Malibay

25/07/2026

ANG MASARAP NA UBE HALAYA.

Ang pagluluto ng halaya ay isa sa mga tradisyong ipinapasa sa bawat henerasyon sa Malibay, at pinaniniwalaang nag-ugat pa noong panahon ng mga Kastila. Sinasabing nagmula ang salitang ‘halaya’ sa salitang Kastilang “jalea.” Sa Pilipinas, ang pangunahing sangkap nito ay ang ube o purple yam, na likas ang kulay na ube. Nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong manirahan sa Caribbean at karatig isla na Sinakop ng Espanyol , kung saan personal kong nakita na iba ang uri, hugis, at kulay ng kanilang yam—karaniwang mapusyaw na dilaw o puti—kumpara sa ating ube sa Pilipinas. Bagama’t magkaiba sa anyo, may pagkakahawig naman sa lasa. Dahil dito, kapag nagpapaluto ako ng halaya sa aking kaibigang na taal na taga Cavite, nagdaragdag kami ng kaunting food coloring upang makamit ang kulay ube, ngunit nananatili ang tunay na lasa ng tradisyunal na halaya. Ang halaya ay hindi lamang bahagi ng tradisyon sa Malibay; maging sa Parañaque at Cavite ay makikita ang pagkakahalintulad sa lasa at paraan ng pagluluto. Posibleng naipakilala ang tradisyong ito ng mga paring Agustino noong panahon ng kanilang pamamahala. Sa paglipas ng panahon, unti-unting nagbago at umunlad ang timpla at lasa nito—mula sa panahon ng Kastila, hanggang sa pagdating ng mga Amerikano, at maging sa kasalukuyan. Sa mga karatig-lalawigan tulad ng Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, at Benguet, may kanya-kanyang pamamaraan at tradisyon sa paggawa nito. Ang aking mga magulang ay namana ang paggawa ng ube halaya mula pa sa kanilang mga magulang at ninuno sa Malibay. Ang paggawa ng ube halaya ay may kaakibat na lihim at masusing proseso; hindi ito madali at nangangailangan ng tamang timpla, tiyaga, at karanasan upang makamit ang natatangi at tunay na lasa nito. Story and Research: E. Granada

22/07/2026

Pamilyang Pilipino
Post-War Period (1950s–1960s)

Isang magarang bahay na may bubong na pawid, makintab na sahig na kahoy, at maluwag na silid-kainan. Makikita rito ang isang pamilyang Pilipino na sama-samang nagsasalo-salo tuwing Linggo sa tahanan ng kanilang Lolo at Lola. Kasama ang kanilang mga magulang, masayang pinagsasaluhan ng buong pamilya ang mga pagkaing lutong-paso, sariwang pakwan, at mangga na nakahain sa isang malaking hapag-kainan.

22/07/2026

21/07/2026

𝗟𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗚 𝗡𝗔 𝗞𝗔𝗠𝗜 𝗦𝗔 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗘𝗫 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

Ihanda ang inyong mga sagwan dahil makikibahagi ang 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐨 𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬 sa tatlong araw na paglalayag sa kasaysayan, kultura, at pamanang Pilipino!

Dumaong sa aming exhibit at tuklasin ang mga kuwentong dala namin ngayong 27–29 Hulyo 2026 sa SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

Kita-kits sa laot ng kasaysayan!

18/07/2026

The former altar of San Juan Nepomuceno Parish Church as it appeared in 1973. At that time, the stained glass backdrop had not yet been installed, and the area was still covered with plywood. Ano nga ba ang dahilan at bakit tinanggal ang malaking crucifix na ito at dina ibinalik sa kinalalagyan nito? Maganda ang dating skin tone ng crusipiho noon kung ito ay aayusin.

17/07/2026

Granados Building (1968)
Standing for more than half a century, the Granados Building is one of the oldest surviving commercial buildings on Libertad Street. Its exposed concrete, geometric forms, and functional design reflect the influence of Brutalist architecture, a style that shaped many buildings during the late 1960s. Today, it continues to tell the story of Libertad’s architectural past and the enduring character of its urban landscape.

16/07/2026

A rare privilege and an unforgettable experience.
I was honored to participate in the Centennial Trail of the National Museum of Fine Arts. This special invitation gave us the unique opportunity to go up near the roof and view the museum’s magnificent pediment from a perspective that very few visitors ever experience.

Standing just a few steps away from this monumental masterpiece by sculptor Otto Fischer-Credo, I was able to admire the remarkable craftsmanship and the commanding figure of Inang Bayan (Motherland) at its center, surrounded by allegorical figures that represent the ideals of the Filipino nation.

It is a privilege to share this rare behind-the-scenes experience with all of you through this Reel. I hope it inspires you to look beyond the museum’s grand façade and discover the stories carved into its timeless architecture.

I warmly invite all my followers to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts and experience its remarkable collections, architectural beauty, and rich cultural heritage.

My heartfelt gratitude to the National Museum of Fine Arts for this unforgettable Centennial Trail experience, and to Urban Sketchers Manila for making this inspiring journey possible.

16/07/2026

A rare privilege and an unforgettable experience.

I was honored to participate in the Centennial Trail of the National Museum of Fine Arts. This special invitation gave us the unique opportunity to go up near the roof and view the museum’s magnificent pediment from a perspective that very few visitors ever experience.

Standing just a few steps away from this monumental masterpiece by sculptor Otto Fischer-Credo, I was able to admire the remarkable craftsmanship and the commanding figure of Inang Bayan (Motherland) at its center, surrounded by allegorical figures that represent the ideals of the Filipino nation.

It is a privilege to share this rare behind-the-scenes experience with all of you through this Reel. I hope it inspires you to look beyond the museum’s grand façade and discover the stories carved into its timeless architecture.

I warmly invite all my followers to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts and experience its remarkable collections, architectural beauty, and rich cultural heritage.

My heartfelt gratitude to the National Museum of Fine Arts for this unforgettable Centennial Trail experience, and to Urban Sketchers Manila for making this inspiring journey possible.

15/07/2026

"One of Auntie’s Suitors – Pasay, 1944"
A young American soldier stands in his HBT fatigues at a U.S. Army camp somewhere in Pasay, Philippines, 1944. The sepia-toned portrait captures him in the everyday uniform of the Pacific Theater — sleeves rolled, field cap on, web belt cinched — with artillery piece and palms marking the camp behind him.
He was one of the thousands of GIs stationed in Pasay after the liberation of Manila, and one of the young men who came to call on my aunt during the war years. His name may be lost to time, but this image preserves him as he was: a soldier far from home, caught for a moment between duty and a quiet piece of family history.
Pasay, Philippines. 1944. Never seen before today. Original photo and enhanced by AI

14/07/2026

Eagle cloud spotted 6:30 pm west of Batangas, over Taal Lake, on the way home. One became two, then three. This shot only fits one, but the full photo shows the whole formation.