Remembering President Garcia’s Formosa Remarks
In 1957, President Carlos P. Garcia made a speech that changed a lot. It started a big debate over who should own Formosa (now called Taiwan)....
The First Filipino Tycoon: The Life and Legacy of Vicente Madrigal
One man’s journey shaped the path of Philippine business. Vicente María Epifanio López Madrigal (April 5, 1880 – June 6, 1972) was a Spanish Filipino. He...
Lapiang Malaya: The Fanatical Political Party in the Philippines
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Philippines saw a unique political group form and then fade away. This was the Lapiang Malaya, a party driven by...
Navigating Faith: Indigenous Beliefs and the Inquisition in Colonial Philippines
About 90% of the Philippines’ 104 million people were Christian in 2000, notes the CIA World Factbook. Most of these were Catholic. This shows how deeply...
Beyond Zamora and Mallari: Native Filipino Priests in Spanish Colonial Times
In the stories of native Filipino priests from colonial times, one chilling tale stands out. It’s the story of Father Juan Severino Malyari. He was accused...
What Are the Social Issues in the First Philippine Republic?
Just over two years, the First Philippine Republic met many social challenges. It started in 1899 during the fight against Spain and the Philippine-American War. This...
The Burning of The 300 Macabebes
Around 300 people from Macabebe were killed by fire in their church on April 27, 1899. This sad event, called the Burning of The 300 Macabebes,...
The History of the Manila Observatory
The Manila Observatory was established in 1865. It stands as one of the oldest research institutions in the Philippines. It began with the Jesuit mission and...
Father Blanco: The First To Study Native Philippine Flora
There were about 1,000 plant kinds in the Philippines. Father Manuel Blanco, a Spanish botanist, recorded them all in “Flora de Filipinas.” He started this work...
The Balanguingui Expedition
In 1848, the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines planned a special military operation. This was the Balanguingui Expedition. Its goal was to take over the...
