**update[11/03]: a clear indication of how busy work has been lately: i had to wait for the weekend before i can even edit this entry to post pics. whew! layout inspired by superbianca's blog.
**update[11/04]: done.
finally i am able to blog.....
ever had that emotional swing between the nervous anticipation of the unfamiliar and giddy excitement of what lies ahead? i guess that best depicts what i felt when a few months back i was invited by a very good friend to attend and witness his wedding, nowhere else than in this place dubbed as Asia's Latin City. as a matter of fact i bought my plane ticket roughly 40 hours before the flight itself considering the invitation came about 7 months ago. there were more than a couple of times i admit i planned on pretending to be very sick or may lakad akong iba na mas importante on the wedding week itself to merit myself an excuse of staying here in Manila. eh kasi ba naman pag sinabi mong Mindanao, particularly in Zamboanga and Cotabato (which happens to be my birth place), ang unang pumapasok sa isip ko eh magulo. i developed the habit of looking out for news about that city and more than twice may nabasa akong bombings hehe. at the end i guess i was overcome by just the thought of getting through the thrill and excitement of going to Zambo. or wait. maybe i have moles in my feet which according to Filipino pamahiin meant layas, a gypsy. never settling, spurred on by a yearning for far away places with strange sounding names. sandale tignan ko.. wahaha meron nga! i never paid attention to it before but yes i do have moles, one on each feet. now i know why insisted on going :D
anyway, my stay wasn't bad after all. i was apprehensive at first but not really scared. the people's hospitality will actually lessen your fears. Zamboanga is like an open city that brought together the tribal groups (the most famous of which are the Badjaos), the Muslims and the Christians living together in its community. most of the people have their motorcycles or scooter kaya bumalik yung kaba ko. eh kasi uso yung drive-by shooters and bombers hehe. pero buti na lang walang masamang nangyari... Fort Pilar, a Spanish military fort built in 1635 which has meter-thick walls, houses 500 years of colonial history in its museum - from the Spanish settlement, to chapters of British, Dutch, American, Japanese and finally Filipino control. the best recuerdo of la presencia de España in Zamboanga. first time i had to take off my sandals when entering a museum :) taking photographs is not allowed but as stubborn as i am, i insisted on using my camera outside the watch of the prowling eyes of the security guards hehe.
inside our 4x4 vehicle; mayor's office; Christian altar beside Fort Pilar. people come here for various reasons, some grateful, some needing, some to find solace and still others like me to witness.
the city is probably best known for the vinta, a traditional boat which has a sail with assorted vertical colors that represents the colorful history and culture of the Muslim community.
though i was a week late for their Fiesta Pilar where they showcase vinta races, i got a personal glimpse of these wonderful sails. they're actually all over the place. by the beach, inside a museum (where picture taking is prohibited tsk tigas talaga ng ulo), at the museum entrance and even at street lamp posts.
food, food, food! :P @ the mano a mano restaurant; @ the butterfly farm; Zambo dusk somewhere a mountaintop overlooking the city
devotees @ Fort Pilar; with the Quintinios; me :)
Chavacano is the dominant dialect which resounds, and adapted, much like the Spanish language. Bisaya and Muslim vernaculars are also spoken in certain communities. and did you know that this city was once regarded as the world's largest area-wise? interesting huh :)
some Chavacano words i learned:
sabroso - (tagalog) masarap - (english) delicious - hehe anything about food comes first :)
gracias - (tag) salamat - (eng) thank you - you gotta learn how to be polite or else hehe :P
kwidaw - (tag) walang anuman - (eng) you're welcome
ta ama iyo contigo - (tag) mahal kita - (eng) - i love you
ta ama tamen iyo - (tag) mahal din kita - (eng) - i love you too
adelante - (tag) sulong - (eng.) forward - adelante Zamboanga! :)
mareng - (tag) bakla, bading - (eng.) gay - haha and mind you there are lots of them there :P
Zamboanga City is situated at the southern tip of the Zamboanga peninsula so it's geographically near Basilan island, which became infamous for being the Abu Sayaff terrorists' base camp. i promised the newly weds as a gift that i'll do them a free photo shoot in the Great Santa Cruz island, known to locals as the "pink island", a 20-minute motor boat ride from the city. pag nasa malayo ka eh medyo pink talaga ang kulay ng buhangin. but that's not the thrill yet. since it's probably just an hour boat ride to Basilan the proximity is considered risky particularly for foreign and local tourists like myself. yung Dos Palmas nga sa Palawan nangidnap yung mga terorista eh malayo na yun, eto pa kayang malapit hehe. i love my dear life so off we still went :P lalo nga lang akong kinabahan nung kailangang magpa-register sa Department of Tourism and a soldier from the Philippine Marines has to accompany us during our trip, stay with us on the island, up until we get back to Zambo. first time kong ma-experience na in-escort-an ng sundalo habang nagre-relax sa isang isla. they also have a small (PM) detachment and some CAFGUs (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit) who patrol the island. every now and then we heard military planes hovering. na-tense ako lalo haha. even so we still had a great time despite the jittery feelings. the pictures bear witness.
aahhh. a guerdon for a month-long stress from work.
other pics...
8 tourists, 1 Marine soldier and a boat; pristine waters of Sta. Cruz island; ritual for first timers :)
jump shots with the group. the sun was perfect for a photo shoot!
op kors op kors. ehem hehe :P
to the Quintinios, thank you very much for the warm hospitality. i never felt even once during my stay that i wasn't welcomed. you treated me like i was your own family. muchos gracias.. isang comment lang, ang gagaling kumanta ng angkan niyo. malamang nung nagsabog ang diyos ng talento sa pagkanta gising kayo lahat kaya nabiyayaan kayo. natitiyak ko, tulog ako nun! :)
to Jon and Seng, congratulations. may your union be until your last breaths. continually love each other and may God be the center of your relationship. hold on to each other's hand in all circumstances so that your bond will tighten as you go on with life together. at salamat sa pag-imbita.
as for me, i continue to be a gypsy. next destination: Davao and Cagayan de Oro..
