Book belonging to Manuel Lardizabel

This 150-year-old book belonged to a historical figure, Manuel Lardizabal of the prominent Lardizabal clan of Marinduque. Inside is his name, with “MEDICO CIRUJANO” or surgeon. Lardizabal was appointed vice mayor of Boac by President Manuel Roxas in 1946. His son Ernesto’s godmother was Clemencia Lopez, the Filipino independence activist/feminist (and the first Filipina to enter the White House).

This came from the Escolta bookstore La Flor de Cataluña, stamped with the shop’s and proprietor’s (Enrique Bota) names.

PATOLOGÍA CLÍNICA QUIRÚRGICAS A. FORT, 1879. Hardbound 631 pages. Condition as shown in images. Please expect age marks consistent with its 19th century origin. Loose pages: 490 – 495. P1190

Image: A baptismal photo of Ernesto Guillermo Lardizabal y Serra, 7 January 1909 (Boac, Marinduque). Person at right is believed to be Manuel Lardizabal (Image and info courtesy of Renz Marion D. Katigbak)

For the Birds

Newspaper article which in part details bird eggs found in Boac in May 1888 and are now part of a Ohio High School display in March of 1929.

The eggs were from the Steere Expedition to the Philippines (1887–1888), led by Dr. Joseph Beal Steere, professor of Zoology at the University of Michigan. He visited Marinduque as part of a comprehensive 11-month survey of Philippine islands. The expedition aimed to study the flora and fauna of the Philippine islands, resulting in the discovery of numerous new species of birds and mammals.

Steere, along with his students, E.L. Moseley, F.S. Bourns, D.C. Worcester and staff, including his Filipino student Mateo Francisco, visited Marinduque during the expedition that took place between September 1887 and late 1888. In Marinduque, Steere collected various specimens, including, as noted in later studies, a collection of pebbles from the coast and various fauna, which were studied for potential new species descriptions. The expedition’s findings were published by Steere in 1891, documenting the birds and mammals collected across various localities, including Marinduque. While the 1887-88 expedition was key for ornithological study, it followed an earlier 1874 trip by Steere and preceded the 1890-1893 Menage Scientific Expedition which further detailed Philippine zoology. The expedition was largely unofficial and often faced suspicion from Spanish authorities.

Lost video of Morion Mask Maker

I had found this video 15 years ago featuring one of the Moriones mask makers, mang Ato Morales, master carver . To my surprise, when I showed it to Dr. Randy Noblezsa at MSU, he commented that it was part of his original thesis work. He had no idea that it was on the internet.

March 22, 1930, Commencement Exercises, Marinduque High School Senior Class.

The owner of this program has penciled in next to some of the graduates’ names, their course of studies or future professions. Maybe your parent’s or grandparents’ names are listed among the graduates.