Moral acquitted of pilferage charge (update)

The court has recently decided that the person who is charged of loathing our national library has been found not guilty. The researcher a certain Mr. Bayhon who is still at large is the only person who has been convicted of pilferage in this decade long marathon court battle - with a 7 to 10 year sentence. Too bad his not in the prison to serve it.

Moral, the library exec then was acquitted last Thursday because of what the court judged as Moral having no 'intent' to steal. Well, Bayhon was caught with the documents that was supposed to be kept safe by Moral - so who is at fault here?

Now, all that I know here is based on the news that I've been following for sometime now - so yes, I'm not a court expert but I've always sided with reason. Too bad that this things has to happen but I remain convinced that our nation has to held Moral accountable - she cant get off the hook that easy! When a jailbreak takes place, the warden gets it - its his watch. Its that simple!

Now, here's what we have in our hands: the accomplice is still at large and the highest exec that we could convict and set out as an example has been acquitted, what's next?

Stealing is everywhere, it breaks my heart that the people who are suppose to care for this invaluable records of our great history is the one putting a price tag on it. I'm sure this enterprising individuals have a good background in our nations past, but money comes first for this people. In the US there were similar cases so I'm not really so surprised that we'll be encountering thieves in our archives - I'm hoping that this would be the last instance but with this acquittal and the loose penalty we have for this crimes I'm afraid we'll be reading about this in the future again. Sadly, history will repeat itself.

What's depressing about all of this is that most people who are out to get this documents from this shadowy dealers are history lovers too, I know that they understand the importance of heritage and it could be their simple desire to touch and feel this pieces that brought them to purchase this treasures past. I can only imagine how it feels reading letters penned by the giants of our history - that's really something for history crazy people like me but this pieces does not belong to any private collectors they belong to our people. Tempting as it is buying from them encourages them, historians are the one who created this black market.

---

Read Aries Rufo's follow up article here

Living History

BROWSER
Living History

By Regina Layug
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:29am (Mla time) 04/06/2008


MANILA, Philippines – What was the encounter at the “Battle of Pinaglabanan?” all about? What happened at Tirad Pass? Who was the combat award recipient after whom Boni Serrano Ave. in Quezon City is named?

For many young Filipinos today, the realities of these significant events in Philippine history have been tragically lost--not just in translation, but because of the dearth of efforts to preserve them, or at the very least, to recount them to the next generation.

This is what the Buhay na Kasaysayan Association (BNKA) wishes to change.

BNKA is a group of hobbyists and history enthusiasts who aim to reenact significant military battles in the Philippines with authenticity and factual details. By compiling and reproducing the actual military uniforms, insignias, and weaponry used by Filipino soldiers at the birth of the nation, Buhay na Kasaysayan hopes to kindle and enflame a strong sense of patriotism in the Filipino youth.

It seems an arduous, thankless task, given how blasé most Filipinos seem to be about our country’s history. But Engr. Perry Javier thinks there is much to be learned and admired in our past. “We are promoting past heroes because [they] experienced more difficulty and hardship than our current heroes. Past heroes … had the guts to stand out, to change history, to retake our lost freedom, [to give us the] peace we enjoy today. They risked their lives and their loved ones.”

If we are to use Javier’s standards on the personalities touted as modern Filipino heroes, it seems they would fall far short of the mark. “Nowadays Filipinos count athletes, like Manny Pacquiao, among modern-day heroes since they bring honor and prestige to the country. But the BNK honors greater heroes, like soldiers and martyrs. They don’t have big salaries, they get no rewards or recognition, but still, they are brave enough to stand up for what is right. They risk not only their lives, but also the lives of their loved ones, while defending the freedom which we currently enjoy. For us, they are the true heroes of our land.”

Javier is one of only seven current members of the all-male BNKA. Originally called Mga Bayaning Walang Sugat Society, it was founded in June 2005 by Ray, Teddy and Manny Ortega, sons of Bataan Death March survivor Col. Antonio Ortega. The idea was actually inspired by Fourth of July celebrations in the Fort MacArthur Museum in San Pedro, California. They wanted to form a Filipino re-enactment group portraying Philippine history and culture, because none existed then. Ray focused on uniforms and equipment, and Teddy worked on membership, organization and events.

Today, the members of BNKA are in Manila and California, sharing their research and conducting reenactments, exhibits, and lectures, and performing honor guard duties.

One member, Mike Hoff, isn’t even Filipino. He came to the Philippines to meet his wife over eight years ago. Before then, all he knew of the Philippines was Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection.

“I was totally ignorant of my country’s century-old relationship with the Philippines,” Hoff confides. “But I developed a deep love and admiration for the country and her people,” he adds.

“I was awestruck when my wife told me about Jose Rizal. He reminded me so much of Benjamin Franklin. My admiration for Rizal soon became as deep and committed as the devotion I had for Franklin and other American heroes, because Rizal’s struggle for liberty was no less meaningful than that of my own founding fathers.”

Because of their limited membership so far, Perry says, all they can do are simple reenactments, like color guards, dressing in old military attire. “We cannot do large reenactments like those [done by] reenactment groups in the US, Europe, China. But we participate in cosplay events where people can see us.”

The BNKA has seen that all they need to do is to awaken a dormant interest and use means that are innovative, entertaining and educational to further their cause. People see the BNKA members in their accurate costumes, armed with their Mausers, bolos and salakots, and are drawn to them.

Another member, Selwyn Alojipan, recounts that Filipinos and foreigners recognize the costumes and uniforms as historical representations of a bygone era. “They realize that these costumes are part of Philippine history, which they’ve only read about in books. The uniforms are colorful and formal, and are accompanied by realistic swords, knives, pistols, rifles, and cannons. Most people want to have their pictures taken with us when we’re in our uniforms. They are happy to see something they only expect in period movies or old photos. From there, we try to [engage them] by sharing interesting historical and cultural facts about the birth of the Philippine Republic.”

It’s a start, and indeed only a small part of what BNKA does.

Selwyn says the group coordinates closely with the UP Department of Military Science and Tactics (UP DMST), and the UP Corps of Cadets. They’ve also joined events organized by local toy collectors, model makers, hobbyists, cosplayers, science fiction and fantasy fans, history enthusiasts, military aficionados, and airsoft players.

In the US, their activities include participation in honor guard ceremonies as Katipuneros and WWII Philippine Army and Philippine Scouts, and honor guard duties for the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society in Washington. Perry adds: “We hold mock battles and parades. We’ve held Philippine Independence Day and Rizal Day celebrations in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate of Los Angeles and the Knights of Rizal. We’ve also initiated Veterans Day celebrations, including the Commemoration of Bataan and of Corregidor. Recently we engaged in a reenactment of the Battle of Bataan against Japanese reenactors.”

Currently, the BNKA focuses on the 1898 Philippine Revolution, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War. In the future, they hope to do reenactments of other periods: the early Spanish conquests; Moro and Chinese pirate and slaving raids; the British occupation of Manila; expeditionary forces to Korea and Vietnam.

As if their current activities weren’t extensive enough, they hope to expand their repertoire to theater presentations too.

Some of the members are descended from WWII veterans, like the Ortega brothers. One member, Abner Luna, is the grandson of Gen. Antonio Luna. Another member is a descendant of Katipunan General Tinio of Ilocos. But hero or none in your family tree, anybody is welcome to join BNKA.They welcome women, mestizos, Americans, and Japanese, too. All you need is your own accurate period costume. Says Selwyn, “We will assist anyone who wants to produce, procure, or develop any historically accurate and authentic costumes in any era of Philippine history, culture, or geography.”

Email BNKA at bnk_philippines@yahoo.com. They also have an active message board, the Philippine History and Reenactors Forum (http://pinoyhistory.proboards22.com), and e-group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BNKasaysayan). Visit the BNK-US website at http://www.bnksociety.org/.

Court set to decide on National Library pilferage of historical documents

By Aries Rufo.Newsbreak.5/28/08

It took an anonymous call and an indefatigable official to save the country’s heritage from being plundered.

After 13 years, the Manila Regional Trial Court is set to promulgate its decision Thursday on the theft case at the National Library, where priceless historical documents were systematically pilfered and sold to antique shops and collectors in the early 90s.

Branch 32 presiding judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina will render her decision on May 29, closing the first reported case of pilferage at the National Library and which dragged prominent and respected names from the academe.

It also puts a closure to the no-nonsense campaign of former National Library director Adoracion Bolos to retrieve thousands of stolen documents representing historical legacy.

A former researcher of the National Historical Institute, Rolando Bayhon, has earlier been convicted for the National Library theft by Manila judge David Nitafan from seven to 12 years in prison. Bayhon, however, was sentenced in absentia and remains at-large.

This week, it is the turn of Maria Luisa Moral, former chief of the Library’s Filipiniana and Asia Division (FAD), and alleged accomplice of Bayhon, to face the music.

How it began

We pieced the story from various court documents, internal memos, as well as justice department papers.

The case basically began as a power struggle between Moral and Bolos shortly after the latter assumed as acting director in 1992.

Bolos, a former chief of the Filipiniana and Asia division herself in the 70s, sought an inventory of rare books and manuscripts shortly after she assumed as acting director of the Library. Bolos created an external committee to conduct an independent inventory at the FAD.

However, in an exchange of memos between Moral and Bolos, Moral, then the chief of the division, objected to the move, saying it was just a "waste of management" and "not in the interest of the service." She also questioned the external committee’s creation, saying it was merely meant "to harass the FAD, which did not support you in your quest for the directorship."

Unable to enlist Moral’s support, Bolos revamped the chiefs of division, transferring Moral to the Catalog division.

Sometime in Sept. 1993, while the inventory of rare books and manuscripts were ongoing at the FAD, Bolos received an anonymous call that historical documents were being spirited away from the National Library. At that time, demand was high for rare collections from the Philippine Revolution with the coming centennial anniversary of Philippine independence in 1998.

Acting on the tip, Bolos had the movement of Bayhon, who frequented the FAD for supposed research, closely monitored. She sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation to entrap him.

Sting operation

A sting operation led to the arrest of Bayhon two months later as he was about to sell 42 historical documents at P1,000 each to an antique store in Mabini Street, Manila. He had just left the National Library carrying several brown envelopes. About 700 documents with stamped markings of the National Library were also recovered from the antique store.

Following Bayhon’s arrest, Bolos appealed to the public to turn over stolen documents that they might have unwittingly bought. She vowed not to press charges if the documents would be returned voluntarily. Around 8,183 documents, mostly classified as Philippine Revolutionary Papers, were returned to the National Library. One University of the Philippines professor returned more than 6,000 documents.

Among the retrieved documents were the manuscript of Andres Bonifacio’s trial, the Declaration of Independence, the Pact of Biac-na-Bato and Leonor Rivera’s letter to Rizal’s parents dated Dec. 10,1893.

Further probe showed a network of "mediators" and interested buyers of antique documents, with Baylon as the common denominator. The documents were being sold for P30,000 to P50,000.

Meantime, the inventory team found out that more than a hundred Rizaliana papers were missing from the two vaults of the FAD, based on a 1972 inventory.

Among the original pieces that remain missing to this day are Rizal’s letters to his family in 1883, and Ferdinand Blumentritts’ letters to Don Higino Francisco from 1906 to 1912. These documents were listed in the book authored by historian Ambeth Ocampo profiling the Rizaliana items kept in the vaults of the National Library when he was tapped as consultant from 1987 to 1989.

Moral’s omission

In May 1994, two years after the inventory team began its work, Moral turned over to the NBI hundreds of documents that were declared missing by the inventory team. She said she mistakenly brought the documents to her catalog division office during the revamp in 1992. She said she found the mistake a year later but decided to keep them because of her conflict with Bolos. She told NBI probers that Bolos "might not look upon with fairness if she will immediately return the materials or admit the circumstances of the oversight."

But in a resolution dated May 29, 1995, then Assistant Chief Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño rejected Moral’s defense that it was an honest mistake. Zuño said Moral’s act of omission qualified as theft, as there was"intent to gain inferred from the deliberate failure to deliver the lost property..."

The fact that she was no longer the custodian of the documents and that it took her almost two years to return the "missing" documents to the National Library, "makes us disagree that they were misplaced or simply overlooked as this runs counter to logic and human experience," the resolution said. The resolution found there was probable cause to indict Moral for theft.

Moral was dismissed in 1995 when the case was filed.

Exactly13 years since the resolution was endorsed, Moral is facing her date with history.

the Pan de Manila Concept

I'm not sure if they can rival the popular fast food chains and cake stores but this franchise has been building its stores everywhere. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a big fan of their line of products ( they have all kinds of spreads, sardinas, monay...) they have been very quality conscious of what comes out of their doors, those pugon baked pan de sal's are great! - and yes, the other reason, their 'old Manila' concept. I love it.

So far I got a mixed feedback from friends about how the bread taste, some say it taste like wood but generally enjoys the stores creations, the quality of the bread I'd say far exceeds the local panaderias pan de sal, of course you'll pay a little extra for it. I'm not a critique of breads and pastries I'm basing this on the criteria of 'is it worth what I'd be paying for'. Going back to the concept I was thinking where it all began and so far I haven't found an article about its origins, there are publicity prints (like this one) but nothing on who are the people behind this and what inspired them. I wonder how it all started.
Their cashing in on the appeal of the 'old Manila' and I see nothing wrong with it. in fact it brings the feel of what the 'old Manila' feels like, people especially those without historical inclination might become interested seeing what their seeing in this stores, who knows - many people would say that its not what an old 18th century Filipino bakery looks like, of course nothing can even come close with the beauty of the old, but let me say that its better as I see it than having nothing that represent how business was then, I guess I just grew tired of the generic stores that we see around in malls. I can only begin to imagine how an old barber shop, bookstore and pharmacy look like in our contemporary time.

I could recall that my Lola-lolahan (not my real Grandma) once told me that Pan de Sal's in the old time was delivered at dawn where she grew up, her favorite palaman would be itlog na maalat (I don't know why, I find this combo a little odd) and she'll always have hot chocolate with it while her parents would prefer coffee. She said Pan de Sal is not supposed to be sweet and overly soft but crusty and a lil' salty but not too salty that it overwhelms your taste - Sal in pan de sal after all means salt (Sea salt).

Whoever is the mind behind this is probably a person who, like me and some people I know find beauty and zen going back to old times. Personally I believe nobody can duplicate how beautiful they once made bread here in our country somehow the old ways always seems to be better - back when everything was organic and natural compared to our chemical laden creations of today. In so many ways the old has always had the advantage, appeal and quality wise, we have gained so much knowledge in technology that it already eroded our sense of how our ancestors used to make this foods. They use to make all things with pride - this I know. I say, In with old... a less of the new!

It was in St. Peregrine

Today I decided to write about my Catholic Iglesia, St. Peregrine Laziosi Parish located in Tunasan. I have long been coming to its steps striving to be the good Catholic my Nanay wanted me to be. Though I still visit the churches I frequent when I was a child together with my mother I now consider St. Peregrine as my regular spiritual home it is here that I often contemplate on my troubles, pray and offer my devotion.

I was introduced to this parish by my significant other and since then I have tried to attend regular mass without fail, its has almost been 4 years now. Not much has changed since that year to now, somehow Catholic churches are like this specially the really old ones – they stay constant with the passing of time.

The traditional catholic in me brought me close to St. Peregrine, its being administered by missionaries, friars from the Order of the Servant of Mary OSM. Today, the term fray have a negative standing – thanks to our history lessons who highlighted only the mistakes of this foreign men of cloth. This same men of God and of the Spanish crown (Dominican, Franciscan, Augustinian, Recollects etc…) founded some of the most critical institutions in our old society, from agriculture to academics, institutions that would be critical in our nation then and even now.

It would not be fair if we would look at history only at one side, we should, as a nation study our history with the true desire of distinguishing the facts and attempt to benefit from it on an educational stand point. We could not erase certain events simply because we are unwilling to acknowledge its importance, or were taught not to, we should embrace the past wether we disapprove of it.

The parish is close to where I reside, I feel comfortable with the priest here, they have been outstanding in their lectures that I always go home pondering about the sermon. The parish has a sizeable parking lot which extends to the back (bahay pari). The parish is almost hidden, blocked by a one storey structure that used to be a bank. Its grounds has small parches of gardens, tall trees that provides good shade during the summer days and aviaries that houses colorful parrot like birds.

Currently St. Peregrine is lead by Father Ador as cura paroko and Father Luigi an Italian priest, its spiritual leader being the most senior among all present servite priest - I always see him walk amongst the crowd, always with his watchful eyes and modest smiles, on occasions that I would meet him I would always kiss his hands, similar to that of a grandchild to his lolo.

Brief History of The St. Peregrine Laziosi Parish in Tunasan, Muntinlupa

The St. Peregrine Laziosi Parish is one of the eleven parishes of the Vicariate of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Muntinlupa City. Before it became a formal parish on February 10,1985, it was part of the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish ( Nuestra Señora delos Desamparados). Upon the arrival of the Order of the Servants of Mary in the Philippines, His Eminence the late Jaime Cardinal Sin created St. Peregrine a new parish. Fr. Tarcisio Roffi, OSM was installed as the Parish Priest then, although there was no parish church yet to gather the parishioners for the Eucharistic celebration.
Since 1985, until now, St. Peregrine Laziosi Parish is under the pastoral care of the Order of the Servants of Mary, wherein Fr. Greg M. Obejas is the newly installed Parish Priest. He is assisted by the community of the Servants of Mary: Fr. Nelson Lato, Fr. Ador Javier, Fr. Rudy Wong , Fr.Luigi Ilari and seminarians.

St. Peregrine is the chosen name and patron saint for 2 reasons:
1. His Eminence recommended it to be the name of the Parish,
2. That St. Peregrine is a famous saint as the protector of Cancer patients and this can be a great benefit and blessing to all the parishioners and to all the Filipinos suffering from the dreaded disease.
The Parish, which occupies a greater land area of Tunasan, is the end boundary of the City of Muntinlupa in going to the South. It has 7 subdivisions and 9 poor urban areas and 1 barrio proper.
The Parish is bounded by Laguna de bay in the East, South Expressway in the west, Planas Compound and JPA Subdivision in the north and Municipality of San Pedro in the south.

For several years, the Parish had no church to gather its parishioners for the celebration of the mass. After 12 long years, mass had been celebrated in 7 subdivisions and in different puroks of the Parish every Sunday.
Through solicitations, donations and several fund-raising drives, the most cherished dream of the Order of the Servants of Mary and the parishioners was realized when on October 31, 1998, a beautiful shrine was inaugurated by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin.

I find St. Peregrine story really interesting not many people know that the guy is not even a priest but was a servite of true dedication to the faith and his people.

St. Peregrine was born in 1265, in Forli, Italy which was a papal-state town governed by the pope. Forli was a stronghold of anti-papal sentiments, and Peregrine's family was very active in the political party which strongly opposed the pope. The Vatican took the strong measure of placing Forli under interdict, forbidding the celebration of the Mass and sacraments in the tow.

The prior of a local Servite order of monks was sent to Forli to try and create peace within the church. The prior, now known as St. Philip Benizi, was not received well. Peregrine was among the hecklers, and at one point, struck the monk.

Perhaps this was Peregrines turning point, for he soon showed evidence of charity and good works, and at the age of 30, became a Servite himself! During his lifetime service to the sick and poor and forgotten, Brother Peregrine practiced a penance of standing instead of sitting whenever possible. Years of this extreme wear resulted in varicose veins which eventually broke down into open, running sores which were diagnosed as cancer. The leg was putrid and so painful amputation was scheduled.

As the story goes, the eve before the operation, Peregrine prayed before a crucifix, and entered a trance-like state during which he envisioned the crucified Christ coming down from His cross to touch Peregrine's cancerous leg. When Peregrine awoke, his leg was healed. The cancer was cured. The leg was saved. In fact, he lived on to the age of 80, dying on May 1, 1345.
Peregrine was canonized on December 27th, 1726 and named the patron saint of those who suffer from cancer. St. Peregrine's feast day is celebrated on May 4th.

This humble parish houses a unique relic, a rib from the incorruptible body of St.Peregrine donated by the order to further Peregrinian devotion here in our country. The relic rest in a small chapel were it is often visited by cancer patients and other faithfuls just wanting to feel what is like to get close to it. There were countless miracles attributed to the miraculous saint. Below is the dedication marker for the historic donation from Forli, Italy it reads…

In line with the desire to spread the devotion of Saint Peregrine, patron of cancer patients, the community of the Order of the Servants Mary in Forli, Italy donated to the Filipino people a relic in the form of a rib taken from the incorruptible body of St. Peregrine. The actual body of the Saint is enshrined in the Basilica of Saint Peregrine in Forli, Italy.

This rib is now in custody of the Fathers of the Order of the Servants of Mary in Tunasan, Muntinlupa. It is preserved in a precious silver reliquary. On October 31 1998 was solemn consecration of Saint Peregrine Parish and it was during this special occasion that the relic of St. Peregrine was enshrined to the relic chapel of the saint. It is only outstanding relic in all the world, excluding his body in Forli, Italy. For this reason, we Filipinos are priviledged and loved by the Lord.

It is my hope that people would come and visit the parish, the true objective of this post is to provide some helpful information for those seeking to locate this place of healing. My faith is my individual belief, none of what I wrote here about myself and how I practice my religion matters actually – I don’t see myself even worthy of being called a religious but I’m quite sure that there are people that would want to see St. Peregrine (a piece of him actually) so I wish everybody well and good luck on your future plans to drop by.

Books from NHI

I recently grabbed books about Apolinario Mabini at the National Historical Institute in Kalaw, Manila. The 'brains of the revolution' is one of my least read historical figure, I decided that I should learn more if I intend to understand his role in our history.

The place is under renovation. Very friendly people. I found interesting items inside - photos, sculptures and what seems to be paintings similar to the one we find in Rizal shrine (Calamba).

The titles are limited most are from the institutes collection (NHI released) but all are invaluable resource. I got 3 hard bound titles for less that 500 pesos. That's a great catch! I look forward at visiting their place again.

They have recently relaunched their website. I feel that the current administration is on the right track, admirable since this guys are always on a tight budget.

Thanks to Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta

Ms. Araneta has recently posted an email of mine early this year in her popular blog site (here). I've reported on this last April - what happened to the former wooden school house of Maestro Cruz was terrible but not surprising.

The municipal government of Biñan should take the initiative and restore the old school, they could highlight the importance of education in their municipio by doing this. The great Rizal once studied in their backyard, what a shame that nothing has been done to preserve the school where it stand.

It should be restored, even a replica would inspire Filipino students who would want to see the place where Rizal was first formally educated. Even now, history student would visit the place and be disappointed by its current state (its also inside a compound, if you want to see it you would have to be content perching at a wall to take a peek).

The former tourism secretary is a relative of Rizal, she told me that she has already requested someone to look into this. Although admittedly there is not much that can be done to salvage whats left but it would be interesting if the towns stakeholders can recreate the small house like the one in Dapitan - it would be a fitting tribute to the importance of early education which what the rich town of Biñan was known for during those days.

Many thanks to Ms. Gemma.

Noontime Luneta

I was waiting for NHI to go back from their lunch when I decided to pass time strolling around Luneta. I found a good spot where there was a perfect shade. I gaped at the monument and started to remember memories of my childhood, when my father would bring the family to picnic in its grounds. I would always look for the honor guards then, watching them guard the monument - moving at a certain count, they were like machines but they were nowhere to be found today. It was noontime, they must be resting somewhere - I can't blame them for the sun was scorching the fields of Bagumbayan, it was a summer day!

I stayed longer that I should, it was pass 1pm when a group of Korean's arrived at the monument site and started to take pictures. They were accompanied by a younger fellow who briefed them with some information about Rizal - that's what it looked like but I could be wrong. They were cheery, happy seniors, some even smiled at me when they passed the spot where I sat. All that changed when a platoon of beggars came from nowhere and started asking for money. It was embarrasing but this scenes are all too common, we see this everyday, they reminds us of our social reality. These people has made Luneta their home.

I also visited the spot where NHI created a beautiful stone monument for the GOMBURZA. It was a good looking creation in honor of the Filipino priest. It was just a piece of metal and stone raised above a few inches from the ground I remember then, it was the exact location where the garrote was erected. I use to touced it and people would just walk over it then. Kudos should go to NHI for formally making the grounds a monument for all people to notice.

Lots of great memories here. The monument of Rizal was facing the direction of the bay, when he was executed, that was the horizon he was looking at. The waves and the blue sky probably gave him inner peace. It was a good spot to die, although he wanted to face his executioners - he settled to face the Manila bay. 'Oh what a beautiful day...', exclaim the soon to be dead hero when he saw Manila bay and the skies, even on the day when his headed to his execution he never failed to appreciate the beauty of his country . Currently, Quirino stadium blocks the view of thebay from were Rizal stood, i wonder what he' say about it.

---

One surprised was that while I was walkng from Salamanca Plaza I noticed that the streets were flooded. I began asking a baranggay official if the street have a drainage problem, he kinda looked at me and smiled. Later I found out that this is a normal occurence when there's a high tide. i did not know that. I thought there was a tsunami or something.

San Juan Bautista Church in Calamba

A brief history of this historic Iglesia we recently had the chance to visit last month.

Considered by our local church official as one of the 'jubilee churches'(old pre Spanish churches in Laguna) alongside with the shrine of Sto. Sepulcro in Landayan, SanPedro and the other old century old churches in Laguna (Nagcarlan, Pila, San Pablo, Mabitac, Paete, Pangil, Pakil, Pagsanjan, Majayjay...)

In 1759 the Jesuit Missionaries purchased a big portion of land called Hacienda de San Juan, but the parish was established only in 1779 by the Franciscan Friars.

In this church, Fray Rufino Collantes baptized our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, on June 22, 1861. the original altar was burned in 1862 but immediately rebuilt by Fray Leoncio Lopez. the first Filipino priest, Fr. Angel Villaruz, served this church for 43 years since 1901. the incumbent Parish Priest is Fr. Menorca.

This church was literally just a stone throw away from the Rizal residence, I was told by a friend that its original location was in the front of the Rizal shrine before -I was not able to verify this but there was what looks like old pre-Spanish foundations where the current vidokes, sari sari stores and carinderia is located, all this establishments fronting the shrine, what an eyesore.

I'm quite intrigue by the piece of a scanned document that hangs in the wall inside the Rizal shrine which declares Father Lopez as the signatoree of Rizal's birth certificate when it was in fact a different friar who conducted the baptism, Fray Collantes. I also heard that Rizalista's makes a connection of Rizal being baptized here in the church of San Juan Bautista, comparing it to Jesus undergoing the same rites under his cousin San Juan Bautista, they took it for its divine meaning -as if Rizal was baptize by St. John himself. I really can't blame this people, Rizal is a fascinating man, aside from his intellectual feats it seems that this renaissance of a man is a clairvoyant - based on what I've read about him this man is a believer in the supernatural, very pinoy - very superstitious.

This church has been the center of the activity of the town - like fiestas and other town functions. This is the genius of the Spanish city planning, every town built around an Iglesia or convento, it seems that all roads will lead you back to the church, a poblacion is never without a great Iglesia. Calamba's town and this church has been conceived the same way - bringing the people closer to God and the town's government.

Rizal in Muntinlupa

I'm not sure if Rizal stayed in Muntinlupa, chances are good that he did not, did he ever visited this sleepy hilly town? that also has no historical reference so clearly during his days the young hero did not have anything to do with the once Augustinian domain which at that time partly belongs to San Pedro, Laguna.

Muntinlupeños should be proud that the city government paid homage to our hero, dedicating a monument in the city hall that was made its centerpiece. The old city hall caught fire last year and was completely destroyed. Rumor has it that it was intentional - now, I don't want to speculate which party did the people of Muntinlupa harm - that's how bad local politics is here. The new Mayor found himself without office. He has to build one.

The new city hall was inaugurated this year. Styled with the traditional Filipino house architecture in mind with touches of modern western structures. The Rizal monument was its accent, its the first object you'll see before you enter the lofty hall. Rizal has many monument we all know that and I'm sure he won't mind sharing space with his contemporaries but this great guy with the undercoat on in the tropics is the man!

The monument is an old one, I found out that they spray painted it recently to make it look like pure bronze. I did try to ask the cultural dept who created the monument, I'm still waiting for the answer - but let me say this, this piece could be one of the best monuments. It's not as grand as the one in Luneta or Fort Santiago as matter fact the statue seems to be a real life version of Rizal, the height and the physique could match the man of many monuments and shrines, on top of this is its location. For the first time in all the years of my residence in Muntinlupa I see people noticing the monument, some even snapping shots at it.

Mayor San Pedro deserves to be commended. I feel that this guy is a Rizalist, I wrote him an email last March about my willingness to volunteer myself to heritage work for the city and also sought his help in some of the issues we are currently facing here but the Mayor has been busy. His been improving the busy city - I also like his active participation in my local parish.

---

I also sent sample pics to KOR - I believe they collect photos of Rizal monuments. Hope they could add this on their site.