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