Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragosa
After eating a Satti breakfast at one of the Satti shops in Pilar Street, morning finds us strolling the streets of Zambaonga City ending up at the imposing structure by the Zamboanga Peninsula Seas, which is the historical Fort Pilar. This venerable fort founded in 1635 yet still proudly stands strong until now, represents the rich colonial history of this region of our country.
An outdoor Marian shrine
We entered an open gate at the back of the Fort where an amount of human traffic can be seen going in and out of the premise. It was the entrance to a one of a kind outdoor shrine holding open air mass. The mid morning sun was already beaming its warm light on this holy ground and walls and also to the flock of devotees, equipped with their own umbrellas and sun shields, who were already on their feet and queuing towards the altar for their individual religious ritual with holy water.
Our Lady of the Pilar Shrine details
At the focal point of the area, and where the pathways created from the concrete pews seem to point, is the miraculous statue of Our Lady of the Pillar can be found facing the rising sun. This statue of the Virgin Mary was said to have miraculously appeared on a pillar in Zaragoza, Spain, on October 12, 1492. This paved way to the Christianization of some of the Hispanics from the Moros in which the fort was defending against. On the same day, the feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar was declared and became the city’s Patron Saint.
To whom the bell tolls
There is so much history about Zamboanga City’s Fort Pilar that I didn’t know. I guess our historians are mostly focused in Manila and very few Spanish history in the South. For a region deeply rooted in Islamic traditions, Zamboanga City is the seat of Christianization in Mindanao. Under the Spanish rule, sea expeditions were launched to fight the Moro Pirates, and at the near end of the Spanish revolution, it was a Zamboanga born hero Vicente S. Alvarez who unseated the mighty rulership of the Spaniards. And around the 1900-1920s the US government established a short lived form of government where Zamboanga was the Seat of the Government. So for a while a “Republic of Zamboanga” was established.
Candles and prayers
Beside the open area church at the east side of the Fort, the inner structure was converted into a museum, unfortunately for us, it was a Sunday and the museum was closed. So we just decided to go around the area and take pictures and observe the local folks.
Wish upon a burning candle
On the left of the altar is an area where you can offer prayers along with the burning candles. Unfortunately I’m no catholic so I don’t fully understand what the different colors of the candles represent. It was interesting as well that during prayer, people would open and close their palms above the flames for a while.
Religious items sold outside the church
Outside the walls of the fort, like most other churches in the country, have a few stalls selling some religious items as well as food. It was really interesting visiting this place. If Manila has Intramuros, Zamboanga City has Fort Pilar which isn’t short of historical and religious significance as well.
just came back from a trip in central visaya and I visited the 2nd oldest church in the philippines, i got few shots to post in my blog soon but my shots are nothing compared to yours. Great posts everytime dude. Keep it up.
BeautifUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUl
wow!!
i really miss my hometown…
God bless!
I’VE BEEN THERE LAST AUG 8, 2008. I FELT GOOD & LIGHT AFTER VISITING THE LADY. I PRAY I CAN VISIT HER ON HER FEAST DAY.
hey guys..
love the pics…
i know dis is weird but pls….
can you help me know wat does the symbols under the picture of the virgin mary says
i went to zamboanga once and i was curious about the symbols is it Spanish or Latin…
if u do know wat it say or mean pls contact me…
my friend needs it rof his thesis(kinny_borja@yahoo.com)
thank you…
hi pwede makipag ila 2x lodumimefumodo means i love you hehehehehehehehehe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH! i have a few pics of PASONANCA.. .well it could be nice if we’ll include it in the history of zamboanga..
….oh!i’ve been very lucky to be in this hometown zamboanga…..
the shrine was so nice…..
i love it so we must tke cre and maintain the cleanliness of it…..
goooooooddddd job pipol of zamboanga/…..
weeeeeeeeewwwwww
i love it….
Nice pictures!! I totally love it…
)
i miss that sight. i wish i could see it again…its sacred that even muslims prayed for her…
stories behind her will stay in me forever.
Trivia: according to the locals of zamboanga, the reason why the lady of pilar was unroofed because the last time
they put a roof on it it causes flood on the entire zamboaga. that is why untill now even during masses
they dont have roof or even tent. so miraculous that when they remove the roof of the lady of pilar the flood during thart
time stop. some also said that they so a mother and a child at the shore of zambo walking to the ocean as if waving for goobye at the same time the flood is evaporating. amazing.
they call this the Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragosa, the sacred fortress of the muslims and christians in zamboanga