at bilang kanlungan mo; ako ang sasagip sayo.

When you’re trying to get a photo with the lead actor of “Heneral Luna,” but there’s a guy in your way…

born: August 28, 1873 (Salasa, Pangasinan) died: February 5, 1899 (North of Manila)

Revolutionary soldier. Took up early tutelage under Rufino Villacruz, the well-known schoolmaster of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. Enrolled at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, finishing his secondary course with excellent grades, 1888. Was pensioned to the Military Academy of Toledo, Spain, 1892, and appointed second lieutenant in the Spanish army upon his return. He was promoted to captain after the battle of Talisay, Batangas, and was awarded the highest military medal of San Fernando. Joined the Filipino rebels when the Americans arrived in February 1899, fought under General Antonio Luna at La Loma, north of Manila, and bled to death when a bullet fractured his leg.

Katipunan Knife

Dated: late 19th century

Place of Origin: Northern Philippines

Measurements: 15" Overall with a 8 ¾" Blade

This Katipunan knife has a horn handle that has white metal inlay and brass fittings and a typical wavy blade. The original leather scabbard features brass fittings.

The Katipunan were a clandestine revolutionary society formed in 1892 to gain independence from Spain. When the US moved into the Philippines in 1898 they supported the Katipunan with arms and supported their cause.  

LOOK WHAT I JUST FOUND!

an e-learning site by the National Historical Commission (click here)!

open heart, open road faint eyes tell him so her shadow by the window, fear as black as dark as fall

empty room, empty calls he made her rise, she made him fall a story closing to its end blank pages, has always been

Emilio Jacinto y Dizon (1875-1899), was a Filipino revolutionary, popularly known in Philippine history books as the “Brains of the Katipunan” for he was a great strategist for the secret organization in the Philippines known as the Katipunan. The organization aimed to spark a revolution in the Philippines, then under the Spanish Colonial rule, which it did on August 1896. The execution of the Filipino doctor, Jose Rizal, who then became the inspiration of the organization, only empowered the Katipunan and its cause.  

The excerpt is from Emilio Jacinto’s short story entitled “Pahayag” (March 1896) published in the newspaper of the Katipunan called “Kalayaan” (Freedom, in Filipino). It is the longest of all the contributions made toward the secret publication, where a fictional patriotic boy is conversing with a beautiful lady named Liberty. The lady regretted not having visited the Philippines for 300 years, and the boy implores the lady to stay in his country to help his people find freedom. The original Tagalog manuscript unfortunately is lost forever in history, but Wenceslao Retana translated it in Spanish, thus we have the English translation today. 

There is yet so much to discover in these rare Katipunan documents. These revolutionaries were geniuses. They were well-read, and did great works of literature to rouse their own people. (Imagine, citing the Inquisition of European history and using that as cause for revolution!) I still get goosebumps reading this.

Read the entire short story here.  

Ito ang Solidaridad Book Shop. Ang nagmamay-ari nito? Walang iba kung hindi si F. Sionil Jose, ang ating National Artist for Literature.

(photo grabbed from the book shop’s facebook page)

1965 ginawa itong book shop na ito, so 50 na siya ngayon. Ang specialty nila? Sobrang raming Filipiniana books. As in. Lalo na ang history books (huhu kanina talaga nagkahistogasm ako dalawang aisle punong puno ng history books huhu ang ganda). At kung wala pa yung libro na hinahanap, tanungin lang sila and mag-oorder sila para sayo. O diba, san ka pa.

Ito ay nasa Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila. Lagpas lang ng Robinson’s Place Manila. Nasa baba ng Ibarra’s Garden. Yes. For real. Once again, histogasm. (malapit rin ito sa UP Manila yo)

Kay Paraluman aesthetics 1/?