Pauline I.

Delgado
Hi 185- A
Bulacan- Pampanga Historical Tour

Mr. JPaul Manzanilla

February 5, 2014

Art is always an exceptional medium to get to know better the people from which it
emerged. Filipino art, for instance, is a lasting embodiment of the Filipino peoples values,
aspirations, and identitythings that are extensively shaped by the nations social, political,
economic, religious, and overall historical experience. Hence, over the course of our
countrys history and the numerous influences we have been exposed to due to colonization
and modernization, Filipino art and life has been a constantly evolving and thriving
assortment of ingenuity and resiliencevalues that are ubiquitous in every chapter of the
Philippines narrative. Art, in whatever form it may bein churches restored and repurposed
after a natural calamity, in language and literature revived for its beauty and sentimentality, in
culinary dishes crafted according to the surplus of a certain ingredient and the scraps after
feastssimultaneously preserves and evokes the lives of the people, community, and nation
that drives its mimesis.
The Bulacan- Pampanga Historical Tour facilitated by Arts and Nature Tours showcased
how the settlers of the two provinces who lived in the different periods of Philippine history
were able to not only enrich their culture and everyday living prior to the arrival of
colonizers, nor only appreciate the artistic influences of the Spaniards and Americans, but
also synergize the seemingly polar waves of values and themes into different media.
Architectural structures that have stood the tests of both time and nature are marvelous proofs
of the endeavors taken by the community. For instance, the Casa Real in Malolos, Bulacan
has undergone numerous reassignment of purpose. The iconic landmark was originally
intended to be the towns seat of government when the Spanish officials built it. But since the
turn of the 20th century, it has been converted to a hospital, to a school annex, to a business
complex, to a library, and finally to a museum that preserves the towns contributions to the
countrys fight for freedom during several foreign occupations. The transformation of Casa
Real was not an arbitrary decision but a mirroring of what the community needed and held
important at a certain point in history.
This certain adaptation to the social condition of the times is very evident as well to a
central aspect of the Kapampangan lifetheir cuisine. Pampanga natives know by heart how
their ancestors were ever so loyal and essential to the Spaniards in Manila as they supply the
capital with their finest produce. They have since then taken pride of their exquisite culinary

tradition that is sought after by foreigners and residents of other provinces alike. In the effort
to consistently keep their excellence in culinary arts, Kapampangans are known to have their
own versions of the beloved Filipino staples such arubu mapuli or white adobo and tidtad, a
modified version of the Tagalog dinuguan. But perhaps one of the most creative product of
the Kapampangan culinary ingenuity and certainly a source of pride for the people of
Mexico, Pampanga is Atching Lillian Borromeos heirloom San Nicolas cookies. The origin
of the pastry that was conceived in order to use the excess egg yolks from church
construction is a story worth retelling because it shows how Filipinos can transform
something seemingly trivial and worthless into a product that we can be proud of. Though the
recipe came from the Spanish friars, Atching Lillians great great grandmother and other
women from the town did not settle with the simple molds provided by the foreigners. As a
result, the San Nicolas cookies have also become a visual spectacle showcasing intricate
patterns of holy saints, the Virgin Mary, and even elaborate floral designs. This is once again
a testament that the fruits of Filipino experiences, though may derive from foreign roots, are
reflective of the abounding faith and artistry of the ordinary folks.
Overall, going to different museums and seeing remnants of the past satisfactorily
transported the travelers to the setting of the lives of the people who have gone before us. The
variety of the presentations showcasedfrom artifact exhibits to cooking demonstrations
were able to deliver the facts and bits of trivia about how the people of Bulacan and
Pampanga lived throughout history. However, knowing set of names and faces and preserving
mementos of the past is only the first step in learning history. I think it is more important for
historians to tell narratives and for people to appreciate the story behind the faces and the
tokens. People see the value of things when they know how these are connected to them. The
stories of the past have to make people realize that the seemingly strange and irrelevant
moments and products of history are deeply reflective of and embedded in their identity as
individuals and as citizens of a great nation.