[3] The festival is held in honor of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish and Chavacano: Nuestra Señora del Pilar), the patroness of Batangas City which is held in every October 12.

It is also the patroness of Zaragoza in Spain, the sister city of Zamboanga in Philippines.

In 1635, the Spaniards built a fort in Zamboanga named Real Fuerza de San Jose in Brgy.

Zone IV area to secure them against the attacks of the moro warriors.

In 1734, The Lady's was brought to the fort as a front piece for the main entrance.