Mascota de ayer

The fiesta of Nuestra Señora del Pilar brought me to Zamboanga City. It was to witness the fashionable versions of the Baro’t saya or mascota held in Fort Pilar’s historic, beautiful ancient remains of the 16th century life.

Allan de la Cruz transformed the Fort’s courtyard into a Zamboanga de ayer, candles in huge candelabras lighted the pathways, lush flowers and well-lit ruins. There was the Argentine tango danced to the tune of Besame Mucho before the show.

Katsa fabric from rooftop to the floor floated with the sea breeze. Candles flickered with the evening air which seemed insistent on putting out the lighted wicks. The moss-covered adobe walls and lights of green, yellow, white, and orange dramatized a setting that was breathtaking. The chairs were immaculately covered with white cloth. Everything was worthy of praise for being done in good taste.

I witnessed the event along with the elite of Zamboanga – the Ongs, Climacos, Franciscos, Elagos, Saavedras, Alavars and Rustes.

I found out that prof. Roberto Torres of Western Mindanao State University wrote the speech for Zamboanga Mayor Celso Lobregat. But the mayor delivered it and later on joined in the evening’s celebration as a good sport. The night’s event was organized by Vice Mayor Beng Climaco. The best evening gowns judges were prof. Roberto Torres, Monching Fernandez and myself.

The event was part of Zamboanga’s annual fiesta "Pilar y Hermosa Festival, el Nuestra Señora La Virgen de Pilar de Zaragoza." The month-long celebration brings thousands of people from all over the country including guests and Zamboangueños from abroad to come to Zamboanga to pay homage to the Lady at the Fort, who appeared to a sentinel on duty in 1734 at the Real Fuerza de San Jose, now the Fort Pilar.

Viva Zamboanga hermosa!