Let’s go to Zamboanga City
OK, we’ve been traveling around the Philippines looking at different Cities around the country, and trying to which one might be best as a place to live! Well, today, let’s go way down South to Zamboanga City. I know, I know… the first thing that most foreigners think of when it comes to Zamboanga City is that it is dangerous, and it’s full of terrorists. Well, I don’t think that this is true. Yes, there are some problems in the general area, but overall, Zamboanga City is safe and not a big worry. Now, if you venture to nearby Basilan Island, or to Sulu you will probably find some problems if you look for them, but if you remain in the City of Zamboanga, you will likely feel quite safe. Hey, I’ve even been to Basilan myself, and I lived to tell about it!
For today’s journey to Zamboanga City, we were guided by Arvin, a native of Zamboanga City. Arvin volunteered to guide us through our list of questions about his home town. Let’s have a look at my questions, and Arvin’s answers:
1. What City do you live in?
->Zamboanga City <a.k.a. city of flowers, asia’s latin city, sardine capital of the philippines>
2. How long have you lived in this City?
-> 25 yrs.
3. Can you give a price range of housing in the area that would be
appropriate for a foreigner? Low end? High end?
->12,500/month in a village in TALISAYAN many koreans live there.
->there is a exclusive village in tumaga beside the newly constructed ateneo high school building
which ranges from 2-5 million pesos/house<this is best when you live here for good>
4. What kind of amenities do you have in town? Malls? Fitness
Centers? Swimming Pools? Movies? Restaurants?
-> Shopping Malls
-Mindpro Citimall<4 storey mall>
-Southway Square<4 storey mall>
-Yubenco Starmall<3 storey mall>(located at putik 2-3 km away from the city hall)
-Shopper’s Center<a 4 storey mall>(under construction)
-Shopper’s Mall<a 10 storey mall>(under construction)
-Gaisano Mall- Pending
-Robinsons Place Zamboanga<still a rumor>
-Midtown Plaza
and a whole lot of Department Stores
the 1st,3rd,4th and 5th mall mentioned above are only having a few meter distances.
example: Southway Square is away from Shopper’s Center for only 10-20 mtrs away..
Swimming Pools
*Woodland
*Inland resort(a great resort for a family holiday)
*JRS
*Pasonanca Swimming pools
*Monte Verde resort
and a whole lot more
there are also pools @ the hotels<e.g. Garden Orchid Hotel,Marcian Hotel&Lantaka Hotel>
Movies
*most movie houses are available at the malls
Restaurants
*Mano-Mano
*Park 88
*Alejandras Grand Complex
*Harry’s Grill
*Mang Inasal
and a whole lot more which includes the fast food chain restaurants like Jollibee<9 branches>
Mcdonald’s, KFC,Chowking&greenwich<not considered as fast food> etc and etc
5. In general, how would you consider the cost of living in your city?
How much is the price of a Lechon Manok?
-it’s cheap a ride from you’re house to the city commercial proper is at about 25-30 pesos that’s if you’re w/ someone but if you’re alone it only cost 20-25 pesos. depends on the location of your house
-a whole lechon manok cost 120 pesos
6. How are the roads in your area?
-they are cemeneted and not to mention the traffic here travels smoothly most of the time
7. Are there many foreigners living in your area? Is there any kind of
get togethers for foreigners?
-mostly chinese<LOTS of them>
some koreans
there are some indonesians only few americans,british,german etc.
8. How are the government offices in your area? Things like getting a
driver’s license and such, how much of a hassle?
-not quite a hassle quite the same process with other cities
9. What types of transportation are mostly used in your city?
Tricycles? Jeepneys? Taxis?
-Tricycles and Jeepneys
(Bob’s note: When I visited Zamboanga City in 2007, I found that transportation was the biggest drawback in town. Tricycles vastly overcharged for foreigners, and it was really a hassle getting around town)
10. How is the weather in your area? Lots of rain? Mostly sunshine?
-> we usually have a fair weather, we dont experience that much storm because, we’re outside the
typhoon belt.
11. How is the drinking water? Can you drink tap water in your area,
or do you need mineral water?
-We Drink water which are only sterilized & mineral water,
-to be more safe you’ll need mineral water
12. How about electricity? Do you have many brownouts? Can you give
us the cost of electricity in your area?
-we experience brownouts rarely
13. Do you have good beaches in your area?
-im proud to say that we do have GREAT beaches not just good but great ones. there is the Santa Cruz island<pink sand beach>,Bolong Beach, La Vista Del mar<currently owned by the Lobregat family to give you a fact >
(Bob’s note: I agree, great beaches in Zamboanga! Santa Cruz Island with it’s pale pink sands is a beautiful place)
14. Is your City served by an airport? If so, are the number of
flights adequate?
-yes, it is served by an INTERNATIONAL airport
-yes, but unfortunately the airport is not open 24 hrs, we also have an INTERNATIONAL seaport.
15. Are imported goods and such readily available in your local
stores? Do you feel a need to make trips to a bigger city to buy such
items? If so, where?
-most of the imported goods are available in the city
16. Do you find the area friendly? Ever feel there is any danger in
your area?
-yes,but also like manila&cebu there are still a few robber/thief and hold-uppers
-to be honest, no, because the locals seems to be friendly enough for me not to fear
17. Is Cable TV available in your area?
-yes, there are 2 cable tv provider Sky Cable and Mindanao Cable. A satellite TV provider is also available.
for more information about the city heres a link http://www.zamboanga.com/Business/Invest_in_Zamboanga_City.htm
another link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamboanga_City
A few other notes from Arvin:
Zamboanga is home to three universities
Ateneo De Zamboanga University
Universidad De Zamboanga
and Western Mindanao State Universityzamboanga city is ideal for investment on malls, exclusive residences won’t really be a big hit
our city mayor is Hon. Celso L. Lobregat
vice mayor is Hon. Beng Climacoour city is divided into 2 districts, a 3rd district proposal is not yet approved .
we’ve got a lot of tourist spots
first is the Fort Pilar
second is the Petite Barracks
third is the plaza pershing
the, city hall
the, pasonanca aviary and a whole lot moreZamboanga City is known to be one of the biggest city in the philippines
If you really would want to experience the beauty of zamboanga
see it for yourself
come and join the zamboanguenos
Adelante zamboanga! viva asia’s latin city!!!
Hi Bob I like the city series you are running. Referring to the line at the beginning of your article where you say “I know, I know… the first thing that most foreigners think of when it comes to Zamboanga City is that it is dangerous, and it’s full of terrorists.” I would further like to highlight how we are so easily led to believe what the media feed us.
As you know I’m coming to the Philippines very shortly. The flight has been booked and last week I went to take out medical/travel insurance. When I mentioned to the travel agent that I was going to the island of Mindanao and that I had noticed the travel advisory by the New Zealand Government was “severe” he said that he had better phone the insurance company to see if I would still be covered. The answer was “no”. It appears this advisory has come about since the last two bombings in Kidapawan. Now my point, which any local (in Mindanao) will know is that at least the last two bombings in Kidapawan have been nothing to do with terrorists. The local papers have reported that they have been gangs or persons trying to extort money. Now extortion can and does happen anywhere in the world but because the flavour of the moment is “terrorism” that is what is conveniently used.
Guess the insurance company miss out on extorting a large fee out of me.
Hi Bob.I emailed you yesterday about the picture of your property in samal.My wife and i bought property i believe is next to yours as our pictures are very close to yours,we oun 2500sq mtrs just as you turn right off the main road on to that ridge.That is the main road and the back road border our property.My father inlaw is building our house at present hope to be done in the summer.Just wondering are you next to us.Thanks Jim.
Hi Richard - Ha ha… funny how the insurance thing works! If they *think* that you might need it, they don’t sell it to you!
Hi Jim - I sent you a response to your e-mail yesterday, did you get it? The way you write, sounds like you are still watching for a response on that. Maybe it ended up in your junk mail filter? Anyway, is your lot in Barangay Limao, right near the famous “White House of Samal?” That is where our land is.
Zamboanga is indeed a wondeful place to live in………. as a matter of fact our city is one of the highest TAX PAYERS in the philippines, but a little percentage only goes to zambo…. and to Mr. Richard, that travel agent is SARCASTIC… and also guys have you seen the news about the FR.BOSSI kidnapping? the media tries to show that the KIDNAPPING was held in ZAMBOANGA CITY, but as a fact, it was at ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE! and ZAMBOANGA CITY is located at ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR……. and also, our city is PEACEFUL! IF You feel safe when you’re in Davao,Gen.Santos,Manila,Cebu…. then INCLUDE ZAMBOANGA IN YOUR LIST! hahahaha!!!
Hi arvin - I agree, Zamboanga is not a place to be feared, you have a nice place there!
have u already been here? hehe…
Hi arvin - Yes, I have been to Zamboanga City a number of times now. It’s a nice place.
oh that’s good… have you been to Santa Cruz Island? and the 7 islands at bolong? it’s a must seen…. but, as you can see we are not that HIGHLY COMMERCIALIZED city… and do you know that our PUBLIC HOSTPITAL’s facilities are way better than those of the private ones? haha… our city mayor really focuses on projects that would benefit his people….
Hi Arvin - Yes, I’ve been to Santa Cruz - hey, I’ve been to Basilan and Tawi too! I went there last year. I get around, particularly around Mindanao.
oh… i suggest you to comeback here… lot’s of improvement since last yr…
for more infos on some other cities you could go to this blog
http://www.philippines-best-cities.blogspot.com/
Hi arvin - I’ll do that one of these days… you never know when I’ll show up!
Good day to you…I always see ur blog.Yeah, I must say that Zamboanga is indeed a peaceful place to live. I don’t believe on the media that Zamboanga is a home for bombing and kidnapping hmmmp….actually it is outside the city but in the city it ddint happen if you want to know visit and you’ll find the place a nice one to live for rather than in Metro Manila where most of the crime happens…Zamboanga is actually a multicultural city in the Philippines…come visit and you’ll find this city a place to live in and you’ll never regret to come…by the way Our Vice Mayor is not Beng Climaco actually she is the 1st District Congresswoman of Zamboanga, and actually its Manny Dalipe who is the Vice Mayor….(some kinda un inform)Zamboanga is actually a chartered city and hmmp probably not belong to Zamboanga del sur province(the fact we don’t vote for a Governatorial)Zamboanga is also a highy urbanized city and highest Taxpayer in the Philippines(ask the BIR about it)zamboanga international airport is a standard airport and meanwhile the seaport are class to bea international port already…so visit zamboanga and you’ll find it great to live for…Viva and Adelante….
Hi Alex - thanks for the info!
oopps… i made some mistakes… lol
btw, there’s a new attraction here it’s the PASEO DEL MAR….
just near the fort pilar……
as zamboanga’s economy is booming, the transfer of the regional offices has begun…….. it will be hard for investors to put up their business here,,, and as they say the executive order that our VERY LOVING AND HONORABLE(SARCASTIC) president does not actually exist?
she hates zamboanga city so much…………….. i can’t wait till she steps down….. for a change…..
executive order that she proclaimed does not exist*
Hi Arvin - Really this site is not for the purpose of Political commentary, as a matter of fact it is a subject that we try to avoid. Thanks for keeping that in mind.
im sorry for that…
great one Bob…great read. Zamboanga is the only city in Mindanao with rich history to boot compared to Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Zamboanga may not have SM and Gaisano but its got the largest fortress ouside manila ( Fort Santiago - Intramuros!)
Hi Ram - Certainly Zamboanga has a rich history, but I am not sure why you would feel that other Mindanao Cities have less of a history. Davao and CdO have rich histories too. Marawi is perhaps the most culturally rich place on the Island.
Thanks for visiting.
I would just like to correct something that the person you interviewed said: You can drink water in Zamboanga city which comes from the faucet. Occassionally there are rumours of the water being contaminated (only happened twice the entire time I lived there *20 years* and those are the only times that you have to boil your water and take extreme measures like buying mineral water.
Also, when it comes to foreigners, there are actually a considerable number of turkish and middle easterns living in the city. As for Koreans, I didn’t know there were koreans in the city.
Just FYI,
Zamboanga city is a 1st class city highly-urbanized city. It is one of the first chartered cities and the sixth largest in the country. Zamboanga City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province.
Hi Jerome - Thanks for sharing what you know about Zamboanga!
m in love wit dat place
Hi abhishek - Flights go there daily! Go, and enjoy your stay!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Hi,Arvin. Do you have a blog?:)
Hi bob ……just wanna say something as i read ur blog i just wanna comment about the guy you’ve interviewd and he talks about the water here actually you can drink water in faucet its safe but in some maybe not if you live in squatter areas and some of its answers are somekinda un informed and not really study well before he answered heheh…….and now a day zamboanga city is booming many infrastracture have been building…hehehhe…zamboanga is place to be a place to love for….come and visit our city..thanx muchias gracia….
Hi alex - Thanks for sharing that.
Hi,
planning to go next month. Is it safe to visit now? what’s the best mode of transportation to maximize just a 1 day’s trip to zamboanga city?
what’s the cost of rent a car with driver? is it advisable?
can u recommend an itinerary for a day?
oohh. im sorry alex…..
fyi, interviews can’t be updated….
hey louise, i don’t have any…
hey bob, how you doin?
and also bob, how do i pm you?
Hi Arvin - I am doing well, and I hope you are too.
I have taken care of your request for you.
Thank you so much for featuring Zamboanga. A lot of this has happened since this interview =)
Ping me if someone needs more info about the city.
God Bless!
yolynne
Hi yolynne- Thank you for stopping by. I just checked out your blog, it’s very nicely done.