ZAMBO DAILY WIRE

By: Roel Pareño  ISABELA CITY, Basilan — Colorfully decorated boats filled the channel between this city and Malamawi Island on Saturday afternoon May 2, 2026 as the Sakayan Festival highlighted the diverse cultural roots of Isabela’s communities.  The fluvial parade, featuring vessels inspired by traditional “sakayan,” capped the weeklong celebration of the city’s silver anniversary of cityhood. City Tourism Officer Claudio Ramos said the annual event continues to grow, with organizers aiming to emphasize the cultural origins of settlers who arrived in Isabela and this province from different parts of the country.  “We want to go back to the cultural communities—who arrived here and what they brought with them,” Ramos said, noting the influence of groups such as Ilocanos, Cebuanos, and other ethnolinguistic communities. Participants decorated their boats with symbols representing their heritage, including windmills associated with Ilocos, the “sarimanok” of the Marana...

Roel Pareño  ISABELA CITY, Basilan — Once dismissed as a pushover, this city has emerged as the “face of the region” in transparent and effective governance—earning comparisons to progressive cities like Quezon and Baguio. In a stirring State of the City Address held Wednesday at the Isabela City Civic and Cultural Center, Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman reflected on the city’s transformation over the past six years. “This is not just about reporting programs and projects,” the mayor said. “Today, we recognize the kind of city we’ve become—a city that has found its voice, its courage, and its place on the map of hope.” Turabin-Hataman recounted Isabela City's journey from a place plagued by fear and division to one of peace, unity, and resilience. Once overlooked and weighed down by conflict, the city has become a symbol of hope. Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman speaks during her State of the City Address. "We are a city full of dreams, often denied the o...

Stranded tourists from Sta. Cruz Island arrived at the Parinan area aboard motorized banca. (Photo courtesy of City Tourism Officer Sarita Sebastian-Hernandez) By: Verano Long ZAMBOANGA CITY — A group of tourists stranded for several hours on Sta. Cruz Island due to sudden inclement weather were safely brought back to the mainland late Thursday afternoon, according to Zamboanga City Tourism Officer Ms. Sarita Hernandez. In a statement, Ms. Hernandez expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the safe return of all guests. The delay was caused by heavy rains and strong waves, which temporarily made travel unsafe. “We are grateful to our island staff headed by Hairal Taup, ably assisted by Usman, who handled our guests well during the wait for the weather to clear,” said Hernandez. “Despite the situation, the guests remained calm and cooperative.” Hernandez said by past 5 p.m., with weather conditions gradually improving, the experienced boatmen — fondly called "bangkeros" — br...

By: Verano Largo ZAMBOANGA CITY - - A couple were seriously injured when a falling big tree hit their house Thursday after strong winds spawned by Southwest monsoon pummeled this southern port city. The strong winds, enhanced by Tropical Depression "Crising", also plucked the roofs of 10 other houses in Barangay Recodo, a west coast village. The injured couple were identified as Marjon Reformado and his wife Jemelyn Reformado who are residents of Purok 7, Barangay Recodo. The incident occurred as strong winds spawned by Southwest Monsoon, locally known as "Habagat", and incessant rain batter the west coast district and caused the tree to topple and hit the house where the victims were taking shelter from rain. Emergency responders quickly transported the injured individuals to Labuan Hospital for medical treatment and subsequently transferred to Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) to undergo CT scan reportedly due to severe injuries. Barangay Recodo chairman...

  US military personnel in civilian attires are seen unloading part of the Php6.9-million (US$138,600) hospital supplies they donated to hospitals across southern Philippines areas to support the COVID-19 response. (Photo courtesy of US Embassy) ZAMBOANGA CITY / NOVEMBER 16, 2021 - - The U.S military have already donated and delivered over Php6.9-million (US$138,600) worth of hospital supplies since October in support to COVID-19 response in areas across southern Philippines, according to the US Embassy.   The donations, which includes intensive care unit (ICU) beds amd COVID-19 cold storage units, were conducted in seven separate small ceremonies and turnovers since October 2 to November 10 to hospitals in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Cotabato City, Iligan City, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces.   The donations consisted of 13 cold storage units and 50 ICU beds, according to the US embassy in a statement.   According to the US Embassy, the most recent d...