PH artifacts part of newly-opened museum in Barcelona

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Bulul. 19th century figures believed by the Ifugaos to protect ricefields and bring abundant harvest. Part of the Filipino collection at Barcelona's newly opened Museum of World Culture. #culture #world #museum #Ifugao #Barcelona #Spain #Philippines #guardian #figures #rice #harvest #beliefs #sculpture #art #ancient #riceterraces #bulul

A post shared by Daniel Infante Tuaño (@danielchronicle) on Mar 22, 2015 at 7:59am PDT

 

SPAIN – Artifacts from the Philippines are included in the permanent collection of the newly opened Museum of World Cultures in Barcelona, Spain.

The Museu de les Cultures del Mon (in Catalan), which opened in February, holds a collection of artifacts from four continents—Africa, Oceania, the Americas, and Asia.

On display in the Philippine section are 19th century Bulul, figures believed by the Ifugaos to protect rice fields and bring abundant harvest, Kalinga’s war shield kalasag, objects of daily use such as spoons and accessories from Isabela and Bontoc, karaban or a bamboo quiver that holds darts from Palawan, mamaan or betel nut boxes from Lanao, and 6th century burial urns from Sultan Kudarat.

 

 

Burial urns from Sultan Kudarat

These are one of the oldest collections the City Council of Barcelona has according to the Museum’s technical director Quim Vicente.

A part of it was brought to Spain during the Barcelona Universal Exposition of 1888 and some were donated by Folch Archaeological Foundation.

Barcelona-based Filipino resident Joel Sibay was surprised to see a Filipino collection in the museum.

“Maganda yung mga koleksyon natin na tinatangkilik sa ibang bansa at malaking bagay sa atin yan,” Sibay said.

Neighboring country Indonesia also has their Wayang Kulit marionettes on display.

Masks of all shapes and sizes from Africa, towering spirit figures bisj from Papua New Guinea, one of the few remaining pieces of fasting Buddha Gandhara, and a figure from Mexico that represents sports and human sacrifice are among the museum pieces that can also be seen inside.

With the help of interactive maps, more can be learned about the traditions and beliefs behind the collections.

“I really like the museum. I didn’t know what I was going to find and I’m very impressed. It’s very well organized. The figures, the little sculptures I think are very, very nice. I’m learning a lot,” museum visitor Marta Perez said.

The museum, housed by renovated medieval mansions Palau Nadal I del Marquès de Llió, can be found at the city’s Gothic Quarter right in front of the popular Picasso Museum. It used to be the location of Barbier-Mueller Pre-Columbian Art and Design museums. Daniel Infante Tuaño, ABS-CBNnews.com

Watch the related TV report aired on Balitang Global, TFC, ABS-CBN:

 

Pinoys keep Simbang Gabi tradition alive in Spain

Filipinos attend first Simbang Gabi mass at the Inmaculada Concepción y San Lorenzo Ruiz in Barcelona.

 

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

BARCELONA – Hundreds of Filipino faithful flocked to the Filipino Personal Parish Inmaculada Concepción y San Lorenzo Ruiz, or popularly known in Barcelona as Iglesia de San Agustin, to attend the first Simbang Gabi mass held in the evening of December 15.

There may be no puto bumbong and bibingka, but the 25,000-strong Filipino community has been carrying the Misa de Gallo tradition in the Catalan capital for more than two decades.

“Itong Simbang Gabi ay tradisyon na sa ating mga Pilipino at may malalim na itong ipinunla sa ating pananampalataya bilang mga Pilipino,” said Parish priest Fr. Tony Laureta.

Despite long work hours and complicated schedules, Filipino migrants find time to go to church or even spend their rest time attending the mass.

“Basta hindi kumplikado, pilit kong binubuo, kasi pag may trabaho ako hindi ako maka-Simbang Gabi,” said Barcelona resident Ellen Capus.

“Kung wala kang trabaho, why not come? I-celebrate mo ang pagpunta sa church, ‘yan ay once lang sa araw-araw nating pamumuhay ang ipakilala natin ang ating pagmamahal, ang ating pag-adore sa Panginoon,” added Urds Rioferio Ico.

Fr. Laureta also observed that most churchgoers complete the nine-day mass, which is considered a feat for Filipinos back home.

One reason, he explained, is the ‘worker-friendly’ schedule of the mass that starts at 8:30 p.m. when most Filipinos already finish work, so some of them will pass by the church before going home.

The church has also served as a refuge for migrants who miss their loved ones especially during the Christmas season.

“Wala naman mapupuntahan ang mga tao lalo’t higit sa kanilang pangungulila sa Pasko kundi ang simbahan,” he said.

“Isang aspeto pa siguro na every Sunday na nagsisimba sa iba’t ibang parokya, mga Spanish community, wala naman silang Simbang Gabi kayo halos sila ay pumupunta rito sa ating parokya,” he added.

Simbang Gabi is one of the legacies of Spanish colonization but in Spain, Misa de Gallo is celebrated only once — on Christmas Eve. ABS-CBNnews.com

Andorra honors Pinoys with a stamp

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

ANDORRA – Three Andorran-born children–named Veronica, Dylan and Von Mart–wearing traditional Filipino costumes, are featured in a colorful postage stamp which immortalizes the cultural and economic contribution of Filipinos to Andorra.

Ninety thousand copies of this stamp have been printed by the Spanish national postal service Correos.

Each stamp costs 92 cents or approximately P59 and can only be purchased in Andorra.

The children’s parents could not contain their happiness and pride upon hearing the good news from the Andorran government.

“Sa daming mga photo na (ipinadala) sa gobyerno, ang anak ko ang napili, yung silang tatlo. Kahit ako ay may photo pero hindi ako napili. Siyempre ako’y napakasaya bilang ina,” beamed Brenda Arida, mother of Veronica, the only girl in the stamp.

“Twenty years na ako dito sa Andorra. Proud na proud ako na napili sa isa sa kanila yung anak ko,” said Dylan’s mother, Rhoda Evangelista Perez.

Von Mart’s mother, Curita Gega Manalo, hopes that the stamps reach the Philippines. “Natutuwa ako dahil sabi ko makikita ito ng buong mundo kahit sa atin sa Pilipinas.”

Andorra, a small neighboring country to France and Spain, has a population of approximately 80,000 and has become a primary shopping, banking and ski destination.

The landlocked country surrounded by the Pyrenees is a principality as it is headed by two princes—the current president of France Francois Hollande and the Spanish Catholic Bishop of Urgell Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia.

It is home to approximately 700 Filipinos. They might be small in numbers but their active involvement in all activities of the country and their efforts to promote Filipino culture caught the attention of the Andorran government according to Bong Canlas, president of Asociacio de Residents Filipins a Andorra.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, magiging historya tayo dahil ang komunidad Pilipino ‘tong taon na ‘to, tayo ang napili para magkaroon ng selyo kaya talagang lahat kami rito tuwang-tuwa. I’m very proud as a Filipino,” Canlas added.

In an exclusive interview with Eduard Tarrés Ficapal, a representative of Andorran government’s Department of Cultural Heritage, he said that the stamp reflects the cultural diversity which has been brought by decades of migration to Andorra.

It also recognizes the active participation of the Filipino community and gives more visibility to different migrant communities in the country.

Last year, the Portuguese migrant community was the first to receive its own stamp.

“Personally, I think, a multicultural society is more tolerant because it becomes accustomed to different ways of life and we consider important that Andorra be a multicultural society and remains the same because this is what enriches our society,” said Tarrés in Spanish. ABS-CBNnews.com

Watch the related TV report Filipino as aired on Balitang Global

Book on legendary Filipino footballer launched

Half-Ilonggo, half-Spanish Paulino Alcantara was one of greatest players of Futbol Club Barcelona

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

BARCELONA — Considered as the best Asian player of all time, holds the record for the most number of goals a FC Barcelona player has ever scored, and dubbed as “El Rompe Redes” for breaking nets with the power of his goals.

Despite these football milestones and after more than 100 years, half-Ilonggo, half Spanish Paulino Alcantara seemed to have sunk into oblivion.

Recently, a biography entitled “Paulino: El primer crac de la història del Barça” was launched to remember Alcantara and pay tribute to his legacy in Barcelona’s premier team Fútbol Club Barcelona or locally known as Barça.

Alcantara is the highest goal scorer in Barça’s history with 369 goals in 357 games, beating the goal record of modern-day football superstar Lionel Messi.

The book, published by Edicions Saldonar and Fútbol Club Barcelona, was written by David Valero Carreras and Angel Iturriaga Barco.

“Our main sources of information were two biographies of Alcantara, one was published in 1924 by Alcantara (himself) and the other was made for the centennial of the club…By luck, we can speak with the family here in Spain, the two grandchildren of Paulino. And she told us many things about the footballer of the family,” Valero said.

One of their interesting discoveries, according to Iturriaga, is that Alcantara was related to Hollywood actor Juan de Garchitorena and that he played for the Club while pursuing a career in medicine.

Ana Maria Gutierrez Puigbert, the granddaughter of Alcantara, recounted her memories of her mother’s uncle: “I remember him. I know his son that died when he was a doctor…Paulino, we used to see him, when he used to play, and everything, but he died, I think 1970.”

Also present in the well-attended book launch in Camp Nou was Philippine Honorary Consul Jordi Puig, who stressed the importance of knowing his life story. “He’s one of the important players of the team of Barcelona and he’s from the Philippines,” he said.

What also caught the attention of the crowd during the book launch was the 10-year-old Pinoy football player Sandro Reyes, who also attended the event with his family.

Reyes, who is being primed to follow the footsteps of his compatriot Alcantara, was admitted to the prestigious football academy for kids FCB Escola last year.

The biography is published in Catalan, one of the official languages of Catalonia, but the authors plan to have it translated into Spanish, English and even in Filipino in the future.

The authors are also slated to present the book again this time to the Filipino community in Barcelona on December 9 at the Philippines Club de Catalunya. ABS-CBNnews.com

Authors Angel Iturriaga Barco and David Valero Carreras signing autographs during the Dia Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain. Photo courtesy of David Valero Carreras

 

Watch this related TV report in Filipino language aired on Balitang Europe, The Filipino Channel, ABS-CBN:

No selfie? First Pinoy photographer leaves no photo of himself

Recuerdos de Filipinas

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

BARCELONA – Great painters like Rembrandt, Picasso, Caravaggio and Kahlo have their own self-portraits, while nowadays, in the social media age, one doesn’t have to be a grand master or an Oscar nominee to have great selfies.

Surprisingly, the very first Filipino photographer Felix Laureano, also considered one of the best of his time hasn’t left a single picture of himself.

His works, which depicted the lives of Filipinos mostly set in Iloilo in the final years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines, were compiled in “Recuerdos de Filipinas”, a book published in Barcelona, Spain in 1895.

A quick Google search will display some of these pictures–from cockfights, the Sinulog festival to old cathedrals in Iloilo.

However, until now no solo picture of him or even a shot with his family or friends has ever been found.

This aroused the curiosity of former UP History Professor Frank Villanueva to search for Laureano’s picture, among other interesting historical facts about the photographer.

Villanueva, who is based in Canada, travelled all the way to Barcelona to visit antique shops, libraries, museums, archives and even flea markets hoping to find Laureano’s picture.

Laureano used to have two photo studios in the Catalan capital, one in Ronda Sant Pere and the other in Rambla dels Caputxins both located in the city center.

After a month of research, Villanueva proudly showed to ABS-CBNnews.com his prized discovery—a 19th century daguerreotype picture of a lady with Laureano’s autograph on it.

But still no photograph of Felix Laureano.

Villanueva also travelled to the Philippines as the photographer was born in Patnogon, Antique in 1860 to find more information about him.

He was able to interview the descendants of Santiago Laureano, Felix’s eldest brother, who have recollections of the photographer but don’t possess any picture either.

Rizal, Jaena, Del Pilar and Laureano?

Recently, Villanueva presented a lecture on the photographer entitled “Felix Laureano: First Filipino photographer and the last propagandist” in the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

“I would like to position him in relation to other Filipino ilustrados. He was quiet and I have not come across his name mentioned in historical accounts relating to this group of young Pinoys in Spain in the 19th century,” Villanueva said.

Neverthelesss, Laureano was said to be in Barcelona at the time when the first Filipino migrants Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez Jaena and Marcelo H. del Pilar were also there to advocate for reforms.

He also became friends with another artist–the great painter Juan Luna.

Like his friend Luna, he also participated and won in numerous Universal and Artistic Expositions in Madrid (1887) and in Barcelona (1888).

Laureano also competed with Barcelona’s top three photographers–Napoleon, Pau Audouard and Antoni Esplugas and became part of the history of Spanish photography for being one of the city’s pioneer studio photographers.

“It is important to get to know more about Felix Laureano because he is one of the first early Filipinos who immigrated to Spain. We should look into those early immigrants and learn something from their experience. We could look up to them as models of the contemporary Filipino immigrants.”

Villanueva also encouraged everyone to be more interested in history, especially Filipinos in Spain, rummage through antiquities, old books and photographs.

Who knows when one might finally come across the picture of the first Filipino photographer Felix Laureano?

Originally published on ABS-CBNnews.com 

Watch the related TV report in Filipino language aired on Balitang Europe, The Filipino Channel:

Graciano Lopez Jaena’s remains still in Barcelona

Graciano Lopez Jaena

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

SPAIN – The remains of the first editor of La Solidaridad, Graciano Lopez Jaena, are still in a mass grave called La Fossa de Pedrera in Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona.

However, they have not been repatriated yet as their exact location cannot be determined until now.

According to the records of the company that manages the cemetery, Cementiris de Barcelona S.A., a man named Graciano Lopez Faena, 40 years old, single, was buried directly to a mass grave a day after he died.

Articles written about him said that he died of tuberculosis. Jaena, who formed the triumvirate of the Propaganda Movement together with Jose Rizal and Marcelo del Pilar, also died poor.

“From 1893 until 1978 (it) was used as a mass grave for poor people. From 1949 to 1978, the victims of the Civil War in Spain were buried here,” Mar Rovira, Cemetery’s tour guide, said.

The mass grave where Jaena was buried is now known as the burial site of those who lost their lives during the Spanish Civil War.

The difficulty to find the exact location in the mass grave where Jaena was buried derailed the plans to repatriate his remains.

Since 1916, the government has been looking for it, according to a letter from Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. In more recent years, Jaena’s descendants even tried to look for it but to no success.

Meanwhile, as recognition to Jaena along with other members of the Movement who came to Spain to fight for changes in the colonial Philippines, filmmaker Kay Abaño who currently resides in Barcelona, is preparing a documentary on the parallelisms of the heroes during that time and the new heroes.

“(It’s) part fiction, part documentary about Filipino migrants living in Barcelona. The part fiction is about Marcelo del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena. Napili kong pagsamahin ang temang ito dahil ang mga migrante ay kino-consider na new heroes, whereas Marcelo Del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena are considered heroes as well, so that’s the first parallelism. Another parallelism was that both generations of Filipinos live in the same part of Barcelona. From their time to our time. Saan tayo patungo?”

Aside from Jaena, Filipino hero Marcelo del Pilar and internationally-acclaimed Filipino painter Felix Resurrección Hidalgo also died in Barcelona, but their remains were already brought back to the Philippines many decades ago. Originally published on ABS-CBNnews.com

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