Talakasaysayan: Aguinaldo sa Pasko

Yesterday, I attended the 1-5 p.m. activity of Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. Went there with Febe Sevilla and her daughter Alex aka “Ms Finland.” Angelo Aguinaldo, shrine’s former curator, and facilitator of the said event invited me. They called it “Talakasaysayan: Aguinaldo sa Pasko.”

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I actually thought the whole afternoon would only focus on Masonry, a subject I wanted to know more about. My father was a Mason I was told but he never discussed details about it. In my docu on Mabini, I used the El Verdadero version of the Masons for Deaf interpretation because of the simplicity of words they used.

I was happy and surprised to meet Dr. Manny Calairo, former student of my brother, and also Ms. Belen Nocon. They were in fact, members of the panel. The other panelists were Sergio Serpico Nepomuceno, Felix Ramos, Honey Palugod, Geronimo Esguerra, Wilfredo Lalimarmo, and Edwin Aborque. Students and teachers from several schools in Kawit and Imus, local DepEd officials, LGU staff of Kawit, Cavite attended.

Mr. Sumaquel Hosalla

Anyhow, I found interesting the topic on the military strategies used during the Filipino-American War as related by Mr. Sumaquel Hosalla, one of the panel members. A Consultant in the film Heneral Luna, he was right when he said that the line of firings used during his time should have been shown in the film. Not only were they cinematic and interesting the way I imagine them to be. It really would have shown how organized our military men were at the time. I have used photos showing the discipline our revolutionaries exhibited. Nevertheless, having been myself involved in film productions, I could offhand think that budget and time constraints must prevented them to pursue on having a scene like that. Noticeably segments in the fight scenes supposedly between the Americans and the Filipinos are quite limited. I was asked about Heneral Luna…but what can you say about a film that focuses on a historical figure but started with a disclaimer saying that it is a fiction film based on facts. I cannot question the artistic license of the director. It is his right. He can exag the scenes, make weak or strong a character based on treatment, his knowledge, sensibility and own sensitivity. I honestly liked the film as a film, especially Tarog’s music and the flashback into Luna’s childhood; but as a historical film, it cannot be judged as such. The disclaimer says it: it is a fiction film. The problem is: majority of the youth believed everything that they saw. [Related to this is my blog on El Presidente: https://advocacine.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/el-presidente_fiction-film-based-on-a-historical-figure/%5D

The rest of the topic  were already quite familiar to me especially the background events leading to the Filipino-American War because of my project on Mabini; also because of the books I helped my brother published. Characters and events intertwined.

The discussions were lively …going all the way to Cavite was worth it, especially since there was no traffic at the time we traveled to the place.

Inside Edna’s Food House with Aling Edna, Alex and Febe Sevilla

Alex and MM in front of food house where we had our lunch

Before going to the Shrine at 1pm, we were led to eat at Edna’s Store located a few blocks away from the Shrine. We enjoyed walking down the road to and from the eatery but felt somehow depressed seeing largely neglected, and old houses lining up the main road. One day soon, they will be gone. At Edna’s, it was also worth our time waiting for the food to be prepared because they were quite tasty.

Magic Hour in Kawit – The Aguinaldo Shrine

We left the Shrine before 6 pm… All sold out, I missed the bibingka from Aling Lucy’s shop however! I should have bought instead from these boys and tasted what they were cooking. My first time to see them along the road! Probably because of demand for bibingka, with Simbang-Gabi nearing!

 

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Old Corregidor Revisited in “Tiga-Isla”

The abridged edition of “Tiga-Isla” [The Islanders of Corregidor] / 62mins was shown for the first time last Saturday, November 15 at NHCP-Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. It turned out to be sort of a reunion with “long time no see” friends: Shrine Curator Angelo Aguinaldo, NHCP Aguinaldo Shrine – Historic Sites Development Officer Gina Ayran, Cavite Historical Society members Belen Nocon and Willie Pangilinan.

Also present were: Chit A. Sambile – Kawit Tourism Officer/ FAMAS President; Annie R. Sarile – President, Cavite Association of Historic Sites and Museums/ Director, Marketing Communication Office – DLSU Dasmarinas; Aquino Garcia – President, Cavite Provincial Tourism Board/ Faculty, DLSU-Dasmarinas; Myra Oestrich – Asst Principal, IMUS Institute; Ige Ramos – Editor, Rustan’s SansRival; Columnist – BANDEHADO, Bandera; Cavite Culinary Historian, and Jigs Medina – Historian – Faculty, DLSU-Dasmarinas.

From R-L: Willie Pangilinan, Aquino Garcia, Angelo Aguinaldo, MM, Mrs. Chit Sambile, Annie Sarile, Belen Nocon, Jigs Medina, Myra Oestrich, Imus Institute history teacher and Jan Peña

Students of Imus Institute Adult School came with their history teacher while some students of St. Dominic School who previously viewed my docu on autism arrived with Jan Peña, former president of Autism Society. Her family members also came [photo below]. Incidentally, her son Emille she told us is named after Emilio Aguinaldo. They are currently residing in Dasmariñas.

Jan Peña’s Family: Husband Al, daughter Thea and youngest son, Jan Emille. Behind them is the house of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo

Despite the delay due to technical problems, they all patiently waited. It was worth their time I guess as they enjoyed listening to the stories of my interviewees. Majority of them are gone now but their memories and stories shall remain for as long as the digital video disc survives the test of climate change, humidity and man’s negligence. Some segments elicited laughter from the audience when they heard some of the experiences of my brother Isagani Medina who also served as my film’s consultant; especially so, when he started singing a song that they used to sing at a time nationalism of the Filipinos started to brew against the Spaniards and the Americans:

“One, two, three. Amerikanong nahuli.
Saan ililibing? Sa puno ng saging.
Anong kandila? Titi ng Kastila.
Ano ang korona? Bulbol ng señora”.

Some were touched, and a few must have cried as they empathized with the feeling of loss by the Corregidorians, strongly exemplified in the words of Mr. Jose Estrella: “…I have lost a birthplace.”

Angelo Aguinaldo Welcomes the Visitors

MM gave background re Tiga Isla

Mrs. Chit Sambile said the documentary quite relived her childhood days during the Japanese period. She looked quite nostalgic. Angelo Aguinaldo was quite surprised to see Dr. Selma Calmes-Harrison and to hear her story about two generations of her family who lived in Corregidor. The viewers wowed upon seeing her parent’s wedding picture. Her mother was wearing a typical Filipino dress we call “saya.”

[Leff photo] Wedding picture in Corregidor of Dr. Selma Harrison-Calmes’ parents; [R]: Grabbed foto of Dr. Selma from the film “Tiga-Isla”

The history teacher from Imus Institute was quite appreciative of the film as they have learned something new from it. Most books written on Corregidor are about war and destruction; not about the lives of the Filipinos and Americans who lived and enjoyed their days there. Unfortunately, my brother’s wish to be buried there, later, that he be cremated instead and his ashes be spread in Corregidor were not realized due to opposition from all the members of our family.

Observing how the people reacted on a film made 11 years ago just only showed the film content’s timelessness, and of course, the power of the film medium as a tool in teaching history.

Looking back, the process of making this particular documentary would not have been possible —believe it or not — without the power of prayer and God’s intervention. Of the many unexplainable experiences that I encountered in the making of this film quite unforgettable was the magnet-like desire that I felt to go to Corregidor so suddenly. I rushed that morning to the CCP Complex, and arrived at the ferry boat terminal just a few minutes before the boat disembarked. I had no plans at all to go there. But the push within me to visit the island was so powerful, I had to leave my chores to catch the boat scheduled on that day. I felt like a real tourist on that day. I was first brought there when I was small and I couldn’t remember any of the places that I had been to. I only remember the white pebbles that we collected. The turning point was when I heard a Balikbayan tourist from Hawaii exclaiming while viewing the photo exhibit at the Museum: “May mga tao pala dito at villages?”

On the boat back to Manila that afternoon, I have decided to document the stories of my siblings –on how they lived there, their experiences, and how Corregidor looked like during their time. I also felt a strong sense of loss — of never having experienced going home to a province — “our own” that is, when I get tired of the city jungle; and felt angered somewhat by what the War has brought to what could have been my home too….Anyhow, the decision to make the docu helped me in finally finding something to keep my brother Gani’s spirit “alive” and busy for many months. I finished the film and premiered it in 2003; my brother Gani died the following year on September 26, 2004. Had I not documented their stories, current generation of Filipinos will never come to know how happy life in Corregidor Island was for residents who lived there.

Last note: On the usual question as to why TIGA, not TAGA-ISLA was used… According to my brother, TIGA is a Cavite-Tagalog word. Residents of Corregidor before the War were called “Tiga-Isla.”

Also take note that some revisions on the feature-length version of the docu will be done..Extra characters will be erased for good..One would easily know copies marketed without my knowledge.

Ulam namin nung lunch time… first time ko makakita ng nakapilang paksiw na isda…waiting to be eaten….Sarap!!!

Thanks Angelo and Gina for the opportunity to show the film again!!! Pero umorder na kayo ng LCD projector ha?

See Tiga-Isla on page 17 of the 17th Gawad CCP souvenir program below:

Here Comes El Presidente!!

This morning I had a talk with Angelo Aguinaldo, great grandson of Emilio Aguinaldo, and curator of Aguinaldo Shrine. He called me up and we talked about the coming shoot of El Presidente [starring Jeorge Estregan, Jr, as Emilio Aguinaldo and Nora Aunor as Maria Agoncillo] to be directed by Tikoy Aguiluz. I met him last year but I know better Ate Linda [Aguinaldo], his auntie who used to be the shrine curator. With my brother Isagani R. Medina, noted Cavite historian, we used to have lunch prepared by Ate Linda and Gina Ayran. Aguinaldo Shrine is like home to us. We were always welcome there – and even after my brother passed away, they welcome me as much as when my brother was still alive. Sometimes, I share with them the delicious bibingka available from a nearby store located near the bridge. I remember that we spent my brother’s birthday once at the shrine when he was already wheelchair-bound. The Aguinaldos respect my brother a lot, probably because of his contributions to the historiography of Cavite Province and his researches on Lolo Miong. I have worked and helped my brother on all the books that he published about Cavite. In fact, I was the one who prodded him to publish Cavite Before the Revolution, his doctoral dissertation. I volunteered to encode his voluminous notes, researched and did field works on his behalf when stroke disabled him from his activities. We are full-blooded Cavitenos since both our parents hailed from the province [my father was born in Corregidor; my mother in Naic]. I still remember attending fiestas to our families living in Cavite City, Kawit and Ternate, and my father talking in Chabacano with them.

Ilang Talata nang Paghihimagsik…was the last book annotated, edited and published by my brother with the help of Cavite Historical Society led by EPM Cesar Virata. The book is centered on the exploits of Aguinaldo and the Magdalos. It was written by Carlos Ronquillo, then Secretary-General of President Emilio Aguinaldo. It was when I worked on that book that I better understood what we only used to memorize like parrots — the Magdiwang – Magdalo faction; what happened to Bonifacio from the time he lost the battle in Pinaglabanan, and some other details about that critical period in our history.

Anyhow, Gov. Jeorge Estregan Jr’s obsession to do the role as El Presidente will be instrumental in making the epic film possible. In God’s time, it will be realized. I met him and observed that it is his passion and obsession that will turn his dream to reality. I do not doubt his sincerity though I only met him then for the first time in his ancestral house in Pagsanjan because of Asiong Salonga film. I told Angelo about it and I came to know that Ate Linda is Gov’s kumare. Small world!

I also assured him that Tikoy will be doing his very best to make the film really good. That though creative treatment will be employed, historical accuracy will be uppermost. My brother’s book will be one of the main research sources along with the Memoirs of Ka Miong, and other books on him.  It is high time for the Filipinos to know Emilio Aguinaldo, the man, the nationalist, the Father of Philippine Flag and the National Anthem! The film is something overdue. Ka Miong deserves the right and proper recognition of his contribution to Nationhood. It was him who propelled our destiny to become the first independent country in Asia with its own Constitution.

As I’ve always said, truth and the right information will lead people to understand better any subject in focus — be it in a documentary or narrative film format.