With One's Past

With One's Past This is the FB page of the 🇵🇭 history blog With One's Past

What Fr. José Arcilla, SJ, pointed out is an incredibly profound and tragic reality of Philippine historiography. He was...
04/06/2026

What Fr. José Arcilla, SJ, pointed out is an incredibly profound and tragic reality of Philippine historiography. He was absolutely right—the sudden shift from Spanish to English under American colonial rule effectively created a massive language barrier, locking generations of Filipinos out of their own history.

Just poking fun at Sen Escudero’s face and vibe. He literally looked like a hostage in the Senate yesterday. I don’t usually talk politics, but the man looked like he was holding onto a 'get me out of here' sign with his eyes. 😂

Photo courtesy of Philstar.

The Senate drama yesterday over how many senators are needed to officially hold a session directly mirrors a crisis in s...
03/06/2026

The Senate drama yesterday over how many senators are needed to officially hold a session directly mirrors a crisis in senate from 1949 involving Sen José Avelino (Avelino v. Cuenco). Back then, Sen Avelino walked out of the chamber with his allies to avoid a corruption investigation. The remaining 12 senators stayed behind and elected Sen Cuenco to replace him as senate president. When Avelino sued, arguing that 12 people didn't make a legal quorum, the Supreme Court ruled against him.

This landmark decision is exactly why today's senators are citing his case to justify moving forward with fewer members to shake up the senate.

Yet, despite Sen Avelino many accomplishments, he's best remembered for a different controversy. During a closed-door meeting, he allegedly pressured his party mate, Pres Quirino, to shield their colleagues from investigations, uttering the infamous: "What are we in power for?" in Spanish---the political quote that would forever define his legacy, even though it never actually crossed his lips!

Check out these men impeccably dressed in layered western suits (amerikana) and matching hats and leather shoes. This ph...
03/06/2026

Check out these men impeccably dressed in layered western suits (amerikana) and matching hats and leather shoes. This photo captures one of Pres Roxas’s SONAs along Calle Lepanto (temporary congress site). Despite relying on overhead ventiladores, look at how pristine they remain—not a single hair out of place not a drop of pawis in sight!

Today, a crowd in that same place would be miserable, begging for colder aircon----and WIFI 😂

Photo courtesy of Manolo Quezon FB page, which also features incredible historical snapshots of Pres Quezon time and National Library of the Philippines

As the late historian Pio Andrade said, the individuals who led our revolution and our first republic were far from uned...
02/06/2026

As the late historian Pio Andrade said, the individuals who led our revolution and our first republic were far from uneducated slaves. They represented the finest intellectual and capable minds our race has ever produced.

Senator Enrique Magalona (grandfather of the late rap arrist Francis M.) and other hispanist lawmakers of his generation...
01/06/2026

Senator Enrique Magalona (grandfather of the late rap arrist Francis M.) and other hispanist lawmakers of his generation firmly believed that Spanish was vital to preserving Philippine history. Because the nation's foundational documents, early laws, and revolutionary literature (like José Rizal's novels) were written in Spanish, they argued that a Filipino could not truly understand their own identity, heritage, or legal system without being fluent in it.


Ito ay isang katanungang dapat sagutin ng bawat Filipino para sa kanilang sarili. Sa muling pagbalik sa ating kasaysayan...
31/05/2026

Ito ay isang katanungang dapat sagutin ng bawat Filipino para sa kanilang sarili. Sa muling pagbalik sa ating kasaysayan nang may bukas at kritikal na kaisipan, malalampasan natin ang mga pagkiling, matutuklasan ang mga detalye ng tunay na mga kaganapan---mauunawaan ang mahahalagang aral na iniwan ng trahedyang ito para sa atin ngayon.







The tragic end of Andres Bonifacio remains one of the most hotly debated chapters in Philippine history. For generations, Filipinos have been split: did Emilio Aguinaldo make a necessary wartime decision, or did he commit a political as*assinati*n? This historic divide mirrors our modern political landscape, serving as a powerful reminder that history doesn't just stay in the past—it constantly reflects our present.

Before the demolition, we must ask what local and national governments did to prevent it. Were there programs to rehabil...
31/05/2026

Before the demolition, we must ask what local and national governments did to prevent it. Were there programs to rehabilitate the structure, subsidize its maintenance, or help owners make it profitable even habitable? Without such interventions, heritage sites are essentially left to rot. Tagal ng nabubulok ng bahay na ito.

As preservation advocates, we know this and many old houses (dami sa distrito ng San Nicolas ginigiba na din) was neglected for years. While its destruction is unacceptable (hindi kailan man magiging tama) we cannot ignore the intense real estate pressures in Manila. Massive financial incentives tempt descendants and owners to sell. Grabe ang pera na inilalatag sa mesa ng mga namumuhunan. Money speaks loudly, but it forces a critical question: even if we succeed in saving these landmarks, what is our long-term national plan to sustain these bahay-na-bato? Hindi na kasi sapat yun lalagyan lang ng "historical marker", nasaan ang pangmatagalan na programa?-A

Sa ngayon, ang malalim na pagmamahal ng mga Filipino sa kulturang Hapones (tulad ng anime, ramen, at sushi) ay halos buo...
30/05/2026

Sa ngayon, ang malalim na pagmamahal ng mga Filipino sa kulturang Hapones (tulad ng anime, ramen, at sushi) ay halos buong-buong nagmula sa globalisasyon pagkatapos ng digmaan, kalakalan, at makabagong pop culture.

Ang aktwal na tatlo at kalahating taon ng pananakop noong panahon ng digmaan (1941–1945) ay nag-iwan ng isang napakaibang uri ng marka: matinding hirap, sensura, at karahasan, ang naging "pamana" ay hindi tungkol sa pag-aampon ng mga Filipino sa mga tradisyong Hapon, kundi mas higit sa kung paano binago ng trauma ang pagkakakilanlan, wika, at sining ng mga Filipino.

Mayroon ba na magandang legasiya ang pamumuno ng mga Hapon na hanggang ngayon ay nasa atin pa?






Ever noticed how almost every Philippine Catholic church has a Santo Entierro (Dead Christ) tucked under a staircase or ...
30/05/2026

Ever noticed how almost every Philippine Catholic church has a Santo Entierro (Dead Christ) tucked under a staircase or in a quiet corner? This unique tradition carries deep historical roots.

Ang Santo Entierro (Patay na Kristo) ay hindi lamang isang simpleng estatwa—ito ay simbolo ng malalim na kasaysayan at pananampalataya ng Filipinas.

Ipinakilala ng mga misyonerong Kastila bilang isang "visual sermon" (pangaral sa pamamagitan ng imahe) upang ituro ang Pasyon ni Kristo nang walang gamit na salita.

Naging tanyag ito dahil sumasalamin ito sa mga tradisyon ng sementeryo at paglalamay ng mga Filipino, tulad ng lamay at pahalik sa yumao.

Ngayon, ang mga imaheng ito ay itinuturing na kayamanan ng Katolikong Tradisyon, na inaalagaan at iniingatan sa loob ng dantaon ng mga lokal na pamilya at mga deboto.

Throughout our history, several sitting senators have faced arrest. While some were driven by patriotism and ideals, oth...
29/05/2026

Throughout our history, several sitting senators have faced arrest. While some were driven by patriotism and ideals, others fell to alleged corruption and abuse of power. Political arrests are nothing new in our deeply politicized system—and they certainly won't be the last.



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