best way to keep it alive, and a variety of innovative efforts are underway to do just that.
With the theme “Passinhon nga Kultura, Sakdagon Ta” on its 9th Foundation Anniversary, the people of Passi City led by their municipal mayor, Hon. ELYZER C. CHAVEZ is inviting everyone to come and witness their many other special events enjoyed during the week-long celebration, including Garden Show and Food Festival on March 11, its opening day; the Karosa Parada and Carabao-Painting Contest with the Grand Coronation Night of the Search for Bb. Pintados on March 16; Sinadya sa Suba and the Pinta Lawas Contest of March 17; and the much awaited Tribe Competition on March 18. With this wealth of unique cultural and recreational events, Pintados de Pasi is surely one of the country’s top tourism festivals.

Passi City has played an important role in reaching its peak of progress. Centrally situated in the province, Passi City is locally important as the District Agri-Industrial Center of Iloilo. It is rich with agriculture resources that have long formed the backbone of its economy and agricultural diversification produces crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, coconut, sugarcane and pineapple. Passi City has been an important pineapple producer for years, it has long been known for other industries including fruit processing, wallboard production, metalworking production and cut-flower propagation. Its locally produced pineapple wine, jam and fruit preserves have already established captured market with its exposure to various local trade fairs and exhibits such as the annual Fiesta in the City celebration during May; TUMANDOK in September; and WOW Philippines: the Best of the Region.

Passi, a component city (RA No. 8469, 1998) is bounded on the north by San Enrique; Dumarao, Capiz on the south; east by Calinog; and Lemery on the west. Predominantly a mountainous area, it is politically divided into 51 barangays. It is about 50 kilometers from the city of Iloilo and has an area of 25,139 hectares---the largest in the province.

According to the 2000 Census, Passi City had a population of 69,601. An influx of Cebuano and Tagalog-speaking businessmen and investors in the years increased their numbers and were added. The Passinhon people are predominantly Karay-a-speaking, with Roman Catholicism as the religion of 95 percent of its population.

It is said that the first Spanish settlement was established in the area in 1766, marking the onset of Spanish colonial rule. In the traditional story, Spanish explorers anchored in Ansig, a place located at the mouth of Lamunan River. The name of the city is probably derived from Pasi, a Hiligaynon word meaning “unhusked grains of palay.”

ARAW NG DABAW FESTIVAL

ARAW NG DABAW
March 10-16

"Araw ng Dabaw" is a vibrant feast held every March 16, celebrating the oneness of our multi-cultural city.

Highlights of the festival includes the "Parada" (socio-civic parade), "Bandahan sa Kadalanan" (band parade), "Piging sa Dan" (food street party), "Kasikas" (part extravaganzas), along with other spectacles along the major city streets, and the much-anticipated search for the "Mutya ng Dabaw", the city's Ambassador of Goodwill. Other events, such as "Huni" (pop music song writing competition), concerts, arts and culture presentations, various sports competitions are also held during the festival.

SANDUGO FESTIVAL

SANDUGO
Tagbilaran, Bohol
Month-long (movable)

Bohol Sandugo Celebration or Sandugo Festival, also known as Blood Compact Commemoration, is an annual historical event that takes place every year in the island province of Bohol, Philippines. This festival commemorates the treaty of friendship between two people of different races, culture, religion and civilization: between Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain and the Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi, representing the king of Spain. This treaty of friendship occurred on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact. This blood compact is the first international treaty of friendship between Filipinos and Spaniards and is known today as "Sandugo", meaning "one blood".

In honor of this occasion, the late Philippine President Elpidio Quirino established the Order of Sikatuna, a presidential decoration conferred upon diplomats.

ARYA ABRA FESTIVAL

ARYA ABRA FESTIVAL
Abra Province
March 7-10

ARYA! ABRA FESTIVAL, a week-long celebration that coincides with the founding anniversary of the Province of Abra, will be held from March 6-10. This year the Arya Abra Festival will feature the One-Town-One-Product program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to promote the products of the province. All the towns are expected to come up with their own booth where they would display their products in the trade fair.

Other activities include the usual karambola, horse race, the Tingguian Festival, youth day, farmers day and veterans day celebrations. This festival is a celebration of ABRA identity. ARYA ABRA which means "Onward Abra!", was originally coined by Governor Vicente P. Valera as his battle cry when he first sat as governor of the province. It later evolved into the ARYA ABRA Festival in celebration of ABRA Foundation day.

KAAMULAN FESTIVAL

KAAMULAN
Malaybalay, Bukidnon
March 3 - 7

Expect the Bukidnon to go tribal from the first to the second week of March, when the streets of Malaybalay take on that familiar fiesta theme. Banners, banderitas, and beer will be standard, as well as the sweet, haunting sound of native music. An early morning pamuhat ritual kicks off the festivities, to be followed by an ethnic food fest, trade fairs, and a lot of native dancing. The Festival is held in Malaybalay City from the second half of February to March 10, the anniversary date of the foundation of Bukidnon as a province in 1917,d to celebrate the culture and tradition of the seven ethnic tribal groups originally inhabited the province. It is the only ethnic festival in the Philippines.

Kaamulan started as a festival on May 15, 1974, during the fiesta celebration of the then municipality of Malaybalay. A town official thought of inviting some indigenous people to town and made them perform a few dance steps at Plaza Rizal to enliven the fiesta celebration. The celebration however proved very popular and together with national coverage the Kaamulan festival has become the regional festival of Northern Mindanao, as declared by the Regional Development Council of Region 10 on September 16, 1977. Kaamulan was formerly held on the first week of September but in 1996, it was transferred to the present date to synchronize it with the foundation celebration of the province.

SIBUG - SIBUG FESTIVAL

SIBUG - SIBUG FESTIVAL
February 17 to 26
Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay

Sibug Festival is celebrated during their foundation day on the province of Sibugay on February 26, with colorful Ethnic Street dancing with rituals illustrating good harvest, wedding and healing rituals. During the festival, it endorses it’s number one product which is the oyster or talaba in tagalong which has been known to be the biggest, juiciest, and meatiest oysters in the country. In this two week celebration, in the town of Ipil, “Talaba Longest Grill” has been the main attraction of the visitors and viewers. In this manner, Zamboanga can promote their oysters to the world. Zamboanga Sibugay recently achieved a world record for the Worlds Longest Talaba Grill with five to 12 inches-long oysters or talaba as the main feature. Because of this, the province of Sibugay earned a title as the Talaba Capital of the Philippines.

Zamboanga Sibugay is a major supplier of oysters from the Zamboanga Peninsula to neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region. It has three major talaba farms in the municipalities of Kabasalan, Siay and Alicia.

A project of Gov. George Hofer, the longest oyster grill aims to make the province known worldwide for its export-quality oysters. Some 15,000 huge pieces of oysters weighing 1,500 kilograms from Barangay Concepcion, Kabasalan were served in the 1.2 kilometer-long grill. More than a thousand participants composed of local government employees, Sibugaynons and visitors joined the event which was part of the two-week-long Sibug-Sibug Festival held in the capital town of Ipil. Zamboanga Sibugay is a major supplier of oysters from the Zamboanga Peninsula to neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region. It has three major talaba farms in the municipalities of Kabasalan, Siay and Alicia. Hofer said the oyster is one of the major economic boosters of the province. Around 200 families in Barangay Concepcion alone are dependent on the oyster business. Also a much-awaited event was the Sibug-Sibug street dancing competition.

Visitors were also given a glance of the locals culture and traditions through a Western Subanen cultural show. The native Subanens presented their rituals in war, marriage and birth. Subanens are the aborigines of Zamboanga, believed to have developed in the province even before the Spanish period. Zamboanga Sibugay was declared a separate province through a Republic Act in 2001. Local officials claimed that the province holds the record of having the lowest crime-rate based on the Philippine National Police (PNP) report for the period 2002-2003. The rubber business is its second income-generating industry next to the export of oysters. It has been recognized for having the oldest rubber plantation in the country.

ITIK-ITIK Festival

ITIK-ITIK Festival
Every Last Sunday of February
Pasig City


The Itik-Itik Festival is held every last Sunday of February in Brgy. Kalawaan. Men, women and children take part in the activities and merrymaking which features the "itik" or native duck. The celebration includes street dancing, duck cooking contest, outrigger boat race and fluvial procession. However, the significant event is not only limited to these colorful activities, sumptuous food, revelry and fun, but it also draws people closer to God and to one another. It is a rich showcase of Filipino culture and tradition usually celebrated on the Feast of the barangay’s beloved patroness, St. Martha.

KALILANGAN FESTIVAL

KALILANGAN FESTIVAL
General Santos City
Every 27th day of February


EACH year, General Santos City marks its foundation anniversary on February 27 with various activities culminating the weeklong celebration of Kalilangan Festival. The anniversary celebration commemorates the landing of the city's founder, General Paulino Santos, along with the first settlers from Luzon, at the shores of Sarangani Bay.

As the "Generals" (as General Santos City residents proudly call themselves) mark Gensan's 69th Foundation Anniversary on Wednesday, they are expected to flock the city's major thoroughfares to witness anew the Kadsagayan, one of the highlights of the colorful 13th Kalilangan Festival.

Kadsayagan is a street dance competition starting from the historical Lion's Beach to the Oval Plaza where the final showdown is held, Performers, representing each of the city's barangays, outwit each others in this cultural competition, showcasing marvelous performances to the delight of the crowd.

All contingents depicted the arrival on February 27, 1939 of 64 Christian settlers and 17 employees of National Land Settlement Administration led by General Paulino Santos.
Lending a colorful backdrop to this dramatization was the energetic display through reengineered dance steps and costumes of welcoming Bilaans and Maguindanaons.

Humble beginnings
Twelve years ago, the city government, encouraged by the success of Davao's Kadayawan, Cebu's Sinulog and Iloilo's Dinagyang, institutionalized the foundation celebration by introducing the Kalilangan Festival. The city then appointed the Kalilangan Foundation Inc., an accredited non-governmental organization, to oversee the management of the festival.

From its humble beginnings, the city was able to hurdle the challenges that goes with a young festival.

"Year in, year out, we were able to generate an enthusiastic response not only from the local constituents but also people from other places," the energetic City Mayor Pedro "Jun" Acharon had said.

What is Kalilangan
Kalilangan is derived from the root word "kalilang" which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect.

In a broader perspective, Kalilang projects a positive and dynamic meaning for it engulfs the artistic, humane and altruistic aspects of social interaction that takes place in any occasion or celebration.

For 13 years now, the festival has become a social gathering marked by exchanging of amenities among traditional leaders, elders, allies and subordinates in varying tones.

It is also a pageantry of unique and colorful ethnic rites, rituals and traditions like marriage celebrations, religious ceremonies, anniversaries, funerals, enthronement of royal dignitaries, thanksgiving and other forms of social, political and economic activities.
It is not just an economic activity, but a continuous season of merriment, gaiety and merrymaking accentuated by sharing of gifts, traditional sports competition, dancing, singing and instrumental rendition and other forms of exhibition games, entertainment and amusement.

Kalilangan is also a noble tradition. It is a complete work of art nourished and nurtured by rich cultural heritage that has withstand the test of time from generation to generation.

"GenSan as our city is fondly called has shown its resiliency through the many debacles it has undergone. Being tagged as a Mindanao city surely carries a stigma of a troubled area. Despite all these, the city with the support of the different NGOs and the private sector remained focus on our goal to put our beloved city in the map of investors and tourists alike," Acharon said.

Grand Opening
At the festival's grand opening on February 16, thousands of "Generals" braved the not-so-good weather to be entertained as grade school and secondary school dancers in colorful costumes performed favorite folk dances.

A colorful fireworks display later awed the crowd with children cheering and shouting with joy and excitement.

In his short message, Acharon said the celebration of the city's 69th Foundation Anniversary is another milestone in the pages of its history.

He narrated how the city's forefathers, the pioneers, transformed this barren place into a highly urbanized city and the Tuna Capital of the Philippines after 69 years.

"This did not happen overnight but through the hard work of our leaders and the cooperation of our people," he said.

"If there is peace comes development. And with development, is the opportunity for celebration in thanksgiving," he said, citing this as the reason for the festival theme: Kalinaw (peace), Kalambuan (progress), Kasadya (pageantry).

"Daghan and gusto mag-isturbo sa atong dakbayan busa gikinahanglan kita magtinabangay sa kanunay og atong ipadayon ang kasadya," he added.

Four people were killed and at least 27 others wounded when a powerful explosion rocked the gate of tuna canning plant, Philbest Canning Corp. owned by RD Group, on January 30.

The city's economy is anchored mostly on the fishing industry where officials estimate a cash circulation of about P35 million daily on fish trading alone.

Six of the eight tuna canneries in the country are located in Gensan with annual export revenues of up to $400 million.

Travel advisory
The recent bomb attack in the city prompted the regional office of the Department of Tourism to issue a travel advisory ruling out possibility of another violence to happen during the staging of the festival.

DOT- Central Mindanao Regional Director Sohura T. Dimaampao, in an advisory, enjoined everyone to witness the festival, welcoming would-be guests and visitors from anywhere in the country and elsewhere who wish to experience the cultural presentations, events, exhibits and merry-makings of the grandest fiesta in the Soccsksargen area.

Dimaampao expressed unwavering support to all festivities and undertakings in the promotion of tourism industry in the region.

The Kalilangan 2008 organizers also assured the public the events and activities this year will enhance the people's awareness of the city's cultural heritage and promote an avenue for peace and unity among the constituents. (With reports from CPIO)

SUMAN FESTIVAL

AURORA DAY AND SUMAN FESTIVAL
February 14- February 19 | Baler, Aurora
Baler, Aurora

The biggest and grandest of all feasts in Aurora is a parade of floats uniquely designed. Main streets and homes are decked with suman, a native delicacy.

A weeklong celebration marked by trade exhibits, fairs and competitions capped by the Search for Ms. Aurora.
Suman(súmahn) is the filipino steamed rice cake. it comes in as many different forms as there are provinces, but the basic recipe is waxy (sweet) rice wrapped in leaves, then cooked.

Suman is the ritual gift of HAGISAN. It is cooked with great enthusiasm by Tayabenses because Hagisan is an opportunity to share their prosperity. Bundles of suman are gaily tied in the pabitin, which is made out of a special kind of bamboo called bagakay.

SAMBALILO February 1 – 28

SAMBALILO Festival
February 1 – 28
Parañaque

MY FIRST encounter with Parañaque’s famous Sambalilo dancers was in 1996, when pop demi-god Michael Jackson came to Manila for a one-night concert.

Since the much-publicized performance was held in the reclaimed area on the Coastal Road in Parañaque, Jackson was given a festive welcome at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) by a troupe of dancers wearing lively costumes and brightly colored hats.

The dancers also performed at the lobby grounds of the Manila Hotel, where the pop superstar was billeted.

It was the first public appearance of the Sambalilo dancers after Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez introduced them late that year in the "Araw ng Palanyag" celebration.

Today, the Sambalilo has evolved into an annual cultural activity participated in by groups of dancers who inventively don hats in different shapes, colors and fashion.

The term Sambalilo originated from the Spanish word "sombrero," which means hat. It really signifies the costume of hardworking Parañaqueños during the era of salt-making, when they would don large hats to shield them from the sun as they worked on the salt beds.

"It is also one way of promoting Parañaqueñas of the National Capital Region and the city as a Philippine tourist destination," Marquez explained.

"After I saw the ‘Sinulog’ dancers performing on the streets in their colorful costumes, I told myself we should have something like that in Parañaque," Marquez said. "Since the Sambalilo was there, I thought of turning it into an annual festival and making it into a contest with groups of dancers."

Grand event
Marquez is particularly proud about the Sambalilo Festival because it’s a grand event that marks the city’s celebration of a historical event in style.

In the past, the Sambalilo Festival was participated in by groups composed of employees in the city offices and residents of the 16 barangays in Parañaque.

This year, however, the 4th Sambalilo Festival extended the invitation to other cities and municipalities. It was the culminating activity of the week-long celebration of Parañaque’s third cityhood anniversary. Other activities included an on-the-spot painting contest, an inter-barangay dance mania and the Binibining Parañaque beauty pageant.

The program last Sunday, Feb. 18, held at the open-air grounds of Casino Filipino, featured 24 competing groups, divided into three categories. Each group did its own interpretation of a standard, eight-minute piece. The champion in each division also brought home a cash prize.

The open category had groups from Makati, Pasig, Taguig and Caloocan, with Makati romping off with the top cash purse of P200,000.

The elementary division had four entries from the primary schools in the city led by eventual champion Baclaran Elementary School Central, that came home richer by P50,000. The others represented 14 of the 16 barangays in Parañaque. Dongalo copped the grand prize of P100,000 here.

The dance competition kicked off with a grand parade from Kabihasnan all the way to the parking lot of Casino Filipino. The groups donned their colorful costumes and attractive hats, while dancing and marching to the beat of the drums.

It was not May, which is the traditional month for town fiestas. But the Sambalilo festival brought about a festive atmosphere not only among Parañaque residents, but also its guests from the other cities and municipalities.

The Sambalilo dance competition is not only a showcase of beautiful hats and colorful costumes. It is also a veritable display of terpsichorean skills and other talents of the participants.

It was a sight to behold when the dancers did backflips, cartwheels and bamboo splits.

Innovative
Some groups should also displayed innovative props such as bamboo torches, flags and horns.

Although the contest motif was Filipiniana, the standard music was a medley of upbeat hits by top artists such as Ricky Martin and Lisa, Lisa and the Cult Jam.

The Pasig City group was dressed in Caribbean-inspired attire, complemented by native buri hats impressively adorned with colorful boa feathers, straw, sticks and aluminum foil.

The Taguig dancers were innovative in their red-white-blue-and-yellow body paints to accentuate their hats made of straw.

The Makati group gyrated onstage in their native costumes -- multi-colored ternos for the ladies and barong tagalog for the guys. Their sambalilo was a glittering headdress of colorful tulle adorned with mini-hats. They also carried a giant salakot onstage, which should have given them a special prize for their effort.

Caloocan City opted to go environmental by decorating their sambalilo with plants, flowers and stems.

The barangay entries, meanwhile, were not easily upstaged. The troupe from San Martin de Porres impressed audiences with its dancers wearing Las Vegas-inspired costumes in bright fuschia and purple.

Barangay Vitales took on the underwater concept and barangay Tambo adopted the Moro-Moro fashion.

No one was more amused at the dancers than perhaps Mayor Marquez, who sat on the podium fronting the stage, beside the winners of the Binibining Parañaque pageant.

The 150-member Tangub City dancers, grand prize winners in Cebu City’s "Sinulog" festival last month, was the guest performers in the Sambalilo event.

Actress Alma Moreno, Mayor Marquez’s spouse, delighted the crowd with her dance number with The Kitkats, to the tune of the Sambalilo theme. The group regularly performs at Another World Resto-Bar and has also staged well-received shows in various provinces.

Alma’s graceful moves and sexy grooves reminded the crowd of her glorious tanga-clad dancing days on TV’s "Loveli-Ness," the musical variety show she hosted in the ‘80s.

The Sambalilo Festival was undoubtedly a huge success, so that Mayor Marquez, this early, is reportedly thinking of an even bigger and better event next year.

Clearly, the festival adheres to Marquez’s vision for Parañaque as a progressive community. It is also a strong motivation for the residents’ common efforts towards unity, cooperation and understanding.

Panagbenga Festival

The Panagbenga Festival is held yearly during the month of February. The celebrations are held for over a month and peak periods are the weekends. The Panagbenga Festival showcases the many floral floats and native dances. The fragrant smells that could be presently teasing olfactory senses are probably less from the now-dried flowers from Valentine's Day than air floating all the way from Baguio City. At this time of year, the City of Pines is almost surely in flower fury over Panagbenga festival, the city's biggest festival.

Panagbenga is a kankanaey term for "a season of blooming." It is also known as the Baguio Flower Festival, a homage to the beautiful flowers the city is famous for as well as a celebration of Baguio's re-establishment. Since February 1995, it has been held to help Baguio forget the 1990 earthquake that distressed much of the city.

Panagbenga festival will have spectators enjoying a multiple floral and float parades over two days. The Baguio Flower Festival Association (BFFA) will have a street dancing parade and band exhibition. The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFF), meanwhile, will hold a parade. So where should spectators be stationed to not miss any of the float and floral parades? Session Road and Burnham Park. A search for the Mr. and Ms. Baguio Flower Festival, FM Panagbenga Pop Fiesta, Skateboard competition and Dolls of Japan exhibit were added to the BFFA calendar. The festival is supported by constituents of La Trinidad, La Union, Pangasinan, Marinduque and Masbate.

Often a Cañao is an undertaken to kick-off & celebrate the occasion. A Cañao is a dance that also is regularly performed at special occasions such as fiestas. In this two-person dance, the men hang blankets usually woven with an indigenous pattern or design-over each shoulder. The woman wraps a single similar blanket around her. The man leads her and dances in a circle with a hop-skip tempo to the beat of sticks and gongs. The dance must continue until the viewers decide to honor the dancers twice with a shout of "Ooo wag, hoy! hoy!" Once this has happened, the dancers can stop. It is an honor to be invited to join the dance, and elders and other respected members of the community are expected to join in at every occasion.

Other notable events:

Bulaklak Rock Battle of the Bands at the Skating Rink; Local Arts Show at the People’s Park; Veteran Records Skateboard Competition at the Skating; Dolls of Japan Exhibit and Eiga Sai at the Baguio Convention Center Lobby; Kitefest at the Athletic Bowl.

GETTING THERE

Baguio is easy to get to by air and land transportation. From Manila, the latter is the more popular choice, although at this time of the year, it may prove to be a hassle. If you prefer to fly to the City of Pines, some airlines maintain a daily schedule of flights from Manila to Baguio and back, like Asian Spirit. If, however, you go for a four-hour joyride, there are a variety of bus companies, garage cars, and tour operators for the convenience of tourists and visitors.

Dia de Zamboanga

Dia de Zamboanga
26th of February
Zamboanga City's

Dia de Zamboanga is a festival with a unique combination of ethnic diversity. This festival is organized by and for Muslims and Christians. The activities during this event include cultural offerings, exhibits, and regattas as well as religious ceremonies whereby the old Muslim and Spanish traditions of the city are expressed.
The celebration underscores the real historical importance of Zamboanga in its political history as Zamboanga was founded when the first cornerstone for the Fort Pilar was laid on June 1, 1635 – making Zamboanga as the third oldest city in the whole Archipelago, after Cebu and Manila.

President Manuel L. Quezon signed the Commonwealth Act No. 39, authored by Congressman Juan S. Alano, on October 12, 1936, coinciding with the celebration of the Fiesta in honor of the Patron Saint of Zamboanga "Nuestra Señora del Pilar"

Zamboanga, then before the Commonwealth Act No. 39, continued to experience economic progress and social stability – making the city a leading commercial and industrial city of Mindanao.

Its modern port (pantalan) served as an important port of call of international shipping lines and commerce, such as lines plying Yokohama, Hongkong, Borneo, Singapore and Australia, as well as direct lines from the U.S.A., making the city the most cosmopolitan and westernized city in Mindanao with a confluence of cultures. These international lines traded goods for products like copra, rubber, timber, coal and other minerals.

Domestic vessels would load rice, corn, salt, and other agricultural products. This enabled Zamboanga to increase its foreign trade. Its income amounted to 3 million pesos under the American Military Governor. Zamboanga, before it became a city, was considered to be the richest province in Mindanao. It had reached a point where it no longer had to call on the National Government for aid.

Pioneers, settlers, and plantation owners organized the first American-Filipino Chamber of Commerce for Mindanao, and proposed a resolution to make Mindanao a separate entity from the National Government – which was Manila based – "proposing to annex Mindanao as a part of America, making it the agricultural capital and "coaling" station of U.S.A."

The idea of self-reliance was the consciousness of that era – as Zamboanga was pushed into the frontlines of progress and development that paved the way for its conversion into a Charter City. As it continues to be a positive symbol towards the attainment of peace and prosperity for all.

In 1986, Julio Cesar F. Climaco, Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the City Mayor, this city, made history when he signed City Proclamation No. 1 (Series of 1986) declaring February 26, 1987 as the 50th Anniversary of the formal inauguration of the City of Zamboanga as a charter city. He proclaimed February 26th of every year as "Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga".

Climaco enjoined all sectors of the Zamboanga community to observe this annual historical event with appropriate festivities and activities to fit such an occasion.