bisayawitch: Prehistoric Philippines by Ambeth R. Ocampo is a very small book, (92 pages in total) b
bisayawitch: Prehistoric Philippines by Ambeth R. Ocampo is a very small book, (92 pages in total) but it is still an interesting read. It was just about $3 (P 120.00 at the time) in the National Book Store when I bought it a few years back. In this small book are a few chapters, one on the Boxer Codex, another on the Bolinao skull, there is a chapter on the symbolism of crocodiles, and another on the supposed old ruins of the Pre-Spanish town of Maynila, under what is now Intramuros. It’s interesting as Ocampo writes of the passage in 1570 by Martin de Goiti who was sent by Miguel de Legazpi (who was stationed in Panay at the time) to give a report on Maynila and the native people there. In the document it states:“The town was situated on the bank of the [Pasig] river, and seemed to be defended by a palisade all along its front. Within it were many warriors, and the shore outside was crowded with people. Pieces of artillery stood at the gates, guarded by bombardiers linstock in hand. A culverin shot from us, and close to the houses of the natives were four Chinese ships..”➡ This account tells of the original walled city of Maynila, the pre-Spanish Maynila of Rajah Matanda and his successor Rajah Sulayman. After Goiti’s expedition and meeting the rulers, the walled city was burned in a battle prior to Legazpi arriving in 1571. According to Ocampo his teacher, the well known historian and anthropologist, E. Arsenio Manuel, firmly believed the ruins of the original Maynila were still there hidden underneath Intramuros, the city the Spanish built on top of the original settlement. Manuel’s plan was to conduct an archaeological excavation of Intramuros to find the remains of the original settlement. By doing this however they would have to tear down the current walls of Intramuros. When Ocampo asked him how would they be sure there was a fort under Intramuros, Manuel simply replied, Intramuros was a small price to pay to find our Pre-Spanish roots. https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZuArlh2qH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=t1y9uktwcd3v -- source link