HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS
City
Hall (Within City proper)
The construction of this building started in 1905 and was completed in
1907 by the Federal Government of the United States for the then American
Governors of the area which included Leonard O. Wood, Tasker H. Bliss,
Ralph W. Hoyt, and John Pershing of World War I fame. Today, this serves
as the City Hall of Zamboanga City where the Mayor holds office.
Fort
Pilar
(A 5-minute walk from the
Lantaka Hotel)
Built in 1635 by a Jesuit priest engineer and the Spanish authorities to
ward off attacks from the Moros and foreign invaders. Originally named "Real
Fuerza de San Jose," it was renamed after being rebuilt in 1719
to "Real Fuerza de Nuestra Seņora del Pilar de Zaragosa",
whose statue was embossed on the east wall of the fort in 1734 as a
frontispiece atop the entrance. This was eventually sealed off when it
became a shrine. Legends are told and retold of the miraculous power of
Our Lady of the Pillar. After its capture by the Americans on November 16,
1899, the fort came to be known simply as Fort Pilar.
A quaint remnant of a typical Spanish square famous in the old ayuntamiento of the 17th century in the Philippines -- originally called Plaza de Don Juan de Salcedo in honor of one of Spain's great conquistadores of the 16th century. It was renamed Plaza Pershing in memory of Gen. John Pershing for his work before and during the governorship of the Moro Province.
Pettit Barracks (A two-minute walk from Lantaka Hotel)
Occupied by U.S. forces under Gen. C. Bates after the capture of the city on November 16, 1899. The site was named Pettit Barracks in honor of Col. James S. Pettit, 31st Infantry, U.S. Volunteer Commanding Officer of the Second Military District. He was later promoted to the rank of General and became the Inspector-General and later, the In-Charge of Civil Affairs of Zamboanga, Inspector-General's Department, U.S. Infantry. Taken over by the Japanese forces in 1942-1945, it was recaptured by the US forces of liberation on March 10, 1945, and turned over to the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946.
San Ramon Penal Farm (22 kms. west of the City proper)
A 19th century Spanish-built prison penal farm located 22 kilometers along the west coast of the city and accessible via jeepneys or mini-buses from the market area downtown. The penal farm was established by the Spaniards as an experimental agricultural extension facility.
Yellow Beach
(Approximately 8 kilometers from the city center, along the west coast, accessible by jeepneys and mini-buses from the public market)
The landing site of the U.S. Forces on March 10, 1945 that saw the start of the campaign to liberate the city. American liberation forces under Maj. Gen. Jens A. Doe landed on this stretch of beach.
The Americans named the beachhead Yellow Beach for purposes of identification during the operation. Japanese resistance finally collapsed on April 2, with Filipino guerillas collaborating effectively with the American forces.
The beach is situated in Sinunuc, about eight (8) kilometers west of the city center.