In the recently inaugurated HOCUS exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts, one of the paintings depicts Fr. Blanco’s garden. Coincidentally, the Vibal Foundation launched the 5th edition of Blanco’s Flora de Filipinas, edited by Dr. Domingo Madulid on the Dìa Internacional del Libro at the Instituto Cervantes. Last week, I began writing about … Read more
Flora Filipina, the monumental opus of Fray Manuel Blanco, first published in 1837 by the Augustinian Order, is to this very day, revered as a magnificent contribution to Philippine botany. It is unassailable evidence that not all Spanish friars were like Padres Dámaso or Salvi. That is why in the recently inaugurated HOCUS exhibition at … Read more
Or is it Nilad? Fray Manuel Blanco of Flora de Filipinas fame may have been a learned botanist but he was a poor linguist, according to Filipino historian Carlos Quirino (National Artist Award for Historical Literature), he added the letter “d” to the plant’s name. So, Manila’s original name is not Maynilad but Maynila, a … Read more
In the National Museum of old – the one on Herran Street that was split and housed on the second floor of the Bureau of Mines and the ground floor of the former Bureau of Science – each division would set up noteworthy exhibitions to comply with the museum’s mandate. The “Kalinangan: Ifugao-Maranaw” drew raves … Read more
A psychic will have to tell me if I am about to come full circle; I find myself doing the same things I used to do some 46 years ago. Although the physical circumstances may not be exactly the same, memory has dredged up from its depths ineluctable similarities. Almost half a century ago, I … Read more
“Out of the blue,” she said, the president-elect told her to go to Cuba. It was May, 2016. “What is there to see in Cuba?” she asked, rather perplexed. “Just go and find out,” were the marching orders of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial, now secretary of health. That was how … Read more
In September, 2015, the 7th Asia Pacific Regional Conference for Solidarity with Cuba (APRCSC) was held in Hanoi after which an eponymous declaration was presented to the world. Significantly, Cuba and the United States of America had just re-established diplomatic relations (December, 2014). The last of the “Cuban Five” or “Miami Five,” Cuban intelligence officers … Read more
Recently, the Kadamay (Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap) occupied houses constructed by the National Housing Authority (NHS) for soldiers and policemen. No one, not a single government agency, whether national of local, has been able to drive the “occupiers” away from the structures they had taken over; in fact, more are coming to do the same. … Read more
Yes, they are coming to town in April for the 8th Asia Pacific Regional Conference for Solidarity with Cuba (APRCSC). The Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) now 56 years old, will be represented by the Cuban Ambassador to Malaysia, Madame Ibete Fernandez, who is also accredited as ambassador to the Philippines. What … Read more
Ambassador Leon Maria Guerrero was still in London when I went to Europe for the first time, with about 20 schoolmates and two Maryknoll nuns as chaperons. Tito Leoni and Tita Annie gave us a splendid reception at Palace Green, the embassy residence. They invited Sandhurst cadets, handsome in gala uniforms, sparkling conversation, and with … Read more