Pasonanca Park

Pasonanca Park is about 7 kms away from the city and is recognized as the “Little Baguio of the South” as it is one of the highest elevated barangays from the sea level.

How to get there: From city proper to Pasonanca

Take a Pasonanca bound jeepney from the city proper and get off at the Boy Scouts grounds. Fare is about 10 pesos and travel time is around 20 minutes.

Boy Scout Grounds

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Zamboanga City, well-known for holding conferences, regional seminars, conventions, outdoor camping or jamborees of Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts and has won awards as the number one garden in the Philippines.

A total contrast from the busy city center, lazy afternoons can best be enjoyed here  with the cool breeze of the air, the towering trees and clean surroundings at the Boy Scout grounds. It is a park built to commemorate the 24 Filipino boy scouts who died in a plane crash in India while they were on their way to attend a Jamboree in Greece in 1963.

Probably the most iconic landmarks here are the teepees and the tree house built way back in the 1960’s.

The grounds also holds a statue of Rizal, of which I’ve found something interesting.

From afar, the figure near Rizal’s left looks like a headset. But looking closer, you’ll see that it’s a lizard. LOL

Station of the Cross at Mt. Pulong Bato or the Abong-abong Park

We then proceeded to Mt. Pulong Bato or the Abong-abong Park. It is a favorite hiking destination during holy week as stations of the cross are lined up along the road going up.

Since we’re way ahead of our itinerary for that day, and the Holy Week’s approaching, we decided to complete the 14 stations. I remembered doing this also at Davao City Shrine with the same set of people.  I don’t know, maybe we are just that devoted to our faith who enjoy the peace and serenity one gets in the presence of a Being greater than you. As a matter of  fact our friendship was actually formed through a religious org way back at college. And, one of my companions here (the guy) is planning to enter the seminary.

So yes, we’ve decided to do the hike… at 12noon sharp with the sun gazing brightly upon us.

Proud Atenistas!

A giant cross and an awesome view of the city will welcome you upon reaching the top.

Aside from the peace and serenity that it gives to visitors, it is also a place to enjoy fresh cool air, breathtaking views of the city and scenic mountain views. It’s such a beautiful place to visit if you are looking for inner peace as well as to have some quiet time with yourself.

I’ve also spotted some weird looking stone formations while on the way up. Here’s some:

How to go to Mt. Pulong Bato

From the Boy Scouts grounds, hire a habal-habal that will take you to the park. Arrange with the driver for the fare, we paid 30php each for the whole trip.

Freedom Park / Helmet Park

The Freedom Park is the memorial and the final resting place of slain Mayor of Zamboanga City, Cesar C. Climaco. Two canyons, a giant soldier’s hat and the burial site of Mayor Climaco on the left will greet you upon entering the park.

La Jardin de Maria Clara Lobregat

Last stop for our Pasonanca tour is the popular “La Jardin de Maria Clara Lobregat”.

It is a garden park named after the late mayor of Zamboanga City, Maria Clara Lobregat. The park boasts to have several species of flowers and butterflies and an aviary for some avian species such as turkeys, parrots, and eagles.

So that ends for our adventure today. Keep coming back for more!

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

This 3-day adventure to Zamboanga City happened last March 23-25, 2012. Here is a series of posts on our trip to Asia’s Latin City. Discover the places we’ve been to, the people we met, the food we tasted and the experience we gained in this remarkable escapade. Zamboanga City 3D/2N: The 1,000 Peso Travel Challenge | Exploring Asia’s Latin City: Ciudad de Zamboanga | Pasonanca Park, Zamboanga City: The Little Baguio of the South | Looking Back: A Visit at Fort Pilar and the National Museum of Zamboanga City | Get Wet in Pink: Sta Cruz Island (aka The Pink Island) | Nightfall at Paseo del Mar and the Musical Fountain