Travels 209: Real Fuerza de San José, the storied Fort Pilar

Having been a regular visitor of the City of Zamboanga, I look up at Fort Pilar as a bastion of Spanish greatest influence in Mindanao and that it was a threat to the cloistered Sultanate of Sulu many centuries has passed. As the cornerstone of the now famous Fort Pilar says, it is originally named “Royal Fort of St. Joseph” and was laid down by Friar Melchor de Vera on June 23, 1635 which marks the founding of Asia’s Latin City, originally known as Jambangan, now Zamboanga City.

At one time, I went back to Real Fuerza de San Jose to see for myself its storied past and I am impressed and enthralled at how the fort has served its very purpose, being a defense fortress against the marauding Moros from the Basilan Strait. It is also one of the bastion of Spanish era were devotees flock to every October 12. I had been in the past, visited Fort Pilar.

I and my friend Pocholo Gonzales, went on a stroll to Fort Pilar one afternoon. Since he has nothing else to do, we opted for sightseeing instead and since I was on my way to the Fort Pilar for my travel blog, I picked him up at the hotel.

What we saw captivated us. Even at a cloudy afternoon and a little drizzle did not dampen the majestic history of the fort as it was, indeed it is regal and royal. I am impressed.

Real Fureza de San Jose is one of the best remnants of Spanish influences still being used until today. It is where histories were made, written and itched to someone’s and everyone’s memory.

What I saw at Fort Pilar is one that truly is royal and regal, majestic and grand.

Travels 208: Paseo del Mar and culturally rich Samal Lauds

Mindanao is rich in culturally diverse tribes and one of these are the Samal Lauds (Sea Sama) most commonly known as Badjaos or our version of sea gypsies. They live in house boats and proficient sea people. They are wanderers of the sea and as their cultural practices dictates, they professed their swimming skills around the sea since they are brought up that way, very diverse from their fellow Muslim tribes.

Badjao by the way is a Malay-Bornean word which connotes and defines “man of the seas” which appropriately are what we call the Samal Lauds. They are oftentimes seen swimming down to retrieve the coins passengers or visitors throw at them into the sea.

I and my friend Pocholo Gonzales, my China man and my longtime friend in our own soul-searching efforts at nation-building, went to Paseo del Mar to catch a great vista of the Basilan Strait. We saw the Samal Lauds in their most proud moments, professing a dancing skills and swimming abilities.

Paseo del Mar in Zamboanga City is one destination for almost everybody in the City and those visiting the City. I saw some students milling around after class and of course, the Paseo becomes a place where dating is most openly seen and love professed. When one comes to the Paseo, one sees the vista of perfect sunrise or sunset depending on one’s preference. At night, the Paseo del Mar is alive with restaurants and live bands.

Samal Lauds has showcased their craft when people throw them coins to keep. It was an impressive sight for me whose swimming skills is nil. Of course, Paseo del Mar allows us to see them and which made this journey the most memorable.

Photoblog 108: Fort Pilar’s courtyard