BY KIM ATIENZA
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JUNE 24 is Manila Day.
Did you know that in the late 16th century, Manila was a walled Muslim settlement?
It was led by a ruler who collected tax and customs duties on all commerce that passed the Pasig River.
Spanish conquistadors under the leadership of Miguel López de Legazpi – first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines – entered the mouth of the river in 1571.
Manila got its name from two Tagalog words: “may,” meaning “there is,” and “nilad,” the name of a shrub that grew abundantly along the shores of the Pasig River and Manila Bay.
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DID YOU KNOW: Manila is the home of the presidential palace, Malacañang. How did the name come about?
My friend, Ambeth Ocampo writes in his book, “Looking Back,” that men in boats cruising along Pasig River would remark upon passing by the palace thus, “May lakan dyan.’’ It meant there’s nobility living there.
Thus was how Malacañang came to be known much later. But, that’s only one version of its origin.
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TRIVIA PA MORE (Various Sources): Ancient Filipinos wore bakya instead of shoes. Made from lightwood such as santol, it is sculpted with a slope and shaved to a smooth finish.
Bakya became so popular in the 1930s we even exported these to other countries.
Maiba naman.
Alam nýo bang 15 years ang average age ng isang baboy, wag mo lang siyang litsunin?
Hate mo ba ang reptiles at ahas? Sa Antarctica, wala nito.
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Send your questions on anything and everything through my Twitter account @kuyakim_atienza using #AlaminKayKuyaKim.
