Mestiza de Sangley (Filipina-Chinese Mestiza)

Mestiza de Sangley (Filipina-Chinese Mestiza)

A 18 x 24 cm. portrait taken by Dutch photographer Francisco Van Camp in the late 19th century of a beautiful young woman wearing traditional “Maria Clara.” The unknown mestiza de sangley is regarded as the “Mona Lisa” of the Pacific and recently included in “100-Year-Old Photos of the Most Beautiful Women of the Last Century.” In 19th century colonial Philippines under Spanish influence, there was a courtship tradition in which women conveyed their marital status by means of hand held fan; a half opened fan held in hand signified that a young lady was seeking a suitor as this portrait by Francisco van Camp “mestiza de sangley” taken at his studio in Manilla in 1875 which he took over from the British photographer Albert Honiss when he died in 1874. The Spaniards were the first ones to introduce photography to the Philippines dating back to 1841 using daguerreotype, was the first commercially successful photographic process (1839-1860) in the history of photography. Named after the inventor, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre who used unique image on a silvered copper plate.

The Manila Grand Opera House

The site of the Manila Grand Opera House in 1899 on Calle Dulumbayan (later called Calle Salcedo, now Rizal Avenue) was originally a racetrack where bicycles zoomed around in laps to the entertainment of audience watching a European sport in their country and was called the National Cycle Track. It was owned by N.T. Hashim the track which he bought was part of the San Lazaro Estate which Hashim converted the place into a theater. It was known as the Teatro Nacional and also served as the arena of the Russian Circus Troupe that regularly visited Manila. 

In 1905, Governor-General Henry Ide sent Filipino labor leader Dominador Gomez, to speak to the President of Tagalog Republic - General Macario Sakay with an offer of amnesty for him and his men. Part of the offer was the establishment of a Philippine Assembly as a starting point toward eventual Philippine Independence. The offer appealed to General Sakay who dreamed of Philippine independence, freely participating in determining their course as a nation. As a result, General Sakay and his men went out from their Morong Mountain hideout in July of 1906 without realizing it was a trap. He was welcomed in Manila, but while attending a party tendered by the Constabulary chief Col. Henry H. Bandholtz, General Sakay and his chief subordinates were disarmed and arrested. Accused of being a bandit under the Brigandage Act of 1902, he was sentenced to death and hanged on September 13, 1907, accused of the crime against Brigandage Act held that persons refusing to give allegiance to the American government in the Philippines were liable for arrest and execution. 

Just a month after the execution of General Sakay on the grounds of Bilibid Prison, in October 16 a block away the Philippine First Assembly was inaugurated at the Manila Grand Opera House. The event was attended both by US Secretary of War William Howard Taft and the new Governor-General James Francis Smith at 9:00 that morning, the 80 delegates-elect of the first Philippine Assembly entered the Grand Opera House, followed by representatives of the American colonial government, members of the Philippine Commission and other military officers Major-General Leonard Wood of the US Army Philippine Division, Brigadier General Clarence Edwards of the Bureau of Insular Affairs. Members of the religious groups, including Apostolic Delegate Monsignor Ambrosio Agius and Bishop Jorge Barlin, as well as local officials like Domindor Gomez and foreign guests.

- ka tony

Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” was translated by Supremo Andres Bonifacio in Tagalog, titled it “Pahimakas.”

On the afternoon of December 29, 1896, a day before the execution, Jose Rizal was visited by his mother, Teodora Alonzo, his sisters Lucia, Josefa, Trinidád, Maria, Narcisa and two of his nephews. When they were about to leave, Rizal told Trinidád in English that there was something in the small alcohol stove (cocinilla). The stove was given to Narcisa by the guard when they were about to board their carriage. Reaching home, Rizal’s family found a folded paper in the stove. On it was written an unsigned, untitled and undated poem with 14 five-line stanzas. The Rizal’s family reproduced copies of the poem and sent them to Rizal's friends in the country and abroad. In 1897, Mariano Ponce in Hong Kong had the poem printed with the title "Mi Ultimo Pensamiento." Fr. Mariano Dacanay, who received a copy of the poem while a prisoner in Bilibid, Prison had it published in the first issue of La Independenciaon Sept. 25, 1898 with the title “Ultimo Adios.”

After the execution of Rizal, Josephine Bracken with Rizal’s brother Paciano and sister Trinidad came at past one o'clock in the afternoon of December 30, 1896 at San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias). Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan Supremo, received the Rizals himself at the house of Mrs. Estefania Potente where he was staying. The Supremo was requested by the Rizals to translate Rizal’s poem to Tagalog. Bonifacio asked if he could keep for some time a copy of Rizal’s poem so that he could translate it into Tagalog with the assistance of Diego Mojica, President of the Popular Council Mapagtiis and local Cavite poet and writer in Tagalog. This is how the Spanish poem “Mi Ultimo Adios” of Jose Rizal was translated into Tagalog by Supremo Andres Bonifacio:

PAHIMAKAS

Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam,
Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw,
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan,
kaluwalhatiang sa ami’y pumanaw.

Masayang sa iyo’y aking idudulot
ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot;
maging maringal man at labis ang alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog.

Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba’y ang buhay na kipkip,
walang agam-agam, maluwag sa dibdib,
matamis sa puso at di ikahahapis.

Saan man mautas ay di kailangan,
cipres o laurel, lirio ma’y patungan
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan.

Ako’y mamamatay, ngayong namamalas
na sa Silanganan ay namamanaag
yaong maligayang araw na sisikat
sa likod ng luksang nagtabing na ulap.

Ang kulay na pula kung kinakailangan
na maitina sa iyong liwayway,
dugo ko’y isaboy at siyang ikikinang
ng kislap ng iyong maningning na ilaw.

Ang aking adhika sapul magkaisip
noong kasalukuyang bata pang maliit,
ay ang tanghaling ka at minsang masilip
sa dagat Silangan hiyas na marikit.

Natuyo ang luhang sa mata’y nunukal,
taas na ang noo’t walang kapootan,
walang bakas kunot ng kapighatian
gabahid man dungis niyong kahihiyan.

Sa kabuhayan ko ang laging gunita
maningas na aking ninanasa-nasa
ay guminhawa ka ang hiyas ng diwa
paghingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.

Ikaw’y guminhawa laking kagandahang
akoy malugmok, at ikaw ay matanghal,
hininga’y malagot, mabuhay ka lamang
bangkay ko’y maisilong sa iyong Kalangitan.

Kung sa libingan ko’y tumubong mamalas
sa malagong damo mahinhing bulaklak,
sa mga labi mo’y mangyayaring ilapat,
sa kaluluwa ko halik ay igawad.

At sa aking noo nawa’y iparamdam,
sa lamig ng lupa ng aking libingan,
ang init ng iyong paghingang dalisay
at simoy ng iyong paggiliw na tunay.

Bayaang ang buwan sa aki’y ititig
ang liwanag niyang lamlam at tahimik,
liwayway bayaang sa aki’y ihatid
magalaw na sinag at hanging hagibis.

Kung sakasakaling bumabang humantong
sa krus ko’y dumapo kahit isang ibon,
doon ay bayaan humuning hinahon
at dalitin niya payapang panahon.

Bayaan ang ningas ng sikat ng araw
ula’y pasingawin noong kainitan,
magbalik sa langit ng buong dalisay
kalakip ng aking pagdaing na hiyaw.

Bayaang sino man sa katotong giliw
tangisang maagang sa buhay pagkitil;
kung tungkol sa akin ay may manalangin
idalangin, Bayan, yaring pagkahimbing.

Idalanging lahat yaong nangamatay,
Nangag-tiis hirap na walang kapantay;
mga ina naming walang kapalaran
na inihihibik ay kapighatian.

Ang mga balo’t pinapangulila,
ang mga bilanggong nagsisipagdusa;
dalanginin namang kanilang makita
ang kalayaan mong ikagiginhawa.

At kung ang madilim na gabing mapanglaw
ay lumaganap na doon sa libinga’t
tanging mga patay ang nangaglalamay,
huwag bagabagin ang katahimikan.

Ang kanyang hiwaga’y huwag gambalain;
kaipala’y marinig doon ang taginting,
tunog ng gitara’t salterio’y magsaliw,
ako, Bayan yao’t kita’y aawitan.

Kung ang libingan ko’y limot na ng lahat
at wala ng kurus at batong mabakas,
bayaang linangin ng taong masipag,
lupa’y asarolin at kahuya’y ikalat.

Ang mga buto ko ay bago matunaw,
mauwi sa wala at kusang maparam,
alabok na iyong latag ay bayaang
siya ang babalang doo’y makipisan.

Kung magkagayon ma’y, alintanahin
na ako sa limot iyong ihabilin,
pagka’t himpapawid at ang panganorin,
mga lansangan mo’y aking lilibutin.

Matining na tunog ako sa dinig mo,
ilaw, mga kulay, masamyong pabango,
ang ugong at awit, paghibik ko sa iyo,
pag-asang dalisay ng pananalig ko.

Bayang iniirog, sakit niyaring hirap,
Katagalugan kong pinakaliliyag,
dinggin mo ang aking pagpapahimakas;
diya’y iiwan ko sa iyo ang lahat.

Ako’y patutungo sa walang busabos,
walang umiinis at berdugong hayop;
pananalig doo’y di nakasasalot,
si Bathala lamang doo’y haring lubos.

Paalam, magulang at mga kapatid
kapilas ng aking kaluluwa’t dibdib
mga kaibigan, bata pang maliit,
sa aking tahanan di na masisilip.

Pag-papasalamat at napahinga rin,
paalam estranherang kasuyo ko’t aliw,
paalam sa inyo, mga ginigiliw;
mamatay ay siyang pagkakagupiling!

- ka tony

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