Zamboanga Adventure: Exploring Asia's Latin City (Yakan Weaving Village)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Located in upper Calarian, northwest of downtown lies the Yakan Weaving Village. The place does not look like a village because it's quite small and you'll surely miss it so easily because the only signage available is a dirty and worn-out tarpaulin that says Yakan Village Weaving Association with the word "Association" blocked by a wood used to put the signage in place. There's another signage beside it situated on top but its obviously not helping much because majority of the signage only displays a cola brand advertisement.

It seems they desperately need some funding to come up with a more decent signage. I hope the government could at least support them to become at least more visible for potential tourists. I admire what the Department of Tourism (DOT) is doing by inviting members of the media on a media junket and introducing the Yakan Weaving Village to us so we could help share their existence.

The Yakan people are among the major indigenous muslim tribes in Mindanao. They are the traditional settlers of Basilan Island in the Sulu Archipelago, situated to the west of Zamboanga. Some of them settled in Zamboanga City due to political unrest which led to the armed conflicts between the militant Moro and government soldiers.

Zamboanga Adventure: Exploring Asia's Latin City (Paseo Del Mar)

Wazzup Pilipinas!


One of the most frequently visited places during our visit to Zamboanga city was Paseo Del Mar. This is where we had lunch on our first day at the Kape Zambo Bar and Restaurant, had dinner during one of the sort of thanksgiving activities at Centro Latino (but the unexpected blackout that night ruined it), where the 9th Philippine Bird Festival activities were held participated by a lot of students coming from different schools, same place where the Dia De Zamboanga concluding mini-concert was held after the Grand Civic and Military Parade, and the starting point where we rode motorized boats going to the Grand Santa Cruz island.

Obviously, it is the place where a lot of things happen. There is no doubt and argument here that this is the busiest place in Zamboanga City.

Paseo Del Mar is a seafront parkway with a long walkway along the shoreline or break-water. It can be likened to the Roxas Boulevard in Manila. To the south you can see the two Santa Cruz Islands and the big Basilan Island while at another direction towards the west is the famous Lantaka Hotel.

Epson Supports 10th CBMS Philippines National Conference

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) recently sponsored the 10th CBMS Philippines National Conference held at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City.

CBMS, which stands for Community-Based Monitoring System, aims to serve as a tool for local governance and complement the national poverty monitoring system. It also serves to provide policymakers and program implementers with good information base for tracking the effects of macroeconomic reforms and various policies.

Seen on the photo above are CBMS leaders with Epson Senior Marketing Executives EJ Sulit and Camille Coronel strike a pose with Representative-elect Lucy Torres-Gomez during the 10th CBMS Philippines National Conference at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.