Modernismo in the Philippines
The photo of Spanish poet Salvador Rueda at a banquet in Bacolod captures an important cultural moment during his visit to the Philippines. Rueda, a key figure of Modernismo, toured Manila and the Visayas (in 1910), observing the flourishing Spanish language at a time when Spanish literature in the Philippines was at its peak in the early 20th century. Modernismo, a literary movement that began in Latin America, was led by Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío. Another important figure, Cuban poet José Martí, is considered a precursor to the movement. Modernismo poets often created vivid, exotic imagery with themes of nature, elegance, and royalty. These images were not mere escapes from reality but intentional challenges to the materialism and vulgarity of daily life. In the Philippines, many poets who wrote in Spanish were aligned with Modernismo, including Manuel Bernabe, Jesús Balmori, and Cecilio Apostol. Balmori, in particular, is also associated with a related movement, French Parnassiani...