Journals from an indigenous Philippine sorcerer: Part one
Talks with an Indigenous Sorcerer I’m a retired psychologist and college professor. I moved to the Philippines for many reasons, among them the incredible sweetness of essence I noticed in …
History
How much evidence is enough to declare new species of human?
The announcement of a new species of ancient human (more correctly hominin) from the Philippines, reported today in Nature, will cause a lot of head-shaking among anthropologists and archaeologists. Some …
How Indian slave girl’s fight for freedom ended with murder in old Manila
In 1635, María, a slave woman from the Indian sub-continent living in the Spanish-controlled Philippine Islands, enters the historical record. We know that women as well as men were involved …
Returning the Bells: Full statement by US Ambassador Sung Kim
US Ambassador Sung Kim has issued the following statement to mark the return of the Balangiga Bells today: This morning, a U.S. Air Force plane bearing three historic bells from …
Forgotten history: How White Russians found refuge in the Philippines
The Russian ambassador to the Philippines has recalled how thousands of White Russians once found sanctuary in the Philippines. About 6,000 Russians who had previously fled the Bolshevik revolution of …
Balangiga Bells officially handed back to the Philippines
The United States has officially handed over two of the Balangiga Bells to the Philippines after more than a century. “This is a very significant event that we have not …
Balangiga bells to be returned to Philippines ‘in time for Christmas’
The Balangiga Bells, taken by US forces from the Philippines as war booty in 1901, are expected to be returned in time for Christmas. Dr Rolando Borrinaga of the Committee …
Just how great was the fortune plundered by the Marcos family?
After the People Power Revolution of 1986, Ferdinand Marcos and his family fled into exile in Hawaii aboard a US Air Force C-130. Upon their arrival at Hickam Air Force …
Imelda Marcos sentenced to 77 years in prison for historic corruption
Imelda Marcos has been ordered arrested after the Philippine anti-corruption court found her guilty on seven counts of graft. The 89-year-old widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was sentenced …
Book reveals full horror of battle to liberate Manila from the Japanese
A new book has been published that reveals the full horror of the World War Two battle to liberate Manila from the Japanese. In February 1945, Japanese troops committed one …
Decades after victory, Filipino veterans awarded congressional gold medals
Seventy-six years after the liberation of the Philippines, the US Ambassador has honoured 29 Filipino war veterans with congressional gold medals. Speaking at a ceremony at the Philippine Military Academy …
Alfred Lim: War hero who helped liberate the Philippines dies aged 107
Filipino-American war veteran Alfred Lim has died at his California home aged 107 after a remarkable lifetime of service to family and country. The highly decorated soldier served behind enemy …
The White Rajah: The Victorian adventurer who won an Asian empire
THE WHITE RAJAH: The Philippines officially lays claim to Malaysian province of Sabah, the northeast portion of the Island of Borneo. Historians argue that the Sultan of Sulu only leased …
John McCain: Philippine government pays tribute to ‘friend and champion’
Philippine government officials have paid tribute to US Senator John McCain, saying the country had “lost a true friend and champion with his passing”. In a statement today (Sunday, August …
Museum of presidential vehicles opens in Quezon City
In a treat for petrol heads and historians, a museum of presidential vehicles has opened its doors in Quezon City. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and city …
UN rights experts: ‘Japan should do more to compensate comfort women’
Japan should do more for wartime sex slaves, or comfort women, UN rights experts have said, adding that Tokyo had not provided full redress and reparation. Most historians agree that …
US Embassy confirms return of Balingiga Bells to the Philippines
After more than a century, the US Embassy in Manila has announced that the Balingiga Bells will be returned to the Philippines. The American military took the bells from the …
US Senator who advised Marcos to quit the Philippines dies aged 96
The former US senator who advised President Marcos to “cut, and cut cleanly” as the dictator’s regime crumbled has died aged 96. Paul Laxalt, the son of Basque immigrants who …
Mythical creatures of the Philippines: From aswangs to wakwaks
It is no surprise that with more than 7,000 islands, scores of languages and dozens of unique cultures, the Philippines has more than its share of folklore and legends. In …
Mysteries of the Philippines: The teleportation of Gil Perez
On October 24, 1593, a soldier called Gil Perez was on guard duty outside the Governor’s palace in Manila. Extra vigilance was required, as it had been learned just the …
US Embassy backs plans to preserve Baguio’s American-built heritage
The US Embassy in Manila to work with Baguio City to preserve American-built heritage sites in the City of Pines. In belatedly celebrating US Independence Day in Baguio yesterday (Friday, …
Timeless beauty: Twelve historic photos of charming Filipinas
Since the earliest days of photography, visitors to the Philippines have been keen to capture the country’s stunning landscapes, vibrant village life and, of course, the grace and beauty of …
Duterte: I can’t have good rapport with US unless it returns Balangiga Bells
President Duterte said he could never have “good rapport” with the US unless it returned the Balangiga Bells, taken as war booty from Samar in 1901. The president reiterated his …
How a Rhino fossil rewrote ancient human history in the Philippines
A dig in Luzon, an island in the northern Philippines, has uncovered fossils of an “Ice Age” rhino that was butchered about 700,000 years ago. It’s the first evidence demonstrating the …
Luzon finds show humans were living in the Philippines 709,000 years ago
Evidence that somebody butchered a rhinoceros with stone tools on Luzon proves that the Philippines has been a home to humans for much longer than expected. The archaeological find pushes …
Historic homes at former US air base in Clark to become heritage site
Barn homes, built by the US military in 1904 for officers at Clark are to be recognised as part of the former air base’s heritage. Seventeen of the distinctive buildings …