The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Biringyi The Kapampangan paella has its roots in the precolonial biryani dishes from South Asia. It is made from rice and glutinous rice (lakatan) mixtures cooked in coconut milk (gata), turmeric (ange), chicken, and chicken stock, and topped with a sliced boiled egg. It’s National Spanish Paella Day! Did you know that Kapampángans have a … Read more
House of Kapitan Tiago Kapitan Tiago House (House of Balvino Mauricio) Calle Anloague (Juan Luna Street), Binondo (19th Century). The House of Kapitan Tiago is believed to have been based on the house of Balvino Mauricio. Balvino Mauricio was implicated in the Cavite Mutiny of 1872. He hurriedly sold the property to businessman Telesforo Chuidian … Read more
MACTAN was OPONG When visitors fly into Cebu today, they actually arrive on Mactan island, where the infamous Datu Lapu-Lapu killed Magellan along the shore. Rulers of Opong established allyship with the Lakanate of Lawan, a prosperous kingdom in Samar. Trade and conflict between the ruling polities of Opong and Sugbu existed prior to the … Read more
SIQUIJOR was KATUGASAN The Kingdom (Kedatuan) of Katugasan, derives its name from tugas, the molave trees used by ancient island dwellers to make posts for their houses. Pottery and old tools excavated in the island’s caves show that prior to tugas for housing, the island’s natives lived in caves and traded with the Chinese. The … Read more
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