Spotlight

We Can Choose Honor

A sense of honor is one of the simplest lessons our nation’s mightiest heroes can impart. But it’s a teaching we can absorb only by remembering better, by wielding our usable past.

This month marks the 114th year since Jose Abad Santos, the nation’s fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, passed the Bar Exams in October 1911. The occasion is an auspicious reminder, for we cannot avoid the subject of law given fresh revelations of plunder perpetrated, yet again, by the country’s so-called lawmakers, in connivance with criminals in the bureaucracy and private contractors.

Part of a storied family in Pampanga, at 10 years-old Jose Abad Santos served as a courier to the fledgling forces of the Philippine Republic during the Philippine-American War. His father, Don Vicente, was tortured and killed by Spanish authorities, who dragged his lifeless body from town to [READ]

RENATO2025-10-02T12:19:37+08:00October 1, 2025|

Mark Your Calendars: A Past Revisited Book Launch & History Forum – October 3!

As part of the preparations for the arrival of Severe Tropical Storm Opong—with classes and government work in several areas of Luzon already suspended for Friday and Saturday, September 26–27—the Book Launch of The Philippines: A Past Revisited (50th Anniversary Special Edition) and the History Forum scheduled for tomorrow, September 26, 2025, at UP Manila will be postponed.

🗓️ New Date: October 3, 2025 (Friday)

⏰ Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

📍 Venue: Little Theater, Rizal Hall, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), UP Manila

👉 We encourage everyone to register early.

👉 Those who have already registered are requested to register again to confirm attendance.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. Please stay safe, and we hope to see you on October 3rd!

RENATO2025-09-30T21:00:03+08:00September 25, 2025|

You’re invited!

Join us for the launch of the 50th anniversary edition of The Philippines: A Past Revisited—a landmark work by Renato and Letizia Roxas Constantino, whose partnership shaped generations of critical historical thought.

🗓️ September 26, 2025

⏰ 3PM–5PM

📍 Little Theater, UP Manila (Rizal Hall, College of Arts and Sciences, Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila)

UP students, faculty, and alumni may present their UP ID at the venue. All other guests are requested to register via this link:

🔗https://forms.gle/8zbDqtbp338ULqyf8

Please see the attached materials for full event details and registration instructions.

RENATO2025-09-22T23:51:14+08:00September 22, 2025|

Renato Constantino

The historian Renato Constantino passed away 26 years ago on 15 September, the very birthday of his son, RC, who designed the iconic cover of The Philippines: A Past Revisited. The book continues to be a mirror, a hammer, and a torch, as an academic recently noted. Indeed, the concept championed by Constantino – a usable past – is most useful today as we witness open thievery on display alongside the dominance of greedy dynasties treating the country’s treasury as their private piggy bank.

Where did all this begin? In many places, for sure, but there’s also one occasion that should always pop out. On 13 September 1907 the American forces occupying the Philippines hanged the last great resistance leader, the Filipino revolutionary Macario Sakay. He was a Katipunan original who fought Spanish colonialists alongside Andres Bonifacio. [READ]

RENATO2025-09-22T23:37:40+08:00September 15, 2025|

MIBF 2025 — Day 3!

The Constantino Foundation continues at the Manila International Book Fair with our history titles, including the 50th anniversary edition of The Philippines: A Past Revisited with a new introduction.

Find us at Booth 2-156, in partnership with Boox That Leave a Mark, on the second floor of SMX Convention Center (very near the first entrance).

After the strong turnout from Days 1 and 2, we’ve restocked for Day 3 to make sure more readers and history enthusiasts can bring home our books.

[READ]

RENATO2025-09-13T10:03:09+08:00September 12, 2025|

History in the Spotlight: Constantino Foundation at MIBF 2025

Exciting news! Constantino Foundation history books, including the new 50th anniversary edition of The Philippines: A Past Revisited, with a new intro and layout, are featured at the Manila International Book Fair 2025. Visit us at Booth 2-156, in partnership with Boox that Leave a Mark, at the second floor of SMX Convention Center. We’re very near the first entrance.

So many visited on Day 1 and purchased copies of the books so we have to restock by tomorrow; It was also [READ]

RENATO2025-09-13T09:55:09+08:00September 11, 2025|

Student Reflections on A Past Revisited following the 50th Anniversary Launch

These visual essays and testimonials capture how A Past Revisited continues to resonate with a new generation of learners. From critical insights on historical distortion to personal reflections on civic responsibility, each piece affirms the enduring relevance of Renato Constantino and Letizia Roxas Constantino’s work in shaping historical consciousness and public engagement.

We commend the contributors for their thoughtful participation and for advancing the discourse on historical truth and public memory.

RENATO2025-09-09T18:28:24+08:00September 11, 2025|

Mga Liham ni Letizia

Ni John Iremil Teodoro

GUSTO kong magsulat muli ng mga liham—sulat-kamay sa papel—kagaya ng ginagawa ko noong nasa kolehiyo ako, noong madalang pa ang kompiyuter, at ang cellphone ay pinag-uusapan pa lamang na para bang nasa malayong hinaharap pa ito mangyayari. Ito ang nararamdaman ko kahapon, Setyembre 8, habang pinapanood ko ang exhibit na “Letizia: A Life in Letters” sa Linangan Museum ng Constantino Foundation sa Panay Avenue, Lungsod Quezon.

Noong nakaraang linggo kasi ay nakita sa ilang Facebook post na inilunsad ang 50th year special edition ng librong The Philippines: A Past Revisited ni Renato Constantino ng Constantino Foundation. Hardbound edition pa ito at bilang isang hardbound book addict, hindi ako mapakali hanggat magkaroon ako ng kopya nito. Agad akong nag-message kay Red Constantino, ang managing director ng Constantino Foundation, na pupunta ako sa Linangan Gallery nila sa Panay Avenue sa Quezon City sa darating na Lunes upang bumili ng kopya [READ]

RENATO2025-09-13T09:34:08+08:00September 10, 2025|

From Past to Present: PUP Reflections on The Philippines: A Past Revisited

The enduring influence of The Philippines: A Past Revisited (APR) by Letizia Roxas Constantino and Renato Constantino was celebrated in a special book launch held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) as part of the Research Colloquium of the PUP Department of History and the PUP Samahan ng Mag-aaral ng Kasaysayan. Nearly 50 years since it was first published, the book continues to resonate with new generations, reaffirming its place as one of the most important works in Philippine historiography.

RENATO2025-09-09T21:18:21+08:00September 10, 2025|

PAGBABALIK TANAW SA MAKASAYSAYANG “BATTLE OF PINAGLABANAN” – PILIPINO Mirror

September 6, 2025 | PILIPINO Mirror |Riza Zuñiga | Book signing sa Museo El Deposito sa Pinaglabanan Shrine sa San Juan. Kuha ni Riza Zuñiga

Ginunita ang “Battle of Pinaglabanan” sa Museo El Deposito sa siyudad ng San Juan, 129 taon na ang nakararaan.

Malugod na ibinahagi ni Mayor Francis Zamora ang paglilipat ng mahahalagang monumento sa Pinaglabanan. Hinimok niya ang mga nagsidalo na bisitahin ang Museo ng Katipunan, Museo El Deposito at ang tunnel system, na itinatag noong 1880 na nagsilbing imbakan ng tubig para sa Kamaynilaan.

Ang pinakasentro sa Pinaglabanan Shrine ay ang “Spirit of Pinaglabanan” nilikha ng eskultor na si Eduardo Castrillo, na kung saan tampok ang magigiting na Pilipinong lumaban sa mga Kastila, sa pamumuno ni Andres Bonifacio, kasama ang mga [READ]

RENATO2025-09-09T21:24:03+08:00September 9, 2025|