Do you remember who said this? “We will write a new history for Mindanao. We will rectify centuries of historical wrong committed by successive colonial powers and decades of inequities committed by successive Philippine governments. Mindanao has traditionally been called the ‘Land of Promise’; this romantic name has always been a one-way affair. The rest … Read more
Last week, I received an email from Mr. Mahmoud S. Aziz who was touched by my memories of Marawi in the late 60’s. In that column (“Marawi, Marawi!”), I mentioned that His Highness, the Aga Khan was the guest of honor and speaker at an anniversary of the Aga Khan, Museum of Islamic Art; Mr. … Read more
My piece on Marawi elicited the fraternal concern of Mr. Mahmoud S Aziz who read it online. He resides in Canada, it seems, works in a pharmaceutical company and has been to Marawi and the Aga Khan Museum. “I share your sentimentality and sincerely appreciate your thoughts on the situation in Marawi… I am deeply … Read more
We cannot help being sentimental about Marawi, that once verdant city by placid Lake Lanao, the summer capital of Mindanao. How idyllic it was, the first time my husband and I went there, in 1967 thereabouts, upon the invitation of our dear friends, Sultan Al Rashid Lucman (may he rest in peace) and his wife … Read more
There is a street named after him in Malate, perpendicular to San Marcelino, passing by PWU, it crosses Taft Avenue. We are celebrating Julio Nakpil’s sesquicentennial, dredging from the depths of memory what we would like the millenials to know about him. Memory is not just a simple record of events, it can become a … Read more
In our dear country, space is probably the most abused element (for lack of a better word). It can be argued that far too many human beings within our national territory have a low regard for space. There is also wanton disrespect for time because it is intangible and inedible, so it is mindlessly squandered, … Read more
This afternoon, heritage advocates will gather at the Roxas Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts to discuss hot heritage issues, the beginning of a series of monthly lectures related to the HOCUS exhibition at Gallery XXI. The latter was inaugurated last 18 April and is open to the public until 29 October, a … Read more
In today’s world, Beckys can be more physically alluring than biological females; they can even be more loving, more motherly. But there is one thing that still separates the girls from the boys — mother’s milk. Biological females can produce milk, though at varied quantities, and almost always, breast-feed. In recent years, breast-feeding has become … Read more
Many years ago during President Gloria Arroyo’s first term, a mining conference was held in Metro Manila. The former president proudly declared that the Philippines was on the threshold of becoming one of the ten largest “mining powers” in the world, and because of a reinvigorated mining industry, our country was on the verge of … Read more
On Labor Day, while dusting bookshelves, I came across a 1957 yearbook of the Philippine Chamber of Industries. I had forgotten about it, so I could not resist flipping a few pages. There were several pie charts one of which was titled, “Capital Investment of Producers by Nationality,” in Philippine pesos. What incredible data: Filipinos, … Read more