The Balcony of Sinners

At the far end of the family wing of the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines, is an azotea that Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo fondly referred to as Balcony of Sinners. He called it such as it was where Revolutionaries plotted military strategies against the Spanish authorities. The Balcony primarily served as the family lounge on lazy afternoons.

Maria Reyes Agoncillo-Aguinaldo, Gen. Aguinaldo's second wife at the azotea in the 50s.

Baro’t Saya (Ternos) of Doña Maria Agoncillo Exhibit at the Aguinaldo Shrine

The ternos or baro’t saya of Maria Agoncillo, the second wife of Gen Emilio F. Aguinaldo, were exhibited by the Historic Sites and Education Division of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines from September 17-30, 2010 at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.


Held in celebration of History Week, the terno exhibit was opened on September 17 by Angelo Emilio Aguinaldo representing Kawit Mayor Reynaldo “Tik” Aguinaldo, Kawit Tourism Officer Chit Sambile, Former Aguinaldo Shrine Curator Linda Aguinaldo, NHCP Historic Sites and Education Division Chief Veronica Dado.

Other guests include NHCP Historic Sites and Education Division Senior Historic Sites Development Officer Alvin Alcid, Mr. Philippines International 2010 Rafael Carlos and his court, Ruel Posas, first runner-up and Darwich Saulog, third runner-up, Mr. Philippines-International National Director Joseph Pallera, Gigi Santiago of the Shipping and Travel Journal, Cora Basa of the Rising South, Kawit civic leader Eduard Solis, Lilith Reyes-Perez of the Imus Cultural and Historical Council, Ferdinand Clemente (Makata-Tatawanan) and Guian Salgado of TV 5 and Lita M. Pallera of the Topacio clan of Imus.

   


 The exhibit which consists of twelve (12) original baro’t saya or ternos worn by Maria Agoncillo, traces the evolution of the terno as a Filipino regal dress. The terno, a unique fusion of continental fashion with a combination of western flair and native penchant  for intricate embroidery and delicate fabrics, is a merging of all ingenuous energies to validate the Spanish translation “match”.

A livelihood seminar on beadworks and embroidery for marginalize women of Kawit was also held immediately after the opening of the exhibit with Susan Abrera of FEU and former senior industrial designer of the Design Center of the Philippines as resource person and FEU Dean of the College of Architecture and Fine Arts Lorelei De Viana as facilitator.

Kawit celebrates 410th year

The town of Kawit is now 410 years old. Founded in 1600 as Cavite Viejo by Spanish colonizers, Kawit will celebrate is founding anniversary with its first Kawit Day on August 1, 2010, Sunday at the Aguinaldo Park. The program will start with a socio-civic parade from Josephine’s Restaurant and Resort to the Aguinaldo Park at 7 AM.

Mayor Reynaldo “Tik” Aguinaldo, Kawit town mayor, and Vice-mayor Gilbert Gandia will lead the Sangunniang Bayan in a Plant-a-Chico Tree at the site of the tomb of Gen. Aguinaldo at the Aguinaldo Shrine and the park. The activities in the program which starts as soon as the parade participants arrive at the Aguinaldo Park include messages from Cesar E.A. Virata, chairman of the Cavite Historical Society, Governor Juanito “Jonvic” Remulla Jr, Vice-governor Recto Cantimbuhan, and Congressman Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya.

The launching of Plant-a-Chico Tree Today and Chico Wine as One Town One Product (OTOP), chico being Gen. Aguinaldo’s favorite fruit, presentation of the Kawit Historical Tour participated in by students from the Aguinaldo Elementary school, awarding of the oldest Kawiteño or Kawiteña, opening of the photo exhibit mounted by the Cavite Camera Club and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines at the Aguinaldo Shrine, Rockrakan, a sundown concert by Kawit bands and the display of fireworks in the evening are among the highlights of the first Kawit Day.

The First Kawit Day is celebrated through the valuable efforts and coordination of the Kawit Tourism Office, the Cavite Historical Society, Office of the Provincial Governor-Provincial Tourism Office, General Services Office, PCLEDO, Department of Agriculture, Office of Provincial Board Member Ryan Enriquez, Office of Congressman Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines-Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine and Baldomero Aguinaldo Shrine, Reynaldo Magadia, Saint Mary Magdalene School, Cavite Camera Club, Josephine’s Restaurant, and Jollibee.

Aguinaldo Trees

If they could only speak...

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Meralco Trees - my June art

ttp://angeloaguinaldo.multiply.com/photos/album/123/Meralco_Trees#

Second altered postcard in Stockholm online exhibition

This is my second submission to Mailart online exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden:

Propaganda Handkerchief with a portrait of Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo.

My altered postcard in an online exhibition

An altered postcard as my tribute to Filipino Heritage and the Mail Art Exhibition in Stockholm:














Altered (cut and paste) old postcard of the Aguinaldo Shrine, home of Philippine Independence.

Flowers of May at the Shrine

Aside from fiestas all over the archipelago, the month of May has always been associated with blooming of flowers. Despite scanty rain, trees and plants cheer spectators with their blooms just like this aged shrub ( Purple Shade as they call it) at the Aguinaldo Shrine. With my compact camera always handy, I captured this possibly once-in-a-year spectacle and converted it into filtrographs.

 

 

Stuff on my desk

It's monthly report drafting time! As I took a brief moment to rest my pen, I had this urge to capture everything that is on my desk...

No clutter...

Looking Through The Windows

It's wonderful to see how trees and plants suddenly bloomed and turned green after two days of downpour. From the windows of the Aguinaldo Shrine, they look perfectly framed.

Sketches and doodles on my Page One Notebook

Here are doodles and sketches from the pages of my Page One notebook which my friend Nimfa Ursabia gave me in 2008. It is truly fun to have a handy notebook and a pen to keep one from being idle. Just what the notebook label says, it frees one's mind.

Not Just An Old Photo

The myriad photos I see almost everyday since I assumed the post of curator of my great grandfather's mansion in Kawit, Cavite (which now, is the Aguinaldo Shrine) have created more excitement in my job and pride in my ancestry. Here is a photo of my grandaunt Carmen Aguinaldo-Melencio as a teenager which I am trying to restore digitally. Just like me, she was once a teacher. I have just realized that she has a strong resemblance with my aunt Trinidad Aguinaldo-Velasco who was also a teacher. Lola Mameng, as we fondly call her, is the mom of retired supreme court justice Ameurfina A.Melencio-Herrera.