Photo: Fort Pilar In Zamboanga City

The image of the Virgin Mary at the Fort Pilar Shrine in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. Zamboanga, originally named "Jambangan," had been under Spanish rule in the past and was also used as a base for American soldiers. The city is also known as "Zamboanga Hermosa." The area around Zamboanga Peninsula has been occupied by indigenous people as early as 30,000 years ago. The first inhabitants were the Subanons and Lutaos and later, the Islamized ethnic groups of Samals, Bajaus, Tausugs, and Yakans. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Human Remains Discovered Inside Former Spanish Garrison In South RP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 03 Sept) – Construction workers have dug up dozens of human remains inside a former Spanish garrison in Zamboanga city in southern Philippines.

“The remains were probably soldiers killed during the Spanish war. It was the second time that human skeletons were discovered here since the 1970s. The site was a former battle field during the Spanish war,” said Victoria Saavedra, chief administrative officer of the Zamboanga City State College of Marine Science and Technology.

She said construction workers were digging canals near a marine aquarium in the area when they discovered the bones Sunday.

“They were digging about six feet already when they discovered the bones scattered all over. There were pieces of broken skulls and jaws and other bones,” she told the Mindanao Examiner.

Saavedra said no artifacts were found on the site, where many human skeletons had been recovered also in the 1970s.

The site was once part of a stone fort built on June 23, 1635 by the Jesuit priest Melchor de Vera as a military defense structure against the Moros and pirates.

It was originally named as Real Fuerza de San José and in 1719 renamed Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, which roughly means the “Royal Force of Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza.” It was again renamed as “Fort Pilar” after its capture by the American forces in 1899.

The fort was attacked by the Dutch in 1646 and destroyed by Moro pirates in 1669 and again in 1720. It was reconstructed, but bombarded by the British in 1798.

It was abandoned by the Spaniards in 1898 and captured by U.S. expeditionary forces on November 16, 1899 until the fort was captured by the Japanese forces in 1942. Three years later, it was recaptured by the Americans and turned over to the government of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946. (Mindanao Examiner)

Nuestra Sra. Del Pilar Shrine To Rise In Cagayan De Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Banos / 05 Nov) - A replica of the world-famous Nuestra Senora del Pilar shrine at the Fort Pilar National Museum in Zamboanga City will soon rise in a hilltop village called Macasandig in Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao island, south of the Philippines.

Jose Nebrao, president emeritus of Circulo Zamboangueno, said the shrine will be a replica of the miraculous Blessed Virgin Mary's shrine set in a wall of the Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City.

Nebrao said the core group of the circulo, an association of resident Zamboanguenos who have migrated to Cagayan de Oro and its nearby provinces, towns and cities, will have the project completed by next year in time for the October 12 fiesta of "Our Lady of the Pilar", the patroness of Zamboanga City.

The project was first announced October 12 during the annual celebration of Fiesta Pilar in Cagayan de Oro which was attended by some eighty members of the circulo and their immediate family members at Xavier University.

The celebration started with the holy sacrifice of the mass celebrated by incoming Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) Fr. Antonio Moreno, S.J. at the XU Loyola House chapel. This was immediately followed by the final novena of our Lady at the XU canteen and the traditional "cena communal".

Among those present during this year's Fiesta Pilar celebration were the following: Con-con Ignacio, Raul and Antonietta Rodriguez and family, Jonel and Nanette Bergado and family, Adolfo and Norma Uro, Carmelita Ubalde, Ben and Ginny Aspera, Edwin and Judith Amik, Mr and Mrs Oscar Escudero, Jonathan Tamin, John Ferrer, Col Cesar and Rachel (nee Causin) Miel, Ester and Joan Causin, Randy and Becky Redondo, Henry and Nitz Pelisan, Isidro and Ning "Cupcakes" Audal.

And Tony Rodriguez, Art and Connie Surdilla, Paul & Joy Paladio and family, Manny and Josy Alinabon, Joe and Rose Nebrao, Rudy and Lily (nee Tang) Fulminar, Emmanuel Saavedra, Sor. Rachel Bernardo, RVM; Glor Delgado and this author. (Mindanao Examiner/Kagay-an.com)