Zamboanga

My longtime desire to go to Zamboanga made me instantly say yes to a fellow producer asking for a favor in July 2014. I was asked to shoot in Zamboanga for an episode for Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie, a show hosted by Winnie Monsod in GMA News TV Channel 11.

The topic then was about the state of Zamboanga a year after the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front faction and the government's soldiers (both from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police). It was a bloody crisis that lasted for 19 days.

During our shoot, I was with a researcher and a cameraman. We rented a van that served as our transportation all throughout our stay. The van's owner, aside from being a local, was also a GMA News stringer. We checked into Marcian Garden Hotel and Convention Center. Our researcher coordinated everything.

Our team was able to go around the city to conduct interviews. Was also able to see:

Zamboanga City Hall that was built in 1905
KGK Building, which was the ground zero of the 2013 siege
Cawa-cawa Boulevard where we ate most of the time; don't miss tryin' Knicker Bocker and Satti
Sta. Cruz Island, known for its pinkish sand and only a 15-minute boat ride away from city proper; we were also lucky to have seen vintas, which is one of Zamboanga's iconic images
Baliwasan Grandstand (or Tent City) where many displaced families stayed due to the 2013 siege
Rio Hondo Water Village, which was burnt down in the midst of the 2013 siege
Taluksangay Mosque, oldest mosque in Western Mindanao

Seeing the effects of the standoff firsthand were devastating, especially after interviewing displaced families living in Baliwasan Grandstand. But the 2013 siege shouldn't hinder Zamboanga's growth as a city particularly in terms of its tourism. The beauty of Zamboanga I've witnessed was something most Filipinos should see. Expect to experience a historical and cultural enlightenment like I did.

Baliwasan Grandstand 1

Baliwasan Grandstand

Cawa Cawa Boulevard

Displaced in Baliwasan Grandstand

Kgk Building 1

Kgk Building

Knicker Bocker

Rio Hondo Water Village

Satti

Sta Cruz Island 1

Sta Cruz Island 2

Sta Cruz Island 3

Sta Cruz Island 4

Sta Cruz Island Vinta 1

Sta Cruz Island Vinta

Sta Cruz Island

Sunset in Zamboanga 1

Sunset in Zamboanga

Taluksangay Mosque

Zamboanga City Hall

Zamboanga City

What do you think about my work?

More Fun in the Philippines

Alfonso, Cavite

Alitagtag, Batangas

Anawangin, Zambales

Angat, Bulacan

Anilao Backpackers, Batangas

Anilao, Batangas

Anilao Boarding House, Batangas

Antipolo, Rizal

Mt.Sicapoo Apayao Trail

Asipulo, Ifugao

Baguio

Experience boat diving in Balai Resort in Anilao, Batangas

Balai Resort, Batangas

Balai Tanay, Rizal

Barlig, Mt. Province: Mt. Amuyao

Bataan: Tarak Ridge

Igorots demonstrating their traditional dance

Batad, Banaue

Batanes

Batangas

Bay, Laguna

Bokod, Benguet: Mt. Purtagory Traverse

The hidden beauty of Borawan’s white sand beach

Borawan, Quezon

Bunker Diver Resort for cost-conscious divers

Bunker Dive Resort, Batangas

Cabuyao, Laguna

Cagsawa Ruins, Albay

Calaguas, Camarines Norte

Calatagan, Batangas

Cavinti, Laguna

Cavite

Clark, Pampanga

Coron, Palawan

Corregidor

Amazing sunset in Dive and Trek Resort in Bauan, Batangas

Dive and Trek Resort, Batangas

El Nido, Palawan

El Nido, Palawan 2

Sunset jump shot at Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Hundred Islands, Pangasinan

Sea of clouds atop Mt. Napulauan's summit

Hungduan, Ifugao: Mt. Napulauan

Ilocos

Kiangan, Ifugao

Kibungan Cross Country

Laiya, Batangas

Laiya, Batangas 2

Holding hands while sightseeing in Ligpo Island

Ligpo Island, Batangas

Mercedes, Camarines Norte

Overlooking the amazing view of Mt. Batulao’s summit

Mt. Batulao, Batangas

Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Batangas

Mt. Maculot, Batangas

Mt. Makiling

Mt. Pigingan, Benguet

Mt. Pinatubo

Sea of clouds in the summit of Mt. Pulag

Mt. Pulag, Benguet

Mt. Pulag, Benguet 2

Mt. Pulag, Benguet 3

Mt. Tagapo, Rizal

Overlooking the amazing view of Mt. Talamitam’s summit

Mt. Talamitam, Batangas

Mt. Timbak, Benguet

Mt. Ugo, Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet

Fam bonding in Pico de loro's Hamilo Coast

Nasugbu, Batangas

Nagsasa, Zambales

Olongapo City

Palawan

Pampanga: Mt. Arayat

Pililla, Rizal

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike

Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike 2

Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy

Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy Version 2

Romblon Island, Romblon

Sabang, Puerto Galera

Amazing sea of clouds in Mt. Kiltepan View Point

Sagada, Mountain Province

San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan: Mt. Balagbag

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro

San Luis, Batangas

San Miguel, Bulacan: The Cabin

San Rafael, Bulacan: Mt. Secret

San Vicente, Palawan

San Vicente, Palawan 2

Sariaya, Quezon

Silang, Cavite

Kayaking in Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa

Subic, Olongapo

Taal, Batangas

Talisayen Cove, Zambales

Tanay, Rizal: Laiban Trilogy

Tanay, Rizal: Maynuba Circuit

Tanay, Rizal: Moolk Farm

Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Batolusong

Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Binutasan

Tanay, Rizal: Nagpatong-Mt. Masungki Twin Hike

Tanay, Rizal: Pili Paninap Farm

The last remaining tattoo artist of the Butbut Tribe

Tinglayan, Kalinga

Amazing sunset in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 1

The Ranger Station in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 2

Apo Island, Negros Oriental

Bacolod's The Ruins will take your breath away

Bacolod City

Bantayan, Cebu

Biri Island, Northern Samar

Bohol

Boracay, Aklan

Dauin, Negros Oriental

Iloilo

Leyte

Mactan, Cebu

Malapascua, Cebu

Moalboal, Cebu

Oslob, Cebu

Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte

Siquijor

The pristine, white sand beach of Sumilon Island

Sumilon Island, Cebu

Cagayan De Oro

Camiguin

Davao

Davao City

Davao del sur: Mt.Apo

Maguindanao

Mantangale Dive Resort, Misamis Oriental

Marawi City

Zamboanga

Let's talk about diving, marine life, and the beauty of the Philippines!

mona_axe17@yahoo.com

About Mona

Certified as a PADI rescue diver. Got my first compact camera in 2011. I was simply content then to just capture a glimpse of what I see during my dives. It was only last February 2014 that I fully maximized the use of manual macro settings.

My camera skills and knowledge are still a work in progress. Enjoy browsin’!

Page Views:

Developed by: Brewhildah

Explore through Mona's Lens

Click LIKE and dive all over the Philippines!

Contact Mona

Zamboanga

Baliwasan Grandstand 1

Baliwasan Grandstand

Cawa Cawa Boulevard

Displaced in Baliwasan Grandstand

Kgk Building 1

Kgk Building

Knicker Bocker

Rio Hondo Water Village

Satti

Sta Cruz Island 1

Sta Cruz Island 2

Sta Cruz Island 3

Sta Cruz Island 4

Sta Cruz Island Vinta 1

Sta Cruz Island Vinta

Sta Cruz Island

Sunset in Zamboanga 1

Sunset in Zamboanga

Taluksangay Mosque

Zamboanga City Hall

Zamboanga City

What do you think about my work?

MY UNDERWATER GALLERY

More Fun in the Philippines

Let's talk about diving, marine life, and the beauty of the Philippines!

About Mona

Page Views:

Explore through Mona's Lens