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ASEAN Community Giant Durian Sculpture, Davao City, Philippines

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Illustration from Culture and History by Nick Joaquín

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A gathering of people in Zamboanga during the American colonial period. Based on the women’s painted faces, I’m assuming they are Yakan. Photographer details unknown, circa 1920.

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after over ten years since first learning about the austronesian migration, i can firmly say i’ve grown more interested in our pre-taiwan history more than our expansion. island people don’t just show up out of nowhere; they have to come from the nearest mainland.

the yangtze river delta is a place more storied than i can ever speak of. it’s mind boggling to realize there was ever a time that the south of the yellow river was not han.

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colonialism did not create the gender binary grahhh there were hundreds if not thousands of pre-colonial societies that believed in some cultural cognate of man and woman and enforced those notions as normative. Yes some had gender-transgressive cohorts within them (mostly trans women) but there were and are clear rules that often delineated them as lesser peoples.

what colonialism *did* do was enforce the specific european cultural context of man and woman to nonwestern societies, something that was in fact aided by the pre-existing sex binaries in those cultures!

I have seen like 3 posts today implying or outright stating that binary gender did not exist outside of europe pre-colonialism and I need you all to understand That Is Insane, Untrue, And Unhelpful!

Do not twist my words; I do not say this to cast undue shadow on non european nations and peoples pre-colonialism, nor do I say this to absolve europe of culpability in modern (trans)misogyny! I say this because the fight against misogyny is a global one and the accuracy of our adversity is important to its discussion and dismantling!

There is a running undercurrent in a lot of popular faux-progressive thought that the only real enactors and benefactors of oppression are those who sit at the pinnacle of all axes, but this is false and a blatant rhetorical trap! I benefit from my whiteness despite being disadvantaged on the axes of class, gender, and trans status! Privilege is neither a math equation to be zeroed out nor is it an albatross around your neck to be mopily brought up on every occasion! In this sense all men (all men) ALL MEN benefit from misogyny! A minority man being affected by racism/classism/ableism/etc. still retains advantage over women on the axis of gender because patriarchy is global!

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Gold sash or caste cord, uncovered by Berto Morales in 1981 (“Surigao Treasure”) in Surigao del Sur province. Dated to circa 10th–13th century. Photography by Neal Oshima; Image courtesy of Ayala Museum.

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i want to ban everyone from saying the name austronesian unless it’s pertaining to the language family

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Where the Bodies are Buried: A crime fiction discussion and book signing event with FH Batacan and Kenneth Yu | 22 June 2025

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“State of Our Nation” (2025) photographed by Jilson Tiu

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Learn and remember the massacre in Bud Dajo.

As always, death to imperialism.

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The languages of the Philippines. From the Inquirer (2022):

As we celebrate the National Language Month, let's take a look at the state of Philippine languages according to the Summer Institute of Linguistics' Ethnologue 2022.

Updated data show that of the country's 184 living languages, 11 are "dying," while 35 are "in trouble."

The 11 "dying" languages include: Arta, Bontok (Northern), Bontok (Southwestern), Dumagat (Remontado), Inagta Alabat, Agta (Katubung), Ata, Ayta (Sorsogon), Ratagnon, Tagbanwa (Central), Eskayan.

A "dying" language, as categorized by Ethnologue, means that "the only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home."

[Note: Fairly recently, my grandmother - who is over ninety years old and is in the emergency room as I write this - complained about the overuse of the Cebuano language over her native language. She has ancestry from both east and west of Mindanao but is rooted firmly in Agusan where, as a child, she spoke fluent Manobo and Maranao in addition to the newcomers’ Cebuano.

Some of her younger relatives have married Visayan men and speak Visayan languages. It has always irritated my grandmother to speak to family in Manobo and be understood - only to be replied to in Cebuano!]

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From the Department of Tourism of the Philippines:

The Taguri is a Chinese influence that is testimony to the long centuries' old Sino-Sulu relations. The giant Taguri can be described as Awak-Awak, Mandal and Janggayan, and during the hot Summer days, the taguri of various colors and sizes can be seen flying high and mighty.

The visit of the top honchos of the Dept of Tourism Secretary Franco and USec Myra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar and the presence of the local chief executives of different municipalities headed by Governor Abdusakur Tan, augurs well for the province.

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From the government of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao:

JUNE 9, 2025 — The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs (MIPA) spearheaded today, June 9, the Grand Kanduli Ceremonial Signing of the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Act—Implementing Rules and Regulations (BIPA-IRR) in Cotabato City.

The BIPA-IRR features the rules of conduct within the IP communities in terms of basic services and security, among others. It also presents the implementation of the IPs' customary laws, traditions, and practices in resolving claims and disputes among them.

Furthermore, the document supports the enactment of BIPA, also known as BAA No. 64, which promotes the meaningful engagement of the IPs in the decision-making processes that affect their rights. (Majid Nur/Comenei Ali/ BIO)

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West Coast Bajau horsemen, Sabah, Malaysia, circa 2014. Photographs by Shuttercrazy on Flickr.

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A man lifts a child as they take family pictures after Eid al-Fitr prayers at Quirino Grandstand, in Manila, Philippines, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

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A gathering of people in Zamboanga during the American colonial period. Based on the women’s painted faces, I’m assuming they are Yakan. Photographer details unknown, circa 1920.

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“We traveled to Simunul Island, where Islam first arrived in the Philippines in 1380, marked by the founding of the Sheik Karimul Makhdum Mosque, the oldest mosque in the country.

At the Simunul Municipal Complex, the whole community came together to cook for us.

Though rain moved us under the shelter, it didn't stop the warmth or the flavor. Local historian Haji Faisal Malande and the community of chefs guided us through cooking…”

— (x)