Balikbayan: Valencia, Bukidnon 2005

“Art should not be purely decorative. It should be meaningful.” — Vicente Manansala On Pinoybuilt.com, no artwork has captured more attention, curiosity, and admiration than Vicente Manansala’s iconic painting Madonna of the Slums . It stands as our all-time most viewed post — and for good reason. The Significance of the Artwork Painted in 1950, Madonna of the Slums is one of the most powerful social commentaries in Philippine modern art. It portrays a mother and child amidst the squalor of Manila’s urban slums, echoing the religious imagery of the Madonna and Child but set starkly against poverty and urban migration. Through his signature transparent cubism , Manansala overlays geometric shapes and muted hues to express both the harshness of the slums and the enduring dignity of the human spirit. The painting is a poignant reminder that beneath economic hardship, there remains profound love, resilience, and hope. The Genius of Vicente Manansala Vicente Manansala (1910–19...

🛡️ RESIST: Lapu-Lapu, Magellan, and the Birth of Filipino Identity in 1521

- Saturday, July 05, 2025

🛡️ Before the Philippines had a name, we had resistance. In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed under the Spanish flag and claimed the islands for Spain. But what he found was a proud people — especially a warrior named Lapu-Lapu — who refused to bow. On April 27, 1521 , at the Battle of Mactan, Lapu-Lapu and his warriors stood their ground. Armed with kampilan swords and native courage, they resisted Spanish forces and killed Magellan on Filipino soil. This was more than a victory — it was the birth of Filipino identity . “To resist is to exist. We were not discovered — we were awakened.” Lapu-Lapu didn’t just win a battle — he became the first Filipino to fight for sovereignty. That resistance lives on through the Katipunan, World War II freedom fighters, EDSA revolutionaries, and everyday Filipinos who rise for justice. 1521 wasn’t about discovery. It was about defiance . That moment gave us our spirit — one of unity, identity, an...

Reyes-Altamirano Reunion Flashback

- Sunday, June 29, 2025

Balikbayan 2013 Flashback Parañaque, Metro Manila Philippines. June 30, 2013. Thank you Redentor, Weng, and Gabinete family for hosting Malou, Tess and me in your beautiful home. Please support PH.PINOYBUILT.COM Click to follow our website > PH.PINOYBUILT.COM . Thank you for visiting our website. Please leave a comment below. Maraming salamat po!

Independence Day in Mabalacat City Division

- Tuesday, June 11, 2024

This photo is from Independence Day with my colleagues when I was in Camachiles National High School This was after the pandemic. I already miss them so much: Sir Marlon, Ma'am Shaira, Ma'am Bea, Ma'am Bernadette and Sir Josh. Although hindi ko sila ka department sa subject area ko, mga Science major sila but they are my great friends. Camachiles National High School is in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines. 😊

Bathala : The Creator God | Philippine Mythology

- Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Asian Mythology | Mythlok In ancient #Tagalog, the Supreme Being known as Bathala Maykapal, commonly known as Bathala, is regarded as the creator and ruler of the universe. This term was also used for lesser beings such as personal spirits, omen birds, comets, and other heavenly bodies. It was after the Spanish missionaries came to the #Philippines that Bathala Maykapal became known as a Christian God. Before the 19th century, the term was never used since it was replaced by the words Panginoon and Diyos. Bathala is the #creator of everything in the universe. He is said to have appeared during various natural phenomenon such as a flood, a fire, and an earthquake, and he declared his authority over the world. The origin or where Bathala came from is not known or documented. The worship of Bathala, although common across the various islands and tribes of the #Philippines, is most prominent in the Luzon area and its indigenous tribes. Bathala is considered to be very humanlike...

Trip to Batangas: Monte Maria

- Wednesday, June 26, 2024

KUMUSTA KABAYAN 🇵🇭 Monte Maria is located in Batangas City. The beautiful statue of Monte Maria is up to the 17th floor, but you need to pay 150 per head first. After that, you will see the miracle glass walk, which will open in December because it is not finished yet. Mother of All Asia – Tower of Peace The Mother of All Asia–Tower of Peace is a monument shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary as a symbol of unity and peace in Asia and the whole world. It is located at the center of the eight-hectare pilgrimage site called Montemaria International Pilgrimage & Conference Center in Sitio Montemaria, Barangay Pagkilatan, Batangas City, Philippines. It is the world's tallest statue of the Virgin Mary at 98.15 m (322.0 ft) which includes the plinth/building it stands on.

Presidential Communications Office Press Briefing March12

- Wednesday, March 12, 2025

PCO Press Briefing with MPC 3/12/2025 Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro holds a press briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on March 12, 2025. 'HILING PO ITO MISMO NG DATING PANGULONG DUTERTE' Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Monday, March 10, that former President Rodrigo Duterte had previously expressed willingness to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) and even urged it to… pic.twitter.com/l8Fngwy7v5 — iMPACT Leadership (@iMPACTPH2019) March 11, 2025