“Before 1521 we could have been anything and everything not a Filipino; after 1565 we can be nothing but a Filipino.” (Nick Joaquín, Culture and History). 

 Canyon's away. No need to guard for Rebellion but just People who violate the Law.

Juan Dela Cruz had come a long way to find what’s left for Filipinoes, in the year 1565 an era of Spanish colonization that lasted for more than three centuries was established [1].

A new form of development was first introduced by the Spaniards in terms of religion, education, economy growth etc. But by continuous practice of slavery and injustice a revolution started to justify the people’s longing for freedom.

 Cathedral Church. A sign of the influence of Spanish Colonization in terms of Religion.

Located at Intramuros, Manila.

 Church goers, pedestrians in front of the Quaipo Church in Manila.

Saint John the Baptist Parish. The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, also known as Saint John the Baptist Parish and informally known as Quiapo Church is a prominent Roman Catholic church Latin-rite Basilica located in the District of Quiapo, Manila, Philippines.

First Filipino Christians

On April 14, 1521, Rajah Humabon, Rajah Kolambu, and 400 other Filipino natives were baptized into Christianity during a ceremony administered by friar Pedro Valderamma [2].
Even before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, Filipino natives had already learned the trick of making cannons, from Chinese traders. Historians claimed that Panday Pira who lived between 1483 and 1576 had devised the cannons which Muslim leader Rajah Sulayman used to protect Manila against the invading Spanish troops. Panday Pira was from Tarlac [2].
The Philippine Normal School (PNS) was the first college established in the country under the American government. PNS opened its campus to Filipino students in Manila on September 1, 1901. It became the Philippine Normal University on January 11, 1992. [2].
In 1637, Tomas Pinpin published Successos Felices (Fortunate Events), a 14-page newsletter in Spanish that is now widely regarded as the first Philippine newsletter. On December 1, 1846, La Esperanza, the first daily newspaper, was published in the country. Other early newspapers were La Estrella (1847), Diario de Manila (1848) and Boletin Oficial de Filipinas (1852). The first provincial newspaper was El Eco de Vigan (1884), which was issued in Ilocos [2].

 Spanish themed Houses.Intramuros Manila.

In February 14, 1898, the Spaniards bombed the American fleet "Maine" in Havana, Cuba which provoked the United States to declare war against Spain. Manila Bay turned into a massive battle field between the two countries. The Americans defeated the Spanish fleet. In the same year Spain surrendered the Philippines (along with Puerto Rico and Guam) to the United States in exchange of $20 million under the Treaty of Paris [1].

Before a battle field; now a tourist destination. Canons from Intramuros,Manila.

First Cannon Maker

Escolta: a busy commercial street before but now needs more commercial investment.

Escolta was the premier business and shopping area of Manila from the late 19th century until the destruction of the city during World War II in 1945. From a sleepy street during late Spanish colonial times, Escolta evolved into a center of commerce with many establishments such as banks, insurance companies, cinemas, department stores, jewelry shops, and restaurants housed in grand buildings, some of them in the art deco style popular in the Philippines in the 1920s and 30s.

The utter destruction of Manila in March 1945 caused ruination of this once beautiful city and the showcase that was the Escolta. Reconstruction started immediately but the glory of the Crystal Arcade was not resurrected and the excitement of the premier street of Manila would never again be as it once was. [3].

The Pasig River is a river in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay.

 Philippine Normal University (PNU) is a public research university in Manila, Philippines established during the early days of the American Occupation.

First American College

When the Americans came into the picture the longing to be identified for our own kind, slowly but powerfully came across to each of our people’s hearts, the fight for freedom became a fight for Filipinos.

“The difference between the Spanish advent and the American is that the technical revolution provoked by the first produced the Filipino, while the cultural upheaval provoked by the second merely helped us to become more aware of this Filipinoness.” (Nick Joaquín, Culture and History)

 Now a good sight. A part in the walled city (Intramuros) which is now being visited by tourist and considered as "Students Tambayan".

Intramuros [(Latin) intra: within; muros:walls]. The popular name given to the walled city of Spanish Manila. The name “Manila” (it is claimed) derives from “nilad”, a type of mangrove that bore white waxy flowers (Ixora) [3].

 The Municipal Golf course of Manila (Intramuros Golf Club), one of the oldest golf courses in Manila

The 1936, Commonwealth Act no. 171 was passed which was proposed to conserve the walled city, filling the mosquito-infested moat with sand and converting it to a grass covered green space. In the process of filling, much of the external fortifications were covered among them the bridge connecting the Parian gate to its ravelin. Later when a parking lot was built in front of the Puerta Real ravelin the curved bridge approaching the ravelin was also covered. The moat became the Municipal Golf course of Manila (Intramuros Golf Club  [4].

 Windows of the past. Windows from the Ruins of Intramuros, Manila.

The walled city which have been the wall of achieving freedom and identity by Filipinos now serve as their windows of the past, a trial which now seen as a majestic memory of history.

After these invasions, step by step we managed to find our own identities and culture we started developing traditions, Famous Festivals, Delicacies and slowly understanding what essential elements our country has. 

 A work for a Living. A Filipino serving a spanish influenced food, the famous "Pan de Sal"

Every morning we find a similar packed of semi-round pieces of bread on the breakfast table. You all know what it is – the pandesal.

It started with the pan de suelo catered to middle and upper class people. It’s a hard light yellowish bread which the Spaniards usually paired with other dishes. But as it is, Filipinos are ingenious at “adapting” new things and making something out of it to make their own. They discovered that by adding some salt to the wheat flour dough, the bread becomes softer inside and salty enough to stand.

Later, Filipino bakers rolled the salted bread dough in fine bread crumbs to make the outer covering of the bread more crusty and incidentally more brownish in color. This process, the fame “Lola Basyang” creator Severino Reyes, once observed, made the bread uniquely “kayumanggi.”

When the Spaniards tasted the bread, they seem to like it and called it pan de sal (bread of salt). Henceforth, they started adding salt, albeit in lesser quantity, to their dough. Bakeries all over the country, including those run by the Spanish authorities, started selling pan de sal every early dawn as food for the breakfast table. During the American occupation, they introduced the use of metal pans in baking bread which they considered more hygienic than cooking on mopped-up brick floor. The pan de sal became leaner and also sweeter.

The pan de sal became the breakfast food of choice, especially in urban communities throughout the Philippines. The name, by word of mouth, later became a single word pandesal in public nomenclature [5].

Manila Bulletin. The Manila Bulletin (also known as the Bulletin and previously known as the Manila Daily Bulletin and the Bulletin Today is one of the largest broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines.

First Newspaper

In the Film Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? (Eddie Romero, 1976) different faces of Filipinos were seen in the characters. Nicolas ‘Kulas’ Ocampo portrayed by Christopher de Leon showed that a Filipino has a choice on how he would live, defend and love this fate. Just like any other heroes of our country Kulas chose to make a difference and strive for independence, for in his perspective this is how he could complete his life, living or even dying as a Filipino.

“The identity of the Filipino today is of a person asking what is his identity.”  (Nick Joaquín, Culture and History) 

 A break from chaos. A common Filipino resting at the old chamber of Intramuros, which before was not possible for ordinary people.

We are often identified as the “Famous Juan Dela Cruz” but when did this started and why? 

A certain Pantaleon Perez led the Pangasinan revolt on November 3, 1762. Perez assumed the name Juan dela Cruz Palaris. It was on November 11, 1849, most illiterate Filipinos during the administration of Spanish governor general Narciso Claveria y Zaldua were given the Christian surname dela Cruz. Our great ancestors, who could not read and write, drew a cross as their signature on documents and so were known for their dela Cruz surnames. In contrast, Filipino descendants of rajahs and noble men were given the option to keep their names. Among the clans, who were also exempted from forced labor and paying taxes under the Spanish rule, were the Lakandulas, Solimans, Gatmaitans, Gatbontons, Salongas, Layas, Lapiras, Macapagals, Salamats, Manuguits, Balinguits, Banals, Kalaws, among others. [2].

 Cordillera’s Kubo. A sample of the Kalinga regions nipa huts.

The exhibit of the Cordillera Beauties (Kalinga, Philippines, 2010) by Raphael Blum showing the lost art of this region, is a tribute to show that even with the colonization this brave tribes managed to miraculously live up their culture with of little dominance from these foreign countries.

Kalinga is a landlocked province in the Cordillera Administrative Region. It is formerly part of the larger province of Kalinga Apayao until it was divided into 2 separate provinces in 1995. The tattooed women of this place have their tattoos in their bodies as ornaments like a necklace or full sleeves on their arms to signify beauty; it makes them more attractive to their suitors. For the men, it is a sign of bravery as warriors who have killed their enemies as Kalinga tribes are known to be the fiercest headhunting warriors of the Cordilleras.

These tattoos were done by a traditional tattoo artists locally known as "mambabatok". Charcoal that was made into a paste and a thorn that serves as a needle were used to make the tattoo [6].

Kalesa. This was used as a transportaion in the Spanish Era now, its also used as a carriage to carry tourists.

Now is being a Filipino still nothing but a sad fate? Or have we finally stretched our arms to embrace this destiny.

Today, signs of colonial mentality specially in the younger age had emerged, our vague understanding of the “Filipino identity” are still present, but through the years, we started opening our hearts and minds, that there’s no other person who can proudly choose to be a Filipino but only ourselves.

Sources:

1. Philippine Governance and the 1987 Constitution, 2006 edition Ricardo S. Lazo, Jr. published Rex book store, Inc. Chapters 1 and 2

2. Zoilo Galang's Encyclopedia of the Philippines and Julio Silverio's Diksyunaryo ng mga Unang Pinoy.

3. museumfoundationph.org/project/cultural-study-tours/escolta/

4. intramuros2007.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/intramuros-a-history/

5. Article under the title "Having Pan" in MOD Magazine 2012 issue, p.50-51