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…
Author: R.M.C.Ablir
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…
How Imelda Marcos Shaped Martial Law and a Dictatorship
You hear “Marcos Regime,” and you think stolen wealth, brutal crackdowns, that infamous gold hoard. But what about Imelda? Was she just a shoe-loving shopaholic along for the ride, or something more? That’s what we’re digging into today: Imelda Marcos’s undeniable influence on the rise, rule, and eventual fall of her husband’s regime. Buckle up,…
Imelda Marcos and the Dark Side of Manila’s “Progress”
Ever walked through Manila and wondered about those grand buildings, those sweeping boulevards? They whisper stories, not all of them pleasant. See, back in the day, Imelda Marcos, the “Iron Butterfly,” wasn’t just the First Lady. She was Metro Manila’s Governor, a position tailored for her. And boy, did she throw herself into it. We’re talking massive…