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Photo: Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The construction of this building started in 1905 and it was completed in 1907, built by the US government for the American Governors of the area. Today, this serves as the City Hall of Zamboanga City where the Mayor holds office.
The Zamboanga City Hall is the seat of the local government of Zamboanga City. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines considers the city hall building as a National Historical Site.
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Plaza Pershing honors American general John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (1860 –1948) who defeated Muslim insurgents in the region.
Founded in 1810 as a parish at the present day Universidad de Zamboanga campus, the Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zamboanga (created in 1910 as diocese and elevated in 1958 as an archdiocese). It is known as one of the most modern cathedrals in Mindanao, built in 1998-2001. The cathedral's structure is cruciform, resembling a cross and its facade is patterned after a candle (which is connected to the Blessed Virgin Mary). The main church is on the second floor, with stained glass portraying the life of Mary and Asian saints as well as the history of Mindanao's dioceses starting from 1910. At the lower level are the columbarium, the day chapel, the adoration chapel at the left wing, the conference hall at the right wing, and the baptistery fronting the day chapel.
Fort Pilar also houses a National Museum branch inside the fort. You can appreciate the glorious past of Zamboanga as a Spanish city here in the museum. It also has record of inhabitants and antique items of the early time. It also exhibits paintings, natural marine life and cultural memorabilia. Excellent air conditioning.
Founded in 1635 as a garrison during the Spanish period, the Fort Pilar serves as a present day open-air shrine. Built as La Fuerza Real de San Jose, the fort is now named after and dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga. Its image is embossed at the altar (which was then an entrance of the fort).
You can visit the place early in the morning for brisk walking or jogging or in the afternoon for its famed sunset view. You can also spend some time at night eating Balut (a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled and eaten with vinegar and salt).