Masjid Al-Islamia, Zamboanga City | ZamPen’s Rainbow Mosque

November 20, 2022 Rex Lim Lim

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Zamboanga City: After the Marawi Siege, like a beacon in the middle of a harrowing storm, a rainbow mosque in Zamboanga City was built to call for peace and unity amidst our differences.

Happy Accident

Table of Contents

Right after our flight from Tawi-Tawi, we had all afternoon to go around Zamboanga City before our scheduled trip to Jolo in the evening.

So everyone decided to visit the Canelar Barter Trade to buy some goodies first then continue to another nearby destination, which so happens that we have all visited prior.

But like a blessing in disguise, as we were picking out ref magnets, Tin picked up a colorful-looking mosque that we are all not aware of. “Ahh diyan lang yan sa amin malapit, ma’am” (It’s just near our place, ma’am). Then, we just asked for directions and found out that it really is just a few kilometers from Canelar.

A happy accident indeed. So we chartered a tuktuk and off we go!

Masjid Al-Islamia

It only took 10 mins before we arrived at the mosque that we just saw from a ref magnet. The Rainbow Mosque or Masjid Al-Islamia, as the name implies, is known for its vibrant exteriors with the colors symbolizing peace.

The rainbow mosque is distinctly Maranao because of the distinct “okir” or “okil” that adorn the structure up to its interiors.

Moreover, Okir is a term for rectilinear and curvilinear plant-based designs and folk motifs. Also, Maranao okir motifs are so stylized that it is often easy to tell whether a carving is Maranao or not.

The patterns we saw at the rainbow mosque are similar to the patterns Maranao often renders in hardwood, brass, silver, or even in wall paintings.

The Maranao, the largest of the Muslim cultural-linguistic group of the Philippines, is known for its artistry and refinement in rendering okir. A fine example of this is the last remaining “panolong” of Torogan Maranao Royal Houses in Lanao Del Sur.

Kawayan Torogan in Lanao Del Sur: The last of the remaining habitable torogan. (Photo from mymindanao.com)

How To Get There

Masjid Al-Islamia or Rainbow Mosque is located at Brgy. Sta. Maria, Tumaga Road, Zamboanga City.
From Zamboanga International Airport, you can hire a tuk-tuk or tricycle to bring you directly to the Mosque. (50-100php/way is enough, 3.5kms from the airport)

Taking pictures outside is allowed, but if you insist to take a look inside, practice respect and try to talk to the locals inside and make sure your visit does not coincide with their prayers