Summer is here! The City of Government of Zamboanga has prepared fun activities for the hottest season of the year. Beat the heat with the lineup of events and competitions that will surely bring out the fun under the sun! Some of the highlights are the Fiesta na Isla de Sta Cruz, Hiphop Dance Competition: The Movie Challenge, Festival de las Bellas y Flores. There are also new competitions in the lineup such as the Comida de Zamboanga Cooking Competition, Mi Ciudad de Zamboanga Digital Art Competition and the Festival Dance Dance Competition. Star Wars fans will gather for the Star Wars Convention and The Force Begins: A Star Wars Fan Film Premiere Night on May 4 at KCC Mall. Registration for competitions is still ongoing and is totally free! Big prizes awaits the best and most talented so register now! For more info, visit the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Facebook Page here. Here's the complete list of activities for #SummerNaZambo 2018:


SUMMER NA ZAMBOANGA 2018 Calendar of Activities

April 1, 2018 (Sunday)
Summer Festival 2018 Opening Salvo (Easter Special)
11AM, Golf Beach Resort

April 14-May 12, 2018 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Fiesta na Isla de Sta. Cruz 2018
Pink Beach, Great Sta. Cruz Island

April 18, 2018 (Wednesday)
2018 Tropical Summer King & Queen (Floral Edition)
7PM, Poolside, LM Metro Hotel
Organizer: BGCP, Bernie F. Gaspar (0936-7433-770)

April 22, 2018 (Sunday)
COLOR RUN: A benefit run for a Medical Mission on May 2018
5AM, Tumaga-Lunzuran-Luyahan Diversion Road
Organizer: Tau Gamma Sigma, Joy C. Garcia (0995-377-9260/0905-331-5556)

April 20, 2018 (Friday)
Mi Ciudad de Zamboanga Digital Art Competition
Deadline of Registration: April 20. Download entry form: here.

April 26, 2018 (Thursday)
Dia de Ma’am Caling
(97th Birth Commemoration of Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat)

• Commemorative Mass
4PM, Holy Trinity Parish Church, Pasonanca

• Commemorative Program
5PM, Jardin Maria Clara, Pasonanca

• Chav-Pop Night
6PM, Jardin Maria Clara, Pasonanca

April 28, 2018 (Saturday)
Comida de Zamboanga Cooking Competition
4PM, Jardin Maria Clara, Pasonanca
Deadline of Registration: April 20. Download entry form here.

May 1-30, 2018
Summer Sports Camp: Learn to Play a Sports Summer Program
Deadline of Registration: April 31. Download entry form here.

May 4, 2018 (Friday)
Star Wars Convention
3PM, KCC Mall de Zamboanga 3rd Floor Roofdeck

May 4, 2018 (Friday)
The Force Begins: A Star Wars Fan Film Premiere Night
7PM, KCC Cinema

May 5, 2018 (Saturday)
Zamboanga Hiphop Dance Competition 2018: The Movie Challenge
1PM, Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum
Deadline of Registration: April 20. Download entry form here.

May 18, 2018 (Friday)
Dia de Gen. Vicente Alvarez

• Commemorative Mass
6AM, Fort Pilar Shrine

• Commemorative Program
8AM, Plaza de Gen. Vicente Alvarez

• Neo-Ethic Dance Competition
9AM, City Hall Grounds
Deadline of Registration: May 11. Download entry form here.

May 26, 2018 (Saturday)
Festival de las Bellas y Flores
4PM, City Fire Station to Paseo del Mar
Deadline of Registration: May 15

Festival Dance Competition
4PM, City Fire Station to Paseo del Mar
Deadline of Registration: April 23. Download entry form here.

#SummerNaZambo #iLoveZamboangaCity

The colors in motion of Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2017 were captured through the lenses of the talented Zamboangueño photographers during the #ZamboHermosaFest Photogrpahy competition. With the theme "Zamboanga en Movimiento" or "Zamboanga in Motion", about two hundred entries were submitted and only the Top 20 were awarded. Here are the winning entries in this year's competition (in no particular order). The top three winners are at the last part.
  38. "Vintas Coloridas" by Jojo E. Lacerona

43. "Sunflower" by Faizha Abdulcadil
  74. "Makuyag" by Faizal Salih
  83. "Power!!!" by Archiles Orlie Tolentino
  84. "Colorful Smile" by Fouad Arakama
  85. "A Gaze through the Colorful Vinta" by Fouad Arakama
  2. "Bailando" by Hiro Ricson
  25. "Sagwan mi Vida" by Evan Jeo A. Alanano
  29. "Un Patrimonio" by Romnick C. Ejas   31. "Mujeres Felices" by Michael D.R. Apit
    45. "Vamos a Zbga" by Rikki Lim
   65. "Zamboanga's Beat" by Rodna Grace Eguia Sugabo
   80. "Together we Stand" by Sarah Trisha Monique Abdurani
   81. "Vene Aqui Visita" by Rikki Lim

82. "Deboto" by Jann Louie Señoron

88. "A Call for Feast" by Sonny C. Nur, Jr
   89. "Fixing the Sail" by Fouad Arakama
   90. "Sonreir" by Allen Cuyugan

3RD PLACE: 27. "Alegria Celebrar" by Al-Rashed Ambutong
  2ND PLACE: Entry 44. "Moving Forward" by Christian Paolo L. Go

1st Place: Entry 12. "Bailando la Puesto del Sol" by Christian Quilalang

Congratulations to all winners! For more info, like the official facebook page of  Zamboanga Hermosa Festival here.

In celebration of the 81st Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga, the City Government once again hosted the Zamboanga Film Festival. Now on its third year, #ZFF2018 selected 20 short films produced by Zamboangueño filmmakers and animators. The finalists composed of 10 live action short films and 10 animated shorts (Click here for the list of short film finalists). The films were screened at Centro Latino Theater, Paseo del Mar, from February 19 to 23 which was watched by high schools and colleges in the city. The awards night was held on February 25, 7PM at Centro Latino main hall.



Here are the list of nominees and winners of the Zamboanga Film Festival 2018:

Best Screenplay (Live Action):
- Shekinah Benitez (Esta)
- Eljay Deldoc (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Khadija Ahamed Kabeer (Bardusa)
- Robi Brian Kang (Loop)
- WINNER: Diserie Dawn Vergara (Manchao)

A last full show was held at the Centro Latino main hall before the Grand Awards Night

Best Original Story (Animation):
- Frantz Merrill Sucro, Kendrick Fernandez, Joshua Adonai Diaz, Lorenzo Emerson Yagong (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- WINNER: Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Hazel Rosie Bayaras, Carl Venzon Zarraga, Dariel Dryan Tadus (The Promise)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)

Best Cinematography (Live Action):
- WINNER: Mohammad Sarajan (Esta)
- John Renzo Wee (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Simon Alvarez (Manchao)
- Lawrence Agustin (Bardusa)
- Micaella Marie R. Ruste & Chelsea Gregorio (Ocaso)

Best CINEMATOGRAPHY (Animation)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Joshua Adonai Diaz (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- WINNER: Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)

Kendrick Fernandez, director/animator of Peste, won Best Animator, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Viewers' Choice Award

Best Editing (Live Action):
- Nathalie Enriquez (Manchao)
- WINNER: Shekinah Benitez (Esta)
- Kim Tayona & John Renzo Wee (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Khadija Ahamed Kabeer & Lawrence Agustin (Bardusa)
- Tennyl Dehm Canlas (Globo)

Best Editing (Animation):
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- WINNER: Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Hazel Rosie Bayaras & Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)
- Frantz Merrill Sucro (Si Ongka, El Aspin)

Best Production Design (Live Action):
- Fahda Hassan (Bardusa)
- Dexter Luaya (Manchao)
- Chelsea Gregorio (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Chelsea Gregorio (Ocaso)
- WINNER: Shekinah Benitez (Esta)

Shekinah Benitez, director of Esta (Stay) received four awards: Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Culture-Senstive Film

Best Visual Effects (Animation):
- WINNER: Hazel Rosie Bayaras & Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Khaled Majid (Cast)
- Dariel Dryan Tadus (With Colors)

Best Culture-Sensitive Film(Live Action):
- Bardusa by Khadija Ahamed Kabeer
- Manchao by Jonathan Alandahao
- WINNER: Esta by Shekinah Benitez
- Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo by Kim Tayona
- Silip by Robi Brian Kang

Best Culture-Sensitive Film (Animation):
- Fuego (Fire) by Ian Kenneth Barade
- Si Ongka, El Aspin by Frantz Merrill Sucro
- Behind Closed Doors by Jorzheema Hamid
- Is It My Turn? By Joshua Nacionales
- WINNER: Peacekeeper by Joshua Dela Cruz

Best Character Design (Animation):
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- WINNER: Hazel Rosie Bayaras, Carl Venzon Zarraga, Dariel Dryan Tadus (The Promise)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Frantz Merrill Sucro (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- Joshua Nacionales (Is it my turn?)

Best Actress (Live Action):
- Angel Ridette Cenas as “Mae” (Esta)
- WINNER: Laila Ulao as “Sara” (Bardusa)
- Aemjay Sainty Albano as “Kris”(Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Eycle Pansensyo as “Jade” (Silip)

Best Supporting Actress (Special Jury Citation):
- Ma. Zidamar Caranay Raper as "Sara's Mother" (Bardusa)

Best Animator (Animation):
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- WINNER: Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Joshua Adonai Diaz (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Joshua Nacionales (Is it my turn?)
- Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)

Best Actor (Live Action):
- Ramli Tiblani Abdurahim (Bardusa)
- John Mark Resurreccion (Manchao)
- WINNER: Kiko Miranda as “France” (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)

Kiko Miranda won Best Actor for his performance in the live action short film "Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo" by Kim Tayona

Best Director (Live Action):
- Micaella Marie Ruste (Ocaso)
- Kim Tayona (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Shekinah Benitez (Esta)
- Khadija Ahamed Kabeer (Bardusa)
- WINNER: Jhonathan Alandahao (Manchao)

First-time director, Jhonathan Andalahao, was awarded Best Director for his live action short "Manchao" which also won Best Screenplay and Best Film.

Best Director (Animation):
- WINNER: Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Frantz Merrill Sucro (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- Hazel Rosie Bayaras (The Promise)
- Megan Dayak (Karoshi)

Viewer's Choice Award (Live Action):
- Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo by Kim Tayona

Viewer's Choice Award (Animation):
- Peste by Kendrick Fernandez

Best Film (Animation):
- Manchao by Jhonathan Alandahao

Best Film (Animation):
- Peacekeeper by Joshua Dela Cruz

Joshua dela Cruz, director/animator of Peacemaker, won Best Director, Best Original Story, Best Culture-Sensitive Film and the Grand Prize - Best Film (Animation Category)
  Cast and crew of Grand Prize Winner - Best Film (Live Action Category), Manchao by Jhonathan Andalahao

Congratulations to all nominees and awardees! Happy Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga! #ZFF2018 #DiaDeZamboanga #iLoveZamboangaCity