Looking Back

Menus as historical sources

Ephemera is a complicated term used to describe ordinary objects that obsess collectors. Ephemera is…

Notes on books

When people ask what translations of the “Noli me tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” I recommend,…

Friars: Another view

Of the many small sculptures made by Rizal, two came to mind after I watched…

Jesuit land grabbing?

In the film “GomBurZa,” the recollect superior remarked they were used to frame the three…

Santo Niño de Cebu

Filipinos are said to have the longest Christmas season in the world. It begins in…

History from last wills and testaments

After watching “GomBurZa,” I reviewed the secondary literature that must have been used as the…

Romantic end of a Philippine martyr

Fake news is not new, it is as old as history. No less than The…

Gomburza: Conflicted details

If I were officially consulted for the “GomBurZa” film, now attracting attention due to its…

‘GomBurZa’: History comes alive

I risked catching COVID or the flu on Christmas Day by watching two entries to…

Sad Christmas letters

What do I want for Christmas? More shelves than books. On or around Christmas, I…