BEACHES AND CHURCHES: THE CATHEDRAL OF ZAMBOANGA AND THE ONCE ISLAS

On August 22, 2023, the Most Rev. Julius Tonel, former Bishop of the Diocese of Ipil, was installed as the new Archbishop of Zamboanga. He succeeded the Most Rev. Romulo dela Cruz, who passed away in 2021. During the interim, the Archdiocese was under the leadership of the Auxiliary Bishop, the Most Rev. Moises Cuevas, who served as Apostolic Administrator.

This occasion also gave me the opportunity to explore Once Islas, an emerging eco-cultural attraction in Zamboanga. The site comprises eleven small islands, three of which have been open to visitors since its launch in 2018. It was a refreshing experience, especially since I had previously visited the famous pink sand beach of Sta. Cruz Island in Zamboanga before.

I also had the chance to visit the St. Joseph Parish Church and the Fort Pilar Shrine, an open-air sanctuary dedicated to the Virgen del Pilar. This shrine holds deep significance for the local community, with its feast day on October 12 drawing larger crowds than even the city’s patroness which is the Immaculate Conception on December 8.

METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
La Purisima St., Zamboanga City

The Main altar of the Zamboanga Cathedral

With Abp. Romulo Valles, former Archbishop of Zamboanga, the new Archbishop, Julius Tonel and the Apostolic Administrator, Bp. Moises Cuevas.

The altar at the crypt of the Cathedral

The Columbarium just below the Cathedral

ST. JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BVM PARISH
Nunez St., Zamboanga City

SANTUARIO DE LA VIRGEN DEL PILAR
Fort Pilar, Zamboanga City

Since the Secretary of the Nuncio who was a foreigner was with us, we were accompanied by security escorts as the Once Islas, the place we were going were once a hideaway of Muslim rebels.