Standing proudly within the historic walls of Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City is the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Shrine, one of the most revered Marian pilgrimage sites in Mindanao. Facing the sea and open to the sky, the shrine is both a spiritual sanctuary and a living symbol of the city’s deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, known locally as Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, the patroness and protectress of Zamboanga.

The story of the shrine traces back to the 17th century, when the Spanish established Fort del Pilar de Zaragoza as a military defense against pirates and foreign invaders. Over time, what began as a fortress evolved into a sacred space, after the image of the Virgin Mary was enshrined in an open-air niche along its southern wall. According to local accounts, the Virgin was believed to have miraculously protected the city from attacks and calamities, earning her the unwavering devotion of generations of Zamboangueños.

What makes the Fort Pilar Shrine unique is its open-air altar, where masses and novenas are held beneath the sky. Here, the faithful gather day and night, lighting candles, offering flowers, and whispering prayers of gratitude or petitions for healing and protection. The scent of melted wax mingles with the salty breeze from the nearby coast, and the flickering lights of hundreds of candles illuminate the fort’s ancient stone walls, giving the place a quiet, almost mystical glow.