Zamboanga del Sur

The Middle of the Peninsula

The Zamboanga Peninsula's southern coast — facing Illana Bay and the Moro Gulf — was historically within the sphere of influence of the Maguindanao Sultanate to the east, while the interior mountains were Subanen territory. Spanish missions penetrated the northern coast from Dapitan and Dipolog but made limited progress along the southern Illana Bay coast, where Maguindanao influence was stronger.

Zamboanga del Sur's culture is a mix: the Subanen of the interior, Sama-Bajau and Yakan communities on the coast, and settlers from the Visayas, Luzon and elsewhere. Besides Cebuano and Chavacano, people speak Maguindanaon, Subanen, Tausug, Maranao, Iranun, Hiligaynon, Ilocano and other languages.

Subanen of the Interior

The Subanen communities of the Zamboanga del Sur interior share the cultural traditions of the Subanen across the Zamboanga Peninsula, including their ritual specialists and their knowledge of the highland forest. Many Subanen communities in the province have converted to Christianity over the past century while retaining elements of their indigenous practice alongside Catholic observance.

Megayon and Pasalamat

Pagadian's Megayon Festival is a week-long celebration that coincides with the Zamboanga del Sur anniversary in September. Megayon is a Subanen word meaning "unity and solidarity", and the festival showcases the songs, dances, rituals of peace, foods and crafts of three cultures. The city also holds the Pasalamat Festival, with a fluvial parade and trade exhibits.

Pagadian City and the coastal municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur have access to the abundant seafood of Illana Bay — the same rich fishing ground that supports the communities of the adjacent Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao coasts. The interior municipalities cook in the Ilocano and Cebuano traditions brought by settler communities.

Cebuano is the dominant everyday language of Pagadian City and most coastal municipalities of the province. The interior communities speak Cebuano alongside varying levels of retention of Subanon. Chavacano, the Spanish creole of Zamboanga City, is the majority language in and around that city but is less common elsewhere in the province.

Subanon in Zamboanga del Sur

The Subanen of Zamboanga del Sur's interior speak the Lapuyan dialect of Subanon — one of the largest dialect groups of the language. The Lapuyan Subanon are the most studied of the Subanen communities, with documentation efforts going back to the Spanish mission period. The language is under pressure from Cebuano and Filipino in the communities closest to the lowland towns.

Pagadian City is reached by air from Cebu and Manila — a flight of about one hour from Cebu. The city serves as the gateway for the southern peninsula and is the transfer point for travel to Zamboanga Sibugay and onward to Zamboanga City by road. The inclined tricycles and the view over Illana Bay are the city's best-known sights.

Mount Timolan Protected Landscape, about 1,995 hectares near Pagadian, was declared on 14 August 2000. It is an important bird area, home to the Philippine eagle, Philippine cockatoo and Philippine hawk-eagle, and its forests also shelter the Philippine tarsier, the Philippine warty pig and the Asian palm civet. The province's rivers include the Kumalarang, the Salug in Molave and the Dinas, which rises in the Timolan forests.

Philippine Eagle

Pithecophaga jefferyi

Critically Endangered

The national bird, found only in the Philippines. Mount Timolan is listed among its homes in the province.

Field note: Never disturb a nest. Killing a Philippine eagle carries a prison term under the Wildlife Act.

Philippine Tarsier

Carlito syrichta

Near Threatened

A tiny nocturnal primate with huge eyes, recorded in the Mount Timolan forests.

Field note: Do not handle tarsiers or use camera flash.