THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has allotted funds for Zamboanga City to enhance its product offerings and boost its desirability as a tourism destination.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo announced the Mi Ciudad Limpyo Y Floriao (My City, Clean and Bloom) project, a cleanliness and beautification effort launched during the city’s ongoing Hermosa Festival. The DOT said in a statement it has allocated P2 million for this product-enhancement initiative.
“Any tourist who visits in time for the Hermosa Festival is bound to be one big happy guest with all the fun activities and cultural performances to experience; more so if he comes back next year to witness Hermosa amid the city’s colorful blooms,” Teo said on her recent visit to Zamboanga City, once known as the “City of Blooming Flowers.”
The annual Hermosa Festival, held in honor of the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar), Zamboanga City’s patron saint, traditionally runs the entire month of October, although there are several prefiesta events that began in September and closing activities that will last until November 14.
Zamboanga derives its name from “Jambangan,” a Malay word that means “City of Flowers.” Even before the Spanish conquistadores came to the Philippines, Zamboanga was already known for its blooms and colorful environment.
“We are not going to redesign or rebrand Zamboanga City with this project,” DOT Regional Director Antonio Francisco Blanco said. “This is to purely enhance and build back a better Zamboanga City to anchor all our programs and advocacies on, and to make it the best place for tourism.”
Under the Rebloom project, the DOT bought bougainvillea flowers to be planted in 10 barangays closest to the city and then will further extend to the rest of the city’s 98 barangays. Local government officials, the Department of Education, and La Hermanidad, an association of Zamboangueños based in Manila and overseas, actively supported the project.
Teo, meanwhile, enthused about the myriad of activities tourists have enjoyed during the Hermosa Festival, as she graced a recent street- dancing competition.
“The festival’s distinct atmosphere, coupled with the Zambangueños’ hospitable nature make the Hermosa one of the most enjoyable fiestas this side of the country,” she said.
The said festival is one the country’s grandest and much-awaited celebrations, which combines a variety of competitions from beauty, sports, cooking, dance and music; with craft demonstrations; awards; and religious parades, to name a few. This year’s festival theme was anchored on the different colors in one shade. The theme also focuses on unity amid diversity.
Zamboanga City is the top tourist draw in the Zamboanga peninsula, recording 678,125 visitor arrivals in 2016, up 60 percent from 2015. Aside from its colorful blooms, the city is known for its heritage, sites such as Fort Pilar, Paseo del Mar, Pasonanca Park, the Great Sta. Cruz Island with its pink sand, the barter trade center, among others.