January 13, 2019

Vol. 1

Dr. Jose Rizal disliked the Chinese tage of Filipinos for profit even if
it meant kowtowing to the Spanish
Rizal’s dislike for the Chinese
could be seen in his letter to his
mother, in which he complained of
being embroiled in a lawsuit with a
Chinese and promised never to buy
any products from him, and from
his novel El Filibusterismo, where
he portrayed the character of Qui-
roga (who was reportedly based
on a real Chinese businessman) as
a shrewd and cunning individual.
While Rizal’s anti-Chinese sen-
timent could be attributed to his
nationalist drive, some historians
think he may have gone too far
by putting all Chinese in the same
category as those he had encoun-
Other than campaigning against ploitation of his countrymen. He tered. Not only that, he ironically
Spanish oppression, Rizal would viewed the Chinese primarily as disowned his own Chinese ances-
also end up fighting what he unscrupulous traders and busi- try by claiming he had no Chi-
perceived to be the Chinese ex- nessmen who liked to take advan- nese blood and was pure Filipino.

A Filipino Helped Found Los Angeles.

While not directly concerning the
country, this little historical contro-
versy is somewhat of a heated issue
especially within the Fil-Am com-
munity of Los Angeles.
Although there is no doubt given
to the eleven founding settlers who
helped to found Los Angeles in
1781, the same cannot be said for
Antonio Miranda Rodriguez. Sup-
posedly, he was a skilled gunsmith
from Manila who journeyed there
with his daughter via the galleon
trade but arrived much later after
suffering from smallpox. Later, he
came to be feted as the 12th settler
of Los Angeles.
 2 OPINION ENTERTAINMENT 3
Marco’s Era Painting
In the early 19th century, wealth- ion, and government officials. Por-
Nacionalista Party leader Ferdi-
ier, educated Filipinos introduced trait paintings featured the painters
nand Marcos came to dominate the
more secular Filipino art, causing themselves, Filipino jewelry, and
political scene for the next two de-
art in the Philippines to deviate native furniture. The subject of
cades, beginning with his election
landscape paintings featured art-
to the presidency in 1965. During from religious motifs. The use of
ists’ names painted ornately as well
his first term, Marcos initiated watercolour paintings increased
as day-to-day scenes of average Fili-
ambitious public works projects and the subject matter of paintings pinos partaking in their daily tasks.
that improved the general quality began to include landscapes, Fili- These paintings were done on can-
of life while providing generous pino inhabitants, Philippine fash- vas, wood, and a variety of metals
pork-barrel benefits for his friends.
Marcos perceived that his prom-
ised land reform program would
alienate the politically all-power-
Calligraphy The Philippines has numerous
indigenous scripts collectively
day life. These four scripts are ha-
nunó'o/hanunoo of the Hanuno'o
ful landowner elite, and thus it was called as suyat. Various ethno-lin- Mangyan people, buhid/buid of
never forcefully implemented. He guistic groups in the Philippines the Buhid Mangyan people, apu-
lobbied strenuously for economic prior to Spanish colonization in rahuano/tagbanwa of the Tagban-
and military aid from the United the 16th century up to the inde- wa people, and palaw'an/pala'wan
States while resisting significant pendence era in the 21st century of the Palaw'an people. All four

EDITORIAL – 120 years of involvement in the Second In-

dochina War (1954–75). In 1967
have used the scripts with various
mediums. By the end of colonial-
scripts were inscribed in the UN-
ESCO Memory of the World Pro-
the Philippines became a found-
independence ing member of the Association of
ism, only four of the suyat scripts
survived and continue to be used
gramme, under the name Philip-
pine Paleographs (Hanunoo, Buid,
Southeast Asian Nations (ASE-
by certain communities in every- Tagbanua and Pala’wan), in 1999.
AN). Marcos became the first pres-
The country celebrates Independence Day today as another country ident to be reelected (in 1969), but
is occupying a Philippine reef, patrolling the Philippines’ maritime exclu-
sive economic zone, and confiscating the catch of Filipinos fishing in a
early in his second term economic
growth slowed, optimism faded,
Dance in the cordillera region. Within
shoal within that EEZ. and the crime rate increased. In There are numerous types of the Cordilleras' dances, there are
As part of its responses, the Philippine government even allows a addition, a new communist in- Filipino dances, varying in influ- the Banga, Bendayan, Lumagen/
Chinese military plane – possibly used to patrol the South China Sea – surgency, this time—starting in ence, from the country's regions. Tachok, Manmanok, Ragrag-
to refuel in Davao. 1968—led by the new Communist Types of Filipino dance include sakan, Salisid, Talip, Tarektek, and
This weakness aptly reflects the circumstances surrounding the event Party of the Philippines-Marx- Cordillera, Muslim, tribal, rural, Uyaoy/Uyauy. The Banga dance
120 years ago that is being celebrated today: the founders of the Phil- ist-Leninist and its military arm,
ippine republic’s declaration of independence from foreign rule as an
and Spanish style dances. Jerrah is shows the grace and strength
the New People’s Army, was on the the most well known kind of dance of women in the Kalinga tribe.
American naval armada sat in Manila Bay, while Spain was negotiating rise. In 1969 the Moro National
the sale of its colony to the United States for $20 million. For the next Liberation Front was founded and
half-century, the Philippines would be a commonwealth under the US.
Clearly, declaring independence must be supported by realities on
conducted an insurgency in Mus-
lim areas. Political violence blamed
Dramas ment of Tourism. Popular film and ico, Pampanga and Dinalupihan,
the ground. Aside from political independence, a sovereign state must Many towns have their own ver- televisions stars often join the cast Bataan, the actor portraying Jesus
on leftists, but probably initiated by sions of the Senakulo, using tradi-
be able to protect that sovereignty by developing minimum credible de- of the play. In Taguig, they popu- has been actually nailed to the cross
government agents provocateurs,
fense capability. While defense alliances are important, they should not tional scripts that are decades or larize the modern version of Jesus to simulate Christ's passion as best
led Marcos to suspend habeas cor-
mean dependence on others for one’s own defense. It’s a healthy for- pus as a prelude to martial law.
centuries old. A version is held at Christ Superstar reshown at the and as painfully possible. Similar
eign policy; even the country’s allies will appreciate it. the Cultural Center of the Philip- Fort Santiago Amphitheater for shows are also held in Makati and
The Duterte administration has issued statements in this direction, pines, sponsored by the Depart- the benefit of Manileños. In Mex- in the Santa Ana district of Manila.
but it must be backed by the necessary resources. National defense
– even minimum credible defense – does not come cheap. An indepen- Members
dent foreign policy, backed by minimum credible defense capability, is Evan A. Feliza
best supported by a robust economy. Clifford Bajan
China managed to become a 21st century military power because of McTwizter Mones
its phenomenal economic growth within the past four decades. A pros- La Ereyka Peidad
perous state can afford to stand on its own feet, becoming as self-reliant
as globalization will allow it, and undoubtedly independent.
 4 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HEALTH AND BEAUTY 5
Filipino invents 3-in-1 Fire truck Birthing and Postpartum
A ngelo B. Palmones,
president of AGHAM
or Alyansa ng mga Gru-
Beliefs and Rituals
is that certain foods can cause
the baby to develop different
pong Haligi ng Agham at
ways or have skin marks. An
Teknolohiya para sa Mam-
example of this is the belief
amayan, said two years ago that if women eat blackber-
that the Anos fire truck, ries while they are pregnant,
named “Patriot,” may yet the baby will have black spots
be the most reliable part- on them. There are also many
ner in fire-fighting because beliefs about spirits and bad
it is a three in-one pack- luck. For example, funerals
age: a fire truck, a rescue are often avoided while preg-
vehicle, and ambulance. emergency workers to si- foam system that is five to nant because there is a belief
multaneously put out fire, seven times more efficient that the spirits of the dead
The “Patriot” was invent- There are not as many ritu- tered around food and diet.
rescue people and animals, than plain water in put- possibly affecting the baby (.
ed by Inventor Alfredo M. als performed while a women For example, taking vitamins Another belief is that if you
Anos, Sr., known as the and provide first aid treat- ting out fire,” Palmones is pregnant, but more so be- could deform the fetus and either name the baby before it
godfather of Filipino in- ment to the injured. The said during an interview liefs regarding what is healthy therefore many women do not is born or name it after a dead
ventors.“Its triple capabil- ambulance and rescue fire with Manila Bulletin. and what could be bad for the take any vitamins while they person then it is bad luck.
ity allows firefighters and truck uses compressed air fetus. A lot of beliefs are cen- are pregnant. Another belief

First Medical Incubator invented History of cosmetics tioned in the Old Testament—2
Kings 9:30 where Jezebel painted
The history of cosmetics spans Archaeological evidence of cos- her eyelids—approximately 840
placed all around between them at least 7,000 years and is pres- metics certainly dates from ancient BC—and the book of Esther de-
ent in almost every society on Egypt and Greece. According to scribes various beauty treatments
to provide warmth. There was
earth. Cosmetic body art is ar- one source, early major develop- as well. Cosmetics were also used
also a makeshift hood over the gued to have been the earliest ments include the use of castor in ancient Rome, although much
overlapping baskets to allow ox- form of a ritual in human culture. oil in ancient Egypt as a protec- of Roman literature suggests that
ygen to circulate within. It was The evidence for this comes in tive balm and skin creams made it was frowned upon. It is known
created to address the needs of the form of utilised red mineral of beeswax, olive oil and rose- that some women in ancient Rome
rural areas with no electricity pigments (red ochre) including water described by the Romans. invented make up including lead-
that is needed to regulate new- crayons associated with the emer- The Ancient Greeks also used based formulas, to whiten the skin,
born babies’ body temperature. gence of Homo sapiens in Africa. cosmetics. Cosmetics are men- and kohl was used to line the eyes.

Fe del Mundo, the first Asian relieving device. According to

to have entered the prestigious wikipilipinas.org, the impro-
Harvard University’s School of vised incubator was made up
Medicine, is also credited for of two native laundry baskets of
her studies that led to the inven- different sizes placed one inside
tion of incubator and jaundice the other. Hot water bottles were
 6 SPORTS
Banaue Wooden Bike Race
ing wooden scooters became an art
form, and masters of the craft be-
gan decorating them with all kinds
of designs, from local animals
and birds to human heads. Today,
the Ifugao still celebrate this use-
ful invention by participating in a
seven-kilometer wooden scoot-
er race down a steep road along
the famous Banaue Rice Terraces.
Every year, during the Imbayah
Festival, Banaue’s woodcarving
artisans showcase their most in-
The wooden scooter has long rice crops, and carrying the load tricate wooden scooters in a tra-
been the preferred means of trans- back down was an exhausting task ditional race that attracts visitors
portation for Ifugao (Philippine that took them hours to complete. from all around the world. Bare-
for “people of the hill) in Banaue, People started making light scoot- foot and wearing nothing but
and is still used today, as a cheap- ers almost entirely out of wood, their simple ethnic attire, these
er alternative to gas-powered and pushed them uphill whenever Ifugao daredevils race down a sev-
motorcycles and scooters. They they had something to transport en-kilometer windy road down
were created centuries ago to help back to their village. At the top, to the town of Banaue. Powered
people travel downhill faster. The they would simply strap the load only by the force of gravity, the
men-folk had to walk up the sur- on both sides of the vehicle and let home-made scooters reach speeds
rounding hills almost every day to gravity take them back down in a of 50 kph, meaning one wrong
gather firewood and tend to their matter of minutes. In time, mak- move could cost racers their lives.

Arnis sometimes used as farm implements.

The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan’s
foThe terms Arnis, Kali and Escri-
type of training taught. Also, any of
the three names may apply to a certain
part of training. One interpretation is
Arnis/Kali/Escrima was originally ma are all used to refer to the Filipi- that Kali is the mother art of Arnis and
developed by the people native to the no martial arts. There has been some Escrima. Arnis focuses on the knife,
islands using simple impact and edged confusion as to what word refers to including dagger, sword, and any oth-
weapons such as kampilans, rattan, which part of the martial art. It is be- er form of bladed weapon. Escrima
swords, daggers, spears and other as- lieved that Arnis, Kali, and Escrima is based on the baston or stick. It has
sorted weaponry for combat and self are all a part of the same art and de- also become very popular in the sport
defense. These weapons were also pending on the location, dialect and aspect of full contact stick fighting.