Queen Chamadevi is remembered as a capable and disciplined ruler who laid the foundations of Hariphunchai during the 7th–8th century. According to tradition, she came from the Mon cultural sphere of central Thailand and was invited to govern the newly established city. Her reign marked the beginning of organized statehood in the area, with systems of leadership, defense, and administration taking shape under her authority. Chronicles portray her not as a ceremonial figure, but as a hands-on leader who protected her kingdom from external threats and ensured internal stability.
Category: People
Who is Gregorio Aglipay?
Gregorio Aglipay was born in 1860 in Batac, and it is here where his journey began, ultimately leading to the establishment of a national church that would challenge colonial religious dominance. Originally a Roman Catholic priest, Aglipay became known not only for his religious calling but also for his nationalist ideals. He was appointed by Emilio Aguinaldo as Military Vicar General during the Philippine Revolution, serving as a voice for Filipino clergy who had long suffered under Spanish control.
The Luna Ancestral House in Badoc, Ilocos Norte
The original Luna house caught fire in 1861, which led the Luna family to move permanently to Manila, where the children continued their studies. The house was later reconstructed during the 1970s, and converted into a museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Juan Luna. Inside, visitors can usually find reproductions of his artworks, as well as exhibits that tell the story of the Luna family.
Josefa Llanes Escoda House in Dingras
After visiting the Dingras Church for our Visita Iglesia, we learned that nearby was the birthplace of Josefa Llanes Escoda. Her name is familiar to many as the woman on the old 1,000-peso bill. She is also the founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. Since it was just across the municipal hall and near the town plaza, we decided to make a short sidetrip. The site was easy to find, located beside the church grounds, and it didn’t take much time to explore.
Who is Aurelio Tolentino?
During his lifetime, Aurelio Tolentino was a playwright, poet, journalist, and a revolutionary. He was also known to be a good friend of Andres Bonifacio and became an early member of the Katipunan. He was even one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
Jovel Lorenzo and the BoxCamera.PH
What’s interesting is that instead of using a digital camera, photographer Jovel Lorenzo is using a wooden contraption supported by a tripod. The box camera he built from scratch during the early quarantine phase of the pandemic was modelled from the 19th Century street box camera. More popularly known as the Afghan box, it serves as both a camera and a darkroom instantly producing black and white prints in a couple of minutes.
Starry Starry Night: Van Gogh Alive in Manila
An Australian company, Grande Exhibitions, has paid a tribute to the painter Vincent van Gogh by creating Van Gogh Alive, a multi-sensory exhibit on his life and works. The exhibit ran in Manila from October 26 to December 8 at One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The exhibit wants us to interpret the thoughts, feelings and mental state of van Gogh during his time in his homeland Netherlands, Paris, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, the locations where he created many of his timeless masterpieces.
The Man Who Made Timeless Filipino Christmas Songs
It was the launch of Christmas 2019 celebration at the University of the Philippines Manila with the lighting of the Christmas Tree in front of the Philippine General Hospital. And who else should be there to launch it but the man whose song ushers in the Pinoy Christmas season in September. Jose Mari Chan called himself the “Little Drummer Boy” who heralds the coming of the season as his name is practically synonymous with the start of the Filipino Christmas season.
Bits & Pieces: Who is Albrecht von Haller?
During my walking tour around Bern, Switzerland, I ran into a statue in front of the University of Bern. It was a statue of Swiss anatomist, physiologist, naturalist, encyclopedist, bibliographer and poet, Albrecht von Haller.
Hirohiko Araki’s Bizarre Adventure
Confined at the corner of the bookstore, there’s not much in the exhibit except for a number of posters and action figures of Araki’s magnum opus “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure”. It was first published in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1986 making this year its 30th anniversary. It transferred to the monthly seinen magazine Ultra Jump in 2005 where it is still running as the second largest manga series by the publishing company Shueish
Isamu Noguchi’s Black Sun
Most famous for the iconic Noguchi table, Isamu Noguchi also made the monumental sculpture entitled “Black Sun” in 1969. It is now located at the Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington, particularly at the eastern edge of the park’s man-made reservoir. Carving was done in Mure, Japan from a single 30-ton block of stone quarried from a Tijuca formation in Brazil producing the polished torus-shaped sculpture measuring 9 ft in diameter and 12 tons in weight.
A Glimpse Of Frida Kahlo
La Casa Asul (Blue House) in Coyoacán was where Kahlo spent her lifetime since her birth in 1907. Frida got married to another Mexican art icon Diego Rivera and they lived in the same house from 1929 until Frida died in 1954. Diego eventually died in 1957 and the La Casa Azul has served as Museo Frida Kahlo since 1958.
Amoj In Wanderland 