The Grandest festival of Zamboanga Peninsula is back! Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2022 welcomes back visitors and locals in the face-to-face new normal festivities in the city this October. With the new tourism brand and theme "Celebracion de Colores" under the new administration of Mayor John Dalipe, the City Government and its partners in the public and private sector has linedup an exciting lineup of events including the most anticipated Streetdance Competition and the most colorful race of vintas, the Regatta de Zamboanga. Here are the activities this year:

Night Market
August 15 – October 31 (Daily), 6PM – 12MN, Pettit Barracks (Rizal Street), Atty. Baban Drive and IBT Divisoria

Grand Launching of “Celebracion de Colores”
September 27 (Tuesday), 6PM Garden Orchid Hotel

Opening Salvo - Parade of Lights
October 1 (Saturday), 6PM, Route: Nunez Ext. - Gov. Alvarez - Mayor Jaldon - Climaco Ave. - JS Alano - P. Lorezo St - Paseo del Mar Open Stage

Hyperball @ The Bureau Gastroclub
October 1 (Saturday), 7PM-5AM, Yubenco Tetuan

Zamboanga Hermosa Sports Fest
October 1 (Saturday), 8AM, City Coliseum

Taekwondo Competition
October 1 (Sat), 8AM-5PM, CityMall Tetuan

Chess Competition
October 1-2 (Sat-Sun), 8AM-5PM, KCC Mall de Zamboanga

Sepak Takraw Competition
October 1-2 (Sat-Sun), 8AM-5PM, WMSU

Fiesta Dance Reception
October 1-12 (Daily), 8AM-5PM, IBT, Airport and Seaport

Fiesta Hermosa Food Crawl
October 1-12 (Daily), 9AM-1PM, Restaurants
Vinta/Colorful Sail Display
October 1-15 (Daily), 8AM-6PM, RT Lim Boulevard and Paseo Del Mar

Cosechas de Zamboanga 2022
October 1-20 (Daily), 8AM-6PM, Plaza Pershing

Barangay Arco Competition
October 1-30 (Daily), 7AM, Barangays

Zamboanga City Marathon 2022
October 2 (Sunday), 2AM-12PM, Paseo de Jardin, Pasonanca

Pet Parade and Blessing
October 2 (Sunday), 3PM-6PM, Kabang Monument, St. Francis Circle, Pasonanca

Zamboanga Mafuerza Cup Season 3 Basketball Championship Game
October 2 (Sun), 8AM-5PM, City Coliseum
Zamboanga Mafuerza Cup Season 3 Volleyball Championship Game
October 2 (Sun), 8AM-5PM, City Coliseum

Miss Philippines Earth Zamboanga
October 2 (Sunday), 8PM, Astoria Regency

Novena Masses
October 3-11 (Daily), Fort Pilar Shrine
• Procession - 5AM, Cathedral to Shrine
• Novena Mass - 6AM, 7:30AM, 5PM

Volleyball Competition
October 3-6 (Mon-Thu), 8AM-5PM, ZPPS University Gymnasium

54th Anniversary of Tau Gamma Phi Open Air Concert “Unidad y Solidaridad"
October 4 (Tuesday), 6PM, Cesar Climaco Freedom Park

CSWDO-PESO Job Fair
October 6 (Saturday), 8AM-5PM,Atrium, KCC Mall de Zamboanga

Zamboanga Peninsula Exposition (ZAMPEX) 2022
October 6-9 (Saturday-Sunday), 9AM-9PM, KCC Mall Convention Center

CPMF (Chavacano Pop Music Festival)
October 7 (Friday), 7PM, Theater Hall, Garden Orchid Hotel
REV UP: The Hypefest 2022
October 7 (Friday), 7PM, Astoria Regency Convention Center

Hermosa Moto Jamboree
October 7-9 (Fri-Sun), 10AM-12MN, KCC Mall Open Parking Area
Badminton Competition
October 7-9 (Fri-Sun), 8AM-10PM, UZ-Summit Center

Bowling Competition
October 7-9 (Fri-Sun), 8AM-5MN, Tebi and Sean Recreation Center

Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Mayor John Dalipe Cup 25 under Basketball League
October 7-11 (Fri-Tue), 6PM, City Coliseum

Arts Exhibit
October 8 (Sat), 5PM, Garden Orchid Lobby

Mascota Fashion Show and Competition
October 8 (Sat), 7PM, Garden Orchid Hotel

1st Mayor John Dalipe and Congressman Mannix Dalipe Legal Motor Race
October 8-9 (Sat-Sun), 8AM-5PM, Cabaluay, Diversion Road

Karatedo Competition
October 8-9 (Sat-Sun), 8AM-5PM, CityMall Tetuan

Pencak Silat Competition
October 8-9 (Sat-Sun), 8AM-5PM, East Wing, KCC Mall

Mayor’s Cup Zamboanga Open Golf Tournament
October 8-9 (Sat-Sun), 7AM-5PM
Zamboanga Golf and Beach Park

National Dart Tournament
October 8-9 (Sat-Sun), 10AM-5PM, Tebi and Sean Recreation Center

Zamboanga De Quatro Offroad Club “3rd Mudtoberfest”
October 8-9 (Sat-Sun), 8AM-5PM, Cabaluay, Diversion Road

Zamboanga City Livestock and Poultry Fair
October 8-10 (Sat-Mon), 8AM-6PM, Plaza del Pilar

Race to Infinity Redemption – 1st Mayor John Dalipe Cup Downhill Enduro Mountain Bike Race
October 9 (Sunday), 8AM-5PM, Sampaloc Downhill Racetrack, Brgy Cabatangan and Brgy San Roque

Regatta De Zamboanga
October 9 (Sun), 7AM-12NN, R.T. Lim Boulevard

Zamboanga Hermosa Dancesport 2022
October 9 (Sunday), 8AM, City Coliseum

Batalla 2022: Hermosa Mega Crew Hip Hop Competition
October 9 (Sunday), 1PM, City Coliseum

Search for Little Prince and Princess Zamboanga 2022
October 9 (Sunday), 3PM, KCC Mall de Zamboanga

Lechon Festival
October 10 (Monday), 8AM-10AM, Plaza Del Pilar
Badju Fashion Show and Competition
October 10 (Mon), 7PM, Astoria Regency

Hermosa Street Dance
October 11 (Tuesday), 7AM, Ledesma St.-Normal Rd to Grandstand
Drum and Lyre Competition
October 11 (Tue), 8AM, Grandstand


Street Dance Competition and Main Program
October 11 (Tuesday), 10AM, Grandstand

Balikbayan Night
October 11 (Tuesday), 7PM
Grand Madrid, Palacio Del Sur

Danza La Vida Fiesta Visperas Street Party
October 11 (Tue), 7PM-11PM, Pasonanca

Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar
October 12 (Wednesday)
• 4:30AM - Mañanita Mass
• 6AM, 7:30AM, 9AM, 6:30PM, 8PM - Mass
• 3PM - Grand Procession (Cathedral to Shrine)
• 5PM - Pontifical Mass

Zamboanga Open Handgun and PCC Championship
October 13-16 (Thu-Sun), 6PM Lumbangan

Auto Cross Race
October 15 (Saturday), 8AM-10PM, KCC Parking Grounds
Zamboanga Mountain Ultramarathon 2022
October 15-16 (Fri-Sun), 8AM-5PM, UZ Pasonanca Grounds
Zamboanga Hermosa Tennis Tournament 2022
October 15-16 (Fri-Sun), Zamboang Tennis Court, Pettit Barracks

1st Congressman Khymer Olaso All star Basketball Tournament
October 15 (Friday), 3PM-7PM, Zamboanga City Coliseum

Dive Camp Safari
October 16-17 (Sun-Mon), 9AM – Overnight, 1:00 PM (OUT 2ND DAY), Sta. Cruz Island

1st Mayor John Dalipe Endurocross Trail Race 2022
October 16 (Sunday), 8AM-5PM, Muruk, Upper Pasonanca

1st Mayor John Dalipe Game Convention Mobile Legends Competition
October 22-23 (Sat-Sun), 8AM-5PM, City Coliseum

1st Mayor John Dalipe Motocross Cup 2022
October 22-23 (Sat-Sun), 8AM, Mampang

1st Mayor John Dalipe Cup Airsoft Sport (Practical Shooting Competition)
October 22-23 (Sat-Sun), 8AM, ZAPSA Shooting Range

1st Mayor John Dalipe Invitational Airsoft Tournament
(Close Quarter Battle)
October 22-23 (Sat-Sun), 8AM, IBT Field

1st Mayor John Dalipe Game Convention
(Cosplay Competition)
October 23 (Sun), 8AM-11AM, City Coliseum

Hermosa Festival Photography and TikTok Competitions
Deadline of Submission of Entries:
October 17 (Monday), 5PM
Exhibit: October 19-31, SM City Mindpro
Awarding: October 23 (Sunday, )8AM, City Coliseum

1st Mayor John Dalipe Bike Night 2022
October 29 (Saturday), 6AM, Paseo del Mar

1st Mayor John Dalipe Football Festival 2022
October 29-30 (Sat-Sun), 7AM, Grandstand

Hermosa Triathlon 2022
October 30 (Saturday), 7AM
Paseo Del Mar

This year marks the comeback of the grandest and most colorful festival in Zamboanga Peninsula, the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival! Under the leadership of our new Mayor, John M. Dalipe, the month-long celebration this October will bring back events that were cancelled during the pandemic such as the Regatta de Zamboanga (Vinta Race), Streetdance Competition, Parade of Lights and many more!

The City Special Events Team, which I served as Creative Director since 2015, has been dissolved, and the the responsibility to organize the festivities and commemorative events starting this year was also given back to the City Tourism Office, which held the position prior to 2015. Nevertheless, I have been tasked to create a new branding for the Hermosa Festival with the theme "Celebracion de Colores."

Other icons that can be seen in the new logo are the image of "Our Lady of the Pillar," the city's patroness; Fort Pillar; Yakan weave and shield;  Mascota de Zamboanga; flowers (gumamela and bougainvillea); City Hall; heritage lamps; palm trees, Taluksangay Mosque; diving and underwater biodiversity. The typography for "Zamboanga" and "Festival 2022" is the official font family and color used for the branding of Mayor John Dalipe - blue, also the color representing Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, the center of the religious celebration of the Catholics who celebrate her feast day on October 12.

Watch out for the calendar of activities to be announced soon! Stay updated by following in the official social media accounts of Zamboanga Hermosa Festival: Facebook/Tiktok @zambohermosafest, Instagram/Twitter: @zambocitygovt; official hashtags: #ZamboHermosaFest #ZamboHermosaFest2022

The local government is preparing for the line-up of activities set to commemorate the 84th Dia de Zamboanga on February 26. This year’s celebration will be marked by key events held virtually due to the restrictions on mass gathering. Among the main events being prepared for the Dia de Zamboanga celebration are the Local Achievers Award (February 26), the Zoom In: Inter Barangay Vlog Competition (February 26), and the Dia de Zamboanga Photography Competition 2021 (February 22-28, exhibit; February 26, awarding of winners).

The main program for the 84th Dia de Zamboanga City will be a virtual commemoration to be broadcasted at the Beng Climaco and local government official FB pages on February 26, 8 AM.

Additional activities will also include the Dia de Zamboanga Exhibit (February 20-28), Zamboanga Idol 2021 (February 20, auditions; February 27, finals), SEIMBRA: 1st Zamboanga Horticultural Festival 2021 (February 22-28), Dia de Zamboanga Golf tournament (February 27-28), and Dia de Zamboanga Airsoft Practical Shoot Fest competition (February 28).

The Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga is an annual observance that celebrates the city’s charter anniversary marked by the installation of the first set of appointed city officials led by Mayor Nicasio Valderosa on February 26, 1937. The February 26 observance is local holiday in Zamboanga City. (Jasmine Mohammadsali)

Dia de Zamboanga Airsoft Practical Shoot Fest Competition
February 28 (Sunday), Southern City Colleges East Campus Gymnasium, Divisoria

Local Achievers Award 2021 The annual search for outstanding Zamboangueños is now accepting nominations.

The 2021 Local Achievers Award will search for exemplary Zamboangueños in the fields of sports, culture and the arts, public service, city government service, community service, investment and promotion, tourism, and the academe.

Also to be recognized will be the top local corporate and individual taxpayers for business taxes paid to the Office of the City Treasurer.

The highest Achiever award is dubbed the Orgullo de Zamboanga Premiar, an honor bestowed on a single individual in recognition of significant and meritorious contributions to the city.

The 2021 Local Achievers Award forms part of the 84th Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga celebration this February. Nominations will be accepted until February 14, with the awarding of achievers to be held on the main Dia de Zamboanga program on February 26.

Nomination forms can be accessed at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tjwvjPlICTJ-GQSu_ZJDIGMyJYINPA_I/view (Jasmine Mohammadasali)