Casa Real de Malolos

 

 

The Casa Real of Malolos served different purposes and carried different names during the Spanish and American Periods. Built in 1580, it originally served as the seat of government of the town. It also became the town’s Casa Tribunal, Ayuntamiento, and Casa Presidencia Municipal. It served as the office of the Treasury and the office of the town’s gobernadorcillo during the Spanish period.

 

  

 The building housed the National Printing Press during the First Philippine Republic where the revolutionary organs La Independencia, El Heraldo de la Revolucion, Kalayaan and Kaibigan ng Bayan were printed. 

When the Americans captured Malolos, Casa Real became the seat of their Military Government. It was turned into a hospital in 1923 and later became an annex of the Bulacan High School in 1941. It housed the Japanese Chamber of Commerce during the Japanese Occupation.

Today, one of the permanent exhibits of Casa Real Shrine are relics of the Brave Women of Malolos of whom Rizal wrote a poem to honor their courage of setting up a school against objections from the towns friars.

 

 

Barasoain: Birthplace of Asia’s First Constitutional Democracy

  

 

  

Brought by the complications caused by the United States of America, President Aguinaldo transferred the seat of government from Bacoor, Cavite to Malolos in Bulacan to safeguard the interest of the new Philippine Republic.

 

As President of the Revolutionary Governement, Aguinaldo issued for a proclamation calling for the meeting of the delegates of the first Philippine Congress in Malolos.

 

Historians agree that Malolos was ideal venue for hosting the Congress. Being the largest town in Bulacan, it was accessible by carriage, boat (via Pasig River-Manila Bay route), and rail (via Manila-Dagupan Railroad). A great number of Malolos residents were liberal-minded illustrados who would be open to the progressive ideas Aguinaldo sought to imbue in the new republic.

 

  

Malolos was one of the oldest towns outside of Manila. Founded in 1580, the town provided numerous buildings to house the administrative functions and offices of the First Philippine Republic.

 

  

Modification was made on the parish church of Barasoain which was chosen to house the Congress for it size. According to Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, Barasoain Church nave was large enough to be adopted as meeting hall. Its main retable was covered by white fabric, and religious statuary had been removed. Republican heraldry and festooning decorated the site. Instead of an altar, there was a wooden table draped in crimson and light blue; three carved, high-backed chairs stood at the chancel. At the left of the chancel was a table covered with cloth of red and blue. A press section was set up near the chancel rail. Revolutionary flags, crossed palm leaves and wreaths were everywhere.

 

  

The adjacent convent became the President’s office with meeting rooms. Honor guards in distinguished uniforms stood at their posts.

 

The first Philippine Congress assembled on September 15, 1898 at the Barasoain Church. Teodoro Agoncillo described the momentous event: The long and narrow road to the church was lined with excited people. Home-made… flags, made of red calico stripes, decorated every house and post. Palm leaves and flowers added a festive mood to the occasion. On either side of the road were lines of bamboo arches such as may be seen in any town fiesta. Infantrymen, well-dressed and behaving with the confidence of conqueror, were standing at attention in front of the arches…”    

                                                                                                                                                 

 

 

Information source:

Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, Vision of the Possible

Teodoro Agoncillo, Mololos, Crisis of the Republic

The Cradle of Filipino Heroes

  

  

Former education secretary Dr. Alejandro Roces once said that “Institutions make a nation.” Founded in April 28, 1611, the University of Santo Tomas is perhaps the oldest institutions in the Philippines after the Roman Catholic Church. This almost four centuries old institution is even old than the Philippine Republic. At almost 400 years old, this venerable institution had stood witness to the country’s struggle for independence from Spanish rule.

 

  

The Philippine Daily Inquirer has posted an article ten years ago about the indirect contributions of the university to Philippine independence. The contribution came in the form of intense minds and courageous spirits that animated and pursued the war of independence from Spain with singularity of purpose. As part of the Spanish colonial establishment and veritable ministry of education in the 19^th century, UST did not directly or officially participated in the Philippine Revolution. In fact, its academic life was interrupted from 1898 to 1899 at the height of the insurrection, one of only two occasions throughout its colorful history would be closed (the second one was during the second World War when the university was transformed by the Japanese occupation troops into a concentration camps for prisoners of war).

 

  

Nevertheless, UST did play a significant role in the Revolution as cradle of the intrepid souls who sparked the Revolution. Its students and graduates spearheaded the Propaganda Movement in Spain from 1880 to1895. One of the movement’s leaders was Philippines national hero Jose Rizal who was educated at UST.

 

UST nurtured the educated Filipino youth who became the ecclesiastics, lawyers, physicians, pharmacists, poets and journalist who would become the intellectual engines of the Revolution.

 

Its alumni served as in the First Republic as advisers of President Emilio Aguinaldo and as Cabinet members of the Revolutionary Government. Some became Generals of the Revolutionary Army. Sixty-two of its graduates and a still undermined number of alumni were deputies in the Malolos Congress that drafted the first Philippine Constitution.

 

Today, at 397 years, UST rightfully deserves the title as the Cradle of Filipino Heroes.

  

Information source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippine Centennial 1998 issue)

 

The Superferry Boating Lagoon

  

Burnham Park is one of the places in Baguio where one can rent a hooded boat and go paddling on its huge man-made lagoon. Nowadays, residents of Metro Manila have the option of not trekking up to Baguio to experience this once Burnham Park-exclusive activity. A paddle boat ride is now made available in La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City.

 

This facility was named after the largest shipping company in the country –Superferry. Inscribed on each boat are Superferry’s ports of call.

 

 

The four feet deep lagoon is surrounded by lush greenery which gives the impression of paddling via a river along a tropical rain forest.

 

 

 

 

 

Adding to the natural beauty of the lagoon are the ducks that effortlessly float on waters to cross to the other side of the lagoon.

 

  

 

Seen from a distance are the daredevils who glide via a rope suspended over the lagoon.

 

 

Let’s Go Fishing!

Fishing Lagoon at La Mesa Ecopark