memwahs of a geisha

I missed this place. A place that bore me with love and care! A place that played a great role to geisha building! (drama! tseh!)

Kung sa Global City may The Fort, at kung ang Zamboanga ay may Fort Pilar, Ozamiz City is also one of the country's cradle for spanish fortress. Built during the early parts of 18th century, Fort Santiago or Cotta, as we called it,  was built about 250 years ago as proposed by Father Jose Ducos of the Jesuit for two reasons: to repel the Moro piratical raids which were at their height in the 1750's, and to provide shelter for the ships of the Spanish fleet during that time.

Possibly the oldest structure in the area, it stands mute witness to the many events that took place in Ozamiz City. It was subjected to deafening sounds on at least two different occasions: first, possibly for a good number of times, from cannons and fusillades of soldiers under the service of the Spanish crown fighting against Muslim raiders, and second, from the numerous bombs on the eye of the last day of the Japanese occupation of Ozamiz City, December 10, 1945.

And not only that!

Naging witness din sya sa mga kalandian ng iilang taong gusto magpalipas ng oras at panandaliang aliw. Sa likod ng cotta ay dagat na naging tambayan ng iilang mga nag-iibigan, kaibigan, at mga lalaking pahada! Oo! Mga lalaking nagpapa tsups at babaeng nagpapatira. Of course di mawawala ang mga baklang naghahanap ng aliw bitbit ang 50 pesos good for 5! O di ba ang mura! :lol: Kahit kaharap nito'y pilgrimage shrine.

The image has been referred to simply as the Birhen sa Kotta or Virgin of the fort, although its actual title is Nuestra Señora del Triunfo (Our Lady of Triumph), a name taken after the flagship of Father Ducos, the Triunfo. The feast day of the Virgin was set on July 16, which is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross, an old Spanish feast commemorating the victory of the Christian Spain over the Moors. Hence the image is variously called Nuestra Señora del Triunfo de la Cruz.

Legend tells of the miraculous intercessions of the Virgin during the Muslim raids to which the fort was often subjected. Oftentimes the fort was undermanned due to its distance from the main Spanish garrisons and the infrequent visits of the armada whose principal anchorage in the south was Cebu. But the fort had always withstood even the fiercest Muslim attacks, a feat which they could attribute only to the Blessed Mother's intercession.

The Shrine also serves as my takbuhan whenever i need comfort. Whenever i need spiritual intercourse. And whenever i need guidance from nature. Dito rin ako tumatakbo kung kelangan kong makausap ang dagat, magpalamig ng ulo from the hideous exams and stress at magtirik ng kandila whenever I make wishes.

And I simply miss the town that embraced me through all years, through thick and thin. Welkam sa aming bahay este munisipyo pala!

(photo credit: Kuya Dex)