Tiered falls, pink sands: Discovering Zamboanga City and Basilan

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While many feel apprehensive about traveling south of the Philippines, Zamboanga City and Basilan offer natural beauty, as well as rich cultural heritage and history

Despite the changes in the political atmosphere of the Zamboanga region and Basilan, negative perceptions about both places still linger. Thoughts of political unrest and violent encounters are still common top of mind.

Active promotion and training of certified tour guides, though, have been helping turn those fears around. I’ve been to other places in Mindanao over the years and I’ve seen the changes that have taken place.

A trip to Zamboanga City and Basilan have further reinforced my views that these destinations are noteworthy additions to your itinerary or your goal to visit more provinces in the Philippines.

Beach bumming

Zamboanga City is a convenient destination to visit because it caters to multiple flights from Cebu, Iloilo, and Manila whether directly or with a connection.

One of the main attractions is Sta. Cruz Island. It’s famous for its pinkish and fine sand and clear waters. You can spend hours beach bumming, swimming, or playing volleyball. You can also have a picnic on the island during your visit.

A highlight of the island trip is to see and touch stingless jellyfish. It was quite an experience to feel these creatures in my hand and not get stung.

The city has interesting attractions that provide you a glimpse of its rich cultural heritage and history. The Fort Pilar Shrine and Museum is a great place to start when it comes to learning more about the city’s storied past and culture (you’ll see plenty of displays and exhibits). It’s a centuries-old defense post the Spaniards used during colonial times.

Drop by the shrine to offer a prayer and reflect. A short walk from the ancient fort is a popular spot for both locals and visitors alike, the Paseo del Mar.

The views of the horizon and the sea are picture perfect (especially during sunset). It’s quiet in the early afternoon but it gets livelier later in the day and at night. You can get delicious local food here whether it’s seafood or a sweet dessert like the famous knickerbocker (similar to halo-halo).

As you explore the city, you’ll notice a distinct looking building amid the shopping centers, restaurants, and fast food chains.

The Zamboanga City Hall is a National Historical Site and is a striking piece of architecture. It’s the city’s administrative seat since the 1930s. Not too far from it is a monument of the Philippines national hero, Jose Rizal.

If you’re looking for unique souvenirs to take home, include the Yakan Weaving Village to your itinerary. You can find beautiful Yakan fabric products from hats to shawls to ready-to-wear attire.

The colorful fabrics and the artistry it takes to weave them showcase the culture and ingenuity of the Yakan. You can also find knives you can take home as souvenirs (you’ll have to check them in, though).

I was pleasantly surprised with Zamboanga City’s food scene. Local dishes such as beef kulma, tyulah itum (beef and spicy soup), satti ayam (chicken with sauce), daral, and others were delicious (pardon my limited vocabulary when talking about food). The dishes reminded me of the food I ate during trips to Malaysia and Indonesia.

After checking out some of the city’s attractions, my sister and I decided to go on a day trip to Merloquet Falls. It was a couple of hours away by van and habal-habal from the city. We walked down concrete steps to reach the waterfall.

It’s accessible for all sorts of travelers because there’s no hiking involved. This two-tiered waterfall will lure you in to cool off in its icy waters. We were lucky to be the only ones there during our visit. After taking several photos from different angles we went back to the city.

Azure waters

My sister and I planned on visiting Basilan as a day trip from Zamboanga City. We would be content with just a trip to Malamawi Beach.

However, we were fortunate enough to meet other travelers who were also going to Basilan. We decided to go as a group to share expenses and visit more places.

We left early in the morning to meet our guide in Isabela, Basilan. My excitement was high during the uneventful ferry ride.

Upon arrival, our guide toured us around the city first before catching a ride to Malamawi Beach. We visited the Santa Isabel Cathedral which has a history that dates to the mid-19th century.

One of the attention-grabbing buildings in Isabela was the Basilan Provincial Capitol. Upon first glance, I thought it was a mosque because of its facade.

When we hit the beach, it was everything I expected from the pictures I saw online. It had fine, white sand and enticing azure waters.

It was quiet hanging out at the beach. There were other visitors besides our group, but it was fine because it added a sense of normalcy. The staff at the beach resort also served delicious seafood for lunch.

Bulingan Falls is another natural attraction you can visit while exploring the province. The waters were murky during our visit so I can only imagine what it would look like in good weather. Locals swam in the pool while a few of them jumped from the steps-like surface of the waterfall.

Much like in Zamboanga City, you can visit a weaving center, specifically the Angat Buhay Weaving Center, while in Lamitan. You’ll find locals weaving cloth or other items that visitors want to have made. You can pick up a few souvenirs here as well such as wallets, hats, scarves, and other similar items.

The trip ended with me wanting to discover more of not just Basilan and Zamboanga City, but also the other provinces south of the Philippines such as Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, as the region clearly has a lot to offer. – Rappler.com

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