Philippine City Guide

16/08/2026

𝗭𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔 𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗥. 👕

UNIQLO is set to open its second store in Zamboanga City at SM City Zamboanga in September 2026.

The expansion gives shoppers another access point to the Japanese retailer’s everyday apparel while reflecting the continued growth of Zamboanga City’s retail market. The construction hoarding is already up inside the mall—so yes, this is more than retail chismis.

📍 SM City Zamboanga
🗓️ September 2026

15/08/2026

MINDANAO FLIES FARTHER AGAIN. ✈️

Cebu Pacific is restoring direct international flights from Davao to Hong Kong and Bangkok this October—giving travelers across Mindanao more options to reach two of Asia’s most dynamic destinations without connecting through Manila or Cebu.

🇭🇰 Davao–Hong Kong resumes October 25, operating every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

🇹🇭 Davao–Bangkok resumes October 26, operating every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The return of these routes strengthens Davao’s position as Mindanao’s international gateway while making regional travel faster and more convenient.

Where would you fly first—Hong Kong or Bangkok?

15/08/2026

Zamboanga’s ride-hailing scene just gained another major player. 🛵💙

JoyRide, a homegrown Filipino mobility superapp, is expanding to Zamboanga City, becoming the second major national ride-hailing platform to enter the local market after Grab.

Its arrival means more transport options for commuters, new earning opportunities for local driver-partners, and healthier competition that could improve convenience, service quality, and affordability.

Bienvenidos na Zamboanga, JoyRide!

10/08/2026

𝙃𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙕𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙐𝙉𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙊 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.

The Buklog, the elaborate thanksgiving ritual system of the Subanen people of the Zamboanga Peninsula, was inscribed by UNESCO in 2019 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

More than a celebration, Buklog reflects the Subanen worldview of harmony among people, nature, and the spirit world. It is traditionally held to give thanks for blessings such as a bountiful harvest, recovery from illness or calamity, or the recognition of new leadership.

Its most distinctive feature is the elevated and flexible wooden Buklog platform, where members of the community dance together, producing a resonating sound that forms part of the ritual itself.

Its UNESCO inscription also carries an important message: safeguarding Buklog means protecting not only a cultural practice, but also the ancestral knowledge, landscapes, natural resources, and communities that allow the tradition to survive.
A living heritage of Mindanao. A cultural legacy of the Subanen. And a reminder that development should never require communities to leave their identity behind.

Source: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Buklog, thanksgiving ritual system of the Subanen

08/08/2026

23/07/2026

Another milestone for Pagadian City is on the horizon. Gaisano City Mall is expected to break ground in the coming weeks on its newly acquired 2-hectare property in Barangay Tiguma. Once completed, it will become the second shopping mall in the city carrying the Gaisano brand, joining Gaisano Capital.

The project reflects the city’s continued commercial growth and increasing attractiveness to investors, while creating new opportunities for jobs, retail, and local economic activity. It will be interesting to see how this development further shapes Pagadian’s expanding urban landscape.