It is easy to dismiss Binondo’s filthy and crowded sidewalks once one has breathed Alabang’s crisp, unpolluted air or Bonifacio High Street’s lush greenness. After all, when one is on vacation, one expects nothing less than paradise to greet him. To the naked eye, Binondo will seem a horrifying disappointment, but some still choose to visit the area to take in its rich history. Horse-drawn calesas that continue to trot along Binondo’s streets today are one of the district’s main attractions. Calesa rides may not be as glamorous as they used to be, but one look at a carriage can bring back some type of collective memory or images of the Spanish Colonial Era that most of us have experienced only in classic Filipino literature. It is a consolation then, that a calesa ride can surely take its passenger on a time travel to the good old days when Binondo was glamorous and its streets sparkled with wealth and newness. With enough imagination, one might even catch a glimpse of Rizal’s Ibarra walking along the shores of Pasig. But it is not only the old or the fictive that Binondo can offer to its tourists. The observant eye will notice landmarks of modernization and of Westernization that blend in with Binondo's equally diverse historical sites. It does not confine itself to the Spanish Colonial Era; Binondo boasts of the emergence of the Filipino identity, the harmonious relationship of the Filipino and the Chinese, and the country’s efforts at economic improvement. A deeper understanding of it may explain why people should not consider Binondo as any lesser than Tagaytay, Boracay, or Alabang just because it is not as sophisticated as they seem. After all, Binondo has character. There are many entry points to Binondo: one may o... ... middle of paper ... ...A plaque in front of a quaint little house along Lavezares announces: Here, the La Solidaridad was first printed. After witnessing all the wonderful renovations in Binondo, it’s always pleasant to look back on the country’s past. After all, without the help of La Solidaridad, the Propagandistas, and our national heroes, we might have never repossessed our freedom from the Spaniards. As Rizal said, “To foretell the destiny of a nation, it is necessary to open the book that tells of her past.” Binondo lives up to this proverb perfectly by embracing both the past and the present of the country. It is undiscriminating to change, but also nostalgic for the bygone days. This is why when people claim that Binondo is merely a stinky fish market compared to the new structures popping right out of Makati, Taguig, and Alabang, I’d be the first to say that they’re wrong.
Teja, Jesus F. De La. A Revolution Remembered: The Memoirs and Selected Correspondence of Juan N. Seguin. Austin: State House Press, 1991.
Miguel Melendez’s book, “We Took the Streets” provides the reader with an insightful account into the activities of the Young Lords movement established in the latter years of the 1960s and remained active up until the early seventies. The book’s, which is essentially Melendez’s memoir, a recollection of the events, activities, and achievements of the Young Lords. The author effectively presents to the reader a fascinating account of the formation of the Young Lords which was a group of college students from Puerto Rico who came together in a bid to fight for some of the basic rights. As Melendez sums it up, “You either claim your history or lose authority over your future” (Melendez 23). The quote is in itself indicative of the book’s overall
...al Sam Gillis.” Benevolent Assimilation: The American Conquest of the Philippines, 1899-1903. New Haven, CT: Yale University, 1982. 87. Print.
The debate on Puerto Rican Identity is a hot bed of controversy, especially in today’s society where American colonialism dominates most of the island’s governmental and economic policies. The country wrestles with the strong influence of its present day colonizers, while it adamantly tries to retain aspects of the legacy of Spanish colonialism. Despite America’s presence, Puerto Ricans maintain what is arguably their own cultural identity which seems largely based on the influence of Spain mixed with customs that might have developed locally.
Adams, Jerome R. Liberators and Patriots of Latin America. Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland & Company Inc., Publishers, 1991. Print.
Taylor, Diana. "Trapped in Bad Scripts: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo". Disappearing Acts. Spectacles of Gender and Nationalism in Argentina's "Dirty War." Duke Univ. Press: 1997. 183-222.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century the cultural and societal foundations were laid for the newly formed nations of the America. Both José Enrique Rodó and Jose Marti made large contributions to the development of Latin America through their literature. Both sought to improve and encourage the people of The America’s, however it is Jose Marti who truly succeeds in inspiring a national pride in his writing Our America.
It is believed by many that 1898 was a year of liberation and domination because of the Spanish-American War (García 39). After the war had concluded Puerto Rico had finally, after centuries of Spanish rule, been free of the tyrannical policies of the Spanish government in the island; moreover, this led to the clear pavement of the path for domination of the island of Puerto Rico by the United States. For the years to come once the US takes control of Puerto Rico, US military leaders in order to create a stable political, economical, and social environment governed the people of Puerto Rico. After years of legislation and negotiations from Puerto Rico’s leadership, in 1952...
Preston, Paul. The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2007. Print.
Havana is one of the most architecturally diverse cities. In the beginning of the 20th century, Havana was an international influential powerhouse, enriched with art nouveau, art deco and eclectic design. This boom period was the turn in Cuba’s economical continuous changes throughout the times of change.
This book is a compilation of several articles about the Spanish Civil War by different authors each one dealing with a different subject matter. This is useful because it gives different perspectives on the war. However, the accuracy becomes compromised as there are conflicting points of view in the book that rr(a'y cause the information to be less reliable.
The conflict that arose in the 1930s and 40s in Spain can be defined as the struggle between the two ideologies of Spanish society; the traditionalists who wanted to hold on to conservative catholic values and the republicans who sought to embrace the wave of progressive modernism that had already swept through most of the western world. Spain was once the world’s most powerful empire, but due to clashing political beliefs, a broken and ever changing political system, and a destroyed economy, by the late 1800s it had fallen apart into a divided country where chaos ruled. Thousands lived in complete poverty and misery, working jobs that could not support their growing families. Infant mortality skyrocketed as the economy plunged. While the economy went from one crisis to another, the people began to protest the draconian censorship of the government, forcing the militaristic dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera to step down. His resignment resulted in the country’s first real step towards democracy, the Second Spanish Republic. During the municipal elections, new radically ideological politocal parties began to emerge, both on the extreme left and right wings. The right wing parties were supported by the monarchists, upperclass, conservatives, and the catholic church. However, among these parties was the small, yet rapidly growing facist falange party created by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, son of the former dictator and a man who would have astounding influence on the lives of thousand of people, even long after his death. The falange sought to restore Spain to its former glory under the rule of one pow...
Fast track to the 1800’s when we see many problems result from important happenings such as the peninsular war, which occurred from 1807-1814, the Spanish American wars of independence where Spain lost a significant amount of its colonies in the Americas in early 19th century. But lastly three Carlist wars that dated from 1832 all the way to 1876 had effect a new interpretation of Spain’...
Kaohsiung, Taiwan is among the oldest of the Cebu City Government’s Sister Cities. This relationship was formally established on February 6, 1969 under the leadership of Mayor Eulogio E. Borres and Hon. Florencio S. Urot as expressed through Resolution No. 229 entitled “A Resolution creating the sister city relationship between Cebu City and Kaohsiung City, Taiwan Province, Republic of China.” This resolution cited the similarities between Cebu City and Kaohsiung, Taiwan which made them compatible for each other, due to their characteristics (1) of being the second biggest city in their respective countries not only in population but also in commerce and industry, (2) of being port cities, (3) of being the first to have an export processing zone (4) of having common aspirations of obtaining progress and prosperity for its residents and (5) of being noted for its gracious and hospitable peoples. In this resolution, it was conveyed that the Sister-city program between the two cities would be “one of the best means of fostering and cementing friendship and understanding between the citizens of Cebu City
The 6 acre parcel located within Condado’s “golden triangle” had many zoning restrictions applicable to the desired development. For example, back in 1993, the government of Puerto Rico initiated a “special land use plan and zoning regulation for the entrance of San Juan Islet” (Trouble in paradise, 2010). This regulation brought forth Regulation No. 23 that strictly stipulated the zoning ordinance could not be a...