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

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

Binondo the first, the original, oldest and biggest Chinatown in the world

...great cities like Manila are established where rivers meet the sea and because of 300 years Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade unstoppable immigration of Chinese selling chinese products exported in the Americas made Manila the world’s trading center and Binondo became the entrepot and the formation of “Sangley Parian" (“Chinese Flea-market” from Chinese “xiang lei” for traveling merchants and “palien” meaning federation). The original parian was at Mehan Garden (now Liwasang Bonifacio), the reason why the peninsulares’ Intramuros gate on that location is called “Parian Gate.” The parian was reserved only to baptized Catholic Chinese who were allowed to sell their goods, those unbaptized have to stay at Cavite’s Sangley Point where galleons were built. The parian at Mehan Garden just outside the peninsulares Intramuros was getting over crowded, Governor-General Luis Perez Dasmariñas because of continuous Chinese migration scared of another Sangley uprising he donated his “Isla de Binundok" (original name of Binondo because it’s hilly, surrounded by Pasig River and esteros), tax free which he purchased from Don Antonio Velada for 200 pesos. He ordered to move the Sangley Parian to Calle Sacrista (now Ongpin).

Governor-General Dasmariñas asked the Dominicans to take charge of converting the Chinese to catholicism, build a church in the honor of San Gabriel which is today’s Binondo Church though later its patroness became Nuetra Senora de Santissimo Rosario. Up to this day the main streets of Binondo- Calle Dasmariñas and Calle Rosario (now Quintin Paredes) were named in their honor. Because Binondo is an island, peninsulares of Intramuros have to take “casco” ferry crossing Pasig River to shop in Binondo. “Puente España” (Bridge of Spain) was built in 1632 by the Chineses to allow easier access and to continue the patronage of peninsulares. The bridge was near “Puerta Isabela II” of Intramuros that spanned to Calle Nueva (now E.T. Yuchengco St), cross street is Escolta where on the foot of the bridge were horse-carts waiting for peninsulares to be “escorted” (hence the name “Escolta” from Spanish word “escoltar”) in Binondo/San Nicolas to shop. Binondo became progressive shopping center that Chinese merchants extended the parian to its neighboring district “Barrio Baybay,” renamed “San Nicolas” in honor of their patron saint San Nicolas Tolentino the patron saint of merchants. The name of the streets of Binondo/San Nicolas can not be left unnoticed to this day, if they are not names of places in Spain like: Barcelona, Sevilla, Numancia, Madrid, they are: Aceiteros, Fundidor, Jaboneros, Arroceros, Caballeros, Fumadores, etc. products which Chinese merchants were selling on those streets.
- ka tony

1st - March, '19

The Great Escape and Manila as Open City

The attacks by the Japanese, landings of their army in many points of the country and its rapid advance towards Manila raised fears to Filipino leaders of possible defeat of combined American and Filipino forces. President Manuel Quezon met with his cabinet daily: Jorge Vargas, Jose Laurel, Jose Yulo, Quintin Paredes, Benigno Aquino Sr., Elpidio Quirino and others from December 12 to 14, 1941 to discuss ways to cushion the impact of total war in the people. General MacArthur felt deep concern for Quezon, too valuable to fall into the hands of the enemy and asked Quezon to escape with him through Corregidor then to Australia. Quezon upon hearing MacArthur’s plan, did not wish to leave Manila because people would get the impression that he was abandoning them, he asked the opinion of his cabinet which the total opinion was that “the people would understand” but they suggested that the entire Cabinet should accompany the president to Corregidor but Quezon replied that MacArthur said there was not enough room for all of them on the island. Quezon followed MacArthur’s advice to escape with him and chosen Osmeña to go with him, then asked Laurel and Roxas to accompany them to help in preparing papers and documents. Laurel and Vargas were disappointed for having been given responsibility to deal with the Japanese military administration but Quezon told them “somebody has to stay behind to protect the people.” US Colonial Government amended the Philippine Commonwealth Act No. 620 and added Commonwealth Act No. 670 granting the commonwealth president or his representative ran the government by himself - a legalized dictator. The proclamation of the state of emergency paved the way for the use of emergency and extraordinary powers without authorization by congress. 

Laurel was worried the role Quezon required him to cooperate with the Japanese and its implications which could lead to future misunderstanding. He expressed to President Quezon:
“Mr. President, it is easy that you are leaving us to take care of the situation with a view to the protection of our civilian population considering the fact that when the Japanese come we shall be performing several functions pertaining to municipal administration and administration of justice; but the Japanese may require or compel us to do many things which are inimical to our case, may I leave my position and go to the mountains. In my case, I’m asking this question because when you come back you might disapprove of our acts and accuse us of disloyalty.”

Quezon understand the significance of Laurel’s concern and felt that the best man to answer that question was General MacArthur. Learning Jorge Vargas had the same concern and question, he addressed these to MacArthur who replied:
“(We) Can’t do anything about it, George (referring to the imminent Japanese takeover of the Philippines). There is nothing you can do above it. Under International Law the occupying army must govern and rule and you cannot do anything but to obey what they tell you to do. Do anything except one thing, that is take the oath of allegiance to the Japanese. If you do, we will shoot you when you came back.”
...indeed a very hard situation for a politician serving under a colonial rule who’s abandoning its colony because of a more powerful colonialist who’s about to take over. 

As the Japanese moved closer and the defenses continued to fall, it became evident the VIPs have to be evacuated. On February 20, 1942, Quezon, his family and many of the Filipino staff left onboard a US Navy submarine. MacArthur remained to continue command of the defense. However, MacArthur accompanied by his wife Jean, four-year-old son Arthur, his Cantonese amah Ah Cheu, on March 11, left the Philippine island of Corregidor and his forces, which were surrounded by the Japanese. They traveled in PT boats commanded by John D. Bulkeley of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, made up of six, 77 feet Elco Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boats which scratches the original plan to evacuate him on the submarine “Permit.” These PT Boats were the newest, fastest and the smallest boats in the US Navy’s fleet. They had wooden hulls, powerful engines and a 15 man crew. They were armed with four torpedoes, .50 caliber Browning machine guns and .30 caliber Lewis Guns, sailed through stormy seas patrolled by Japanese warships and reached Mindanao two days later. From there, MacArthur and his party flew to Australia in a pair of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, ultimately arriving in Melbourne by train on 21 of March. In Australia, he made his famous speech in which he declared, "I came through and I shall return". On Bataan, the reaction to MacArthur's escape was mixed, with many American and Filipino troops feeling bitter and betrayed. When General Jonathan Wainwright which MacArthur left all his responsibilities broke the news to his generals "they were all at first depressed by the news …But I soon saw that they understood just as I understood." As the news broke across the globe, to Joseph Goebbels - MacArthur was a "fleeing general", while Benito Mussolini labeled him a “coward.” The US decided that the best way to counter this negative image was to award MacArthur the Medal of Honor.

When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941, Jorge Vargas was designated National Defense secretary by President Quezon, few weeks later, he was appointed as mayor of the Greater Manila area in 1941. His responsibilities included administering the open city upon the arrival of occupational troops of the Imperial Japanese Army on January 2, 1942. He became chairman of the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Executive Commission, was once asked by the Japanese to assume the Presidency, but he declined and Jose Laurel succeeded him. Upon the declaration of the country’s capital Manila an "Open City" it was to announce officially that the city is demilitarized during a war, announcing that they have abandoned all defensive efforts and entitling the city immunity from attack under international law. The attacking armies of the opposing military should respect and expected not to bomb or otherwise attack the city, but simply to march in. The "Open City" concept and objective is to protect the city's historic landmarks, ancestral houses and civilian living in the city from an unnecessary battle.

The City of Manila was not attack, lives were saved as well as the buildings, historical/ancestral houses, American colonial military and their government offices. Japanese military forces marched towards the City of Manila to occupy the beautiful Spanish City’s “Pearl of the Orient.” During the Japanese reign of terror in the City of Manila, they officially changed anything American and its collaborators’ names of streets, parks and buildings to Pilipino/Japanese names:

# Dewey Boulevard - "CALLE HEIWA (Peace)"
# Taft Avenue - "CALLE DAITOA (Greater Far East)"
# Harrison Boulevard - "CALLE KOA (Rising Sun)"
# Jones Bridge - "TULAY BANZAI"
# Quezon Boulevard - "CALLE MULAWIN"
# Plaza Ferguson - "PLAZA SIMBAHAN"
# Plaza Lawton - "PLAZA BURGOS"
# Plaza McKinley - "PLAZA MALAKI"
# Plaza Willard - "PLAZA MALIIT"
# California Street - in Ermita "CALLE ILOKOS"
# Carolina Street - in Malate "CALLE BATAAN"
# Chicago Street - Port Area "CALLE MAKILING"
# A. Craig Street - in Sampaloc "CALLE BAGONG AYOS"
# Florida Street - in Malate "CALLE ISABELA"
# Gov. Forbes Street - in Sampaloc "CALLE SAMPAGUITA"
# Daugherty Street - in Pandacan "CALLE SOLIMAN"
# Kansas Street - in Singalong "CALLE CAGAYAN"
# McGregor Street - in Quiapo "CALLE WATAWAT"
# Nebraska Street - in Ermita "CALLE SORSOGON"
# Omaha Street - in Port Area "CALLE LINGAYEN"
# Pennsylvania Street - in Malate "CALLE MALOLOS"
# Smith Street - in Paco "CALLE YAKAL"
# Tacoma Street - Port Area "CALLE CABANATUAN"
# Tennessee Street - in Malate "CALLE MINDORO"
# Washington Street - in Sampaloc "CALLE MABUHAY"
# Wright Street - in Malate "CALLE KAWANG-GAWA"
# Mehan Garden - "JARDIN BOTANICO"
# Harrison Park - "RIZAL PARK"

On October 25, 1944 General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore at Leyte to announced: "People of the Philippines, I have returned." The "Liberation of Manila" (Battle of Manila), started on the 3rd of February until the 3rd of March 1945, by Americans and retreating outgunned and out numbered Japanese forces. The one-month American forces continuous air-bombing, cannon balls flying, buildings/houses burning from American GI's napalms, military tanks smashed the ancient city's small gates to go through and pulverized Manila's beautiful cobbled stone streets, mortal, grenades, powerful bullets from automatic rifles, all these happening continuously 24 hours, for a month to avoid US Military casualties, Manila was flat on the ground and was named "the second most devastated city of world war second after Warsaw." The "Liberation of Manila was a terrible ruthless slaughter of great number of innocent civilians, women, children who were caught in between and had nothing to hide, it was a total devastation of human lives and a beautiful historical city. It was the scene of one of the ugliest inhumane urban fighting in the world that ended the three years of Japanese brutal military occupation in the Philippines (1942–1945). The city's possession was General Douglas MacArthur's key to victory in the campaign of reconquest of a US colony.
- ka tony
the 27th of October ‘18

June 15, 1935, before the scheduled U.S. controlled Philippine Commonwealth Presidential election candidates:

# ...Manuel Quezon of Nacionalista Party - for president, his vice president was Sergio Osmeña (then a senate president). Obviously supported by his friend General Douglas MacArthur and the U.S. Colonial Government.
# ...Emilio Aguinaldo of National Socialist Party - for president, his vice president Raymundo Melliza (former governor of Iloilo). His candidacy was supported by the organization he created “Veteranos de la Revolucion.”
# ...Bishop Gregorio Aglipay of Republican Party - for president, his vice president Norberto Nabong. Aglipay was supported by his co founder of Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church) Isabelo de los Reyes (the Father of Philippine Socialism) and the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP), a left-wing party organized by Crisanto Evangelista. 

This political enmity resulted in a bitter feud that characterized the 1935 presidential race for the then newly established Philippine Commonwealth. Before the 1935 presidential election, in 1899 Manuel Quezon was a major in Aguinaldo’s army in its fight against the Americans. He was accused of murdering an American POW and was imprisoned for six months, but was cleared of the crime for lack of evidence. When Aguinaldo was captured at Palanan on 1901, Aguinaldo took an oath of allegiance to the United States, was granted a pension from the U.S. government but was forced to retired to private life. The conflict between the two during the election was so intense that Aguinaldo discharged Quezon from his Veteranos de la Revolucion and sarcastically said Quezon never belonged to the group in the first place. Quezon retaliated with his treacherous political campaign against Aguinaldo, came out with leaflets about Bonifacio’s and Luna’s deaths under the bloody hands of Aguinaldo, he also cut off his government pension. The two rivals was a regular ugly staple of newspapers and social gossips. 

Quezon won the race by a landslide and Bishop Gregorio Aglipay quickly accepted the results but Aguinaldo did not want to accept his defeat, released a statement that if he were defeated at the polls, he and his followers would resort to force. Aguinaldo protested the 1935 presidential election results which he believed was rigged in Quezon’s favor; his supporters even planned to disrupt the inauguration and assassinate the winners though was not carried out. On December 8, 1941, the day after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces invaded the Philippines. Because of the sure capture by the enemy, President Quezon and other top government officials had to escape to Corregidor along with General MacArthur. Quezon gave his responsibilities to his cabinet and political colleagues: Jorge Vargas, Jose Laurel, Manuel Roxas, Benigno Aquino Sr., Jose Yulo, Quintin Paredes, Antonio de las Alas and Teofilo Sison, expected them to collaborate with the enemy to save Filipino civilian’s lives. MacArthur left his responsibility as the Allied commander in the Philippines was handed down to General Jonathan Wainwright whom he promoted as “temporary” Lieutenant General. Quezon and MacArthur left the island of Corregidor in a PT Boat, moving on to Mindanao, then Australia, Quezon went to the United States and set up a government in exile in Washington D.C. Emilio Aguinaldo once again fell into disgrace and again collaborated with the new colonialists.
- ka tony
19th of October ‘18

Manila Men in the New World

Some 60,000 Filipinos sailed on the galleons from Manila to Acapulco over two and half centuries mostly as crews. Many escaped upon reaching Mexico never to return to the Philippines. Most of the Filipino sailors were natives “Indios-Tagalogs.” There were also many who belonged to the Mestizo class, who traveled as merchants, technicians or functionaries. Filipinos had been in the New World much longer than any Asians but the term "Filipino” or "insulares-creoles" during Spanish colonial time are referred to Spaniards born in the Philippines. In Nueva España (Mexico), natives from the Philippines were known as “Luzon Indios, “Manila Men” or “Chinos” simply because they were in Manila Galleon loaded with Chinese scented spices, luxurious silk and multitude of Oriental goods. There’s a big probability that most Chinese in Mexico are actually Filipino back then.

In another part of the New World when "Manila Men" were discovered in the state of Louisiana, their villages were already established, show that they have been living there longer than 1763 though no known documents that may proof that they have arrived earlier and possibly way earlier than the Mayflower just like the ones who established themselves at Morro Bay, California in 1587 that preceded the landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were called “Manila Men” because they said to be mariners who escaped from the ships of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade and they found their way into the harsh and unforgiving bayous that’s an ideal place to hide. These people who settled in the bayous were called "Manilamen," "Manillians" and "Tagalas” established their community at St. Malo, located southeast of New Orleans. St. Malo is named after the leader of a group of maroons group of enslaved Africans led by Jean Saint Malo escaped Lake Borgne, with weapons obtained from plantation slaves, Jean Saint Malo was captured by Spanish forces and was hanged in front of St. Louis Cathedral in what is now called Jackson Square, New Orleans.

On January 8, 1815, the Battle of New Orleans became the final major battle of the War of 1812. Outnumbered American forces commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired from the Louisiana Purchase. Many Manila Men joined the U.S. Army and fought against the British, later on some would participate in the American Civil War. Most became fishermen and introduced the process of dried shrimp which is still popular in the area. Since most if not all were men, rarely women live in the village, those fishermen who did have families had them live in New Orleans or in other localities. The reason for this can be attributed to the isolated and harsh conditions of the surroundings. Since there were no Filipino women, the Manila Men often courted and married local Cajun, Creole, Indian, Black women and others. Some of them enrolled their children in schools in New Orleans.

St. Malo was destroyed by a hurricane in 1915. In 1965, Manila Men’s Village, the last of the settlement was destroyed by Hurricane Betsy. No physical remains of any of these dwellings exist today. Between the late 1980s until early 2005, there was extensive and promising documentation of this part of Filipino history. Unfortunately, by August 2005, all were completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
- ka tony
11th of September, '18