Gemma Cruz Araneta | LANDSCAPE The midterm elections in the United States of America in the year 2006 showed that the majority strongly repudiated Pres. George W. Bush’s war in Iraq. The Democrats gained control of both the Senate and House of Representatives and were poised to conduct investigations about the “origins and conduct” of war. Once again, history showed … Read more
General Emilio Aguinaldo’s decrees of 18 and 19 June 1898 comprised what we now call the Local Government Code. They contained some 45 rules of how town meetings were to be conducted, the formation of a police force for internal security, how to conduct trials, local elections, compile a civil registry of births, deaths and … Read more
After Independence was declared on 12 June 1898, a Revolutionary Government was formed and almost immediately President Emilio Aguinaldo signed two decrees, on 18 and 19 June, that established local governments all over the islands. Pres. Aguinaldo must have assessed the situation from a military strategist’s perspective; he saw that Spain’s defeat was irreversible which … Read more
There is a draft resolution emanating from all the councilors of the 6th district of Manila headed by Councilor Numero G. Lim, fondly called Numero Uno by his friends and constituents. Whether local or national, legislation always bears titles that are kilometrically lengthy and read more like colophons of another era. Here is the title … Read more
As painful as the truth, Manila is right now losing yet another cultural heritage treasure. There are people, among them local government officials, determined to make our capital a maze of high rises with no distinguishing aesthetic features; they want Manila to look like New York, I was informed. Very soon, it might not be worth … Read more
Tomorrow is the National Day of the Estados Unidos Mexicanos. In English, the United Mexican States. That is the country’s official name for it is a federation of 32 states. In the Philippine context, their states are like our provinces. Mexico’s Independence Day is unique, it is a nocturnal commemoration. In Mexico City, people converge … Read more
When I turned five, my mother threw a party. It was a barrio fiesta in the heart of Pasay where we settled after World War II. She was a young widow (juggling two babies, she used to say) living in her father’s house and writing for a newspaper on Soler Street in downtown Manila. I … Read more
“Enigmatic objects: Notes towards a history of the museum in the Philippines,” Dr. Resil Mojares’ monumental opus should not (and cannot) be read in one sitting. I am still very attentively mining its 500 pages, rereading chapters for nuggets of wisdom I may have missed at first glance. Even those who were never dragged to a … Read more
Dr. Resil Mojares’ latest book – Enigmatic Objects: Notes towards a History of the Museum in the Philippines – is a fountainhead of knowledge. I dare say, this historian par excellence truly deserves the National Artist Award for Literature. I have begun to read this 500-page book and here are a few things to share: … Read more
Many years ago, I hosted “Krus na daan” (Crossroads), a daily radio program for DZRJ; Wednesdays were dedicated to Philippine history and Dr. Jaime Veneracion, an eminent Filipino historian from Bulacan was the regular guest. Every January, with the Sinulog Festival in mind, we talked about the Santo Niño of Cebu and listeners would call … Read more