The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
San Agustin Museum Stairway The main stairway, leading to the upper floors, is 30 meters high, and its 44 steps are granite blocks, 3 meters long, bought in Canton (China) from1786-1789. The brick vault- 8 meters in diameter was built in 1863 by Architect Luciano Oliver. On the walls are exhibited several paintings mostly by … Read more
The great Kapampangan kitemaker Apung Eloy of Cutcut, Angeles City designed folksy, whimsical kites of birds, fish, angels, superheroes, national heroes, saints, and even a Ferris wheel with tiny dolls strapped to their seats that rotated in the sky! He was a sepulturero (cemetery caretaker) from 1948 to 1988. You may want to read: 1st … Read more
Kite flying is one of the activities that can be enjoyed during the hot air balloon festivals of Pampanga! How do you say “kite” in your language? BURARUL • (boo-ruh-ROOL)kiteTagálog (Filipino): saranggóla EtymologyFrom Spanish volador (“flying; flier”; also means “kite” in Bolivia and eastern Venezuela) You may want to read: Kapampangan words of Chinese origins … Read more
This week, the Kapampángan city of Mabalacat celebrates the Balacat Festival which honors the origin of the city’s name, the balacat tree. BALAKAT • (buh-LAH-kuht)a tree, Ziziphus talanae; the origin of Mabalacat City’s name Derived Kapampángan Place Name:MABALACAT • (muh-buh-LAH-kuht)a city in Pampanga province, Philippines whose name literally means “full of balacat trees” You may … Read more
BALACAT FESTIVALMabalacat City, Pampanga Starting in 2023, the name of the annual festival of the Kapampángan city of Mabalacat was changed from Caragan Festival (named after the city’s indigenous Aeta founder) to Balacat Festival to give reference to the balacat tree which is the origin of Mabalacat’s name. The city was said to have been … Read more