Zamboanga City (21st Century Crisis)

Zamboanga City (Malay: Kota Jamabangan, Subanon: Kuta Jamabangan, Chavacano: Cuidad de Zamboanga, Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Zamboanga, Filipino: Lungsod ng Sambuwangga) is a highly urbanized city located in Mindanao, Philippines. It has a population of 905,129 people as of the 1 May 2010 census. Zamboanga is the 6th most populous and 3rd largest city by land area in the Philippines. It is the commercial and industrial center of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.

Zamboanga used to be known as Jambangan in the Subanen language and was the center of the Subanen culture during the pre-Hispanic times. Then, it was a major settlement as part of the Sultanate of Maguindanao, which waged war against the Spanish colonization. It served as an important fortress during the Spanish colonial era, but had to be evacuated after constant raids by Moro warriors from Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago, as well as Dayak and Malay raiders from Borneo.

After Spanish colonization, the Americans incorporated it as part of the Moro Province. During World War II, the fierce resistance by Zamboanga City's armed local militants prevented Japan from fully occupying the city. In 1949 until 1967, it became a major city of the de facto Republic of Mindanao and played a crucial role in the de facto republic.

Zamboanga City is known for its night-life, as well as its very diverse culture. A wide array of languages and ethnic groups reside in the city, ranging from Malay-speaking and Chavacano-speaking locals, as well as Cebuano, Tagalog and speakers of other languages such as Tausūg, Subanon (which is native to the region), Maguindanaoan, Hilagaynon, Kapampangan, Waray-Waray and Spanish. Malay and Chavacano are the two official languages of the city, and often function as lingua francas between inter-ethnic communication.

The majority of the city's inhabitants are Muslim, about 65% of locals and inhabitants professing Islam as their faith. Another 30% belong to Christianity, mostly Roman Catholicism, as well as other faiths including the Iglesia ni Kristo, independent churches, Protestantism and the United Church of Mindanao. The other 5% belong to Hinduism, Buddhism or no faith.