The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Congratulations on the 82nd birthday (October 17, 1940) of Manlilikha ng Bayan Estelita Bantilan! Estelita BantilanMat WeaverBlaanMalapatan, Sarangani Like all mat weavers, Estelita’s entire body is her loom. The thin strips of pandanus Romblon emerge matrix through her deft fingers performing personal rhythm, the beat seemingly guided by her eyes. The unwoven strips are held … Read more
Today (September 13, 2022) is the 119th birth anniversary of Amado V. Hernandez, National Artist for Literature. Amado V. Hernandez, poet, playwright, and novelist, is among the Filipino writers who practiced “committed art.” In his view, the function of the writer is to act as the conscience of society and to affirm the greatness of … Read more
Francisco Coching (January 29, 1919 – September 1, 1998) Remembering the life and works of National Artist for Visual Arts Francisco V. Coching on his 24th death anniversary. Francisco Coching was acknowledged as the “Dean of Filipino Illustrators”, a master storyteller in images and in print. His illustrations and novels are a product of that … Read more
Birthplace of Marcelo H. Del Pilar Born in Barrio San Nicolas, a town of Bulacan on August 30, 1850, to Julian H. Del Pilar and Blasa Gatmaytan. Marcelo H. Del Pilar, patriot, writer, and editor of La Solidaridad, a newspaper of the propaganda movement published in Spain. He died in Barcelona, on July 4, 1896. … Read more
Vicente S. Manansala (January 22, 1910 – August 22, 1981) Remembering the life and works of National Artist for Painting Vicente S. Manansala on his 41st death anniversary. Vicente Manansala‘s paintings are described as visions of reality teetering on the edge of abstraction. As a young boy, his talent was revealed through the copies he … Read more