Region 9

The Zamboanga Peninsula is a Philippine administrative area that occupies the western part of Mindanao and is
formally known as Region IX. It includes one very urbanized city (Zamboanga City), the component city of Isabela, and
the three provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

PROVINCES

 Zamboanga del Norte - Zamboanga del Norte, also known as the Twin-City Province, is well-known for its
two charming and beautiful cities: the Shrine City of Dapitan and the Orchid City of Dipolog. Dr. Jose P.
Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines, lived in exile in distant Dapitan City, which was then just a small
village in Mindanao, protesting Spanish rule over his beloved nation. He made the most of his final four
years of exile, from 1892 to 1896, practicing medicine, pursuing scientific research, continuing his creative
work, and learning new languages.
 Zamboanga del Sur - Zamboanga del Sur is a province in the Philippines located in Mindanao's Zamboanga
Peninsula Region. Pagadian is its capital city. Zamboanga del Sur is noted for its rich past and outstanding
natural features, like the pink coralline sand on Sta Cruz Island.
 Zamboanga Sibugay - Zamboanga Sibugay is a province in the Philippines located in Mindanao's Zamboanga
Peninsula Region. Ipil is its capital. The Western Nautical Highway connects the province to Western
Mindanao, and it is also known as the "Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines."

DANCE

 Pangalay - The sobriquet "fingernail dance" refers to Pangalay, a Southeast Asian dance. This "traditional"
dance is believed to have originated in the Philippines' Sulu islands and was invented by the Tausug people.
This dance is quite similar to traditional Balinese and Thai dances. This dance also has a "Pakiring" variant.
This dancing form is said to be founded on pre-Islamic and Buddhist ideas about male and female heavenly
agents.

SONG

 No te vayas de zamboanga - a Chavacano traditional song, talks about a young girl telling her fiancé not to
go to the gorgeous city—not because of physical danger, but because of the possibility of being taken by its
lovely maidens.

FESSTIVALS

 Dia de Zamboanga - is one of the most prominent events in Zamboanga City since it commemorates the
city's founding. Because it was the first time the city elected city authorities on February 26, 1937, the local
administration declared every February 26 a special non-working holiday. The people of Zamboanga City go
all out for this event. Many entertaining events await visitors to the city during this festival, including cheer
dancing contests, the yearly grand civic, a military parade, and picture exhibitions. If you enjoy eating, be
sure to taste the local cuisine since there will be food stalls around. Several film festivals will also be hosted,
so go see some locally produced films.
 Pascua na Zamboanga - Christmas is one of the most frequently observed festivals in the Philippines, let
alone in Zamboanga. The celebration of Pascua na Zamboanga, or Christmas in Zamboanga, begins with a
lighting ceremony at City Hall. One of the purposes of this holiday event is to bring people together in the
spirit of the Christmas season, regardless of faith. Aside from the city hall, other major landmarks such as
Plaza Pershing, Paseo del Mar, Veterans Memorial Monument, and Jardin Maria Clara are lit up with
multicolored lights. During the festival, there are additional Christmas community events and chorale
competitions.
  Zamboanga Hermosa Festival - is one of Zamboanga's most important and well-known festivities. Locals
refer to it as Fiesta Pilar. It is an annual month-long event celebrated in Zamboanga City, the capital of the
Philippines' Zamboanga Peninsula. It honors the patron saint, Nuestra Seora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar),
whose image is enshrined at Fort Pilar in Zamboanga. The people's devotion to Nuestra Seora del Pilar is
strong, bolstered by a rich tradition and legends of miracles and apparitions observed around the pilar.

FAMOUS DISHES

 Tiulah Itum / Tiyulah Itum - is a Tausug-inspired Filipino braised beef or goat broth or stew. The dish is
distinctively dark due to the usage of burnt coconut flesh. It is prepared by rubbing and marinating
chunks of beef in a pounded mixture of spices (pamapa) and powdered burnt coconut meat. It is then
fried with garlic, onions, turmeric, ginger, and lengkuas. Once the meat is lightly browned, water is
added along with additional ingredients like black pepper, lemongrass, and shallots and allowed to
simmer until cooked. Coconut milk is sometimes added to thicken the broth. Other ingredients like
tomatoes and siling haba chilis are also sometimes added, but they are not traditional. Tiyula itum is
traditionally served with white rice or tamu rice cakes.
 Satti - is a grilled pork dish from Mindanao, Philippines, served on skewers. It is connected to sate or
satay in Indonesia. It is very popular in Tausug cuisine and is usually served for breakfast in satti-
specialized restaurants. It's usually accompanied by ta'mu (pusô in other Philippine languages) and a
bowl of warm sauce.
 Piyanggang Manuk / Pyanggang Manok - Piyanggang Manuk is a chicken dish made by boiling a
chicken and then grilling it afterward. The chicken was characterized by its tender meat and the smoky
flavor. This chicken dish was served with a very creamy blackened coconut curry sauce.
 Ensalada Chamba - A flavorful blend of smoky grilled eggplant, mango, and salted egg, the Ensalada
Chamba is a dish I could eat at any time of the day. The diced mangoes’ sweetness blended the dish’s
flavors so well.
 Chupa Kulo - The Chupa Kulo is a classic viand of cooked snails served in a rich, sauce-like soup
prepared from squash and coconut milk. Because the snails were not deshelled, the flesh inside
remained juicy and tasty. Sucking the snail flesh out of the shell was essential for consumption.

COMMON INGREDIENTS USED

 Coconut milk
 Coconut meat
 Onion
 Garlic
 Peper
 Fish sauce
 Ginger
 According to my observations, the majority of the foods served in the Zamboanga region
used coconut milk and coconut meat.