The Rotonda is the round civic plaza at the foot of Pagadian's main street, opening directly onto the bay. The white-painted municipal arch and the line of national flags make it the city's de facto photo spot, especially when the late afternoon light hits the bay and the silhouettes of the bancas anchored offshore.
Adjacent Plaza Luz is a small park with a fountain and benches under shade trees. It fills up after work and on weekends with families, vendors selling grilled corn and taho (a sweet warm soybean snack), and teenagers practising dance routines. It is the easiest place in town to spend an idle hour watching local life.