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

In celebration of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, the biggest fashion showdown of Zamboanga's very own haute couture Mascota de Zamboanga has come back after a year of absence due to the pandemic. This year, the theme is "SIEMBRA," inspired by the lush flora biodiversity of Zamboanga City. 19 of the Zambo's best couturiers created their best interpretations of a Mascota inspired by plants, ranging from various concepts, from foilage, to flowers, up to the grandest garden and landscapes. 

Among the 19 entries, Geronie Labora's "Sierra Madre" claimed the top spot, becoming this year's Grand Champion. Geronie also won in 2015 "Traje de Boda" and 2016 "Ethnic-inspired" Mascota de Zamboanga competitions. She is also the grandslam winner of the Festival de las Bellas for 5 consecutive years. 

Geronie also emphasized what a Mascota skirt should be. "The rich women in the past will never wear extremely voluminous skirts. The skirt should be classic, elegant and manageable. It should be easy to walk in and it should not make the lady wearing it appear fat with such an unflattering skirt design."