MINIATURES

From the first look, the photo seems to be a harmless pose with this group of "Aetas" and a German professor. But when closely scrutinized and identified, the German anthropologist was no other than Egon Freiherr von Eickstedt, one of the leading proponents of this racial theory glorified by Nazi Germany.  In 1934 Egon Freiherr von Eickstedt  published his work "Rassenkunde und Rass engeschichte der Menschheit" (Ethnology and the Race History of Mankind). He was closely identified with Hans F. K. Günther, considered as the Nazi party's racial theorist. In the late '30s, in a state-sponsored trip, von Eickstedt traveled to Asia and the Philippines for his study in the classification of human races. Arrested in 1946 by the Soviet Army, he was later released and was allowed to teach at the University of Leipzig. he continued to deny his Nazi label claiming that he was never accepted as a member of the party. Egon von Eickstedt is defined by many...

I t is probably the most moving depiction of Filipinos ever sculpted. And it is only fitting that it's about the country's foremost son- Andres Bonifacio, the great plebian.  Unlike the Rizal monument in the Luneta, which was designed by a Swiss, (and was subject to controversies and debates even before its existence) the Bonifacio monument was designed by a Filipino, Guillermo Tolentino.  The Supremo  stands in a ready yet calm manner while his young squire stands at the back depicted with his youthful aggressive stance. On the left, the young and the old are represented, with the fist of the old man in the air as if saying, "enough!".  There is also a depiction of a blood compact, while the two priests of the "Gomburza" are seen in their violent end. Burgos faceless in his final moments yet it sends that haunting feeling.  These are fragments of the soul of our nation. Guillermo Tolentino's art and genius have kept it alive. The Supremo lives in th...

Ang sinasabing pangunahing inspirasyon ng manunulat Italyano Niccolo Machiavelli sa kanyang obrang "IL PRINCIPE" (The Prince). Ang duplisidad daw ng isang lider ay kinakailangan upang harapin ang mga hipokritong sistema sa lipunan at pulitika. Maging tulad ng leon at lobo (lion and fox) sa harap ng mga realidad sa umiiral na pakikipagtalastasan ng mga lider ng iba't iba ng bayan.  Ang Italya sa panahon ni Borgia ay isang malaking teritoryong kinapapalooban ng mga watak watak na "city-states" na kung saan ang isang lider ng isang siyudad na may yaman at anking talino sa diplomasya ang siyang kinikilalang may hawak ng tunay na kapangyarihan ng rehiyon . Maging isang leon na kinatatakutan at maging isang lobo din, tuso at matalinong kumilala na kondisyon, kaaway at kakampi sa kanyang kapaligiran ~ Lungsod ng Pasig Nobyembre 2016

I have always pointed out to colleagues who are into Germanistik (German Studies), Philology, and Philippine Studies the incredible amount of data, studies, and possibilities that scholars could learn just by researching both the writings of Ferdinand Blumentritt and Jose Rizal. Interestingly, University of Graz (Austria), a few years ago opened its "Sammlung" or collection of the Blumentritt-Schuchardt Correspondence. Reading it, I was led to consider new territories to understand the beginnings and the minds within the Rizal and Blumentritt friendship. One thing the Blumentritt-Schuchardt Correspondence has revealed is that long before Jose Rizal and Ferdinand Blumentritt were communicating with each other, Blumentritt was already in contact with some of the leading ilustrados and Filipino intellectuals particularly Trinidad Pardo H. de Tavera and Isabelo de los Reyes. In early 1881,  Blumentritt came to know Tavera by cha nce. Helping Hugo Schuchardt  (1842-1927), an immin...

Ang di umano'y larawan ni Hitler. nakasabit ang medalyang  "Eisernes Kreuz-Erste Klasse" Iron Cross-first class, iyan ang klasipikasyon ng pangalawang iron cross na medalya ni Hitler noong Unang Digmaan Pandaigdig. "Loner" daw sabi ng mga kasama niya sa bunker. Masyadong seryoso sa conviction nya at pilosopiya (Weltanschauung) sa punto na may kakaiba na siyang dating. Close to saying-may katok sa ulo. Na promote sa pagiging ka bo, mensahero siya runner o "Meldegänger" sa isang regimento, Ang gawain ay maghatid ng mensahe/ komunikasyon sa mga kalapit na regimiento. Sa isang labanan kung saan kinailangan ng matindi ang mga mensahero na halos naubos, pinatunayan diumano ni Hitler ang kanyang pakinabang,  kaya nga "Eisernes Kreuz - Erste Klasse" (Iron Cross First Class) ang katumbas na medalya.  Marami pag aaral ang inilunsad  upang alamin talaga ang tunay na Hitler noong WWI, alamin din ang totoo tungkol sa mga medalyang ito. Marami ...

I have always pointed out to colleagues who are somehow into Germanistik (German Studies), Philology, and Philippine Studies the incredible amount of data, studies, and possibilities that scholars could learn just researching on both the writings of Ferdinand Blumentritt and Rizal. University of Graz (Austria), a few years ago opened its "Sammlung" or collection of the Blumentritt-Schuchardt Correspondence. Reading it, I was led to consider new territories to understand the beginnings and the minds within the Rizal and Blumentritt friendship. The letter posted here was written by Blumentritt to the eminent German linguist Hugo Schuchardt (1842 – 1927). Their correspondence, which lasted for almost 30 years would often talk about Rizal, the Philippine languages, and the situation in the country at that time. Very interesting to point out also that this letter of Blumentritt to Schuchardt dated 2. January 1882 mentions a Filipino who Blumentritt contacted in Paris an...

One Paris newspaper accounts of the Luna case -- L'Affare Luna In the last week of September 1892, the Paris press was all abuzz, reporting on the sensational case of Juan Luna, a well-known figure in the Hispanic artistic community of Paris, who in a fit of jealous rage and marital dispute, shot and killed his wife and mother-in-law. The case was given different labels as newspapers came up with their own rhetoric of sensationalism, such as "la tragédie de la rue Pergolèse" and "L'affaire Luna," among others. Regional and provincial papers picked up the story, and in the succeeding weeks, it spread throughout France. Spanish papers, owing to Juan Luna's stature, also began their series of reports about the case. Later, one more enterprising Spanish journal would publish Antonio Luna's letter to a friend, sharing his brother's side of the story. The Luna case was arguably one of the most sensational events reported about a Filipino in the 19th ce...

Photo of a Manila bullfight in Paco --This is a preliminary part of the corrida, notice the toreros holding something like a barbeque stick? Those are "banderilleros". They test the ferocious nature of the animal, sticking the sharpened banderillas at the back of the bull. Wenceslao Retana, a former adversary who later became the biographer of José Rizal, offers a comprehensive account of bullfighting in the Philippines during the late 18th to 19th centuries in his book "Fiesta de Toros en Filipinas." One of the intriguing questions that arises from this historical narrative is: where did the bulls come from? In Spain, the tradition of "Ganadería de Brava" involves breeding bulls with outstanding bloodlines to ensure the animals' ferocity. A fighting bull, or "toro de Lidia," typically comes from a selected breed. To maintain its ferocious nature, breeders follow strict traditions, such as allowing the bull to roam freely in a free-rang...