More articles about: history

The consequences for powerful men having dangerous liaisons outside of marriage are degrading, and most often, permanently damaging. Monica Lewinksy caused U.S. president’s Bill Clinton’s downfall. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s affair with her housekeeper, Patricia Baena, resulted in a son, Joseph Baena—and a marital rift with ...

San Agustin Church in Intramuros has been standing for more than four centuries now—through the ravages of war and, well, urban development since 1587—to become not just the Philippines' oldest Roman Catholic Church and one of the most beautiful, but also one of ...

The Japanese have always been important neighbors of the Philippines. In pre-colonial times, Japanese traders made the journey south to places like Cagayan, Pangasinan, and Manila to conduct trade deals. This continued into the age of Spanish colonization, with Japanese Christians even ...

One of the most jaw-dropping shots in Apollo 11, the revelatory new archive-based documentary about the 1969 moon landing, wasn't filmed anywhere near the moon. To be exact, it was shot about 250,000 miles away in Houston, Texas.A slightly wobbly camera held at ...

Our history shows that Negritos, like other ethnic groups, have always been marginalized since the day lowlanders took over their lands and conquistadors drove them back into the far reaches of the islands, roaming uncharted mountains and forests. Still, others were sold ...

On February 11, 1929, Emilio Aguinaldo delivered a speech in Spanish that was one of the first ones ever broadcast on television. Back then, TV was a revolutionary piece of technology that many people, including Aguinaldo, knew would change the world forever.The ...

Of the Filipino intellectuals of the late 19th century—the Rizals, the Paternos, and all the other ilustrados, one man sits comfortably above all of them: the sublime paralytic, Apolinario Mabini.Though a prolific writer and a veteran of two wars, it’s surprising that ...

Ilustrados occupy a unique space in Philippine history. They combined the economic freedom of Chinese mestizos and the ideas of Western liberalism to direct the nation toward a whole new path, away from the colonialism of Mother Spain and into an “enlightened” ...

The Barong Tagalog is arguably the most ubiquitous traditional clothing of the Philippines. It has enjoyed immense popularity as the formal garment worn on very important events, especially weddings. It has also been worn by Presidents, other world leaders, and even Hollywood ...

The Philippine flag was first raised on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite, but it didn't take long for the flag to be replaced by the Stars and Stripes. The Spanish colonizer was overthrown, yet replaced by the Americans. The Philippine flag ...

Today, June 19, is the birthday of Jose Rizal. Leading experts on Jose Rizal such as Renato Constantino (Veneration Without Understanding, 1970) and Ambeth Ocampo (Rizal Without the Overcoat Revised Edition, 1998) tell us that the first step to appreciating the heroism ...

Textbooks have always painted a positive image of the life of Juan Luna: an ilustrado, a part of the Propaganda Movement, and the Philippines’ foremost master painter. And yet we gloss over the most glaring, terrifying, and tragic event that haunted Luna all ...

Many heritage houses and buildings are being adapted or reused as inns or hotels in the country. Henry Hotel in Pasay and the Rizal Park Hotel, which used to be the old Army Navy Club, are popular examples. The same is true in ...

Visitors to the island of Tubabao, near Guiuan, Eastern Samar, will find the usual features of a small town. A barangay with a few houses, beaches, a market, and also resorts offering lodging and other activities for tourists. If they look hard ...

Jose Rizal wore many hats. He was a bibliophile, an intellectual, a novelist, and a nationalist. But there are certain personas he most definitely was not: a serial killer, the Redeemer, the Savior of the World, and immortal. The national hero may ...

An exceedingly significant letter written by Jose Rizal to his parents has surfaced. Dated October 10, 1883, it is from the collection of historian Epifanio de los Santos, who acquired it from one of the members of the Rizal family. For the ...

By the first two decades of the American Occupation in the Philippines, the influence of our new masters became more pronounced, from how we snacked to to how we dressed to how we got around and even to the way we consumed entertainment. For example, the rickety ...

Situated alongside high-rise condominiums and hotels along Manila Bay, the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex is a wonderful break to the monotony of these structures. The design of these architectural gems is courtesy of two National Artists for Architecture: Leandro V. ...

Though the Philippines gained independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, we now celebrate Philippine Independence Day annually on June 12. Here's why.Whether you're celebrating in the comfort of your home or out with a barbecue, these inspiring messages from Filipino ...

From 1902 to 1946, the Philippines was occupied as a colony of the United States of America following the aftermath of the Philippine-American War. All throughout the occupation, however, Filipinos struggled bravely to take back their independence and freedom.While the road to ...