A fter conquering the Liang (梁) capital, Jian Kang (建康, now Nanjing), Liang’s renegade general Hou Jing (後景) sent an army led by military superintendent Hou Zi Jian (侯子鑒) from the middle army to besiege Wu Xing (吳興) prefecture in September 549. Wu Xing’s defending army was small, its fighting capacity weak. Its mayor, Zhang […]
The sight of water pails lined up in long rows that snake through blocks of houses, waiting for the water tanker or the fire trucks to fill them up, isn’t new. We’ve seen a lot of this during water service interruptions, especially in the summer. The difference this time is that it’s happening even before […]
When you hear of a person named Antonio Arsenio in the Philippines, what would you think is his nationality? Most probably Filipino. Well, Arsenio was Chinese. He was a staunch supporter of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo who owned a big house in Cavite, once a naval storehouse of the Spaniard. When the American troops under Brig. […]
“It was frustration, anger, disgust, despair.”—Mike de Leon That was acclaimed director Mike de Leon’s explanation to ABS-CBN News Channel television network on what moved him to produce the five-minute short film “Kangkungan.” It was released on Feb. 24, the eve of the 33rd commemoration of EDSA People Power. Social media has been widely circulating […]
Queen Du Gu (獨孤), wife of Emperor Sui Wen Di (隋文帝 581-601 AD), was of noble origin. Even as a queen, she did not abuse her power or yearn for and seek vanity. Rather, she worked hard and attached importance to the state. When the Turks (突厥) traded with Sui Dynasty, they had a suitcase […]
The past week saw many discussions arising from misdemeanors of young Chinese nationals in our country. Two of the incidents, just three days apart, incensed the public, Tsinoys included. I want to think that the culprits’ ethnicity was not the main consideration. That even if the malefactors are American, Korean, Japanese or some other foreign […]
In 2017, we commemorated the 600th year of the historical visit of Sulu Sultan Paduka Batara to Peking. By next year, 2020, it will be the 600th anniversary of another historical visit to Peking by another Filipino king, the Sultan of Kumalarang in Basilan. Sultan Batara’s visit to Peking in 1417 and his death and […]
I am saddened that someone of Manong Frankie Sionil Jose’s stature could misunderstand the Tsinoys and their role, influence and impact in all aspects of Philippine life (The STAR, “Can we trust America,” Hindsight column, Jan. 19, 2019). I don’t doubt Jose’s love of our country, but he’s been misinformed and misguided about our intense […]
Our nation faced many challenges and tragedies in 2018. Yet, it is human nature to find reason to stay optimistic. So, let me start off my first Beats & Bytes for 2019 on a positive note. Allow me to highlight the activities and events of the organizations I am involved in: the Kaisa Heritage Center, […]
I wanted my year-end column to end on a happier note, but I cannot leave two upsetting pieces of news unaddressed. The first is about former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte’s ridiculous but highly disturbing list of people allegedly planning the ouster of his father President Duterte. The second is about the project to […]