- Jacques Paillard
All expatriates in my company joined InterNations because it really helped me get accustomed to my new life in Manila.
Living in Zamboanga
Known as ‘Asia’s Latin City’, the Spanish occupied the city of Zamboanga in the Philippines for nearly 300 years between the 16th and 19th centuries, and even today the predominant language spoken is a mixture of Spanish and native dialects, known as chavacano. Nowadays, Zamboanga is the industrial and commercial muscle in the region and with a population of around 810,000 it is the 3rd biggest city in the Philippines. Zamboanga is also the third oldest city in the country and was occupied by the Japanese in the Second World War, but liberated by American and Filipino troops in 1945. Are you thinking of joining the expat community in the Philippine city of Zamboanga? The forums and content section at InterNations are a good source of tips and advice from fellow expats living in Zamboanga or another foreign city about what to expect when you move to a different country and culture.
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Moving to Zamboanga
Also known as ‘The City of Flowers’, expats moving to Zamboanga will find a rich diversity of parks and green space. Zamboanga has a tropical climate so expatriates in Zamboanga need to be prepared for some tremendous downpours! Traffic in this bustling city can get pretty congested and a popular way of getting around is by jeepneys, tricycles or sikad - bicycles with sidecars. The city is served by its own international airport, one of the busiest in the country, and has numerous seaports and wharves which teem with shipping from around the world. Regular fast craft ferry services are available from Zamboanga to Malaysia. Why not join the InterNations community and log in to one of the forums to see what else you can find out about this part of the world before you make your move to Zamboanga? You can also read up about such topics as expatriate finance or insurance and even repatriation in our Expat Magazine.
Working in Zamboanga
Zamboanga is the sardine capital of the Philippines and the city’s economy is dominated by the fishing industry, with the canneries being a major local employer. Much of the fish is exported abroad and Zamboanga also has one of the world’s largest seaweed industries and is the biggest producer of carrageenan, which is used in food industries around the world. Expats relocating to this Philippine city in order to start working in Zamboanga will find it to have all the modern facilities one could wish for. There are plenty of shopping malls with some fascinating food courts. Baseball is a popular sport here, as it is throughout the Philippines. Festivals to look out for include the Dia de Zamboanga, on February 26 every year, which celebrates the city’s modern origins, and the Hermosa Festival, which last for all of October and is in honor of the patroness of the city, Our Lady of the Pillar.
- Jacques Paillard
All expatriates in my company joined InterNations because it really helped me get accustomed to my new life in Manila.
- Adriana Rodrigues Zon
The idea of getting to know other expats in Manila was very appealing to me, and I've greatly expanded my network in the Philippines.
