Author: Al Tan

Mindoro, Philippines

Places History In past times, it has been called Mai or Mait by Chinese traders and, by Spaniards, as Mina de Oro (meaning “gold mine”) from where the island got its current name. The island was once a single province from 1920 to 1950 when it was divided into its two present-day provinces, Occidental Mindoro

Bulacan, Philippines

Places [alpine-phototile-for-pinterest src=”board” uid=”etnmedia” board=”bulacan” imgl=”fancybox” dlstyle=”medium” style=”wall” row=”4″ size=”192″ num=”25″ shadow=”1″ border=”1″ curve=”1″ max=”100″] History During the Conquest of Luzon by Adelantado Miguel Legazpi in 1571, Bulacan was reported to be well populated and rich. Initially there were only six encomiendas under the rule of the Alcalde Mayor in Bulacan: Calumpit (then an independent

Iloilo, Philippines

Places [alpine-phototile-for-pinterest src=”board” uid=”etnmedia” board=”iloilo” imgl=”fancybox” dlstyle=”medium” style=”wall” row=”4″ size=”192″ num=”25″ shadow=”1″ border=”1″ curve=”1″ max=”100″] History At the time of the Spanish conquest, writing was a new import and the use of organic medium such as leaf and bamboo, and no pre-Hispanic written accounts of Iloilo exist today. Oral history, in the form of recited

Siargao, Philippines

Places [alpine-phototile-for-pinterest src=”board” uid=”etnmedia” board=”siargao” imgl=”fancybox” dlstyle=”medium” style=”wall” row=”4″ size=”192″ num=”25″ shadow=”1″ border=”1″ curve=”1″ max=”100″] History First recorded sighting by Europeans of Siargao Island was by Spanish navigator Bernardo de la Torreon board of the carrack San Juan de Letrán in 1543, when attempting to return from Sarangani to New Spain. It was charted as