Historic Manila

25/08/2025

03/08/2025

Msgr. Aglipay and Isabelo de los Reyes in Kalayaan

02/08/2025

Fissures on the roads from Casiguran to Barrio Tabas, Aurora, Philippines, August 2, 1968

01/08/2025

A Rare Glimpse of the Fifth Manila Cathedral

This historical sketch offers a rare view of the fifth Manila Cathedral, as seen and drawn by Italian painter and engraver Fernando Brambila during the Malaspina Expedition (1789–1794). Commissioned by the Spanish Crown, the expedition was a sweeping scientific and political voyage that traveled across the Americas, Asia, and Oceania to document the people, culture, natural environment, and geography of Spain’s overseas territories.

In 1792, during the expedition’s stop in the Philippines, Brambila captured various scenes of colonial Manila—including this depiction of the Manila Cathedral (now officially known as the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception).

Referred to as the fifth cathedral, this structure was completed in 1760, following the repeated destruction of its predecessors by fire, earthquakes, and typhoons. It served as Manila’s principal church well beyond 1852, despite suffering significant damage in a devastating earthquake that year, until a major reconstruction began in 1858.

Brambila’s sketch remains one of the few surviving visual records of this long-lost cathedral, offering a valuable window into the architectural, religious, and colonial heritage of Spanish-era Manila.

Source: Wikipedia

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02/07/2025

First 100 Pensionados at the St. Louis World's Fair, Missouri, United States, 1904

This historic photograph shows the first group of Filipino pensionados—young scholars sent to the U.S. under American colonial rule to study and later serve in the Philippines.

Taken during the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the image reflects how education was used to promote American ideals in the early years of U.S. occupation. Their presence at the fair symbolized both progress and colonial propaganda.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

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01/07/2025

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01/07/2025

📍 | July 1, 1889
Dr. Olivia Simeona Demetria Salamanca y Diaz was born in San Roque, Cavite.

A pioneering Filipino physician, she trained in the United States at the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

She became the second female doctor from the Philippines.

30/06/2025

Intramuros, Manila, Philippines, 1925

Credit: John Tewell

13/06/2025

Fun Fact: Today Is the First and Only Friday the 13th of 2025

June 13, 2025, marks the one and only Friday the 13th of the entire year. No other month in 2025 has the 13th day falling on a Friday—a rare occurrence on the calendar.

So if you’re someone who finds this date a bit unsettling, take comfort in knowing that you won’t encounter another Friday the 13th until 2026—a year that’s expected to have three.

Whether you treat it with caution or simply see it as another ordinary Friday, today offers a unique glimpse into how age-old superstitions still shape our modern traditions and cultural mindset.

13/06/2025

🇵🇭 Independence Is Ongoing—Not Just Remembered but Lived

Yesterday marked the commemoration of Philippine Independence. But June 12 is more than a date on the calendar or a moment of celebration—it’s a challenge that asks:

How do we live as a truly free nation today?

In 1898, our ancestors declared independence. But in 2025, the struggle continues in many forms:

• When we speak out against corruption and abuse
• When we protect our forests, seas, and ancestral lands
• When we teach history with honesty and courage
• When we fight for just wages and workers' rights
• When we vote wisely and with patriotism—not just follow trends

We are the new generation of freedom fighters—no longer with swords, but with stories, science, service, and solidarity.

Let’s carry the spirit of independence not just on Independence Day, but in the choices we make every single day.

24/12/2024

Francisco Estanislao: The Innovator Who Shaped Modern Lantern-Making in Pampanga

Francisco Estanislao is often credited as one of the key figures in the development of the modern Filipino parol, the iconic Christmas lantern that has become a symbol of the holiday season. While he was not the first to create large lanterns in Pampanga, his innovations in the craft elevated and popularized the tradition, especially in the context of the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando.

Early Beginnings

In 1908, Estanislao’s journey in lantern-making began. Though he was a humble salt vendor, he was able to create a remarkable 2.43-meter (8-foot) bamboo lantern for the Sta. Lucia festival in his village. This lantern was crafted in honor of the patron saint of his town and used for the nine-day Simbang Gabi (dawn Masses) and processions. This early creation showed the deep religious and community significance of lantern-making in Pampanga.

While there is evidence of large parols being made in Pampanga as early as 1904, Estanislao's contribution was more transformative. His skillful use of bamboo and coco cloth helped refine the parol into the larger, more intricate designs that became a hallmark of Pampanga's lantern-making tradition.

Influence on Modern Parols

Estanislao is often credited with introducing the distinctive five-pointed star shape of the parol, which became widely recognized as the standard design. This shape, believed to be inspired by American colonial influences, became a central feature of the modern parol. His lanterns were not only larger but also more ornate, making them an essential part of the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga, which started in the early 1900s and has grown to become a major cultural event in the Philippines.

Through his work, Estanislao demonstrated the potential for combining artistry with craftsmanship, using locally available materials to create functional yet beautiful works of art. His lanterns were built to withstand the outdoor elements while also captivating spectators with their beauty, which helped to solidify the parol as a significant symbol of Christmas in the Philippines.

Legacy

While Estanislao was not the first to craft large parols, his innovations played a pivotal role in transforming the art form and securing its place in Filipino Christmas traditions. His influence helped foster a lantern-making culture in Pampanga, where the craft is still practiced with pride today. The Giant Lantern Festival now draws thousands of visitors each year, showcasing the lantern-making skills passed down through generations—skills that Estanislao helped to elevate.

Francisco Estanislao’s legacy lives on in the vibrant tradition of parol-making, not only in Pampanga but across the Philippines. His innovations in design, use of materials, and craftsmanship have made the parol a symbol of Filipino creativity and the Christmas spirit.

IN PHOTO: Photo of Parol Lanterns in Consunji Street, San Fernando, Pampanga, December 26, 1904

Sources:
Luther Parker Collection
National Library of the Philippines

21/12/2024

Philippine Peso Fuerte (10 pesos), 1896

Image Source: Godot13

Credit:

• National Numismatic Collection
• National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution