The Colonial Dept.
The Colonial Dept.
Lio Mangubat
Welcome to the Colonial Department, the podcast where we take long-lost stories from Philippine colonial history and bring them to life. Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept
S3E13: The Friar Who Loved the Flowers and the Trees
It was one of the most important scientific texts to emerge from the Spanish colonial period. But who was Father Manuel Blanco, and how did this priest-scientist amass his botanical knowledge? Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Email us: [email protected] References: “Manuel Maria Blanco Ramos,” in Real Academia dela Historia, Diccionario Biografico.  https://dbe.rah.es/biografias/14559/manuel-maria-blanco-ramos Zimmer, Carl (2008, 20 August). “Darwin, Linnaeus, and One Sleepy Guy.” National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/darwin-linnaeus-and-one-sleepy-guy Santiago, Luciano P.R. (1993). “The painters of Flora de Filipinas (1877-1883).” Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society 21(2), 87-112. Mojares, Resil (2013). “The Book That Did Not Exist.” In Isabelo’s Archive (141-146), Anvil Publishing. Stuart, Barry (1965). “The Birds and the Bees.” Recorded by Dean Martin.
Jan 8, 2023
12 min
EXTRA CREDIT: On Writing the Story of a Nikkeijin
In this week's episode of EXTRA CREDIT, I interview Jill Tan Radovan about her profile of Carmen Apigo, who reunited with her Japanese father decades after the end of the war. (Listen to S3E12 before listening to this one!)
Dec 24, 2022
19 min
S3E12: Anak Sa Hapon—The Nikkeijin at the Outbreak of World War II
For decades, the Filipino and Japanese communities lived side by side in Davao. Then, after the fateful attack on Pearl Harbor, neighbors became enemies. What happened then? Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Email us: [email protected] References: Radovan, Jill Tan (22 September 2022). "How a Teacher in Davao Finally Met Her Japanese Father Three Decades After WWII." Esquire Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/half-japanese-teacher-davao-finally-meets-father-a2328-20220922-lfrm3 Abinales, Patricio N. (1997). “Davao-kuo: The Political Economy of a Japanese Settler Zone in Philippine Colonial Society.” The Journal of American-East Asian Relations, 6(1), 59-82. Jose, Lydia Yu & Dacudao, Patricia Irene (2015). “Visible Japanese and Invisible Filipino: Narratives of the Development of Davao, 1900s to 1930s.” Philippine Studies: Historical & Ethnographical Viewpoints 63(1), 101-129. Barriga, Maria Cynthia B. (2015). “The Asia-Pacific War in the Davao Settler Zone, December 1941.”  Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies, 30(1): 56–90. Arguillas, C. (2017, January 12). “Encounters with Filipino-Japanese mestizos in Davao bring back memories and open windows to Japan’s Past." In Mindanews. Retrieved from https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/01/reprint-encounters-with-filipino-japanese-mestizos-in-davao-bring-back-memories-and-open-windows-to-japans-past/ Radovan, Jill Tan. Personal communication. 15 December 2022.
Dec 17, 2022
16 min
EXTRA CREDIT: On the Ferrocarril de Manila a Dagupan
In this week's episode of EXTRA CREDIT, let's take a ride with some fast facts on the Philippines' first railway. (Listen to S3E11 before listening to this one!)
Dec 10, 2022
3 min
S3E11: The Dawning of the Age of Steam
Put on your boldest, brassiest steampunk goggles as we delve deep into the stories of the Philippines’ first steamships, steam engines, and steam-powered trains. Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Email us: [email protected] References: Jose, Ricardo. (2018) “Tranvia: Ang mga Riles sa Kamaynilaan” [Documentary] TVUP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DshXso7EkM Doeppers. Daniel F. (2016) Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850-1945. Ateneo de Manila Press. Legarda, Benito J. (1999). After the Galleons: Foreign Trade, Economic Change and Entrepreneurship in the Nineteenth-Century Philippines. Ateneo de Manila Press. Elena, Alberto and Ordóñez, Javier (2000). “Science, Technology, and the Spanish Colonial Experience in the Nineteenth Century.” In Nature and Empire: Science and the Colonial Enterprise (70-82). The University of Chicago Press. Cailloce, Laure (2020). “The Turbulent History of the Suez Canal.” CNRS News. https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/the-turbulent-history-of-the-suez-canal Gamble, Adrian (2017). “Manila's Long-Lost 'Tranvias' Once the Envy of Asia.” Skyrise Cities. https://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/03/manilas-long-lost-tranvias-once-envy-asia
Dec 4, 2022
15 min
EXTRA CREDIT: On the Filming of Apocalyse Now
In this week's episode of EXTRA CREDIT, let's break the timeline a bit and find out more about the tumultous history of the film that served as last episode's framing device. (Listen to S3E10 before listening to this one!)
Nov 25, 2022
4 min
S3E10: Auroran Gods
"No anito. No tikbalang. No duwende." Nearly three hundred years ago, on the eastern coast of Luzon, this is what a priest told his converts. But what happens when his mission collides with the old gods and the old ways? Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Email us: [email protected] References: Dizon, Mark (2011). “Social and Spiritual Kinship in EarlyEighteenth-Century Missions on the Caraballo Mountains.” Philippine Studies 59(3), 367–398. Dizon, Mark (2015). “Spirit Beliefs, Murder, and Religious Change Among the Eighteenth Century Aeta and Ilongot in Eastern Central Luzon.” Philippine Studies 63(1), 3-38. Mataragnon, Rita (1977). “A Conceptual and Psychological Analysis of Sumpong.” In Pe-Pua, Rogelia (Ed.), Handbuk ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino (339-347). The University of the Philippines Press. Audio from Apocalypse Now © United Artists. Audio of “Tanging Yaman” from Bukas Palad Ministry.
Nov 11, 2022
14 min
EXTRA CREDIT: On Jean Mallat's Writings About Colonial Living
In this week's episode of EXTRA CREDIT, let's read up some more about the writings of Dr. Jean Mallat on colonial-era Manila. (Listen to S3E9 before listening to this one!)
Nov 4, 2022
4 min
S3E9: A Day in the Life in Colonial Manila
Swimming. Smoking. Sunsets. It’s just another day for the conyo colonials, living the good life inside Manila. Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Email us: [email protected] References: Mallat, Jean (1846). The Philippines: History, Geography, Customs, Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce of the Spanish Colonies in Oceania (Pura Santillan-Castrence, Trans.) (2021). National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Camagay, Ma. Luisa T. (1996). “Urban Development of Manila During the 19th Century.” In Enrique L. Victoriano (ed.), Historic Manila: Commemorative Lectures, 1993-1996 (33-42). Manila Historical Commission. Doran, Christine (1993). “Spanish and Mestizo Women of Manila.” Philippine Studies 41I(3), 269-286. Audio clip from The Fellowship of the Ring © 2001 New Line Cinema
Oct 27, 2022
14 min
EXTRA CREDIT: On Opium in the Philippines
In this week's episode of EXTRA CREDIT, let's smoke up a little knowledge on the narcotic that ruled the world during the 1800s. (Listen to S3E7-8 before listening to this one!)
Oct 21, 2022
4 min
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