#zamboangacity

Modern Moro design water tower selfie

Getting a view of the treeline around the 1976 Muammar al-Gaddafi Mansion at the in Camp General Basilio Navarro, Calarian District of the Zamboanga City.

The history of the Gaddafi Mansion began with the Bangsamoro separatist war of the Moro National Liberation Front that started in 1969, under the command of Nūr Misuāri (born 1939).

By 1976, Philippine Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (1917-1989) sent envoys to the Organization of Islamic Conference to intercede in negotiations with Lībiyā’s Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi (1942-2011) to cease support to the MNLF and broker peace in Mindanao. During the initial negotiations, Gaddafi indicated his interest to visit the Philippines, to sign the peace treaty.

This spurred Pres. Marcos to attempt to impress the Lībiyān leader by creating edifices that catered to the Moro people or showcased their artistry. So by August 1976, construction simultaneously started in both Manila and Zamboanga City. In Manila, the Masjid Al-Dahab (Manila Golden Mosque) was designed by Arch. Jorge Ramos (1937-2015), and constructed in the Quiapò District.

In Zamboanga, a construction of the Gaddafi Mansion was a confidential project to keep Gaddafi safe, due to security threats to his life. To ensure Gaddafi’s security, the mansion was constructed within the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Zamboanga.

Unfortunately, when First Lady Imelda Marcos (born 1929) visited Gaddafi in Lībiyā in November 1976, Gaddafi had expressed his cancellation of his plans to travel to the Philippines. So the Gaddafi Mansion became the official residence of the SOUTHCOM commander.

I first came across the Gaddafi Mansion in 1993 when I paid a courtesy call to my uncle, the SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Thelmo Cunanan (1938-2011).

The Gaddafi Mansion water tower isdesigned to resemble a minaret / manāra (منارة) tower used by the Muezzin / Muʾaḏḏin (مُؤَذِّن) to call the faithful to prayer.

Chavacano skies selfie

Enjoying the green cityscape of Zamboanga City, from atop the Isteraha Haven Inn in Barangay Tetuan of Zamboanga City

This is quite refreshing for me, after living in the highly urbanized cities of Manila and Cebú.

Smuggler's Paradise selfie

Holding a pack of Indonesian cloves Kretek cigarettes and a pack of Bravo tobacco cigarettes at the Isteraha Haven Inn in the Tetuan District of Zamboanga City

Both cigarettes are readily available in Zamboanga thanks to the many barter trade establishments in the peninsula, as in 1973 the Philippine government declared Zamboanga as one of the specialized established barter trade zones for the sale of “smuggled” goods from Indonesia and Malaysia. Since this was common practice before the creation of those special economic zone, this eased tensions with customs officials and the people engaging in this type of trade.

I purchased the kretek at the Canelar Trading Center (CTC ) and the Bravo cigarettes is readily available in any sari-sari store, at prices more than 70% less than current regulated cigarette prices.