Not a trick but a treat for Halloween

All Soul's Day is a Catholic day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have left for their heavenly abode. All Soul's Day has its roots in the ancient Pagan Festival, belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family, that’s why the practice of lighted candles kept on cemeteries and on houses’ stairway or windows is to guide the souls back home. Children knock on doors in “dead” costumes asking for food, treats, candies, offered symbolically to the dead, but then distributed them among the hungry.

The Aztecs of Mexico played a very important role in the development of celebrating this tradition. Mictlantecuhtli the Aztec god of the dead, after a person's death will decide what region their soul would go to depended on the type of death rather than the type of life they lead. The Spanish Conquest of Nueva España (Mexico) brought about an amalgamation of the Catholic attitudes and Aztecs beliefs, since Mexico was given the power to be the Viceroy of Spain’s colonies in the Americas and the Philippines, “Todos los Santos” became a big part of the Filipino culture. 

Most Filipinos go to cemeteries or as our old folks called them “pantion” (came from Romans “pantheon”) to clean, decorate and spend the night or more at their loved ones grave. Filipinos followed the pagan custom of lighting up candles, offer flowers sometimes food and say prayers for the souls of the departed. The oldest cemetery in Manila is “Cementerio de Binondo” located at the foot of the hill of the arrabal of Binondo (hence the old name Binundok or Minundok as Chinese called their place), the place was referred to during the Spanish colonial days “Paang-Bundok” eventually called “La Loma” meaning “the hill” in English. The hill makes up the cemetery complex of Cemeterio del Norte, the Manila Chinese Cemetery and La Loma Cemetery. 

During the Spanish colonial period the cortes warned Filipino that once they joined the Katipunan, they will be denied to be buried in Catholic cemeteries on the consecrated ground and also denied of what then was considered a "decent" burial in their time of death. Hence members of Freemason who died without retraction of their affiliation, Chinese and non-Catholics resulted into cremation which the Catholics Church then condemned cuz the doctrine said that the soul needs its material body during the last judgement. 

Tan Quien Sien an illustrious Chinese leader and businessman during the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade who choose to be baptized Catholic took the name of his Spanish godfather Carlos Palanca so he can lived/stay in Binondo, eventually became the gobernadorcillo of Chinatown. Gobernadorcillo Carlos Palanca (Tan Quien Sien) established the first Chinese consul in Binondo, the first Chinese General Hospital, he also built near his hospital the Manila Chinese Cemetery in La Loma as the resting place for the Buddhists Chinese, Masons who were denied burial in Catholic cemeteries during the Spanish colonial period. 
- ka tony 
the 15th of October ‘19

29th of September it’s MERRY MICHAELMAS!

Every 29th of September it’s St. Michael's Day, in the western tradition is to eat fattened goose on this day so as to be reminded of an angel's wings, fed on the stubble from the fields after the harvest, eaten to protect against financial need in the family for the next year, but for us Pinoys it's time for a toast of Ginebra San Miguel or San Miguel Beer. When Spanish Governor-General Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera made a promise that if he was successful with his expedition of Mindanao, he will build a chapel dedicated to San Miguel Archangel, which he did. San Miguel is the principal angelic warrior, protector against the dark of the night and the Archangel who fought against Satan and his evil angels. The village of San Miguel, by Malacañan known as "Calzada de Malacañan” (later Aviles, then J.P. Laurel Sr. Street) is the main street of the San Miguel District. It became the "center of power" ever since Governor-General Rafael de Echague moved into the Malacañan Palace in 1863. Prior to that, the palace was just the governor-general’s summer home. Echague was forced to move in because an earthquake had damaged the Palacio del Gobernador. However, when the Palacio was repaired, Echague moved out of Malacañan Palace but another earthquake strike and had him moved back. 

On the same site were to make two establishments; "Fabrica de Ginebra San Miguel" and "Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel" which in 1889, a well-known businessman Enrique María Barretto de Ycaza y Esteban, applied for a royal grant from Spain to establish a brewery in the Philippines, he was awarded the grant and on September 29, 1890 (Michaelmas or the feast day of Saint Michael Archangel), La Fábrica de Cerveza San Miguel was declared open for business at Numero 6 Calzada de Malacañan, the brewery took its name from the district of San Miguel. The San Miguel buildings were torn down after the land was transferred to the government and today is a part of the palace complex. San Miguel district also includes the Isla de Convalecencia, the largest island in the Pasig River where Hospício de San José, Manila’s oldest Catholic welfare institution is located.

The Ayalas were part owners of San Miguel and in 1915 they needed a new label for their "Ginebra" line. They commissioned a young fine arts student from the University of the Philippine to design the label. One of our country’s national artists, in his effort to put food on his family’s table, as well as earn enough money to afford the materials he needed to pursue his passion for painting, took on other jobs, including that as a commercial illustrator. The art student came up with a label design where Saint Michael with a Damascus sword the waves of each Kris denotes a flame or a serpent about to strike satan, famously called “Marca Demonio” by then unknown artist Fernando Amorsolo.
- ka tony
27th, September '19

San Agustin Church of Intramuros Revisited

San Agustin Church (1607), is the oldest baroque church in the Philippines built using thick rough adobe. It is located inside the wall city of Intramuros (the original Old Manila), was a exclusive place only for “Peninsulares” who are pure blooded Spanish - born in Spain. Intramuros was the only province of Spain outside the Iberian Peninsula and the capital city of Spanish colony Philippines. San Agustin Church was the site where Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians clergy came out from the church’s door shouting “Long Live the Church! Long Live King Felipe V!” they were joined by people of all classes met and proceeded to the palace of Governor-Marshal Fernando Manuel de Bustamante, assassinated him for exposing their involvement in the corrupt Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade. It was also the site of the last Spanish Governor-General Fermin Jaudenes surrendered the City of Manila to the Americans in the infamous “Trece de Agosto, 1898 - the mock battle of Manila” that ended the Spanish/American War and confirm the U.S. takeover of the whole Philippines their colony. The church was heavily damage during WW-2 and the monastery was completely destroyed but in the 70s the monastery was rebuilt as a museum for religious artwork, relics and ecclesiastical props used throughout the church's history, the oldest pieces dating back to the founding of Intramuros itself.

The Spanish conquistador “El Adelantado” Miguel Lopez de Legaspi is buried in this church. He is considered in history as “the founder of Manila” though Manila already existed even before him and even the explorer Ferdinand Magellan who claimed he discovered the Philippines. Intramuros is the site of the Kingdom of Maynilad ruled by Rajah Sulayman. Conquistador Legaspi took over Rajah Sulayman’s kingdom because of its perfect military defensive location by the Pasig River and on the mouth of the bay that opens, facing the China Sea. Other Spanish conquistadors buried in San Agustin Church are Juan de Salcedo and Martin de Goiti. Later during the American colonial rule famous Filipino painter Juan Luna, statesmen Pedro A. Paterno and ilustrado Trinidad Pardo de Tavera are also buried in the church. In 1993, the San Agustin Church was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
- ka tony
3rd of September '19

University of Santo Tomas (1611) - the Oldest University in Asia

Universidad de Santo Tomás was born out of the dying Archbishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P., who came to Manila on July 25, 1587 from Carrion de los Condes, province of Palencia, Spain, died in 1605. His last will was to donated his library of books and 1,500 pesos for the purchase of lot to the Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros, to study science, arts and theology. His will came true in April 25, 1611, the Colegio de Nuestra Señora Del Santissimo Rosario was founded. Later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomás dedicated to the Dominican theologian-saint St. Thomas Aquinas, while St. Catherine of Alexandria is the patroness. Located opposite Santo Domingo Church by Calle Aduana on the north and by Plaza de España on the east and in 1645 it was declared a university by Pope Innocent X and in 1902 UST was declared as Pontifical University. 


In 1920 the Dominicans were given a 21.5 hectare land in “Sulucan,” in the suburbs of Sampaloc and the plan for the construction of an edifice for the growing student population happened. The edifice at Sulucan is the work of the Dominican Reverend Father Roque Ruaño, O.P., who graduated, later taught engineering at UST and was also the Rector of Colegio de San Juan de Letran. The construction in Sulucan begun in January 1923, the building is situated in the middle of a quadrilateral tract, facing Calle España. The edifice is all of reenforced concrete and has three floors and on its flat roof placed six spacious laboratories. The building is classified as "Ruaño Style,” named after the Engineer with the help of two hundred Pampango workmen, answers the threat of earthquakes. The building has a “half-moon” shape foundation that sways with the movement of the earth’s quake. The building composed of forty separate structures, joined together by loose concrete, the structures are free to move independently to ensure that the building will not crack. You will marvel at the structures that are an inch apart and seen from outside of the building, like broken lines running from top to bottom. Even the 50 meter-high tower is separated from its surrounding structures by four inches of space. 


UST survived not only the deadly Philippine earthquakes but the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War and the Second World War in which the Japanese forces converted the campus into an internment camp for both Filipinos and foreign civilians, mostly Americans living in the Philippines. The oldest university in Asia proudly honor its founder, stands in front of the main building the bronze statue of Archbishop Miguel de Benavides that was made in Paris and represents his pious attitude of prayer with the right fore finger pointing to heaven. It was solemnly uncovered on July 2, 1891 by Governor-General Valeriano Weiler, it’s the favorite image of Fine Arts students to sketch on their outdoor class, another favorite is the “Arco de Siglo” the archway reconstruction of the original doorway of the old UST Building in Intramuros. UST is the only university in the world to have been visited by a saint and three popes four times: once by Pope Paul VI on November 28, 1970, twice by Pope John Paul II on February 18 1981 and January 13, 1995 and once by Pope Francis on January 18, 2015. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited UST twice in January of 1977 and again in November 1984.
- ka tony
12th - May, ‘19

It was 53 Years Ago Today, The Beatles went to Manila and Played

...53 years ago on July 4, 1966 The Beatles held two sold out concerts at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium with a combined attendance of 80,000. A lunch was set by imelda marcos at Malacañan Palace at 11 am, same day with 300 children waiting to see The Beatles. An hour before the party, a delegation came to the Manila Hotel to fetch The Beatles. Brian Epstein - The Beatles' manager declined the invitation on the grounds that no earlier arrangement had been made. The 4:00-pm concert which I attended was okay though the sound system of the Rizal Stadium was pretty bad plus the screaming of the audience sounded like a 707 jet plane taking off that we can’t hardly hear The Beatles. The 8:30-pm concert was worst, it was learned that some cables of the sound system were unhooked and there were no sound on some of the speakers. From the investigation, it was learned it was a sabotage in retaliation of Malacañan due to The Beatles "lunch snub” of Malacañan. 

Following day after their concert, The Manila Times ran the headline: "IMELDA STOOD UP!” Philippine promoter Ramon Ramos took advantage of the situation and refused to pay the Beatles for their performance, in the first place he was the one who committed to imelda marcos that he’ll bring The Fad Four in Malacañan even it was not in his contract with The Beatles. Bomb and death threats were telephoned to the deluged British Embassy and to the Fab Four’s hotel suite. When the Beatles were scheduled to depart, all security detail assigned to the boys were withdrawn leaving them extremely vulnerable. They were literally kicked and jostled as they left their hotel and totally harassed all the way to the airport. Things were no better there where the airport manager has also removed all security for the Beatles. They went so far as to shut down the power to stop the escalators, forcing the boys to scale several flights of stairs with their own luggage, only to face an angry mob of 200 goons from Malacañan brutally manhandling them. Ringo was literally floored by an uppercut and kicked on the ground, he suffered a sprained ankle and had to be helped to the customs area while Mal Evans and Brian Epstein were injured as well. Alf Bicknell The Beatles official chauffeur suffered a cracked rib and a spinal injury.

The concert promoter Ramon Ramos never gave the payment due the Beatles after their Manila performances, they were mugged at the airport, their plane was held for a long time at Manila’s airport cuz Malacañan demanded Brian Epstein to pay tax from the concert which they were not payed for their performance. The whole Beatles entourage were afraid for their lives, they saw from the plane’s window they were surrounded by heavily armed military men. So Epstein paid the tax that was demanded and gave “grease money” to the goons just to allow their plane to leave and promised not ever again to comeback, which they kept.
- ka tony

4th - July, '19

The Doctrina Christiana was the first book in the Philippines written and printed in 1593, much older than America’s first and oldest book “The Bay Psalm Book” that was printed in 1640.

...the oldest book in the world was printed in 1455: “The Gutenberg Bible” (in Latin), printed in Europe with movable metal type by Johannes Gutenberg. The Philippine “Doctrina Christiana” was written by Fray Juan de Plasencia on Roman Catholic Catechism. Two versions of the book were printed in Spanish/Tagalog (written in Roman letters and Tagalog Baybayin) with 76 pages and Spanish/Chinese (written in Roman letters and Chinese characters) with 124 pages. Both versions’ titles translated in English: “Christian Doctrine in Spanish Language And Tagalog (And Chinese), with correct Rules for Religious of the Orders. Printed with Consent of Saint Gabriel in the Order of Saint Dominic. In Manila, 1593.” They were priced at two and four “reales.” The books’ inside pages consists of basic prayers: the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, Credo and the Salve Regina. Followed by Articles of Faith, the Ten Commandments, Commandments of the Holy Church, Sacraments of the Holy Church, Seven Mortal Sins, Fourteen Works of Charity, the Confiteor and a brief Catechism.

The Dominicans employ the service of Chinese “Keng Yong” from the Chinatown of Binondo who had printing experience in China. The books were printed using xylographic, a relief process printing each page of text from one hand carved woodblock using soft local wood “batikuling.” The book was printed on hand made paper from mulberry tree that was used during the Khmer Empire of Cambodia by Buddhist monks who made paper from the bark of mulberry trees. The size of the volume, which is unbound, is 9⅛”X 7”, although individual page leaves vary.

Both Spanish and Tagalog/Chinese versions of Doctrina Christiana were printed and produced by the Chinese “Keng Yong.” Prior to the 1593 Doctrina Christiana the Dominicans Fray Miguel de Benavides and Fr. Juan Cobo had already prepared “The True Faith in The Infinite God” a simple catechism in Chinese characters printed between 1590 and 1592 also with the help of Chinese printer “Keng Yong.” 

The printing and publication of Doctrina Christiana in 1593, Dominicans and “Keng Yong” pioneered the art of printing in the Philippines, they made molds, types and instruments needed for typography. Their typographic printing was indigenous, not imported from other countries. In 1625, Universidad de Santo Tomás in Intramuros needed publications and requested the printing press of Binondo to join the university, making today’s UST Publishing House (formerly UST Press) the oldest continuing press in the world since 1593. It is even older than the University of Santo Tomas (1611) the oldest university in Asia, older than U.S. oldest Harvard University (1636). The only known surviving Doctrina Christiana copy of the Chinese version is stored at the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, Spain. While in the U.S. a copy of Doctrina Christiana can be found at the Library of Congress that was presented by Lessing Rosenwald who bought it from a New York City book dealer, who purchased the copy from a book dealer in Paris and took it to the U.S.
- ka tony
30th - April, ‘19

Historical relationship of the Philippines and Catalonia’s Barcelona

# ...an apartment by Plaça del Bonsuccés near Calle La Rambla has a marker text in Catalan and Tagalog commemorating “La Solidaridad” where it was edited and printed. The plaque says (Tagalog):
“Luklukan ng pahayagang repormistang Pilipino (1889-1895) kung saan ang pambansang bayani ng Pilipinas na si Jose Rizal at iba pang mga nakibahagi ay nag-ambag ng malaki tungo sa kasarinlan ng kanilang bansa.”

# ...La Boqueria, is a large public market in the Ciudad Vieja district of Barcelona, dates back in 1217, when tables were installed to sell meat, coffee and food on calle La Rambla very close to where “La Solidaridad” apartment. Whenever Rizal took a visit to coordinate with M.H. del Pilar and Graciano López Jaena they had their meeting and snacks in this market. 

# ...Montjuïc Mountain, a site where important Catalan dissidents or free thinkers were detained and executed. Jose Rizal on his way to Cuba to help Spanish wounded soldiers, was instead stopped and was incarcerated at Celda #17 at Montjuïc. Has a historical marker about the hero. 

# ...Graciano López Jaena died of tuberculosis on January 20, 1896 in Barcelona, eleven months short of his 40th birthday. The following day, he was buried in a pauper’s mass grave at the Montjuïc Cemetery of Barcelona.
- photo journal ka Tony

3rd - June, '18