Travel

LEYTE was TANDAYA When the Spanish arrived, locals already referred to the island as Tandaya. It is believed the name ‘Leyte’ means land of Ete, a historic community ruled by Datu Ete, centered in today’s Leyte municipality. You may want to read: Buenavista Slab Bridge

NEGROS was BUGLAS Buglas is an old Hiligaynon word (thought to mean) “cut off”, as it is believed by its earliest inhabitants, Ati peoples, that the island separated from a giant landmass during the ice age. What would a ‘postcolonial’ ‘negros’ look like, beyond current occidental and oriental projections of colonial gaze? You may want … Read more

CEBU was SUGBU Sugbu means “to dive or jump into the water.” Oral legends (Aginid) describe the origins of Sugbu from Tamil-Malay Chola Prince, Sri Lumay, sent by Indian Maharajah to establish a Mandala (polity). Sugbu is known in ancient Chinese records as the nation of Sokbu You may want to read: 2nd Oldest Church … Read more

At the heart of Binondo lies Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz. The Plaza is the main square of Binondo, among the largest of Manila’s old Plazas. Then and now, it is surrounded by business, commerce, and whirling traffic since it is at the heart of Manila’s central business district. Lorenzo Ruiz (1600-1637) is the patron saint … Read more

How were the Balangays Built (Butuan Boats)? THEY WERE SEWN! The Butuan Boats have planks EDGE-JOINED with wooden dowels and no metal fastenings. They were also built using the LASHED-LUG boatbuilding tradition which was once common in maritime Southeast Asia. Each boat is approximately 15 meters from the prow to the stern and 3 meters … Read more