Only in the Philippines!
Postcard Text: Executioner at the turn of the century
Today, the Philippines celebrates Independence Day. A bunch of blogger friends decided to start a meme with the peculiar postcard in question. We found this postcard thanks to Juned (read: most cultured blogger in the PH!!!) who invited a couple of us over for his birthday celebration over the weekend.
The postcard is a (hilariously) shocking microcosm of the Philippines in the early 1900’s as a port city that was subject to different cultures including occupation by the Americans, the Spanish and the Japanese. We achieved independence in 1898, but lost a lot of cultural Manila - Intramuros particularly, because most of it was sacked. A lot of history books say the Philippines and the native Filipinos were short changed, and that our freedom was given for free, since there was a steep price that other countries didn’t want to take responsibility for - which included rebuilding Manila. Even at this time, Filipinos sure knew how to take things lightly.
Obviously this was a gag photo. The real would have been on a scaffold with Guardia Civils on each corner. Some historical trivia, the orginal garotte used to execute Padre Burgos. Gomez, and Zamora survived until it was burned to cinder during a fire, sometime between WWII and the EDSA Revolution. — Juned
Here are the guidelines:
- Download the scanned front and back of this postcard and resize to fit your blog
- Enter your independence day message on the back and post both images on your blog
- Title of post should be “Only in the Philippines!”
- Tag five fellow countrymen
I tag Riz, ate Shai, the guys from PinoyCentric, Mike Villar and Elber.
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Laughing in the face of death, a very Pinoy characteristic indeed. Happy Independence Day!
@JAYVEE: Badminton this Thurs 8pm onwards at West Drive. Okidoki!
I am not the most cultured blogger
in the PH
added this post in PBS’ compilation of 2007 Philippine Independence blog posts…
http://www.pinoyblogosphere.com/kalayaan2007
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