Zamboanga, Philippines

Zamboanga City is in the Mindanao region of the Philippines. Known as the City of Flowers,(the etymology of zamboanga comes from the malay word jambangan means garden of flowers-by faiza paredes) it is now one of the most important and busiest port cities in the Philippines. The Chavacano (popularly known as Zamboangueno, which is based on 70% Spanish words, and 30% Tagalog, Cebuano and other Philippine languages) made Zamboanga as "Asia's Latin City." This is also because of the same traditions with Spain, particularly the patroness Our Lady of the Pilar (which is also the Patroness of Spain). Zamboanga City : Zamboanga City is situated on the southernmost tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, on the island of Mindanao, 530 miles south of Manila. It is bounded to the west by Sulu Sea, to the east by the Moro Gulf, and to the south by Basilan Strait and Celebes Sea. Zamboanga City is one of the largest cities by area in the world, with a total land area of 142,099.99 hectares or 1,420.99 square kilometers. The population is 442,345, and the major languages spoken are Pilipino, English and Chinese. The city has a naturally mild climate with a pronounced dry or wet season — relatively dry from November to May, wet during the rest of the year. Tropical cyclones or typhoons rarely affect the city because it is outside the typhoon belt. Average temperature is about 27 °C or 80.6 °F, while annual rainfall is 1,362.01 mm.