24/06/2024
🔥 Here’s a selfie with the mural “Filipino Struggles Through History,” depicting my ancestor, Rajah Sulayman, in a fierce standoff against the Conquistadors—a vivid reminder of Manila's fiery defiance. Imagine a city ablaze, its flames engulfing centuries of history in a single night.
🇵🇭 Today, June 24th, is celebrated as "Araw ng Maynila" (Manila Day) in the Philippines, commemorating the official foundation of Manila as a Spanish colony back in 1571. But did you know that Manila's history stretches back even further?
⚔️ Long before the Spanish conquest, Manila thrived as a fortified city known as Maynila, serving as a pivotal trading hub and a seat of power in the archipelago—centuries before Spain itself was even unified as a kingdom.
🔥 Tragically, on May 24, 1570, this bustling metropolis was burned to the ground. Who set fire to Maynila? Why was this once majestic city reduced to ashes? Was it a desperate act of resistance or a calculated move by invaders?
📺 Dive deeper into Manila’s rich, forgotten past in my NEW VIDEO! (https://youtu.be/cbwfN3iuwOw)
🎨 Pictured are sections from the mural “Filipino Struggles Through History” by Carlos “Botong” Francisco (1964) currently on display at the National Museum of the Philippines.