Zamboanga City to celebrate Chabacano on June 23

Zamboanga City will celebrate the Chabacano language by holding a series of activities highlighted by the Dia de Fundacion Chabacano on June 23.

The city government said Dia de Fundacion Chabacano marks the day Chabacano was first spoken in Zamboanga City.

"The Chabacano language traces its roots back to the laying of the cornerstone of the Fuerza de San Jose (now Fort Pilar) on June 23, 1635," it said.

It said the occasion will be marked at 8 a.m. at the Plaza Rizal, adding City Ordinance 374 which enjoins organizations and residents to preserve and promote the usage of Chabacano.

Among the activities marking the occasion are:

• a Chabacano debate exhibition at 1 p.m. in City Hall with participants coming from various schools;
• battle of the bands featuring Chabacano songs at Paseo del Mar; and
• Cine Chabacano, a film and animation festival from June 23 to 28 with free public screening at the Cinematheque Zamboanga. Screening time will be 10 a.m., noon, and 2 and 4 p.m.

Arbor Day

Meanwhile, on June 25, the city government's City Environment and Natural Resources Office will head “Arbor Day na Ciudad de Zamboanga.”

This marks the start of the planting season based on a local ordinance.

A tree-planting activity will be held in the city’s designated planting site at the Cesar C. Climaco Freedom Park in Abong-abong Pasonanca.

Under City Ordinance 281, the public is to actively participate in tree-planting activities. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News