LOCAL FESTIVALS
February 26
DIA DE ZAMBOANGA
Charter day of the City. A number of activities are lined-up annually for
this occasion.
March or April (movable)
HOLY WEEK
A city procession known as the Santo Entierro (Holy Funeral) on
Good Friday highlights the celebration of the season of Lent. Celebrated
in barangays Sta. Maria, Tetuan and the Immaculate Concepcion Parish, the Santio
Entierro is a procession of Christ's images, many of the Stations of
the Cross, along the streets, depicting, depicting his last hours before,
during and after Crucifixion.
FLORES DE MAYO
A religious feast celebrated in all Catholic churches in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Little children in white gala dresses walk up the altar to offer flowers to the image of the Blessed Mother.
In some parts of the city, the traditional Santacruzan is also held. The Santacruzan is a procession of the Reyna Elena and other local beauties with their escorts, decked in Maria Clara gowns and barong tagalogs, along major streets.
May 9
ISRA WAL MIRAJ
An Islamic event celebrating the nocturnal journey and ascension of the
Holy Prophet Mohammad.
July 11 (movable)
EIDIL FITRI/HARIRAYA PUASA
An event to commemmorate the end of the Muslim fasting season.
September 27
WORLD TOURISM DAY
Often celebrated with slide film presentations, tourism contests, and free
tours sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT); designed to instill
tourism consciousness among the local populace. The week prior is National
Tourism Week.
October 10-12
ZAMBOANGA HERMOSA FESTIVAL (Fiesta Pilar)
Highlighted by the October 12 Fiesta Pilar celebrated in honor of the
miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pillar at the legendary Fort Pilar.
The festival is marked with week-long novena masses, cultural
shows, agricultural fairs, art/photo/flower garden exhibits, a two-day mardi
gras parade, the bandoreal (street dancing), a regatta (Zamboanga
Sea Festival), torch parades, fireworks display. It all ends with
a solemn procession and a mass at the Fort.
This is Western Mindanao's biggest, most-awaited, and entrancing fiesta!
December 8
FEAST of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Feast day of Zamboanga City, commemorating the Blessed Virgin Mary's
Immaculate Conception; always celebrated with a procession and a
concelebrated mass, highlighted by a First Communion rite.
December 27
MAULIDIN -- NABI
An Islamic celebration honoring the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammad.