The intoxicating history of Tequila involved Filipinos!

A little known story about the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, when Manila became the trans-shipment point between China, Mexico and Europe, came with the trade of plant, trees, fruits (and pests) where The Philippines gave Mexico tropical fruits including the "mango de manila" (Trivia: the Manila mango brand popular in the US is owned by Mexicans and not Filipinos?) and the sampaloc (tamarind). In turn the Mexicans gave Filipinos the sweet potato, maize (corn), chico, chayote (sayote), guyabano (sour sop), muntingia (aratilis), chico-mamei (common in Paete), cacao (where chocolates came from), camachile, poinsettia, cotton and tobacco.

Now, did you know that the world famous Mexican tequila, in its present form, was made possible using Filipino technology to distill the spirit from fermented sap of the agave plant in the 16th century?

The Filipinos, who came to Mexico via the galleons in the 16th century settled in the hills of Colima, were brought there to establish coconut plantations. Probably because of boredom, they started making coconut wine (lambanog) from fermented coconut sap (tuba) like how they did back home.

The practice of making coconut wine was outlawed by Spanish authorities in Mexico in the 17th century and the people resorted to agave plant sap distillation using the same Filipino technique that's easy to conceal and avoid detection: the mezcal was born.

The first historical record of mezcal is 1619, a variant of which was later renamed tequila, after its place of birth (Tequila is now part of the Mexican state of Jalisco).

Tequila grew in popularity in the late 1940s when the Margarita, a cocktail blend of Tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and ice was invented.

Tutubi first came to know of this years ago from a certain yahoogroup on Philippine history and early writings alleging that the famous Tequila of Mexico came about with the help of Filipinos who taught the Mexicans how to distill the agave plant to make the intoxicating drink using the same technology of tuba, the coconut sap wine, of the Philippines.

Now, if only enterprising Filipinos can squeeze out more creative juices to market our very own lambanog (say invent a cocktail using it and named after Manila or any place in the Philippines or invent a unique ritual like tequila's lick, sip suck) to the world and be at par with the now world-famous tequila of Mexico that came about with Filipino technology during the 16th century.

Let's drink to that: lick, sip, suck!

Scholarly Source Article as proof:

Tequila and other Agave Spirits from west-central Mexico:
current germplasm diversity, conservation and origin
by Patricia Colunga-GarciaMarin and Daniel Zizumbo-Villareal
Published July 9, 2006

Tequila, History of Tequila, Origin of Tequila, Filipinos history of tequila, mezcal origin, Lambanog Tequila common history

Labels: Philippine History, Pinoy Pride

Tribute post to Gabriela Silang's 248th death anniversary

Just along the national highway in the town of Santa, Tutubi chanced upon a billboard marking the historic pass occupied by Ilocano fighters under the command of Diego Silang, then later succeeded by his wife Gabriela.

Gabriela Silang Park occupies a strategic location overlooking the sea on a promontory, beside Imelda Park (yeah, listed as a tourist attraction in Ilocos Sur website but actually badly maintained with very few people, mostly locals, present).

What can you see in Gabriela Silang Memorial Park? Just a billboard, empty tables and benches for picnics, there's Imelda Park, also with picnic tables (mostly empty), beach nearby, huge trees (probably centuries old or at least heritage ones 50 years or more) and across the highway is Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park





a marker nearby states (in Filipino): "dating Pideg at ginawang Diego - Gabriela Silang noong 1976. Ipinagawa ng mga Pransiskano noong 1600. Ginamit noong 1600 sa pag-aalsa nina Andres Malong at nina Diego at Gabriela noong 1762 pagkamatay ni Diego noong May 28, 1763. Ang pag-aalsa ay pinamunuan ni Gabriela, pagkaraan ng ilang sagupaan as sinalakay ng mga kastila and pasong ito. Nadakip si Gabriela at ipinabitay noong setyemre 20, 1763"

The Gabriela Silang Monument near the entrance of Imelda Park (in silhouette) due to late afternoon stop by Tutubi, with the heroine astride on a horse.




the Gabriela Silang Monument at Gabriela Silang Carpark at the corner of Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue, Makati City

Have you ever wondered if it's really correct to depict Gabriela Silang on a horse with two feet off the ground? Monuments with persons on a horse have meanings :P

---


Location: Santa, Ilocos Sur
GPS Coordinates: N17 27 53.0 E120 26 06.2

Labels: Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, National Heroes, Parks, Philippine History

A true-blooded Paetenian, Tutubi was a "Batang Sampaloc" for 10 years, where he and his siblings hopped from one "room for rent" starting from one on Algeciras St. near the PNR train tracks where the PNR train became the alarm clock with loud horns and "earthquake."

Near his first "home" in Sampaloc, Manila are the Rizaliana streets of Sampaloc Manila: P. Florentino, Pi y Margal, Dapitan, Laong Laan, Maria Clara, Simoun, Calamba, Makiling, Retiro, and Dimasalang.

From Sampaloc, Tutubi transferred to Reten near P. Noval, Miguelin, Sulucan (near the twin churches of Bustillos), Lardizabal (near Legarda) then "leveled up" to several "apartments for rent." On Prudencio St. From Sampaloc near Balic-balic, he transferred to Makati near Rizal Village, lived for a short time in Pasig City near Kapitolyo then finally to his present home in Quezon City.

The Mabuhay Rotonda marks the boundary of Manila and Quezon City. At the back is España, Sampaloc, Manila going to Quiapo

This is just one of a series of posts on Jose Rizal in time for the celebration of his 150th birthday on June 19.

History Behind The Rizaliana Streets of Sampaloc, Manila

You may view a Map of Sampaloc Manila here for your reference.


P. Florentino St.

Named after Padre Florentino in Rizal’s second novel El Filibusterismo. Padre Florentino was priest and a friend to some of the novel’s characters. On P. Florentino street stands the transmission tower of Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) near Welcome Rotonda (now Mabuhay Rotonda).

Piy Margal Street

An erroneously spelled street named after Francisco Pi y Margall, a "friend" of Rizal, and president (for only more than a month) of the short-lived Spanish Republic of 1873. Pi y Margall advocated autonomy for Spain's colonies including the Philippines as well as other "radical" ideas at the time.

Dapitan Street

The rural town of Mindanao where Jose Rizal was exiled, built a home, school from his lottery prize, and "married" Josephine Bracken, now called the Shrine City of Dapitan, part of Zamboanga del Norte. Dapitan hosts several of the 27 places with historical ties to Jose Rizal listed in the Lakbay Rizal (Rizal@150 Heritage)

Laong Laan

One of the pseudonyms of Jose Rizal (Laong Laan meaning in English: Ever Prepared). In a letter to Marcelo H. Del Pilar in 1890, Jose Rizal wrote:

“In my boyhood it was my strong belief that I would not reach the age of thirty, and I do not know why I used to think in that way. For two months now almost every night I dream of nothing but of friends and relatives who are dead. I even dreamed once that I was descending a path leading into the depths of persons seated and dressed in white, with white faces, quiet, and encircled in white light. There I saw two members of my family, one now already dead and the other still living. Even though I do not believe in such things and though my body is very strong and I have not sickness of any kind, nonetheless I prepare myself for death, arranging what I have to leave and disposing myself for any eventuality. Laong Laan (Ever Prepared) is my real name.”

Laon Laan is a one-way street going north while Dapitan allows the opposite south-bound direction going to Quiapo. These two streets are where the Quiapo - Dapitan jeepneys ply their route. Near the ends of these two roads, you can find Dapitan Arcade, where you can buy housewares and native products at bargain prices.

Maria Clara St.

From high school days with the studies of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo mandated by the Rizal law (principally authored by Sen. Claro M. Recto and fought by the bishops and priests of the Catholic Church like the now raging RH Bill), Maria Clara was the love of the character Crisostomo Ibarra of Noli Me Tangere.

Other minor streets of Sampaloc with Rizaliana links are Basilio, Sisa, Ibarra and Crisostomo all from the national hero's first novel while Simoun, from the vengeful Don Simoun of Rizal's second novel who's actually Ibarra disguised as a jeweler from Cuba.

Calamba and Makiling Streets

The next streets parallel to Maria Clara are Calamba, after Jose Rizal's hometown and birthplace. On Calamba, sandwiched by Sisa and Instruccion Streets is the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish (Our Lady of Perpertual Help Parish). Makiling is named after the mystical mountain near Calamba and cited in some of Rizal's works.

Retiro

Now "stupidly" renamed by Manila politicians after Norbeto Amoranto Sr., was inspired by Jose Rizal's poem "Mi Retiro" written in Dapitan.

picture of Mi Retiro Rock in Dapitan where the eponimously titled poem was written. The rock provides a good view of dapitan harbor from Jose Rizal's estate in Talisay, Dapitan.

Blumentritt

After Rizal's best friend Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt to whom Rizal exchanged many letters. His mastery of the Tagalog language made Rizal write him, along with a Tagalog book on arithmetic, that marked the beginning of their beautiful friendship.

Dimasalang

Another one of Jose Rizal's pen names, it means "untouchable" from the Tagalog "di masalang" now used as one word. At the intersection of this street with Maria Clara and along Dos Castillas Street stands Dangwa (Manila Flower Market) where fresh flowers from Baguio City are unloaded weekly by Dangwa Bus Company (thus the name Dangwa Flower Market). The other segment hosts several shops selling "chop-chop" parts of antique, or rather, heritage houses.

Morayta

Morayta Street, now called Nicanor Reyes where Far Eastern University (FEU) is located, was named after University of Madrid (Universidad de Madrid) professor of history Miguel Morayta. It was through Prof. Morayta that Rizal became a freemason under the Gran Oriente de Español, where he adopted Dimasalang as his Masonic name.

Near Morayta and University of Sto. Tomas (UST) are the streets of P. Noval (Padre Noval, where you can ride the PVP Liner bus to Ayala Avenue in Makati), P. Campa (Padre Campa), and P. Paredes.

Other prominent streets of Sampaloc, Manila are the twin one-way streets of V.G. Cruz (formerly Economia), M. Dela Fuente (formerly Trabajo, where the old Baron Theater used to stand), A.H. Lacson (formerly Gov. Forbes, named after former Manila mayor Arsenio Lacson, and where the west-bound jeepneys plying the Tayuman - Lardizabal route pass), Maceda, S.H Loyola (Sergio H. Loyola, formerly Lepanto), Fajardo (formerly Lealtad), G. Tuazon (where the Balic-balic jeepneys pass) Earnshaw, Bayani, and Santol

Lastly, España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila's main street is not named with Jose Rizal in mind but it's a condition stipulated on the deed of donation of a portion of Dominican land of UST that the street fronting the oldest university in Asia be named Espana.

España therefore is one of the those streets of Manila that stupid, historically-challenged, heritage-agnostic politicians of Manila cannot change lest the street reverts to Dominican hands.

Labels: Jose Rizal, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippine History

Filipinos all over the world, as in every corner of the world where Filipinos are dispersed, celebrate the Philippines' 111th Independence Day.

It's a national holiday in the country and all sorts of celebration particularly at the Rizal Park (formerly Luneta) in Manila.

Even Google congratulates the Philippines this day for becoming Asia's first republic.



But why the title of this post?

(this is a rant post, continue reading if you so desire)

The subject is a quote from Jose Rizal's second novel El Filibusterismo, from the words of Padre Florentino, talking to the dying Simoun, "Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow?" at the end of the classic novel that inspired Andres Bonifacio to form the Katipunan and take up arms against the tyranny of Spain.

History tells that it was Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo came to declare the short-lived independence from Spain which was stolen later by the Americans.

Tutubi feels the country is not really free. He laments the Philippine government's subservience to foreign powers highly evident in it's words and actions (need he cite cases?) as well as the Filipino people's bondage to the yoke of poverty.

Just sometime ago, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1109 (HR1109) that seeks to turn Congress into a Constitutional Assembly, paving the way for changes to the Philippine Constitution, even without the Philippine Senate, counting on a "loophole" in the Philippine Constitution that they think they can do it alone sans the oppositionist Senate.

Those who voted for the resolution argued the country really needs to amend the charter to add provisions like allowing foreigners to own lands. They were able to approve the controversial measure in a marathon session and yet the pending Land Reform Law still can't see the light of day.

Congressmen really don't know much about history when history tells us too many revolts in the past were fueled by Filipino's desire to own the land they till. Allowing land ownership by foreigners, in the guise of economic development, will further drive up the price of land, already out of reach by most Filipinos.

This ignominious resolution will also pave the way for various insertions such as term extensions, shift to parliamentary and/or federal form of government et al

Tutubi is not against charter change but it's not the end all and be all of improving the lives of millions of Filipinos. It's the change of government that's the key, a government devoid of self-serving politicians-- the trapos; decentralization and recognition of the right to self-determination. The timing itself of the resolution is really distrustful (less than a year away from national elections) fueled by speculations that the numerous trips of PGMA to her home province will pave the way for her election as the representative and later as prime minister in a parliamentary Philippines, thus perpetuating the much-hated regime next to President Marcos.

Jose Rizal's words were relevant then as they are now.

But even in these times of hardships, in spite of various opportunities to leave the country, an opportunity not available to everyone, Tutubi still prefers to stay behind.

Long live the Philippines! May you someday attain true independence!

Labels: Jose Rizal, Philippine History

Filipinos who're indifferent to the reason why there's no classes and work last Monday don't care

Emilio Jacinto (December 15, 1875 - April 16, 1899), was a Filipino revolutionary known as the Brains of the Katipunan

On the highway of Magdalena town in Laguna near the boundary of Liliw, there's this forgotten marker about the battle of Katipuneros against the Spaniards where Emilio Jacinto was wounded. He was taken to Magdalena Church but was denied refuge and later transferred to Sta. Cruz where he was treated for his wounds by assuming the identity of another person.

Note: inside the Magdalena Church is the alleged blood stains and bloodied bolo of Emilio Jacinto encased in glass. National Historical Institute chair Mr. Ambeth Ocampo however doubts the authenticity of the blood stains but points out the display is good for tourists (this is according to Tutubi's personal correspondence with the noted scholar)

# Brains of the Katipunan
# wrote the Kartilya ng Katipunan
# born December 15, 1875 in Trozo, Manila
# died April 16, 1899 in Majayjay, Laguna

Spanish cartilla which at the time meant a primer for grade school students


Note the last item, a variation of the Golden Rule: "Do not do unto others what can be done today..."

Apologies to Foreign readers of this blog for Tutubi's too lazy to translate this for you

Kartilya ng Katipunan
ni Emilio Jacinto

Filipino foreword of the first edition of the Kartilya

KATIPUNAN

NANG MGA

A. N. B.

SA MAY NASANG MAKISANIB SA KATIPUNANG ITO

Sa pagkakailangan, na ang lahat na nagiibig pumasuk sa katipunang ito, ay ay magkaroon ng lubos na pananalig at kaisipan sa mga layong tinutungo at mga kaaralang pinaiiral, minarapat na ipakilala sa kanila ang mga bagay na ito, at ng bukas makalawa’y huag silang magsisi at tuparing maluwag sa kalooban ang kanilang mga tungkulin.

Ang kabagayang pinag-uusig ng Katipunang ito ay lubos na dakila at mahalaga; papagisahin ang loob at kaisipan ng lahat ng tagalog (*) sa pamamagitan ng isang mahigpit na panunumpa, upang sa pagkakaisang ito’y magkalakas na iwasan ang masinsing tabing na nakabubulag sa kaisipan at matuklasan ang tunay na landas ng Katuwiran at Kalinawagan.

(*) Sa salitang tagalog katutura’y ang lahat nang tumubo sa Sangkapuluang ito; sa makatuid, bisaya man, iloko man, kapangpangan man, atbp., ay tagalog din.

[edit] The Kartilya Code of Ethics in Filipino

1. Ang buhay na hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy(puno) na walang lilim, kundi (man) damong makamandag.
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa paghahambog o papipita sa sarili (paghahangad na makasarili), at hindi talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang-gawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapwa at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa't pangungusap sa talagang Katuwiran.
4. Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa'y hihigitan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda; ngunit di mahihigitan sa pagkatao.
5. Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang (dangal o) puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita'y panunumpa.
7. Huwag mong sayangin ang panahon; ang yamang nawala'y mangyayaring magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan nay di na muli pang magdadaan.
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi;kabakahin (labanan) ang umaapi.
9. Ang taong matalino'y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin;matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
10. Sa daang matinik ng buhay, lalaki ang siyang patnugot ng asawa at mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din. (Ang simula nito ay obserbasyon sa ugnayan ng babae at lalaki sa panahon ng Katipunan; para sa kasalukuyan, iminumungkahing ipalit ang sumusunod: "Sa daang matinik ng buhay, ang mga magulang ang patnugot ng mag-anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, and patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din.)
11. Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isang katuwang at karamay (ng lalaki) sa mga kahirapan nitong buhay; gamitin mo nang buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang (pisikal na ) kahinaan, alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhatan at nag-iwi sa iyong kasanggulan.
12. Ang di mo ibig gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huwag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
13. Ang kamahalan ng tao'y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangos ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Diyos, wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa: wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kundi sariling wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri, yaong di nagpaaapi't di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdam-dam at marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito, at maningning na sisikat ang araw ng mahal na kalayaan dito sa kaaba-abang Sangkapuluan at sabungan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi't magkakapatid, ng liwanag ng walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagod, at mga tiniis na kahirapa'y labis nang matutumbasan.

[edit] English translation of the Kartilya Code of Ethics

1. A life that is not dedicated to a noble cause is like a tree without a shade or a poisonous weed.
2. A deed lacks nobility if it is motivated by self-interest and not by a sincere desire to help.
3. True piety consists of being charitable, loving one’s fellow men, and being judicious in behavior, speech and deed.
4. All persons are equal, regardless of the color of their skin. While one could have more schooling, wealth, or beauty than another, all that does not make one more human than anybody else.
5. A person with a noble character values honor above self-interest, while a person with a base character values self-interest above honor.
6. To a person of honor, his/her word is a pledge.
7. Don’t waste time; lost wealth can be retrieved, but time lost is lost forever.
8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor.
9. The wise person is careful in all he/she has to say and is discreet about things that need to be kept secret.
10. On the thorny path of life, the man leads the way and his wife and children follow. If the leader goes the way to perdition, so do the followers. (Note: This begins with an observation of the vertical relationship of husband and wife during the time of the Katipunan; now, we can say that the parents lead the way and the children follow.)
11. Never regard a woman as an object for you to trifle with; rather you should consider her as a partner and helpmate. Give proper consideration to a woman’s frailty and never forget that your own mother, who brought you forth and nurtured you from infancy, is herself such a person.
12. Don’t do to the wife, children, brothers, and sisters of others what you do not want done to your wife, children, brothers, and sisters.
13. A man’s worth is not measured by his station in life, neither by the height of his nose nor the fairness of skin, and certainly not by whether he is a priest claiming to be God’s deputy. Even if he a tribesman from the hills and speaks only his tongue, a man has fine perceptions and is loyal to his native land.
14. When these teachings shall have been propagated and the glorious sun of freedom begins to shine on these poor Islands to enlighten a united race and people, then all the lives lost, all the struggle and the sacrifices will not have been in vain.

Source of Kartilya: Wikipedia


Tags: cartilla, Katrilya ng Katipunan

Labels: Emilio Jacinto, National Heroes, Philippine History, Philippine Revolution

Right after checking out a subdivision lot in Malolos he's paying for for quite sometime now, Tutubi, before heading back to Manila, turned right under the flyover to Paseo de Congreso that will be his usual sidetrip to a historic place in Malolos, Bulacan.

When they got to the destination, his mommy recognized the facade of the church they saw as the one featured on the old ten peso bill: Barasoain Church.

About 2 kilometers from Malolos crossing stands the historic Barasoain church, the site where the Malolos Congress inaugurated on September 15, 1898 with Pedro Paterno as president and drafted the Malolos Constitution (chiefly by Felipe Calderon). The Malolos Constitution was ratified on January 21, 1899. This piece of history is the foundation of the first constitutional republic in Asia.



facade of the historic Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan

the historic church featured on the old ten peso bill, the site of the proclamation of Asia's first republic
a monument remembering the Malolos Congress that drafted and promulgated the Malolos Constitution

The First Philippine Republic was formally established on January 21, 1899, in Malolos, Bulacan, and ended abruptly when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans, aided by Macabebe scouts, in Palanan, Isabela on March 23, 1901.

Later events led to the Americans taking over the country and transformed itself from "Land of the Free" to a "land of enslavers," from a Nation to an Empire in order to realize their "manifest destiny" through the use of benevolent assimilation.

Notes:

Barasoain Church was also the site of the inauguration of the short-lived presidency of Joseph Estrada who was ousted during the so-called EDSA Dos and ushered in the reign of PGMA.

Beside Barasoain Church is the Barasoain Ecclesiastical Museum but Tutubi wasn't able to enter since it was a Monday, the usual day when museums in the Philippines are closed.

In front of the historic edifice is a patio and plaza with a monument of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Republic of the Philippines.

There are two markers installed in front of the church: one by the National Historical Institute and another by the University of the Philippines


How to get to Malolos, Bulacan:

Commute to Barasoain Church: Board a bus to Bulacan (e.g. Baliwag Transit on EDSA, Cubao) and alight in front of Bulacan Provincial Capitol just after passing the flyover (viaduct) of Malolos crossing. Transfer to a jeepney/multicab with signboard Malolos (or ride a tricycyle) and drop off in front of Barasoain Church (on your right)

Driving directions to Malolos: From Makati, head towards EDSA then proceed to NLEX and take Tabang Exit (the exit immediately after the Shell gasoline station). The road (Manila North Road) will pass by Guiguinto then Malolos after a straight drive. When you reach the flyover at the so called Malolos Crossing, choose Ilalim to turn left to Paseo de Congreso where Barasoain Church is about 10 minutes from Crossing. Ample parking space available at the patio in front of the historic church.

Other historical places in Bulacan according to the official website of Bulacan Provincial Government:

Enriquez Ancestral House, Bulacan
Meyto Shrine, Calumpit
St. John the Baptist Church, calumpit
Barasoain Ecclesiatical Museum, Malolos
Basilica Minore de Immaculada Concepcion, Malolos
Bulacan Museum, Malolos
Casa Real Shrine, Malolos
Pinagrealan, Norzagaray
Tecson House, San Miguel
Marcelo H. del Pilar Shrine, Bulacan
Biak-na-bato National Park, San Miguel
Baliuag Museum, Baliuag
Old Train Statio, Guiguinto
Kakarong de Sili, Pandi
Mercado house, Bustos
Battle of Quingua, Plaridel
Bagbag Bridge, Calumpit

Labels: Bulacan, Central Luzon, Churches, Philippine History, Philippine Revolution

An election fraught with allegations of electoral fraud where ballots counted outnumbered voters and orchestrated by the upper class against a plebeian. Man condemned in a trial for high treason. Wife beaten and raped by his arresting officer. Rapist did not stand trial and got away with impunity. Leader executed and buried in an unmarked grave whose body up to now has never been recovered.

These are not current events, but events that happened more than a century ago to a man whose birthday the country celebrates this day: Andres Bonifacio

Born on Nov. 30, 1863, in Tondo, Manila, in present day Tutuban and part of the vast shopping mecca of Divisoria. He was named Andres since Nov. 30 is the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. A monument of him can be seen in front of Tutuban Mall on C.M. Recto Avenue.

His parents, Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro died from tuberculosis, mother first followed by father a year later.

Was present in the house on Ylaya St meeting when Jose Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina

When La Liga Filipina was disbanded with the exile of Jose Rizal in Dapitan, Bonifacio founded the Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (The Highest, Most Venerable Association of the Sons of the People), or the Katipunan, on July 7, 1892 together with Ladislaw Diwa and Teodoro Plata, at a house of Deodato Arellano on Sagunto Street (now Santo Cristo St) in Tondo. There's a historical marker at the site of KKK founding.

Bonifacio used the caves of Pamitinan in present day Rodriguez (Montalban) of Rizal on which he wrote: Long Live Philippine Independence

A poet and well verse in Spanish, his most famous poem's titled 'Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa'

Married twice, the first one to Monica, his neighbor in Tondo, who died of leprosy a year later.

Second marriage to Gregoria de Jesus (Oryang), an 18 year old lass from a wealthy family in Kalookan, at Binondo Church (though church records turned out nil, they could have married under assumed names for Oryang to escape parental objection being a minor at that time)

Notable Bonifacio Monuments:

Cry of Balintawak Monument at the corner of EDSA and Bonifacio Drive in Quezon City by Napoleon Abueva in bronze. There's a plaster version in front of Vinzons Hall at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

The Cry of Pugadlawin near Quezon City General Hospital (Did you ever wondered why there were at least two cries?)

Bonifacio Monument, popularly called Monumento, a national shrine with an obelisk at the heart of a rotonda (roundabout), the meeting point of EDSA, MacArthur Highway, Rizal Avenue(Avenue) and Samson Road in Caloocan City. It's sculpted by Guillermo Tolentino, a National Aritst for Visual Arts.

the western part of Monumento in Caloocan.

Bonifacio Monument in front of National Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, also done by Guillermo Tolentino

Bonifacio Monument at the Mehan Garden near Manila City Hall, a work by Eduardo Castrillo. (Ed Castrillo is also the one who sculpted the EDSA Shrine in front of Robinsons Galleria at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City and the upcoming Montemaria Shrine in Batangas)

an old photo of the monument beside the Manila City Hall with the clock tower in view

Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City, the site of Andres Bonifacio's battle where he met defeat at the hands of the Spaniards

The Tejeros Convention, the site of the election that catapulted Emilio Aguinaldo as president of the Philippines. Allegations of fraud, called Acta de Tejeros, emerged the next day. The election protest was never resolved (old news, eh?)

Bonifacio was executed on May 10, 1897 on Mt. Nagpatong in Maragondon (this was previously listed in textbooks as Mt. Buntis and sometimes Mt. Hulog ). A shrine is now present at the execution site in a place now called Bonifacio Historical Shrine and Eco-tourism Park in Barangay Pinagsanhan, Maragondon.

Lastly, don't ever try to restart the old debate on Andres Bonifacio, and not Jose Rizal as Philippine National Hero.

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Expect Tutubi to visit the places mentioned here in the future :P

Sources:
Ambeth Ocampo's articles on the Philippine Daily Inquirer
here, here and here.
The "rape" of Gregoria De Jesus was postulated by Ambeth Ocampo in his book Bones of Contention
National Historical Institute

Labels: Andres Bonifacio, Caloocan City, Manila, Metro Manila, Monuments, National Heroes, Philippine History, San Juan

The first time Tutubi set foot in Cabanatuan was sometime in 1995 to visit Wesleyan University. This time, he passed by the city notorious for the presence of so many tricycles criss-crossing the busy streets of the city made notorious by the murder of a revolutionary general and the almost forgotten daring rescue of American POWs by Americans aided by Filipino guerilas during World War II.

It took barely two hours drive to go to Cabanatuan from Quezon City because Tutubi left at early at 5am and got there before 7am when Jollibee and the city's notorious "million" tricycles were still asleep.

Drive and shoot pictures of Cabanatuan City:

welcome arch of the city
a photo of NE Crossing unobstructed but a speeding tricycle entered the frame. It's about 7am and you still can't see the other million tricycles here
Kamura, Tutubi thinks prices here are cheap! :P
The statue of Antonio Luna near the Cathedral. For lesson in history, the revolutionary general Antonio Luna was murdered by the soldiers of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo inside the Cabanatuan Cathedral in July 1899. (Tutubi wanted to take pictures of the statue and the marker on the wall of the church but rain fell as soon as he got out of the car...next time Tutubi, next time)

There are three major roads in Cabanatuan: the Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan-Tarlac, and the Cabanatuan-Aurora road. The Maharlika Highway is the main thoroughfare going to Nueva Vizcaya. The so called Crossing is the corner of Maharlika and the road going to Aurora (Baler, Casiguran, Dingalan) and pass by the historic Pangatian Shrine and Palayan City,the capital of Nueva Ecija province. Cabanatuan-Tarlac is Nueva Ecija's link to neighboring Tarlac province.

Should you find yourself in Cabanatuan, Tutubi recommends gassing up at this gas station. Too bad, he had already gassed up at Shell Crossing when he saw this nationalistic station sporting the colors of the national flag and whose name sounded like refill. Creative and nationalistic indeed!

On his return trip to Manila, Tutubi passed by the former concentration camp also in Cabanatuan which was the site of the most successful rescue mission in American military history...subject of a future post! :P

Tip: To avoid heavy traffic in Cabanatuan, there are two bypass roads you can take, one pass by Barangay Kapitan Pepe (left, coming from Manila) and the other one is up to Mabini (right, from Manila)

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How to get to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija:

Driving Directions: On NLEX, take Sta. Rita Exit then just follow the route that willlead to Pulilan, Plaridel, Baliuag, San Ildefonso, and San Miguel and Gapan.

Those with motorcycles or want to avoid toll fees on NLEX can opt to go via MacArthur Highway passing through Caloocan, Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto (Tabang), Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliuag, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, San Miguel , Gapan, San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa, then Cabanatuan City.

Commute: Bus to Gapan, Nueva Ecija is serviced by bus companies on EDSA, Cubao Quezon City e.g. Baliwag Transit, Five Star Transit et al with signboards Cabanatuan, Santiago or Tuguegarao.

Labels: Antonio Luna, Cabanatuan City, Central Luzon, National Heroes, Nueva Ecija, Philippine History, Philippine Revolution

Tutubi, in his Hong Kong journey, also visited other places in the former British colony that once hosted people who played pivotal roles in Philippine history.

Before going to the two markers commemorating Jose Rizal in Hong Kong, Tutubi, ably guided by the affable Isabel Escoda, visited a playground on Morrison Hill, near Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Queens Road East in Wan Chai, and found this marker:


"In May 1898, In this vicinity, the first Philippine national flag was sewn by hand by Dona Marcela Agoncillo, wife of Felipe Agoncillo, the first Filipino diplomat, assisted by her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Delfina Herbosa Natividad, niece of the Philippine National hero Dr. Jose Rizal. This flag, which became the rallying symbol of unity for the Filipino people during the Philippine revolution, was officially unfurled during the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit Cavite.

This marker is installed to commemorate the historical role of Hong Kong in the Filipino people's struggle for independence.

The Antiquities Authority"

view of the marker with a perspective of the place with the entrance to Morrison Hill Road playground
The marker is seen by people and children playing at the playground, maybe even Filipinos working there

After the brief visit and photo-op of the place, decided to board a bus plus a short walk and came face-to-face with the past and the present Victoria Prison, where overstaying foreigners in Hong Kong, including Filipinos are languishing. Nearby are the classical Central Magistracy building and Central Police station (Hollywood road); the three are already declared monuments and heritage sites of Hong Kong.

Victoria Prison on Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong with the typical barbed wire fence and high wall feature of prisons

Also on Arbuthnot road once stood the residence of Jose Maria Basa, an exile of 1872 (after the three priests Father Gomez, Father Burgos and Father Zamora were summarily tried and sentenced to death by the garrote for the Cavite arsenal revolt of January 20, 1872, an event that was inculcated in the young Rizal's mind. Rizal later dedicated his second novel El Filibusterismo to the three martyred priests).

Jose Maria Basa hosted Rizal during Rizal's first visit to Hong Kong in 1888, and was responsible for sending copies of the banned Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines. He later acted as disbursement officer for the nationalist movement for procuring arms to be smuggled to the Philippines.

Further up Arbuthnot road, is the Hong Kong Botanical Garden, where the photo below, one of the most famous snapshotss of Philippine history, was reportedly taken with members of the Comite Central Filipino (aka Hong Kong Junta), led by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.



Aguinaldo and his men were granted amnesty and exiled in Hong Kong by the Spanish after signing the pact of Biak-na Bato (in a house, not in cave like the guides in Biak-na-bato are telling their visitors) in exchange for eight hundred thousand pesos. (Four hundred thousand pesos was paid, the rest of the money didn't come, and Aguinaldo and his minions squandered and quarreled over the money and part of it they bought arms to be taken to the Philippines)

Another significant contribution of Hong Kong to Philippine history was the Hong Kong -born British (and said to be Chinese) woman named Josephine Bracken, who accompanied his stepfather in Dapitan, where Jose Rizal was exiled.

As you should know, Josephine Bracken was smitten by the sweet speaking doctor in Jose Rizal, and became the hero's last girlfriend.

One of the quests made by scholars, including Ambeth Ocampo and Isabel Escoda, and history buffs is to find the exact location of poor Josephine Bracken's tomb.

Sadly, tomb raiders and researchers, still, weren't able to locate it.

Labels: Emilio Aguinaldo, Hong Kong, National Heroes, Philippine History, Philippine Revolution

This day in 1892, Jose Rizal, after coming back to the Philippines from Hong Kong founded La Liga Filipina in a house on Ilaya (Ylaya) in Tondo. Present in the meeting was Andres Bonifacio who became one of its founders.

La Liga Filipina was organized to be a civic society, to help people in need, foster unity and other noble aims.

But the Spanish authorities, ever wary, feared the organization was dangerous and on July 6, 1892 had Rizal arrested and exiled in Dapitan.

With Rizal in exile, the Liga became inactive after a while and later abolished; the Liga then split into two: the Cuerpo de Compromisarios (who continued to support La Solidaridad) and the radicals, led by Andres Bonifacio, who formed the secret society known as the Katipunan.

Labels: Andres Bonifacio, History, Jose Rizal, National Heroes, Philippine History