Sta. Isabel Cathedral - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Great Santa Cruz Island is a small inhabited island in Zamboanga City in the southern region of the Philippines that is famous for its pink coralline sand. The island, located 4 kilometers south of downtown at the Santa Cruz Bank in the Basilan Strait, boasts the only pink sand beach in the Philippines. The color of the sand comes from the pulverized red organ pipe coral from eons of surf erosion mixed with the white sand.

The Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, also Fort Pilar, is a 17th-century military defense fortress built by the Spanish colonial government in Zamboanga City, Philippines. The fort, which is now a regional museum of the National Museum of the Philippines, is a major landmark of the city and symbol of its cultural heritage. Outside the eastern wall is a Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the city.

The seat of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga which was situated in the heart of Zamboanga. The present structure of the cathedral was built in 1998-2002 in cruciform, of which the candle-like design is appropriate to the cathedral's patron. The building and the surrounding are beautifully maintained and daily a lot of people visits this place.

The Pasonanca Park was constructed in the year 1912. It was a public park which was located in the heart of Zamboanga. The park also has separate campsites for males and females, an amphitheater, and a convention center, among other facilities. There is three public pool in the park it boasts an Olympic size swimming pool and a children's pool with water slides. It is one of the beautiful places to hang out and to spend some leisure time.

Bud Dajo is a stratovolcano and makes the center part of the island of Sulu (right center of photo) in the Sulu Archipelago. Most of the island is blanketed in the volcanic material. Hot springs have been reported and a lake occupies one crater. There have been two small eruptions in 1641 and 1897. It is also the second-highest point in Sulu. The mountain and adjacent lands were declared as Mount Dajo National Park in 1938.

Masjid Tulay is considered the oldest mosque in the Province of Sulu. It was established in 1884 and has been a witness to many historical events. It was destroyed in 1974 because of the war between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front and was rebuilt in 2001. It is also the biggest mosque in Sulu. It can accommodate up to 5,000 people.