Memories of October

October is a very historical month. It was on Oct. 1, 1762 that Simon de Anda y Salazar was appointed lieutenant governor and captain-general by the Archbishop who was then acting in his capacity as governor and captain-general of the Philippines. Manila at that time was contending with the British forces.

Today, Oct. 2, marks the 146th birth anniversary of General Rafael Crame, first Filipino Chief of Constabulary. Most people are under the misimpression that Camp Crame was named after a foreigner.

Tomorrow marks the date when a Dutch-Spanish naval contest took place off Corregidor that ended with the defeat of the Dutch. Again, very few people are aware that the Spanish and the Dutch empires were the first two empires where "the sun never sets". It was much later that it was applied to the British Empire. The Spanish naval victory over the Dutch was celebrated in Manila with a feast called La Fiesta de La Naval. It is no longer observed in Intramuros, but national artist Nick Joaquin has immortalized it in his classic play, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. The play ended with the lead character saying, "To remember and to sing: that is my vocation." Intramuros did not survive World War II. And it is difficult to understand why to this day, Intramuros has not resurrected. But Intramuros will live on in the short stories and plays of Nick Joaquin. Here again, is how Bitoy Camacho rhapsodized October in the old and ever loyal city. "October in Manila! The month when, in full typhoon season, the city broke out its biggest celebrations! The month that started the display of hams and cheeses among its grocery, and of torrones among its sweet-shops; when her market overflowed with apples, grapes, oranges, pomelos – and her sidewalks with chestnuts and lanzones! The most when, back in our childhood, the very air turned festive and the circus came to town and the season opened at the old Opera House!"

Actually, Manila underwent another great military defeat in Oct. 4, 1762. That was when the British invaders smashed all Spanish and Filipino opposition in Intramuros and Extramuros. Simon de Anda y Salazar had to flee to Bacolor, Pampanga. So Bacolor became the capital of the Spanish Empire. But it was the La Fiesta de La Naval that pre-war Intramuros remembered and commemorated as its greatest feast before the war.

Nick Joaquin has another classic story of a Manila fiesta. The story is entitled The Mass of St. Sylvestre and is a fictitional account of how the cathedral-city of Manila celebrated its New Year. We wish that a great movie producer could make a great movie of this story and that the story itself would become the main symbol of our New Year’s celebration. We can’t think of a better way to start the year. The lead character in the story is Mateo el Maestro, who turns into stone for witnessing the Mass of St. Sylvestre.

This story plus the play Portrait of an Artist as Filipino should be regular features of all programs to conserve Intramuros. Intramuros cannot be restored. But it will live on in Nick Joaquin’s stories. Unfortunately, those in charge of preserving Intramuros do not seem to be aware of Joaquin’s works.