Mayor Joy Belmonte condemns killing of Gwenn Salamida
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte condemened the killing of former journalist and salon owner Gwenn Salamida. “Ms. Salamida was a beloved member of the media, an honest business owner, and …
History
Robredo on 48th anniversary of Martial Law declaration: Atrocities undeniable
Vice President Leni Robredo issued Monday a statement on the 48th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration in the Philippines, saying the atrocities committed during the Marcos regime could not …
After more than a century, Spanish warship arrives in Manila
For the first time in more than a century, a Spanish warship has docked in the Philippines. The air defense frigate Méndez Núñez of the Armada Española arrived in Pier …
CNN names Vigan City as one of Asia’s most beautiful towns
News network CNN has named Vigan as one of the “most beautiful towns” in Asia for its heritage and Spanish colonial-era architecture. In a statement today (Wednesday, September 4) the …
Journals from an indigenous Philippine sorcerer: Part one
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 my Filipino students. While retired, …
‘No spitting of momma’: The betel nut chewers of the Philippine provinces
BETEL NUT: While visiting Mountain Province — to see the hanging coffins of Sagada — I was baffled by signs reading “no spitting of momma”. My first thought was to …
Baybayin: An ancient Filipino script that could be making a comeback
It’s quite possible to spend a long time around the Philippines without realising that the islands have their own unique script, Baybayin. With its elegant curling form, it’s quite unmistakable …
Duterte approves sale of ‘fit for royalty’ Marcos jewellery collection
President Duterte has approved the sale of 704.8 million pesos worth of jewellery that belonged to former first lady Imelda Marcos. The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) — the …
The lost island of San Juan: Atlantis, Wakanda or mapmaker’s error?
For a few hundred years, maps of the world included the island of San Juan, lying just off the coast of north-eastern Mindanao. Atlases of the 16th to 18th Centuries …
A brief guide to some of the insurgent groups plaguing the Philippines
The recent news that the unfortunately named MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) is prepared to lay down arms and settle for a high degree of autonomy is obviously to be …
MILF: The deadly serious terror group with the somewhat silly name
Firstly, MILF has nothing to do with Stiffler’s Mom, but we do need to deal with this striking name before moving on. I remember many years ago being in Eritrea …
The Sultanate of Sulu, the lost realm that could spark international crisis
Although the Philippines might not have been at war with a neighbour since the 1940s, there are some potential conflicts waiting in the wings. The Sultanate of Sulu might sound …
The NPA and the 50-year war rarely mentioned outside the Philippines
While the Duterte government’s war on drugs, and the Islamic insurrection by the amusingly named MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) tend to me the main headline grabbers for death and …
Visiting the legendary Hanging Coffins of Sagada’s Igorrot people
Being fond of the strange and unusual, I headed to Sagada in Mountain Province in search of the legendary hanging coffins of the Igorrot tribe. These are an indigenous people …
I shall return: 75th anniversary of Leyte Landings planned for October
Plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s Leyte Landings on October 20, 1944, are now being finalised. The Mayor of Palo Town, Remedios L Petilla, has said …
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 …
Scientists announce discovery of ancient Hobbits in the Philippines
Filipino scientists have discovered evidence of a Hobbit-like humanoid that lived on Luzon Island as recently as 50,000 years ago. Teeth and bones of the newly named Homo Luzonensis were discovered in Callao Cave, …
Plan to celebrate 500th anniversary of first Catholic Mass stirs debate
As the 500th anniversary of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines approaches, a dispute over where exactly it was held rumbles on. Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado said the …
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 …
Bangsamoro Organic Law: The path to Muslim majority autonomous region
In less than two weeks from now, the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) will come to fruition after more than a decade of set-backs and progress. Here are some of the …
New Year’s Eve in the Philippines, a unique blend of East and West
New Year’s Eve in the Philippines is a time when the country’s unique blend of Eastern and Western influences is absolutely unmistakable. Traditions and beliefs from Spain and China combine …
Simbang Gabi – early-morning masses at the heart of a Philippine Christmas
Attending Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo (dawn mass) for nine days is one of the most distinctive traditions of Christmas in the Philippines. From December 16 to 24, Filipinos …
Cash pledged to restore two iconic heritage buildings of Ilocos Norte
Two of of the most important heritage icons in Ilocos Norte will be restored by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). These are the Saint Augustine Church in …
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 …
Ceremony set to welcome Balangiga Bells home from America
After 117 years, the Balangiga bells will arrive in Manila next week, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has confirmed. All three will be formally handed over by the US at …
Remembering Andres Bonifacio — the ‘Father of the Philippine Revolution’
Patriots have gathered in Caloocan City to mark the 155th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio — the ‘Father of the Philippine Revolution’. Unlike other independence heroes such as Jose Rizal, Bonifacio …