MINIATURES

After the execution of José Rizal, the anarchists of Barcelona found a new figure to expound their struggle against the Spanish crown. They included Rizal's writings in their literature, mentioned him in their articles, and reported on him in their press, honoring him and his cause. The very first translation of Noli Me Tangere into French was done collaboratively by two leading anarchists—Henri Lucas and Ramon Sempau. Among the Barcelona anarchists, Ramon Sempau (1868–1910) cuts a colorful figure. He was a lawyer and correspondent for some leading newspapers in Spain and part of a larger circle of intellectuals associated with the emerging anarchist movement in Spain and France. Sempau had to flee Spain after the Corpus Christi Barcelona bomb attack in June 1896, which was blamed on the anarchists. He first went to France and then to Belgium, constantly under the surveillance of local police due to his known revolutionary activities. In Brussels, it was reported that his hotel roo...

  In the 19th century, Pasig was renowned for its lavish and artistically elaborate celebration of its town fiesta—the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Every December, the town would come alive with a vibrant mixture of faith, music, theatre, and spectacle, as residents and visitors alike joined in the festivities. Streets would be illuminated with lanterns and Bengal lights, music bands paraded through the town playing cheerful marches, and fireworks lit the night sky in dazzling displays. One contemporary account from December 1875 offers a remarkable glimpse into the scale and creativity of these celebrations. From high Masses accompanied by full orchestras to acrobatic gymnastics, comedic farces, and operatic performances, the festivities combined solemn religious devotion with theatrical flair and public entertainment. The residents of Pasig, particularly Gremio de Naturales under the stewardship of Gobernadorcillo Don Apolonio Santiago, spared no effort in preparing both p...