MINIATURES

  I have been intrigued by Panecillos de San Nicholas, a delicately molded biscuit available at Panaderia Dimas-Alang in Pasig, one of the oldest surviving bakeries in the country. It is modestly labeled as “San Nicholas bread” in their glass display, yet not many people coming in the bakery perhaps know that the name and form carry a deep legacy. My fascination with it began when I started exploring the intersection of early local industries and the spread of Catholicism—an inquiry that naturally led me to the history of the construction of the Pasig Cathedral. Panecillos available at Panaderia Dimas-Alang , Pasig Why should a study of local history begin with a biscuit named after a medieval saint? San Nicholas of Tolentino, a 13th-century Augustinian friar from central Italy, was said to have received a shortbread-like loaf from the Virgin Mary after a long period of fasting. The bread miraculously restored his health. In time, San Nicho...

  Pasig City, often hailed as a model of progressive governance, carries within it an overlooked cultural divide—one that separates longtime residents with deep folkloric roots from newer, often more affluent arrivals. This quiet tension underscores the identity of the Batampasig—a term used to describe those born and raised in the traditional heart of Pasig, from Kapasigan to Pinagbuhatan. —whose faces were often smudged with dust and dirt, marked by runny noses. "We didn’t mind. Our ancestors were the ones Bonifacio described as “tunay na magigiting.” For these residents, being Batampasig is more than birthplace; it is a lived experience shaped by shared struggles, ancestral pride, and community ties that trace back generations. While Pasig prides itself on being inclusive, the distinction between native Pasigueños and so-called dayuhan (outsiders) persists. In practice, a newcomer can shed the outsider label—not through property ownership or social connections—but through genui...

  On March 19, 1976, the bullet-riddled body of Emmanuel "Eman" Lacaba was dragged to the ground and hurled into a military vehicle. It was later positively identified—he was a poet, a warrior, and an exemplary young man who had spent a good part of his life "sa Kumbento." But who was Emmanuel Lacaba? And what is "Kumbento"? For many Pasigueños, the word "Kumbento" evokes deep fondness, pride, respect, and honor. It is more than just a term; it is an endearment, a hallowed institution where many young boys—and later, young girls—spent their formative years in education. Founded in 1913 by CICM missionaries, it began as a parochial school known as Escuela Católica, catering primarily to the education of underprivileged Pasigueño children. It later became Pasig Catholic School before evolving into a tertiary institution now known as Pasig Catholic College (PCC). The term "Kumbento" carries historical significance, as it originally referre...

  Between Don Vicente Y. Sotto and his great grandson, the current Pasig City Mayor, Vico Sotto, span four generations—a century marked by both peace and political turmoil. Each rose to prominence in their respective eras: Don Vicente during the early years of American occupation, and Mayor Vico in the twilight of a political dynasty that have long ruled. The former, perhaps unsuccessful in his battle to rid the nation of colonial power and its lingering influence; the latter, just begun his path—one that may open the country to new possibilities, guided by social virtues, freed from the ills that haunt it, striving for equality and prosperity for all. During the early years of American colonization, Don Vicente Sotto was among the first to criticize the "Yankee" system that was hastily being imposed on Filipinos. His weapon of choice in this resistance was the pen. He was a journalist, a writer and lawyer. Born and raised in Cebu, he elegantly expressed himself in two langua...