Fort Pilar, whose official name is the Royal Fort of the blessed virgin Mary Pilarski from Zaragoza, was built in the 17th century by 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 his cultural heritage. Outside of the Fort at its Eastern walls there is an image of the virgin Mary Pilarski, patroness of the city.

The construction of the Fort began in 1635 to protect the inhabitants of the small village Jambangan from the raids of pirates – the Spanish government of the Philippines desperately asked the Jesuit missionaries, operating in Mindanao. The Fort was originally called the real Fuerza de San josé – the Royal Fort of St. Joseph. As for construction of the Fort was not enough, in Mindanao brought workers from the nearby Islands of Cavite, Cebu, Bohol and Panay.

In 1646 the Fort was attacked – he was attacked by the Dutch. Later, in 1662, the Spaniards have left the castle and returned to Manila to resist Chinese pirates. In 1669 by Jesuit priests had to restore the Fort after numerous attacks of invaders. And in 1718-19, the fortress was completely rebuilt by the order of Spanish Governor-General Fernando Rueda and received a new name – the Royal Fort of the blessed virgin Mary Pilarski from Zaragoza in honor of the patroness of Spain. Within a year, three thousand of pirates led by the powerful Sultan Buliga attacked the Fort, but were thrown back. In 1798, the Fort was attacked by British troops, but the fortress again survived.

In 1734 on the East wall of the Fort was placed the image of the virgin Mary Pilarski, so that people could pray for her and to pay my respects. It is said that in that year the virgin Mary appeared at the gate of the city guard didn't recognize her and ordered to stop. And when they realized who was before him, fell on his knees. Another legend says that the virgin Mary Pilarski saved the city from a terrible disaster: in September of 1897 in the Western part of Mindanao there was a severe earthquake. And there were people who claimed to have seen the virgin Mary brooded over the Strait Basilan, raised his right hand and stopped the impending giant waves, rescuing, therefore, the city from the tsunami.

In 1973, the Fort Pilar was declared a national treasure of the Philippines. Since after the Second World war, he was in a deplorable condition, in 1980, began extensive restoration work, which for six years he directed the national Museum. When completed inside the Fort was opened as a branch of the Museum with a special exhibition dedicated to Philippine contemporary art. In 1987 there was an exhibition telling about the marine inhabitants of the Strait Basilan and Sulu sea. In another display you can see the remains of the ship "Griffin", which sank off Zamboanga in the 18th century. Inside and outside of the Fort are divided into small and cozy gardens and the promenade of the Paseo del Mar protects buildings of the Fort from the ravages of the sea.