In Focus: Andres Bonifacio

Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897) was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. He was a founder and leader of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution. He is considered a de facto national hero of the Philippines. Bonifacio is also considered by some Filipino historians to be the first president of the Philippines, but he is not officially recognized as such.

Bonifacio was born to Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro in Tondo, Manila and was the eldest of six children. His father was a tailor who served as a teniente mayor (municipal official) of Tondo while his mother (a mestiza of Spanish descent) worked in a cigarette factory. He was orphaned in his late teens - his mother died of tuberculosis in 1881 and his father followed a year after. Bonifacio was forced to drop out of school and work to support his family.[ He worked as a mandatorio (clerk/messenger) for the English trading firm Fleming and Company, where he rose to become a corredor (agent) of tar and other goods. He later transferred to Fressell and Company, a German trading firm, where he worked as a bodeguero (warehouseman/agent). He also set up a family business of selling canes and paper fans. Bonifacio was married twice. His first wife was a certain Monica who died of leprosy. His second wife was Gregoria de Jesus of Caloocan, whom he married in 1893. They had one son who died in infancy.

Despite not finishing formal education, Bonifacio was self-educated. He read books about the French Revolution, biographies of the Presidents of the United States, the Philippine penal and civil codes, and novels such as Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, Eugène Sue's Le Juif errant and José Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Bonifacio was a Freemason and a member of the Gran Oriente Español (Spanish Grand Lodge). In 1892 he joined Rizal's La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League), an organization which called for political reforms in the Spanish government of the Philippines. However, La Liga Filipina disbanded after one meeting as Rizal was arrested and deported to the town of Dapitan in Mindanao. Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini and others revived La Liga Filipina in Rizal's absence. Bonifacio was active at organizing local chapters in Manila. La Liga Filipina contributed moral and financial support to Filipino reformists in Spain.

Link: Andres Bonifacio

Source: Wikipedia

Juan De La Cruz

Juan de la Cruz is symbolically used in the Philippines to represent the "Filipino". The name is roughly the equivalent of the American Uncle Sam and John Doe. Juan de la Cruz is usually depicted wearing the native Salakot, Barong Tagalog, long pants, and slippers (called Chinelas in Filipino). The term Juan de la Cruz is also used when referring to the collective Filipino psyche. The terminology was coined by Robert McCulloch Dick, a Scottish-born journalist working for the Manila Times in the early 1900s, after discovering it was the most common name in blotters.

The name is Spanish which translates to "John of the Cross". The majority of Filipinos have acquired Spanish surnames largely due to more than 333 years of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. The Roman Catholic Church also plays an important role in the naming of a child, with almost every other baby baptized and named after a saint. San Juan de la Cruz was a Spanish mystic and Doctor of the Church; a leading figure in the Catholic Reformation.

Activists often call Juan de la Cruz a victim of American imperialism, especially since most editorial cartoons of the American era often depicted Juan de la Cruz along with Uncle Sam.

Link: Filipino eScribbles

Source: Wikipedia

Pepe Recommends: Diccionario Chabacano de Cavite

For more information on this dictionary, Click HERE!

Link: Cavite City Library And Museum

Any Future For Historical Cities?

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" Filipinas " by Los Panchos

Los Panchos were first formed in 1944 in New York City by Alfredo Gil (Mexican), Chucho Navarro (Mexican) and Hernando Aviles (from Puerto Rico). Each member of Los Panchos played a guitar and sang with unequalled harmony.

Los Panchos reached fame internationally with their romantic songs, especially in Latin America, where they are still regarded as one of the top trios of all time. They sold millions of album copies within a few years of being founded.They also appeared in around 50 movies, mostly during the 'Golden Age' of Mexican cinema.

Between 1946 to 1948, Los Panchos performed in the United States, including a performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Los Panchos first began touring internationally in 1946. Later that year, Los Panchos moved to Mexico, considered the capital of Spanish-language music where many Latin and Iberian artists have jumped to international fame. They were welcomed with open arms and XEW-AM, the most popular radio station in Mexico City, reserved a time slot for their music. In 1951, Los Panchos launched another international tour across Latin America.

Julito Rodriguez joined the group in 1952; he was replaced by Johnny Albino in 1958. Johnny Albino & Chucho Navarro, (Miguel Poventud and Yomo Toro were studio musicians for CBS) famously worked with singer Eydie Gorme on a series of bestselling albums in the 1960's. The Albino era was one of the most prosperous ones for Los Panchos whose classic albums are very popular among Los Panchos fans still. His departure in 1968 was a tumultuous one, as he did not leave on good terms with the group's management.

In 1971, Ovidio Hernández joined the band as lead vocalist, a part he would fulfill until his untimely passing of complications of meningitis in 1976. Following him, Rafael Basurto Lara joined as lead singer, he is today the last living member of the original Trio Los Panchos.Alfredo Gil played with Los Panchos until his retirement in 1981 (he passed away in 1999) and Chucho Navarro played with the group until his death in 1993.

A characteristic instrument of Los Panchos and many more bolero trios after them is the Requinto guitar, which is smaller and tuned higher than a standard guitar, and was invented by Alfredo Gil, founding member of Los Panchos. Requinto soli are typically part of a bolero song.

Today, there are several trios claiming to be the rightful successors to the original trio, with Rafael Basurto Lara, lead singer of the original Trio Los Panchos since 1976 still being the lead voice of one of them. [3] Another Trio Los Panchos is currently under the musical direction of Gabriel Vargas Aguilar, the adopted son of co-founder Gil. This band, now based in Veracruz, Mexico, still continues to perform concerts across Mexico, Latin America, and the United States, with a newer cast of singers.

Source: Wikipedia

"Porque" by Maldita [en Chavacano de Zamboanga]

Porque (Why) was the first single released by Zamboanga City's local band, Maldita with Demz and Francel on vocals, and Whey on acoustic guitar (rhythms). Other members are as follows: RB (lead guitarist), James (bass guitarist), Mad (Drums) and Jesser (Keyboardist). Video Courtesy of MAD MEDIA WORKS.

Link: You tube, Hola Zamboanga

¡Feliz Dia De La Hispanidad!

Feliz Dia de La Hispanidad!

Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492 in the Julian calendar and October 21, 1492 in the modern Gregorian calendar, as an official holiday. The day is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza (Day of the (Hispanic) race) in many countries in the Americas, as Día de las Culturas (Day of the Cultures) in Costa Rica, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain, as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay and as Día de la Resistencia Indígena (Day of Indigenous Resistance) in Venezuela. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various countries since the early 20th century.

Related: ¡Feliz Dia de la hispanidad! (Alas Filipinas)

Source: Wikipedia

Cuidad de Nueva Caceres (Naga City)

Ciudad de Nueva Cáceres (English: City of New Caceres) was a former Spanish city in the Philippines. Established by Captain Pedro de Sanchez in 1575, the city was named after the honor of Governor-General Francisco de Sande who was native of Cáceres, Spain. In 1595, a papal bull coming from the Vatican created the See of Cáceres under the Archdiocese of Manila.

During its glory, Nueva Cáceres was considered the center of economy and industry in the Bicol Region. Nueva Cáceres was named as the province of Camarines' capital. When the province was dissolved in 1829 and 1857, the city then became the capital of Camarines Sur.

In 1919, after the fall of Spanish regime, Nueva Cáceres was renamed as Naga and reduced to municipality status. During Naga's cityhood in 1948, several villages around the municipality was split, giving way for new towns such as Canaman and Camaligan.

Link: Naga City

Source: Wikipedia

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