Friday, September 30, 2011

ZAMBOANGA CITY HALL THROUGH THE YEARS CIRCA 2000 TO 2011

Zamboanga City Hall is a real historical landmark of Zamboanga City considering that it is already a century old.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Zamboanga_City#b
Zamboanga City Hall - The construction of this building started in 1905 and was completed in 1907 by the Federal Government of the United States for the then American Governors of the area which included: Leonard 0. Wood, Tasker H. Bliss, Ralph W. Hoyt, and Gen. John Pershing of World War I fame. Today, this serves as the City Hall of Zamboanga City where the Mayor holds office.
in 2011
in June 2009

The Zamboanga City Hall is a focal point of the City and during the Christmas season, although, that is still a few months away, this is where family and friends gather ...
WHY?
...because of the festive air with all the beautiful lights of the City hall itself and also in the adjacent plazas.
2000.


2007.
Just wanted to capture the perfect moment with less than perfect shots...



2008.
The Zamboanga City Hall is now more colorful this Christmas.


2010.
Embellishing the century-old City Hall has improved a lot over the years... the lights are brighter and the colors more varied.
They may have spent more, but I think they also made a lot of people happier -- young and old... from ZC and visitors, too.


There is snow in Zamboanga City!
The lights really attracted everyone...and these white flakes you see are not artifacts/specks of the picture but "snow".
How everyone wanted to see the "snow"!
And young and old alike were just excited about it.
Yippeeee!!! We it here!

ZAMBOANGA CITY HALL 2010.

with the Gazebo in Plaza Pershing at the backdrop 
And the surrounding plazas were also brightly adorned with the neon-lit Plaza Pershing and the meaningful Belen in Plaza Rizal.


The entrance to Plaza Pershing and the gazebo all add up to the Christmas-y air!
And of course, the giant Christmas tree inside!
the brightly lit gazebo in Plaza Pershing
 The Nativity Scene in Plaza Rizal is also as attractive and eye-catching! 
the tableau of the nativity in Plaza Rizal near ZC City Hall







A friend commented, that he didn't see this in Cebu that the Zamboanga City Hall area was so beautifully lighted for Christmas.

Since ZC is a smaller city, we are so happy to see Christmas in the air in the heart of our City. 
I hope this year's ZC City Hall lights would be as bright! 


  


NANCY FALLS IN LA PAZ, ZAMBOANGA CITY CIRCA 2006

What was most interesting in our trip to Nancy Falls, some 26 kilometers away from Dreamville, at the junction of Ayala, Zamboanga City was that Kumander Aguila of Aguila Blanco himself brought us there.

We didn't really have an intention of going there, but George R. said why not visit Kumander Aguila now that we are here in the Ecozone area.

The very hospitable Kumander Aguila was very gracious in showing us another interesting sight in his place aside of course, from his home which had the shape of an Ark.

We weren't really geared up for getting wet in the falls or trekking of any kind. 
I know we were just having a joyride to the Ecozone while touring Des J. from Canada, then, at the spur of the moment to proceed to La Paz.

Here are shots taken of the Lower Part of Nancy Falls in 2006.
At that time, I wasn't also geared for a Photoshoot, so I only brought my Sony Cybershot DSC-P73, which was quite an old reliable.
Finally, we arrived at Nancy Falls.
They told us that there was also the Upper part of the Falls.
From a La Paz brochure, it is said that the visible part (in the photos we have) is only the first level, not as half appealing as the second and third level that needs to be rappelled for a few more meters. 
http://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=La_Paz_Zamboanga_City_Philippines

Tourists Attractions of La Paz, Zamboanga City

Last December 12, 2010, we went to Nancy falls which is about 26 kms from Dreamville near the junction in barangay Ayala.The waterfalls (lower and upper part) are nice, clean and icy cold water. It is accessible by a 4 wheel off road vehicle or a motorcycle "habal-habal.It costs us 250 roundtrip per person but it was worth it.But the quality of the road needs to be improved, a steep, muddy, bumpy road that is but I suggest the local government must put enough effort in providing safe and accessible road to that place. It is a safe area and it is highly recommended that you should visit the place.






These are our tour guides.


The kids had fun exploring the place and they were also entertained by the many colorful dragonflies as well as some butterflies and interesting plants.

The experience was indeed very interesting!

And, maybe, not everyone is given a chance to be entertained by Kumander Aguila of Aguila Blanco!
I also wonder how Kumander Aguila and his family as well as the Aguila Blanco are these days.

I do hope the way to Nancy Falls may be developed...
It would be wonderful for places such as the Nancy Falls and other natural beauty spots to be developed as part of adventure or ecotours, always keeping in mind preservation of the environment inspite of the developments. 

AGUILA BLANCO CIRCA 2006

Have you heard of Aguila Blanco in Zamboanga City?

Well, we did visit Kumander Aguila in 2006.

I wanted to find something in Google which I can share so that you may appreciate the photos more, but I only found one from Matanglawin in ABS-CBN.
The story was in line with the present issues on flooding especially at the Second Anniversary of Typhoon Ondoy. 
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/current-affairs-programs/05/02/11/matanglawin-secrets-noah’s-ark
excerpts from: Matanglawin: Secrets of Noah's Ark

Posted at 05/02/2011 3:54 PM | Updated as of 05/03/2011 10:15 AM


It was said in the bible that God flooded the Earth with 40 days of non-stop rain and only the chosen ones who were on Noah’s Ark were able to start anew. But can a flooded world and a big ship really be true?
When you think of rain, you think of floods and when you think of floods, none can be more memorable than that of 2009’s Ondoy… unless you count the Great Flood during Noah’s time.
It’s said in the Bible that water- estimated to be 3 kilometers deep, or the height of nine Eiffel Towers- covered the entire world for a year after God let it rain for 40 days straight.
Only a family of eight- Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives- were saved from this disaster because they made a great ark made of gopher, which can be pine, cypress or cedar waterproofed with sap from trees.......The small black spot encased in ice at the tip of Mt. Ararat in Turkey has spiked so much controversy since some believe that this is the legendary Noah’s Ark.
But if the thought of seeing a large boat intrigues you, you don’t need to look far because in Zamboanga, a man called Kumander Agila or Aguila Blanco, has already made a huge boat out of coconut lumber because he believed that the great flood would be repeated in 2000. Whether it was a disappointment or not that the flood did not come, Blanco has made the ark his home. Pretty convenient, eh?
And with what’s happening now with our weather going awry, his idea does seem like a good bet… doesn’t it?

Since I don't have any researched data on the Aguila Blanco, I'll just share some photos with you. 
Accordingly, he made an ark to save him and his family from a great flood and that he also had some special powers versus weapons. 
But, I really didn't interview him at the time I met him so I can't share anything more.

We traveled quite far to the mountains of La Paz, some 25 kilometers from Dreamville, near the junction in Barangay Ayala.


http://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=La_Paz_Zamboanga_City_Philippines
La Paz, Zamboanga CityPhilippines
1,740 hectares in Land area.
La Paz is the little Baguio of Zamboanga City. Temperature can go down close to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring your jacket. To get to La Paz from the main highway, you go through the barrio of Ayala.
La Paz was once a forested area. Now pretty much logged-over, the barangay is now more revered as a vacation place. A place where you can build your vacation home on top or on the side a hill overlooking a fantastic view of the sea.

Location of La Paz, Zamboanga City

  • Distance from CITY PROPER: 18.5 kms. - to the farthest point of the road is km. 31, which marks the city's boundary with Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.
  • Location: West Coast
At the longest point, from the boundary of Barangay Ayala on the south to the boundary of Zamboanga del Norte on the north, it stretches to an estimated length of more than 36 kilometers.
The Barangay has no regular mode of public transportation in going to and from the city. It can be reached through the boundary of Barangay Ayala (where all modes of transportation are available) and from there, a single motorcycle locally called "habal-habal" ferry the passengers into the interior highland sitios of the Barangay.
La Paz starts with relatively soft rolling terrain, becoming more rugged as one enters the interior, with a gradient ranging from moderately steep to very steep slopes. The lowest elevation in the southern portion is about 600 meters above sea level, while on the northern part, near the boundary with Zamboanga del Norte, elevation ranges from 1,000-1,500 meters above sea level-all exhibiting very steep slope, with some areas almost vertically aligned.
The kids slept along the way...

Then, we found the place!
We were welcomed by Kumander Aguila and his family to his home, the Ark.
Notice their clothing... it can be quite cold in this elevation!





Here is the ark!

The ark is weathered by time and the elements and now, it is rundown...

And the kids look at us, some new faces visiting them.

Do you notice the writings in the wall?
These writings are said to protect them from bullets and the like...



They were indeed very gracious and in fact, they toured us to Nancy Falls, a few kilometers away!
And they rode with us in our Land Cruiser 60 to the place.

As we leave their home...till we meet again...



It was a very unique experience for us and one I would never forget.

Off we go to Nancy Falls in the next blog.