BULLFIGHT IN MANILA

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-range environment.

The organizers of the Manila bullfights aimed to evoke a sense of tradition similar to that in Spain, as evidenced by advertisements of the time. Regarding the "toreros," Retana mentioned: "They were local toreros, mestizos, and even natives. What they lacked in art, they made up for with guts."

Retana recounted how the taurine show began in the Philippines. The first bullfights were held in honor of religious feasts, such as one on Christmas Day in 1708 and another in honor of the deceased Prince José Fernando de Baviera. However, Retana, in his description (or ridicule) of the early bullfights in Manila, portrayed them as rather dull spectacles. He humorously mentioned that the toro de Lidia was "vague and timid, lacking in size and heft, with small horns." This indicated that it was a poor imitation of the bullfights seen in Spain or Latin America. He added that the bulls were sourced from China.

Retana pointed out the apparent true purpose of this form of entertainment. It was used to highlight religious feasts, such as the Immaculate Conception, and notably "por razones diplomáticas" (for diplomatic reasons). In 1749, the Spanish Governor General hosted the Sultan of Jolo, Alimuddin, in Manila. To impress the visitor, the Spanish colonial government organized a bullfight.

Retana also discussed the makeshift "Corridas de Batangas," which generated considerable interest in Manila, especially among Andalusians and Madrileños. Not only were reviews written and published, but technical discussions followed. Retana mentioned a certain Don Federico Calero, whom he had seen at the corrida in Batangas. Calero, a Spaniard from Cádiz who also owned land in Paco, opened the first bullfighting enterprise in the Philippines in 1885.

This advertisement was part of Don Federico Calero's endeavor:

This "anuncio" of the upcoming corrida at the Plaza de Toros de Manila in Paco on August 23, 1885, provides some insights into the history of bullfighting in the Philippines. -- On the occasion of the "Fiesta de Paco," four bulls were to be presented, said to be selected from an accredited livestock farm (ganaderia) owned by the widow of Quesada from Cagayan.

Wenceslao Retana was never enthusiastic about the bullfight in Paco. In fact, he merely suggested that it might be driven by nostalgia, as if the Spaniards wanted to bring a piece of their homeland to the Philippines, despite the somewhat lackluster nature of the event.

Sometime in 1886, an announcement appeared in a Manila newspaper regarding an auction of objects and materials belonging to the "Plazas de Toros de Manila." The announcement correctly stated, "La última corrida de la temporada."

Honestly, I say, blame it on the dismal weather.

Finally, I am reminded of Hemingway in "Death in the Afternoon." His narrative about the culture of corrida, or bullfighting, reasoned that inside the arena, in the battle between bull and man, the bullfighter is not truly praised or admired. Unbeknownst to the viewer, they see themselves in the bloody bull—wounded, gasping for breath, exhausted, and on the brink of death. But the will is still there to rush and fight. In the end, the courage of the bull is praised. I don't know, all I know is that Hemingway blew his head off with a rifle.

One of Wenceslao Retana's most interesting reads traces the history of taurine festivals in the Philippines from the 18th to the 19th century.

"Death in the Afternoon"-- On top of my study table. After reading the book I imagine myself singing this song by a Spanish Rock group Duncan Dhu:

"La sangre del toro baña tu espada

mil pañuelos blancos ondean al sol,

la plaza se hunde en aplausos y olés,

pero continúas sintiendo esa horrible sensación

de sangre entre tus manos... esa horrible sensación..."

Me --In front of an artwork that features a "traje de luces" ( the traditional costume of bullfighters)  inside one of the renowned Spanish restaurants in the metropolis-El Cirkulo in Makati. They say wearing the traje de luces for the first time was an emotional experience for a novice torero: