Talks by Augusto de Viana
The Philippines has two writing systems which demonstrates its links with its neighbors in Southe... more The Philippines has two writing systems which demonstrates its links with its neighbors in Southeast Asia. One writing system, baybayin was influenced by Sanskrit and was spread through the indianized states in Island Southeast Asia such as Sri Vijaya and the Madjapahit. The evidences of baybayin is quite scarce since these were written in very delicate materials and the only ones that survived were etched on pottery, carved in stone or etched in metal. Historical accounts proved that the use of baybayin was widespread and there was a high degree of literacy in the Philippines. Baybayin was written in various languages of the Philippines. Early samples of writings in Baybayin were done in classical Malay. This proves the precolonial link with the Philippines' neighbors. Baybayin continued to be used until the early 20 th century when it was supplanted by the Roman script and it thrives today among the isolated tribes in Mindoro and Palawan. Another Filipino writing is the Jawi which of Arabic influence. Jawi was written by people of the southern Philippines and it was the system of writing used by the Sultanate of Sulu. The presence and use of these two writing systems prove a well-developed level of civilization in the country. However both writing systems are a dying legacy in the Philippines. This paper examines early Philippine writing both the baybayin and Jawi and their similarities in terms of origin and style. Sources of this paper are anthropological studies by F. Landa Jocano for baybayin and Dr. Samuel K. Tan for the Jawi.
Papers by Augusto de Viana
Philippiniana Sacra
The Caroline Islands also known as the Carolines or Islas Carolinas are a group of islands locate... more The Caroline Islands also known as the Carolines or Islas Carolinas are a group of islands located south of the Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific. The inhabitants of these islands were among the last of the native populations in the Western Pacific to be converted to Christianity. The islands shared the same irony of the Marianas though they have been reached by Spanish explorers, were practically ignored by Spanish colonizers due to the lack of wealth these islands could offer to the Europeans. There were accounts about Carolinians drifting to the Philippines. Reports about the existence of the islands and their inhabitants prompted the sending of missionaries. The task to christianize the Carolines was spearheaded by the Jesuits. Like the missionaries in the Marianas, the Jesuit missionaries, especially the Italian born priest Fr. Juan Antonio Cantova, saw their role as a divine mission in which they would save souls for Christ. The native Carolinians who initially welcomed t...
Philippiniana Sacra, 2013
As the foremost historian in the University of Santo Tomas, Fr. Fidel Villarroel is known for his... more As the foremost historian in the University of Santo Tomas, Fr. Fidel Villarroel is known for his works of great scholarly value. Fr. Villarroel wrote 23 major books on Church history and biographies which included men of the Church such as Fr. Miguel de Benavides, the founder and Bishop of Manila and saints and martyrs like St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Liem de la Paz. His work about these saints and martyrs formed the basis of their beatification and eventual canonization. Fr. Villarroel's writings extended to stories about heroes like Marcelo H. del Pilar, Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini. The common denominator about the personages that Fr. Villarroel wrote about was that at some point in time they were connected to the Dominicans and the University of Santo Tomas. Fr. Benavides was a Dominican; San Lorenzo was a resident of Binondo, then under Dominican supervision; St. Liem de la Paz, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini were students in the University of Santo Tomas. Fr. Villarroel's treatment of the history of the Order in the Philippines and that of the University was that these were told within the context of Philippine history which gave added significance. While serving as the Archivist of the University Fr. Villarroel had access to important documents from which he based his work. It allowed him to give a more factual presentation of history and in many cases debunked the biases of the so-called nationalist historians while at the same time correcting historical information. As chief historian of the University, he was able to write its history on several occasions, the latest of whom was a two-volume work entitled A History of Santo Tomas: Four Centuries of Higher Education in the Philippines (1611-2011). It was a monumental work in which Fr. Villarroel made skillful use of the documents he had at his disposal. The work told the story of the University from a humble school for men aspiring for the priesthood to a University at the end of the Second World War. It withstood upheavals, both natural and man-made including attempts for its suppression in the course of centuries. Fr. Villarroel has interwoven the story of with its narration with the events of the country's history which made the history of the University of Santo Tomas a part of the history of the Philippines.
Philippiniana Sacra
Described as “the holder of the master key to UST’s past,” Fr. Fidel Villarroel, O.P. produced si... more Described as “the holder of the master key to UST’s past,” Fr. Fidel Villarroel, O.P. produced significant research and writing that enriched Philippine historiography. His works spanned Philippine history, Philippine Church history from the early Spanish period to the end of the Second World War. His topics included the early Dominican missionaries, Dominican saints and martyrs, Filipino heroes, and the history of the University of Santo Tomas. Aside from being the university’s foremost historian, Fr. Vilarroel holds the distinction of being the country’s most prolific saint maker. He authored the biographies of Dominican saints and martyrs from St. Lorenzo Ruiz to Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. He also authored various histories of the University of Santo Tomas, the latest of which is a two-volume work that was described as a labor of love. In writing his various works, he wrote in the context of national and global history thereby giving a proper perspective in the und...
International Journal on Social Innovation & Research, 2016
In July 1962, a proposal to form a greater Malayan Confederation was proposed by President Diosda... more In July 1962, a proposal to form a greater Malayan Confederation was proposed by President Diosdado Macapagal.This proposal was to include the Philippines, the Federation of Malaya and the British territories of Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo. The proposal would have been a realization of a Malaya Irredenta which was dreamed of by visionaries like Wenceslao Vinzons who once made an oration advocating for the unity of Malayan people working toward a common destiny. The opportunity came near as colonial powers were liquidating their possessions in post-World War II Asia, Already an earlier association, the Association of Southeast Asia was formed in 1961 and this association included non-Malay countries. The Malayan confederation which would be called MAPHILINDO was to be different.On August 5, President Macapagal issued his declaration calling for the creation of MAPHILINDO.The formation of the MAPHILINDO was met with jubilation as it was the realization of a centuries-o...
ad Veritatem, 2009
The Spanish Period D uring the Spanish period, many Filipinos saw Japan as a benevolent nation co... more The Spanish Period D uring the Spanish period, many Filipinos saw Japan as a benevolent nation concerned with the liberation of the Philippines from foreign domination. This view started from the aborted Magat Salamat rebellion in 1587-1588. The former Maharlikas or nobles of Manila and other parts of the Philippines solicited Japanese aid to overthrow the Spaniards. Griping at the loss of their freedom, they gathered to plot against the colonizers. The main leaders of the plot were Magat Salamat, the son of Lakan Dula, the old King of Tondo, Agustin de Legaspi, a nephew of Lakan Dula and son-in-law of the Sultan of Brunei. The other leaders where the chiefs of Tondo, Navotas, Polo and Pampanga. 1 They had the support of the Borneans and the people of Cuyo in their projected rebellion. A Japanese Christian resident of Manila named Dionisio Fernandez negotiated for the involvement of his country. A ship captain named Joan (Juan) Gayo was to help the rebels by bringing to the Philippines soldiers and weapons from Japan. Once the Spaniards are overthrown, 1 The other chiefs were Martin Panga and Calao who were both chiefs of Tondo, Dionisio Capolo, the chief of Candaba, Pampanga, Omaghican, the chief of Navotas and Felipe Salonga, the chief of Polo.
Philippiniana Sacra, 2011
... 25 ArSI Phil. 13, folios 306-325v , Relacion de la conquista y rerstauracion de las Islas Mar... more ... 25 ArSI Phil. 13, folios 306-325v , Relacion de la conquista y rerstauracion de las Islas Marianas, cited as Document 1696F in HM 9:665-678. 26 ArSI Phil. 14. Fol. ... 352-353. letter to the Governor of the Philippines, King rewards Major quiroga. dated Aranjuez, 20 June 1715. ...
The Journal of History, May 10, 2010
The Federation of Malaysia celebrates its national day on the 31st of every August during which i... more The Federation of Malaysia celebrates its national day on the 31st of every August during which it commemorates its independence from British rule. It is the most widespread holiday in the country and it is called as Hari Merdeka (Day of Freedom) or Hari Kebangsaan (National Day) in the Malay language.On this day in 1957 the territories in the Malayan Union which were all located in the Malay Peninsula formed themselves as the Federation of Malaya.That federation was first created in 1948.The federation became independent on August 31, 1957.Later on September 16, 1963, Malaya would be joined with Sarawak, North Borneo (now Sabah) and Singapore to form Malaysia.Two years later Singapore would leave the federation of Malaysia to form the independent Republic of Singapore.The independence of new states especially those in the Southeast Asian region are given frontpage and editorial attention by Philippine newspapers like the Manila Times and the Manila Daily Bulletin.The independence o...
Philippiniana Sacra, 2007
For the Filipinos, seeing Indonesia become independent was like seeing themselves. Filipinos them... more For the Filipinos, seeing Indonesia become independent was like seeing themselves. Filipinos themselves as inspiring their neighbors and at the same time they saw what their country could be. There are various parallelisms not only on the day Indonesia formally entered the community of nations but also through that nation’s struggle for freedom and independence. Here the Filipinos can see the various paths they may have taken, an armed struggle or a peaceful political negotiation, or both. Indonesians too saw themselves among the Filipinos. Like many Asians, they observed events from the 19th century to the recognition of Philippine sovereignty by the United States. At the same time, both countries entered a neocolonial period with the Philippines entering various agreements with its former colonizer which tied up its prerogatives. The Hague Agreement tried to impose a neocolonial condition by constructing a Netherlands-Indonesian union similar to that of the British Commonwealth of...
The establishment of Spain's colonies and Christian missions was carried out not only by the ... more The establishment of Spain's colonies and Christian missions was carried out not only by the Spaniards themselves but by people from other lands and nationalities. These included "Filipinos" and natives from the Philippines. The Mariana Islands in the western Pacific was one of the areas of colonization and Christianization of the Spaniards. The establishment of the colony and mission in the islands was carried out by the Jesuits. The missionaries from this order wholeheartedly joined the enterprise and were responsible for setting up the colony as well as the present towns and villages in Guam, Saipan, Rota and Tinian. They lived a life of self-denial, humility and charity which they offered for the greater glory of God. They did not fear death but actually wished for it seeing it as a way to attain divine reward. A number of the missionaries gave up their lives as martyrs and others because of poor health. They lived giving service to others and accommodated others f...
Uploads
Talks by Augusto de Viana
Papers by Augusto de Viana