Nuestra Señora del Pilar and Fort Pilar Museum

With his limited time to explore Asia's Latin City i.e. Zamboanga City, Tutubi set out to visit interesting places the city has to offer. He was able to reach Fort Pilar by walking from Universidad de Zamboanga,past City Hall and Lantaka Hotel to the old stone fort.

the stone walls of Fort Pilar: Manila has Fort Santiago, Cebu and Iloilo both have Fort San Pedro, Cavite City has Fort San Felipe, Romblon with Fort San Andres, Zamboanga City's Fort Pilar as fortification.
inside the stone fort with the old military barracks in view. The place is now a popular events venue for weddings and other cultural occasions.
Entrance of Fort Pilar Museum with colorful sails of the famous Zamboanga vinta

The fort was built in 1635, then known as "Real Fuerza de San Jose" later renamed "Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza", in response to raids by the Sultans of Mindanao and Jolo, and is now simply called Fort Pilar. It survived Dutch bombardment in 1646 and the British in 1798

History of Fort Pilar written on the NHI marker

Fort Pilar is now a museum (alternating as a venue for weddings, art exhibits, and other events). The museum galleries has on display of the Griffin, a ship that sank off Mindanao in the 18th century (similar to the San Diego galleon's artifacts displayed at the National Museum in Manila), and ethnographic and marine biology exhibit. (No picture taking is allowed inside like most museums' policy without a proper permit. Entrance to the museum, however, is free)

The exterior of the Fort is a shrine to the Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar), the patroness of Zamboanga (and also of Santa Cruz, Manila, the Diocese of Imus) with fiesta celebrated on October 12.


Image of Our Lady of the Pillar outside Fort Pilar and is a popular Catholic Pilgrimage site in Mindanao

Our Lady of the Pillar, another of the numerous titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to ancient tradition, narrates that in the year 40 in Zaragoza, Spain, Mary appeared to James the Greater on the Ebro River while St. James the Great was preaching. She appeared on a pillar, and the pillar is preserved and venerated within the present Basilica of Nuestra Señora Del Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain. Thus the image is called "La Virgen de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza).

Fort Pilar Museum Entrance Fee: None

How to get there:

Fort Pilar is walking distance from Zamboanga City Hall, Rizal Park and Zamboanga University. You may hire a tricycle if you don't feel like walking.

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Fort El Triunfo, Ozamiz City
Fort Pilar, Zamboanga City