With the recent resurgence towards phytotherapy, ethnobotany plays a crucial role. This study documents the ethnobotanical practices of the different ethnolinguistic groups in the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen), Mindanao, Philippines, with a thorough systematic review and a defined field mapping. ZamPen is regarded as a center of floral diversity and is rich in ethnic diversity. Eight ethnolinguistic groups (Chavacano, Visayan, Tausug, Bajau, Sama, Yakan, Subanen, and Subanon) were purposively chosen as representatives from the five cities and three provinces of ZamPen. A total of 330 respondents were interviewed through a snowball sampling method, with at least 30 key informants per tribe. For the systematic review on ethnobotanical studies conducted in the Zamboanga Peninsula, four published articles were recorded. Results revealed 208 medicinal plant species belonging to 74 families utilized by the ethnolinguistic groups with 18 species from Family Fabaceae. Among the different ethnolinguistic groups based on ethnobotanical studies and systematic reviews, the Visayans of Ipil and Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, and the Subanens of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur obtained the highest number of medicinal plants utilized (50 species in 32 families and 89 species in 41 families, respectively). Among the 10 DOH-approved medicinal plants, Blumea balsamifera (sambong) of the Family Asteraceae is the most frequently utilized herbal plant used by all studied ethnic tribes. Leaves are the topmost utilized plant parts through the process of decoction. Physical relapse (bughat) is the commonly cited illness among locally termed diseases. Field samplings attested the availability of medicinal plants as the second topmost health-seeking behavior of the key informants to ethnobotanical practices after having experienced its effectiveness. Literature reviews of the plant’s bioactivities and bio isolates validate its medicinal use. However, there are some which need further studies supporting its claim. Documentation of this traditional knowledge and practices provides a framework for future drug discovery, promotes culture preservation, and offers opportunities for community biodiversity management