Isabela City (Officially the "City of Isabela"; Zamboangueño Chavacano - Ciudad de Isabela, Tagalog - Lungsod ng Isabela) is a 5th classcity and the capital of the province of Basilan, Philippines. The city is located on the northern shore of Basilan. Across the Basilan Straitto the north is Zamboanga City. Zamboanga City is very accessible via ferry boat (lantsa - 1 hour travel time) or fast craft (sea jets - 30 minutes travel time) and even pumpboat.
While administratively, the island province of Basilan is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City itself is in not part of this region and is placed under the Zamboanga Peninsula region.
Institutionally, the Military has played a major part in Isabela City's and Basilan's volatile history, owing to the incessant conflicts borne out of the Moro Secessionist wars of the 1970s, and more recently, by Al Qaeda-backed Islamic fundamentalist groups fomenting a running gun-battle with the Philippines' armed forces for over a decade now.
In addition to the conflict on the island, Isabela City has the highest crime rate in the country.
Also exerting great influence in everyday life is the Roman Catholic Church and the Islamic Mufti and Imams, religious scholars and leaders who exercise a moral ascendancy over their respective groups.
Trading and commerce is still predominantly East Asian (Fookien Chinese), aided more so by a recent influx of immigrants from Taiwan and by Koreans as well.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabela_City
