An Ode to Fidel Castro

(Source: miami.cbslocal.com)

Fidel Castro is finally dead. It was an eventuality that Cubans have been waiting to happen for a very long time. I am not a Fidel Castro fan. Never was. Never will been. And I see much commonality with the Cuban diaspora who yearn to be back to their homeland. However, I would like to pay homage to someone when it merited. Fidel Castro, a giant in Latin American history, deserves that homage. Read More ...

Remember the Cubans

Interwoven flags: Cuba and the Philippines (source: CubavsBloqueo).

I am constantly reminded of the fact that I am probably the lone gatekeeper of information pertaining to Philippine-Cuban relations at the Department. Basically, I was our last man in Havana. I was tasked with closing down the now-defunct Philippine Embassy in Havana, which closed down for good on 31 October 2012. Read More ...

The Mexican Connection, Part 2: The Subversives and Deportees

The great rebellion of the Manila Datus in 1587-1588, led by no other than Legazpi's own creole grandson.

By the time the Spaniards have established themselves in Manila in 1570, the mobility of human resources between the two far-flung septentrion provinces of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (present-day Mexico) became fluid. There was a new-found need for moving people around. Mostly, it was because of economic nature. Later, Spanish authorities found it wise to transfer subersives and deportees between its new colonies because of brewing political upheavals. Read More ...