ZAMBOANGA CITY STATE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

VITALI EXTENSION PROGRAM

Mialim, Vitali, Zamboanga City

EDUC 214: Teaching Social Science in Elementary Grades (Culture and Geo)

The rise of local identity, name of the place, origin & borders of Zamboanga City.
Reported by: SILVA, JOHN RALPH P. BEED II - A

ORIGIN

During the era before the Spaniards found their way into the Philippines, Zamboanga City was a vast track of land and
nameless. However, due to its proximity with the other islands in Southeast Asia, it became a barter trading post among
the Chinese-Malays, the native Tausugs, Subanons, Samals, and the Badjaos. This barter trading took place as early as in
the 13th and 14th centuries. Archeological findings of pottery prove of Chinese presence in the region. The inhabitants
then were the Subanons along the river banks in the hinterlands, the Samals and Badjaos living in the coastal area.

The origin of the word Zamboanga came from the early Malays who came to settle at the tip of the Zamboanga peninsula.
These Malays discovered the place to be profusely blooming with flowers and called it “Jambangan” meaning “land or
pot of flowers.” These Malays who built their settlements by the riverbanks were Subanons, meaning “People of the
River.” Their chief, Saragan, lived with his family atop the legendary rock Mt. Pulumbato that lords over the city.

However, the early Badjaos and Samals who settled on and off the shorelines were confused with the name “Jambangan”
and called the place “Samboangan” instead. The name “Samboangan” appeared on the 16th Century map of the Philippine
Archipelago, and was said to have derived from the native word “Sabuan” meaning a wooden paddle.

Zamboanga City was founded by a Spanish Mission who sailed into the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago in
1635. The group landed at Caldera Bay, a fishing village along the west coast, now known as Recodo. The Spanish
settlement at La Caldera later moved to the tip of the peninsula which they found to be strategically located, and a fort was
built to ward off invading natives.

The Federal Government of the United States built the City Hall in Zamboanga in 1905, which was completed in 1907. It
became the official residence of the Military Governor of Mindanao, which included Generals like Leonard O. Wood,
Tasker H. Bliss, Ralph W. Hoyt, and John “Blackjack” Pershing of World War I fame. Today, it still serves as City Hall
of Zamboanga City.

http://info.philtravelcenter.com/zamboangacity-history.php

THE RISE OF IDENTITY

Zamboanga City - The vigorous original Zamboangueño Chavacanos, also referred to as simply Chavacanos, are
composed of families that are native to the old Zamboanga. Their language is called Zamboangueño, which is a one of six
Chavacano dialects found in the Philippines. The other five are Cotabateño (Cotabato City) and Davaoeño (Davao) in
Mindanao; and Caviteño (Cavite City), Ternateño (Ternate, Cavite) and Ermiteño (Ermita) in Luzon. Ermiteño is no
longer spoken.

The Zamboangueño Chavacanos mostly live in Zamboanga City, but many others dwell in the central area and
southernmost tip of the Zamboanga peninsula, Basilan, and parts of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in Western Mindanao and the
Sulu Archipelago. There is also a significant number of Zamboangueño Chavacanos abroad — part of the Filipino
Diaspora; in Semporna-Sabah, Malaysia, Zamboangueño is recognized as an official language alongside Malay. The
Zamboangueño Chavacanos are predominantly Roman Catholic, although the group comprises a significant Muslim
segment, as well as a growing Protestant population.

In 1635, Zamboanga was known as San José Fort and was under Spanish control. Spanish Friars, hoping to spread
Christianity in Islamic Mindanao and defend the fort against Muslim pirates, petitioned the military for support. Thus,
during this period, laborers from Luzon and the Visayas; Spanish soldiers; masons from Cavite (the largest number of
newcomers to the area); sacadas from Cebu, Iloilo, and Dapitan; and Samals and Subanons (local tribes) were all thrown
together. The vast variety of languages, the presence of the Spanish military, and the establishment of religious and
educational institutions engendered a pidgin, which eventually developed into a Spanish Creole that has survived for over
400 years.

Many academics have predicted the demise of Zamboangueño, but today, it still boasts a large, solid base of speakers and
does not appear to be anywhere near extinction. On the contrary, in the last few decades, Zamboangueño Chavacanos
have endeavored to preserve their language and culture. Until very recently, Chavacano, which is derived from “vulgar”
or “poor taste” in Spanish, has been ridiculed by many as a bastardized or watered down version of the Spanish language.
Nevertheless, champions of the local language have taken important steps to preserve it and crack the negative stereotypes
that have historically imprisoned it. Some signs of hope have started to show up.

In 1999, the University of Ateneo de Zamboanga held a conference focusing on the endangerment of Chavacano. Several
important issues were raised, spanning the origins and orthography of Zamboangueño lexicon, its preservation, and the
influence of Tagalog on Zamboangueño. To this day, Zamboangueño Chavacano continues to evolve. One of the goals of
the conference was to draw attention to the language and to prevent its extinction — a good sign that Zamboangueño
Chavacanos are not ready to see a part of their identity perish.

Other institutions, such as the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Instituto Cervantes of Manila have also held
forums to highlight the importance of the Chavacano languages and cultures and have helped teach people about them.

Another positive sign is the rise of interest in the Chavacano language and culture by academics, both locally and abroad.
There are websites that feature and promote Zamboangueño Chavacano literature and poetry, with hopes to drum up
interest among its people.

Today, the future of the Zamboangueño Chavacano language and culture looks bright, riding on the back of all the efforts
to preserve it. Zamboangueño Chavacanos are beginning to realize the value of their language and identity. It would be a
real shame if these treasures were allowed to disappear.

http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2012/05/12/zamboangueno-chavacanos-preserving-a-language-and-identity/

BORDERS

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpilipinomirror.com%2Ftag%2Fzamboanga-city
%2F&psig=AOvVaw1VPAha1mQ6x8bKz4iqqxwO&ust=1581522631408000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjR
xqFwoTCMDHt4ztyecCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
 PLACES OF ZAMBOANGA CITY

Populatio Populatio
Population
n n
Name Status Census
Census Census
2015-08-01
2000-05-01 2010-05-01

Arena Blanco Barangay 8,297 10,016 12,589

Ayala Barangay 11,323 20,096 22,547

Baliwasan Barangay 19,763 27,070 25,042

Baluno Barangay 1,549 2,315 3,155

Barangay Zone I Barangay 2,245 3,405 4,112

Barangay Zone II Barangay 1,782 2,865 2,143

Barangay Zone III Barangay 1,888 2,030 1,519

Barangay Zone IV Barangay 4,854 3,046 1,309

Boalan Barangay 5,709 7,435 8,696

Bolong Barangay 4,793 5,862 6,460

Buenavista Barangay 5,664 5,837 6,485

Bunguiao Barangay 6,215 7,368 7,287

Busay (Sacol Island) Barangay 1,694 2,931 3,359

Cabaluay Barangay 3,313 5,802 6,350

Cabatangan Barangay 5,384 9,944 13,680

Cacao Barangay 1,204 1,045 1,347

Calabasa Barangay 2,235 2,685 3,222

Calarian Barangay 19,027 25,331 28,899

Camino Nuevo Barangay 11,815 8,295 7,739

Campo Islam Barangay 10,004 11,237 12,552

Canelar Barangay 12,192 11,160 11,100

Capisan Barangay 762 1,090 1,408

Cawit Barangay 4,063 9,124 9,249

 Populatio Populatio
Population
n n
Name Status Census
Census Census
2015-08-01
2000-05-01 2010-05-01

Culianan Barangay 5,464 8,524 8,318

Curuan Barangay 6,259 7,378 8,796

Dita Barangay 1,801 3,831 2,085

Divisoria Barangay 5,323 9,042 9,218

Dulian (Upper Bunguiao) Barangay 1,475 2,023 2,570

Dulian (Upper Barangay 1,039 1,363 1,325

Pasonanca)

Guisao Barangay 1,879 2,560 3,398

Guiwan Barangay 12,317 15,323 14,302

Kasanyangan Barangay 6,438 8,425 14,114

Labuan Barangay 7,121 11,470 11,457

Lamisahan Barangay 2,761 2,995 2,289

Landang Gua Barangay 1,754 2,980 2,993

Landang Laum Barangay 1,518 4,803 4,768

Lanzones Barangay 2,215 2,743 3,287

Lapakan Barangay 1,772 1,529 1,378

La Paz Barangay 4,494 5,606 7,557

Latuan (Curuan) Barangay 1,413 2,125 2,457

Licomo Barangay 5,040 5,727 5,317

Limaong Barangay 3,068 3,445 4,000

Limpapa Barangay 3,465 5,160 5,782

Lubigan Barangay 1,698 1,149 2,945

Lumayang Barangay 1,256 1,377 1,471

Lumbangan Barangay 1,693 3,308 3,235

Lunzuran Barangay 4,393 8,221 9,931

Maasin Barangay 4,758 7,978 8,958

 Populatio Populatio
Population
n n
Name Status Census
Census Census
2015-08-01
2000-05-01 2010-05-01

Malagutay Barangay 5,015 5,654 6,657

Mampang Barangay 15,705 22,857 34,312

Manalipa Barangay 1,098 1,922 2,143

Mangusu Barangay 3,427 4,776 4,783

Manicahan Barangay 7,702 9,129 10,081

Mariki Barangay 4,612 5,895 1,775

Mercedes Barangay 8,064 12,050 14,721

Muti Barangay 2,132 3,123 2,983

Pamucutan Barangay 2,270 3,764 4,059

Pangapuyan Barangay 573 534 590

Panubigan Barangay 610 982 1,610

Pasilmanta (Sacol Island) Barangay 787 1,480 2,122

Pasobolong Barangay 2,641 3,257 3,758

Pasonanca Barangay 18,011 27,231 27,374

Patalon Barangay 4,841 7,187 8,128

Putik Barangay 12,865 19,653 19,681

Quiniput Barangay 3,241 2,647 3,329

Recodo Barangay 16,591 18,172 17,395

Rio Hondo Barangay 5,893 10,565 3,326

Salaan Barangay 2,342 3,310 4,073

Sangali Barangay 13,605 19,230 20,766

San Jose Cawa-Cawa Barangay 5,182 7,991 6,173

San Jose Gusu Barangay 15,732 24,542 16,723

San Roque Barangay 14,788 25,531 27,889

 Populatio Populatio
Population
n n
Name Status Census
Census Census
2015-08-01
2000-05-01 2010-05-01

Santa Barbara Barangay 5,946 7,961 4,762

Santa Catalina Barangay 13,700 17,955 17,294

Santa Maria Barangay 19,543 21,926 25,185

Santo Niño Barangay 5,317 6,790 4,129

Sibulao (Caruan) Barangay 2,715 2,748 4,244

Sinubung Barangay 2,007 2,690 4,689

Sinunoc Barangay 9,436 16,942 16,507

Tagasilay Barangay 2,949 2,607 2,971

Taguiti Barangay 883 899 1,460

Talabaan Barangay 3,282 4,181 5,340

Talisayan Barangay 5,030 7,285 8,220

Talon-Talon Barangay 20,712 30,535 34,916

Taluksangay Barangay 6,783 8,108 10,237

Tetuan Barangay 28,731 29,082 29,785

Tictapul Barangay 2,122 3,515 3,817

Tigbalabag Barangay 1,202 1,491 1,803

Tigtabon Barangay 3,276 5,071 5,292

Tolosa Barangay 2,481 3,157 2,773

Tugbungan Barangay 16,594 23,001 23,837

Tulungatung Barangay 2,792 6,055 9,246

Tumaga Barangay 21,487 25,184 30,824

Tumalutab Barangay 1,572 2,048 2,417

Tumitus Barangay 1,716 2,494 3,026

Victoria Barangay 1,718 2,326 2,802

Vitali Barangay 8,917 8,895 9,406

 Populatio Populatio
Population
n n
Name Status Census
Census Census
2015-08-01
2000-05-01 2010-05-01

Zambowood Barangay 3,678 7,627 10,166

Zamboanga City 601,794 807,129 861,799