Chinese and Japanese Revolts Against the Spaniards in the Philippines during the 17th century

March 22, 2020

      Many foreign powers threatened the Spanish colony during the early years of settlement, mainly the Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, and Japanese. The Spaniards successfully resisted Portuguese efforts to drive them from Cebu. Later the Spanish King annexed Portugal to Spain, closing Portuguese ports to the Dutch traders, who then sought new trading centers … More Chinese and Japanese Revolts Against the Spaniards in the Philippines during the 17th century

Lemery, the only town in Batangas named after a Spanish official, and its history

March 8, 2020

Photo Credit – Wikipedia by HueMan1 Archeological finds at ancient gravesites in Lemery include pre-Hispanic artifacts and that the people of this region, called Bombon, conducted a lively trade with Arab, Chinese and Indian merchants over the centuries. Upon the arrival of conquistadores Juan de Salcedo and Martin Goiti in 1570, the Bombon inhabitants were … More Lemery, the only town in Batangas named after a Spanish official, and its history

The Last Living Paratrooper from MacArthur’s return …..

March 2, 2020

Originally posted on Pacific Paratrooper:
Gen. Douglas MacArthur (l.) and Richard “Dick” Adams (r.) Richard Adams describes General MacArthur as “quite a guy.” In commemoration of the 75th year of World War II in the Philippines, one of its heroes returned. Richard “Dick” Adams visited Corregidor once again, but this time, he did not parachute…

Jeepney – A symbol of Filipino Ingenuity

March 1, 2020

    At the end of WWII, with public transport virtually nonexistent, the U.S. Army released surplus jeeps, and enterprising Filipinos converted them into passenger vehicles called Jeepney by lengthening the bodies. Garishly colored jeepneys are as essential and ubiquitous in the Philippines as double-decker buses are in London. The jeepney gets you everywhere you … More Jeepney – A symbol of Filipino Ingenuity

February 22-25, 1986, The People Power Revolution

February 23, 2020

  This weekend marked the 34th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution which was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from Feb. 22-25, 1986. EDSA or Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, is the giant ring road encircling Metro Manila where majority of the … More February 22-25, 1986, The People Power Revolution

Cockfighting – An Ancient Sport in the Philippines

February 9, 2020

Like England’s foxhunts, and Spain’s bullfights, cockfighting is a blood-sport between two cocks held in a ring called a cockpit. Crowds of people watch the fights, in an enclosed cockpit or an open makeshift one. The pits look like miniature stadiums. Rural game pits usually consist of a wooden structure with a tin roof to … More Cockfighting – An Ancient Sport in the Philippines

Olivier van Noort and other early Spanish-Dutch conflicts in the Philippines

January 26, 2020

Although Spain ruled the Philippines much of the time until 1898, the Spanish had to fight other powers. Dutch fleets attacked Manila several times between 1600 to 1647. Pursuing their quest for alternative trade routes to Asia, the Dutch reached the Philippines and sought to dominate the commercial sea trade in Southeast Asia. Being at … More Olivier van Noort and other early Spanish-Dutch conflicts in the Philippines