Fort Pilar, whose official name - the Royal Fort of St. Mary Pilarski of Zaragoza, was built in the 17th century by the Spanish conquistadors on the southern tip of the island of Mindanao. Today it is a branch of the National Museum of the Philippines and one of the main attractions of the city of Zamboanga and the symbol of its cultural heritage. Outside the fort from its eastern wall is an image of the Virgin Mary Pilarski, patroness of the city.

Construction of the fort began in 1635 to protect the inhabitants of the small villages from the raids of pirates Hambangan - about the Spanish government of the Philippines desperately asked Jesuit missionaries, leading its operations in Mindanao. Originally a fortress called Fuertsa Real de San José - Royal Fort St. Joseph. Since the hand for construction of the fort was not enough, in Mindanao brought workers from neighboring islands Kavite, Cebu, Bohol and Panay.

Already in 1646 the fort was attacked - he was attacked by the Dutch. Later, in 1662, the Spaniards themselves left their fortress and returned to Manila to confront Chinese pirate. In 1669, Jesuit monks had to rebuild the fort after numerous raids invaders. In the years 1718-19 the fort was completely rebuilt on the orders of the Spanish governor-general Fernando Rueda and a new name - the Royal Fort of St. Mary Pilarski from Zaragoza in honor of patron saint of Spain. One year later, three thousand pirates, led by the powerful Sultan Buliga attacked the fort, but were pushed back. In 1798, British troops attacked the fort, but the fortress once stood.

In 1734, on the eastern wall of the fort was placed image of the Virgin Mary Pilarski, so that people can pray and give her honor. It is said that in that year the Virgin Mary herself appeared at the gate of the city - the guard did not recognize her, and ordered to stop. And when he realized someone in front of him, fell on his knees. Another legend says that it was the Virgin Mary Pilarski saved the city from a terrible disaster in September 1897 in the western part of Mindanao Earthquake. And there were people who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary soared over the strait Bazil, raised her right hand and stopped the approaching giant waves, rescuing, so the city by the tsunami.

In 1973, Fort Pilar has been declared a national treasure of the Philippines. Since after the Second World War, he was in a deplorable state, in 1980, we began large-scale restoration work, which for six years directed the National Museum. After their completion within the fort was a branch of the museum with a special exhibition devoted to the Philippine contemporary art. In 1987 it was opened exhibition devoted to the marine life of the Strait Bazil and the Sulu Sea. Another exhibition can be seen the remains of the ship "Griffin", which sank off the coast of Zamboanga in the 18th century. Inside and outside the fort broken small and cozy squares and the promenade Paseo del Mar protects the structure of the fort from the ravages of the sea.