Origin, Identity and Borders of Zamboanga City
Origin, Identity and Borders of 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
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=https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fpilipinomirror.com%2Ftag%2Fzamboanga-city
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PLACES OF ZAMBOANGA CITY
Populatio Populatio
Population
n n
Name Status Census
Census Census
2015-08-01
2000-05-01 2010-05-01