Ever dug deeper into a hero’s life and stumbled upon something totally unexpected? We all know their noble deeds, but sometimes, a quirky fact pops up and makes you do a double-take. Like, did you hear about Juan Luna, the famous Filipino painter, scavenging cigar butts off the streets of Paris? Yep, you read that…

Okay, raise your hand if you ever sat through history class thinking, “Wait, our heroes were loaded?!” 🙋‍♀️ I’m right there with you! Remember that lightbulb moment when you learned about Pedro Paterno rolling around Vienna in his own fancy carriage, complete with a shiny silver crest? 🤯 It’s like finding out your fave teacher…

We all have our heroes, right? We see them in history books, on monuments, their faces etched into our pesos. We think of their bravery, their intelligence, their dedication to our country. But what about their quirks? What about the things they did that make us say, “Wait, what?” I recently stumbled across a story…

“What?!” I hear you exclaim, “Jose Rizal, our national hero, the face on the 1-peso coin, played the lottery? And won?!” Yup, you heard right! It seems even our good ol’ Pepe had a vice or two. And before you judge, he wasn’t alone! Let’s dive into this fascinating, often overlooked, side of Rizal’s life…

Okay, friends, let’s talk about the first Easter Mass in the Philippines. It’s 1521, picture this: Magellan and his crew rocking up to Limasawa Island. They’re all set for this big Easter Sunday Mass. But wait, they don’t speak the same language as the locals. Awkward! So, how did this whole thing go down? Did…

“Wait, what? Did a Filipino hero really say that? What’s the deal with Filipinos being in human zoos?” I know, right? It’s shocking and upsetting. Seeing that 1906 photo of the young Filipina girl in a “human zoo” enclosure… it hits hard. And then there’s Carlos P. Romulo, a big name in Philippine history, saying…

Have you ever stumbled upon a Facebook post that makes you question everything you thought you knew? I know I have! Recently, I got sucked into this whole debate about the word “Tagalog.” Some folks were saying it’s just a simple “taga + ilog” (people of the river) situation, while others were throwing around linguistic…

Have you ever wondered why we Filipinos don’t speak Spanish, unlike our South American cousins? It’s a question I hear a lot, especially from history buffs and language enthusiasts. We were under Spanish rule for centuries, longer than even our Asian neighbors. Shouldn’t we be fluent in “Hola” and “Gracias” by now? Let’s dive into…

Have you ever found yourself engrossed in a Rizal novel, wondering about your own family history? Yeah, me too! Suddenly, you’re picturing lolos in barong tagalogs and lolas in elegant ternos, debating politics or whispering family secrets passed down through generations. Who were these people who came before us, and what stories do their lives tell? It’s a common question Filipinos ask…

Ever heard that old kuwentuhan about how everyone and their lola packed up and moved to Manila after World War 2? We’re talking about that whole “Manila is the land of opportunity” idea. Was it a real thing, or just another one of those chismis passed down through generations? 🤔 Let’s dive into this fascinating chapter of Philippine history! 🇵🇭 Rebuilding…