You might be wondering, “Hey, everyone else was declaring independence from Spain in the early 1800s. Why didn’t the Philippines jump on that bandwagon?” It’s a great question! It seemed like all of Latin America was throwing off Spanish rule, so why not the Philippines? The answer is more complex than you might think. It…
Author: R.M.C.Ablir
Whispers of the Revolution: Who Was the Last Veteran?
Ever found yourself staring at an old photograph, maybe of fierce-eyed Katipuneros, and wondering, “Could any of them have lived to see the modern Philippines?” It’s a question that tugs at the heartstrings, a yearning to connect our present with the echoes of the Philippine Revolution. You’re not alone in this curiosity. It’s a question…
Tuning In to Nostalgia: Why Sunday Radio Feels Like a Time Machine
Ever notice how your radio seems to rewind time every Sunday? You wake up, the smell of sinangag still hanging in the air, and suddenly you’re transported back to your lolo and lola’s house. Crooners serenading you with love songs from the ’50s and ’60s. It’s like a scene straight out of a classic Filipino movie, only you’re living it every…
Manila Waterways: Are We Calling “Esteros” by the Wrong Name?
Scrolling through social media lately, I bet you’ve seen the photos – Manila knee-deep in floodwater, right? It’s a recurring nightmare every rainy season. And amidst all the “Stay safe!” and “Sending prayers!” messages, I kept bumping into the word “estero.” You know, like “Estero de Pasig” or “Estero de San Miguel.” Now, I don’t…
Unpacking “Lucky” Animals in Filipino Culture
Have you ever wondered why your Tita insists on having a rooster figurine perched on her desk, or why your Lolo swears by the fortune brought by his pet lovebirds? We Filipinos, we love our traditions. And nowhere is this more evident than in our beliefs about “lucky” animals. Growing up, I was surrounded by…
When Did “Buwaya” Become Synonymous with Corrupt Politicians?
Ever wonder when we started calling our corrupt officials “buwaya”? You know, those slick, greedy politicians who’d steal candy from a baby if it meant lining their pockets? It’s such a common term, thrown around in everyday conversations, splashed across newspaper headlines. But where did it all begin? When did this image of a lurking…
Manila Men on the Mississippi: The Untold Story of Filipinos in Early America
Ever wonder about those “Manila Galleons”? You know, the ships that sailed from the Philippines to Mexico for centuries? Did you ever stop to think about the Filipinos who were on them? I did. And trust me, their story is wilder than any history book lets on. See, most folks think Filipinos just started showing…
Filipinos in America Before the Philippine-American War
I get it. You crack open a history book, and it feels like the Philippines and America, our stories only begin with warships and battlefields. You start digging into the Philippine-American War, the soldiers, the battles, and then it hits you: Weren’t there Filipinos in America even before all of that? You’re not wrong to wonder. It’s…
The Enigmatic Rise of Trinidad Lopez: More Than Just a “Toy Manufacturer”
Ever heard whispers of Trinidad Lopez? No, not the boxer, or the baseball player. This Trinidad Lopez is shrouded in more mystery than your lola’s adobo recipe. Some call him a “toy manufacturer,” but peek behind that label, and you find a tale tangled in Philippine history, ambition, and whispers of something…more. From Tondo to…
Women’s role in Malolos Congress
Ever feel invisible? Like your voice, your thoughts, your very presence just…doesn’t register? For centuries, that’s how Filipinas felt, shunted to the sidelines of their own history. Especially when it came to politics. Men made the rules, men ran the show, men held all the power. But then came 1899, a year crackling with revolution…