Fort Pilar

Our Lady of Pilar Altar

The Courtyard of Fort Pilar

The Shrine

The Royal Fort of Our Virgin Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza or commonly known as Fort Pilar is one of the main tourist attractions and landmark of the city. This 17th century military fortress was built by the Spanish Colonial Government for defense against outlaws and rebels. Outside of the fortress' eastern gate wall, a Marian shrine can be found dedicated to the city's patroness- Our Lady of the Pillar. 

Legend has it that Virgin Mary appeared to a soldier on December 6, 1734 at the gate of the fortress. The soldier didn't immediately recognize her and asked her to stop. As the soldier scrutinized the lady, he fell down to his knees. Another apparition has been taken place, not in the fortress' gate but floating in mid-air. On September 21, 1897, around 1:14 in the afternoon, a tough earthquake struck the western region of Mindanao Island. The Virgin Mary made an apparition, and according to the people who witnessed it, they saw the Virgin floating in mid-air over the Basilan Strait raising her right hand that signals on the rushing waves to stop, thus saving Zamboanga City from a tsunami.