Fort Pilar, Zamboanga City

 

The Spaniards during the colonial era built military fortifications in some strategic places of the Philippines to protect established communities from raids and incursions especially from pirates and Moros. In Mindanao forts were also built. Some of them were demolished and others did not survive the ravages of time. But there are still others that exist today.

In the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula Jesuit priest Melchor de Vera with the approval of Spanish Governor General Juan Cerezo de Salamanca built a fortification called Fort San Jose on June 23, 1635.  That date was also the founding of Zamboanga. The military fort was to protect the place called Jambangan from Moro pirates as well as attacks from Sultans of Mindanao and Sulu.

Due to lack of manpower, Spanish, Peruvian and Mexican builders had to import additional workforce from Cavite, Bohol and Panay for the construction of the fortification. The mix of different people from various places in the Philippines with diverse dialects under the control of the Spaniards may explain the development of Chabacano, a Spanish pidgin dialect spoken in Zamboanga because people had to communicate with each other in an understandable language, in that particular situation the Spanish.

The fort was attacked by the Dutch in 1646. It was abandoned by the Spaniards in 1662 to reinforce the Spanish administration in Manila which was under the threat of the Chinese pirate Koxinga who earlier defeated the Dutch. The attack however did not happen.

After it was destroyed by the pirates and raiders, Jesuit missionaries rebuilt the fort in 1699. Upon order of Spanish Governor General Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante Y Rueda Spanish engineer Juan Sicarra rebuilt the fort in 1718. The fort was then renamed Real Fuerte de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza.

The years that followed saw attacks on the fort and a violent incident. In 1718 Dalasi, king of Bulig with about 3,000 Moro pirates stormed the fort but were repulsed by the defenders. In 1798, the British cannoned the Fort and in 1872 it was a scene of mutiny of 70 prisoners.

Marian relief

In 1734, a Marian relief was built on the eastern wall of the fort. It was named Nuestra Señora del pilar de Zaragoza (Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza). The Virgin Mary of the Pillar became the patroness of Zamboanga. The outdoor Marian Shrine become a place of devotion and worship to some faithful who believe that the Lady of the Pillar is miraculous. Tradition has it that Virgin Mary made several apparitions. It is said that she first appeared to a soldier near the gate of the Fort on December 6, 1734. During an earthquake on September 21, 1897 in the Zamboanga Peninsula, it was said that some visionaries saw the Virgin Mary floating in the air in Basilan Strait and raised her right hand to stop the onrushing waves thus preventing the onslaught of Tsunami in Zamboanga.

On May 1899 during the Spanish-American War, the Spaniards surrendered the fort to the Filipino revolutionaries led by General Vicente Alvarez. On November 19, 1899 the fort was captured by the Americans. During World War II, the fort was occupied by the Japanese. American and Filipino troops recaptured it in 1945. The Americans officially turned over the fort to the Philippine government on July 4, 1946.

On August 1, 1973 Fort Pilar was declared as a national cultural treasure. Today the fort is placed under the administration of Regional Museum of the National Museum which makes the fort its regional headquarters.

Today, the fort is a major tourist attraction of the city. The original walls are still intact, and is protected by a metal fence around them. On the eastern side of the fort’s wall is the relief of the Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza and below it is an altar. The shrine is enclosed and protected with metal fence.

Historical marker

courtyard and museums

At the entrance of the fort is a historical marker. Visitors can go inside the fort passing through the security personnel of the National Museum for free. In the center inside the fort is a courtyard. And adjacent to the walls are buildings which house the museum containing different artifacts and materials of the marine life of Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu. Visitors can view the display in the museum for free. They are required though to take off their shoes to view the displays and they are not allowed to take picture with a DSLR camera. They can only take pictures with a smart phone, and that they will not use flash or take video with their phone.

preserved marine life

lantaka

colonial era bell

ramp

a walkway and a bastion

Visitors can climb to the rampart of the Fort through the ramp that connects it. On top is a walkway where they can see the scene below including the sea and the Santa Cruz Islands. At corner of the walls are bastions with security guards manning a guard house. Also on the bastions is parapet with merlons and crenels. In the days of old these structures might have given a defender a vantage position from the attackers who were on the ground below.

 

The "Vineyard" of Amaya View, Cagayan de Oro

Grapes usually grow in temperate and sub-tropical climates so that vineyards draw people's attention in tropical Philippines because they are uncommon. Some areas in the country have successfully grown the fruit. There are vineyards in La Union in Luzon, and Arevalo, Ilo-ilo and Cebu in the Visayas.

Amaya View in Indahag Hills, Cagayan de Oro City has added another attraction, called “The Vineyard”, to the amenities they offer to the visitors. The high elevation of the place, the highest of which is 1,122 feet above sea level, is maybe conducive to the growing of grapes. Elevated place like Indahag Hills usually has cooler temperature compared to that of the lowland urban center of the city.

In the vineyard, visitors should follow protocols such as no pinching and picking of grapes, no cutting of any part of the plant, no climbing of the trellis and no stepping on the plant base.

Adult visitors have to pay 150 pesos , and children 4-12 years old 100 pesos and those 3 years and below free of charge for an entry into the vineyard. This is on top of the 300 pesos entrance fee for an all-access pass of the Amaya View.

The vineyard in Amaya View is the first ever in Cagayan de Oro. During my visit to “The Vineyard”, grapevines of the Amaya Red and Premium varieties are already producing bountiful fruits. Some of them are still green while others have already turned purple or black which is an indication that they are ready for harvest.

Although “The Vineyard” has proven that grape plants can thrive in this part of the Philippines, its economic prospect will determine its sustainability. Imported grapes from China have saturated the Philippine market so that even sidewalk vendors at Cogon Public Market sell grapes.  The once expensive fruit which are used to be eaten only during the Christmas Holidays are now available to most people at an affordable price in almost any month of the year because of the Chinese import.

Cebuano or Filipino Words that You Think are Indigenous but Are Spanish in Origin

 

Most of Spain’s former colonies speak Spanish. The Philippines is an exception because although it adopted Filipino or Tagalog as its official language, Filipinos speak different languages or dialects according to the ethnic group they belong to. Spain’s long occupation of the Philippines has brought about an enduring influence over the Filipino’s culture, religion and languages. Cebuano, the second most widely spoken language in Philippines next to Filipino or Tagalog, has been enriched with the infusion of Spanish loan words. Most of them have found their niche into the native tongue so that they become part of the regular vocabularies of modern native speakers.

Below is list of words that are “naturalized’ into the Cebuano or Tagalog languages with their Spanish and English equivalent. I did not include words that are obviously Spanish in origin because there are multitude of them, and this will make my list a very lengthy one. A language such as Spanish may have some changes in spelling or addition or reduction in letters when adopted to another language, but its original meaning will remain the same.  There are some words though that may lose their original meaning with the passage of time.

Cebuano/Filipino Spanish English   Abante Avante Ahead   Abono Abono Fertilizer   Abswelto Absuelto Acquitted   Abunda Abunda Abounds   Agrabyado Agraviado Aggrieved   Agwanta Aguantar Endure   Alahas Alhajas Jewelry   Albularyo Herbolario Herbalist   Alibyo Alleviar Alleviate   Alkansiya Alcancia Piggy bank   Angkla Ancla Anchor   Antyohos Anteojos eyeglass   Anyel Añil Indigo   Aparador Aparador Sideboard   areglar Arreglar Arrange   Areglo Arreglo Arrangement   Asado Asado Roast   Asenso Ascenso Ascend   Asite Aciete Oil   Aspalto Asfalto Asphalt   Atras Atras Behind   Ayuda Ayuda Aid   Bacalao Bacalao Cod   Bahada Bajada Descent   Bala Bala Bullet   Baldado Baldado Cripple   Balde Balde Pail   Balsa Balsa Raft   Balyena Ballena Whale   Bangkò Banco Bench   Banyo Baño Bathroom   Bara Barra Rod   Barandelya Barandilla Railing   Barato Barrato Cheap   Barena Barrena Auger   Bastante Bastante Enough   Basura Basura Trash   Bayle Baile Dance   Biberon Biberon Feeding Bottle   Bentaha Ventaja Advantage   Berdugo Verdugo Executioner   Bibo Vivo Live   Bisagra Visagra Hinge   Bisyo Vicio Vice   Bola Bola Ball   Bombelya Bombilla Light Bulb   Bombero Bombero Fireman   Bosina Bocina Horn   Braso Brazo Arm   Bruha Bruha Witch   Kambyo Cambio Change   Camote Camote Sweet Potato   Delubyo Diluvio deluge   Destroso Destroso Disastrous   Duda Duda Doubt   Duwende Duende Elf   Embudo Embudo Funnel   Embutido Embutido Sausage   Empanada Empanada Patty   Enano Enano Dwarf   Ensigida Enseguida Right Away   Espiso Espeso Thick   Esplicar Explicar Explain   Ganansya Ganancia Gain   Garboso Garboso Jaunty   Golpe Golpe Blow   Goma Goma Rubber   Grahe Graje Garrage   Gripo Grifo Faucet   Guwantes Guantes Gloves   Habal (to copulate)* Jabali Boar   Henyo Genio Genius   Higante Gigante Giant   Hulmigas Hormigas Ants   Husga Juzgar To Judge   Idro Idroplano Hydroplane   Iguales Iguales Same   Imbis En Vez Instead   Impatso Empacho Indigestion   Ingrato Ingrato Ungrateful   Inodoro Inodoro Toilet   Intriga Intriga Intrigue   Irihis Hereje Heretic   Kabayò Caballo Horse   Kadena Cadena Chain, String   kalabasa Calabaza Pumpkin, Squash   Kalambre Calambre Cramp   Kalyo Callo Callus   Kama Cama Bed   Kaminero Caminero Roadman   Kanta Cantar Sings   Kapatas Capataz Foreman   karsel Carcel Prison   Karwahe Carruaje Carriage   Katre Catre Cot   Kolokar Colocar Place   Kombinser Convincer Convince   Kompra Compra Purchase   Kompromiso Compromiso Compromise   Kompyansa Confianza Confidence   Konsinter Consenter Consent   Kontador Contador Counter   kumpisal Confesar Confess   Kumusta? Como Estas? How are you?   Kuna Cuna Cradle   Laba Lava Wash   Labandera Lavandera Laundry Woman   Lamano Estrechar La Mano Shake Hand   Lastiko Elastico Elastic   lata Lata Can   Liha Lija Sand Paper   Limos Limosna Alms, Handout   Linti Lente Lens   Lugar Lugar Place   Mais Maiz Maize, Corn   Maldito Maldito Cursed   Maleta Maleta Bag   Maligno Maligno Evil One   Mani Mani Peanut   Manibela Manivela Handle, Crank   Maniobra Maniobra Maneuver   Manteca Manteca Butter   Mantiner Mantener Keep   Martilyo Martillo Hammer   Mas Mas More   Maselya Masilla Putty   Maseta Maceta Flower Pot   Maton Maton Bully   Menudo Menudo Small   Minos Menos Less   Mirisi Mereces Deserve   Mismo Mismo Selfsame   Mohon Mojon Boundary Stone   Molestya Molestia Bother   Monyeka Muñeca Doll   Multa Multa Fine   Negosyo Negocio Business   Nerbyoso Nervioso Nervous   Pala Pala Shovel   Palanggana Palangana Basin   Palito Palito Little Stick   Palo Palo Stick   Palso Falso Fake   Palyar Fallar Fail   Pan Pan Bread   Pantalla Fantalla Screen   Para Para For   Parol Farol Lantern   Pasio Paseo Walk, Stroll   pastol Pastor Shepherd   Pareha Pareja Pair   Payaso Payaso Clown   Periko Perico Parakeet   Perya Feria Fair   Peste Peste Pest   Pilde Perder Lose   Pilyo Pillo Rogue   Pintor Pintor Painter   Pitaka Petaca Cigarette Case   Plaka Placa License Plate   Plangka Palanca Lever   Pomada Pomada Pomade   Posas Esposas Handcuffs   Poso Pozo Well   Preno Freno Brake   Priso Prision Prison   Prito Frito Fried   Pulgada Pulgada Inch   Pulgas Pulgas Fleas   Pulido Pulido Polished   Pulseras Pulseras Bracelets   Punyeta Puñeta Damn   Punyete Puñetazos fisticuff   Purwesyo Perjuicio Damage   Pursiger Persiguer Pursue   Pusil Fusil Rifle   Puta Puta Bitch, Prostitute   Pwesto Puesto Place, Position, Market Stall   Pwes Pues Then   Pyansa Fianza Bail   Rebansen Revancha Rematch   Rehas Rejas Bars   Remate Remate Auction   Resiko Reseco Parched   Retaso Retazo Remnant   Ripa Rifa Raffle   Sabon Jabon Soap   Salbabida Salvavida Lifesaver   Salbahes Salvaje Wild   Salsa Salsa Sauce   Santilmo Fuego de San Telmo Saint Elmo's Fire   Sartin Sarten Pan   Sastre Sastre Tailor   Sebo Sebo Tallow   Seda Seda Silk   Selda Celda Cell   Serin Serrin Sawdust   Siboyas Sebolla Onion   Sili Chile Chili Pepper   Sini Cine Movie Theater   Sirado Cirrado Closed   Solda Soldar Weld   Subasta Subasta Auction   Subida Subida Ascent   Suborno Suborno Bribe   Sundalo Soldado Soldier   Sustener Sustener Sustain   Swabe Suave Smooth   Swerte Suerte Luck   Talyer Taller Workshop   Tampulano Tal Fulano Such a Guy   Tapalodo Tapalodo Mud Flap   Taro Tarro Tin   Tela Tela Cloth   Terno Terno Suit   timon Timon Rudder   Tinda Tienda Store   Torta Torta Cake   tsaliko Chaleco Vest   Tsikiting Chiquitita Tiny   Tsinelas Chinelas Slippers   Tsupa* Chupar Suck   Tukar Tocar Play   Tukayo Tocayo Namesake   Tuwalya Tualla Towel   Umento Aumentar Increase   Yabi Llave Key   Yate Yate Yacht   Yelo Hielo Ice   Yero Hoja de Hierro Iron Sheet

*”Habal” in Cebuano means to copulate which is different from Spanish Jabali which means boar. In the past it was the practice of locals to lend their “jabali” or boar to those with sow in order for the animals to breed. The act of mating was called “habal”, thus, “jabali” completely lose its original Spanish meaning. The term “habal” is not used to refer to sexual acts between people. Its use is limited to animals especially pigs.

*”Tsupa” in the Philippines is an indecent word used to refer to oral sex between two males. It is never used in serious or formal conversations.