having our say

Women are taking center stage once again. In politics. At the Olympics. Uppermost in the news of today. It's about time! 

Female Last Supper #1 by Smetek

Long after the death of Leonardo da Vinci his art manages to still attract controversy. He left Italy, died and was buried in France - largely to escape prejudicial Italian politics, rumors of his homosexuality, and restrictions imposed by the Vatican on his art. 

Dav Vinci's The Last Supper

In particular his famous Last Supper has been infamously appropriated by the same Catholic Church that condemned the man, his art, and his life choices. 

our true hero

Rizal Day is celebrated every December 30 in the Philippines. It is the anniversary of Rizal's 1896 execution at Bagumbayan field - the present-day Rizal Park in Metro Manila. 

It's time for all Filipinos to remember our hard fought freedom and honor the sacrifices made for our country. #neverforget #alwaysremember #neveragain #nationalpride 

"Dream of my life, my living and burning desire,

All hail! cries the soul that is now to take flight;

All hail! and sweet it is for thee to expire;

To die for thy sake, that thou mayst aspire;

And sleep in thy bosom eternity's long night."

Jose Rizal - on flickr by arnavarra

"Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,

Salud te grita el alma que pronto va á partir!

Salud! ah que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,

Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,

Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir."

Mi último adiós (My Last Farewell) is a poem written by Filipino propagandist and writer Dr. José Rizal before his execution by firing squad on December 30, 1896. 

honor our revolutionary spirit

As we commemorate the 158th birth anniversary of the The Father of the Philippine Revolution, Andres Bonifacio - may we honor his revolutionary spirit by upholding freedom for all Filipinos.

Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro, (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897) was a Filipino freemason and revolutionary leader and the First President of the Philippines. 

excerpts of "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" by Andress Bonifacio
& English translation by Epifanio de los Santos

We are proud to be Filipino and have a hero like Andres Bonifacio, who fought for, encouraged, and supported his ideals, fellowmen, and country. 

As he did, may we love our country more and complain about Filipino behavior and our local situation less. Act as we must to support and improve matters instead - in however way we can.

Mabuhay, Pilipinas!

celebrate our harvest

Every soul longs for peace yet we are all meant to live a revolutionary life. Not only lives in revolution or revolt, though for too many that has been their all too sad and sorry fact. 

Revolutionary in the true sense of the word: constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change. Be an agent of change. 

Many cultures celebrate Midsummer on August 2 and this week is the peak. We are halfway through the summer in all its joy and glory and danger, with its COVID-sharing county fairs, political rodeos, and Olympic upsets. 

Image by Jade Brookbank/Image Source/Getty Images

August begins with Lammas, Loaf Mass Day, Lughnasadh - the day in the Book of Common Prayer calendar when a loaf baked with flour from newly harvested grain is brought to church and blessed, God's blessing is sought for the growing crops. 

Lughnasadh is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Named for Lugh, one of the most prominent gods in Irish mythology and member of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Portrayed as a warrior, a king, a master craftsman and a savior. He is associated with skill and mastery in multiple disciplines, including the arts. 

a hero of hope

November 30 is Bonifacio Day in the Philippines. Like much of our islands colonized history much of remains murky and controversial. As with Andres Bonifacio, aka Maypagasa - katipunero, revolutionary, hero - Father of the Philippine Revolution. 

Andres Bonifacio - graphic by Renz Bautista for Rappler Magazine

Was he really the first president of the Philippines? Was he unjustly killed by fellow rival Emilio Aguinaldo? After all we do have a long running history of jealous politicos killing their competition.