The English Word-Boondocks, Juan Luna, Spoliaruim

Did you know the English word “boondocks”, meaning a remote, rural area comes from the Tagalog word “bundok” (mountain)?

American soldiers picked it up while serving in the Philippines in the early 1900s and brought it back to the United States, where it became part of everyday English.

So every time someone in America says “the boondocks”. They’re speaking a Filipino word.

Did you know that some Tagalog words quietly entered the English language?

Meanwhile, 

When Filipinos Shocked Europe in 1884. At the 1884 Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in Madrid, something unthinkable happened:

• Juan Luna won the Gold Medal for Spoliarium💚

• Félix Resurrección Hidalgo won the Silver Medal

This wasn’t just an art win. It was a political scandal.

Two “Indios” from a colony had beaten Spain’s and Europe’s best painters on Spanish soil.

For the first time, the world was forced to admit something dangerous to empire:

Filipinos were intellectually and artistically equal if not superior to their colonizers.

This moment didn’t just inspire artists. It helped ignite nationalism.

Did you know art once shook the Spanish empire?

💚Spoliarium is a monumental oil painting created in 1884 by the renowned Filipino artist Juan Luna. Standing at a massive 4.22 by 7.675 meters, it is the largest painting in the Philippines and serves as the centerpiece of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila. 

Key Facts

• Subject Matter: The painting depicts the "spoliarium", the basement of a Roman amphitheater where the bodies of fallen gladiators are dragged after combat, stripped of their armor, and left to be mourned by loved ones or scavenged for possessions.
• Symbolism: While it portrays Roman history, the work is widely interpreted as a powerful allegory for the suffering of Filipinos under Spanish colonial rule.
• Recognition: Luna earned a gold medal at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in Madrid in 1884 for this masterpiece, a feat that bolstered Filipino national pride and inspired revolutionaries like José Rizal.
• History: After being exhibited in Europe, it was eventually gifted to the Philippines by Spain in the 1950s. During its journey, the canvas was notoriously cut into three pieces to fit into shipping crates and was later restored by Antonio Dumlao. 

Lastly, here's the top Five News  of the Day:  

• Winter Olympics Preparations Continue Despite Hurdles
  IOC Chief says preparations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have

   faced challenges (like venue construction delays), but the Games are still expected

   to be memorable when they open on February 6. 

• Russia Strikes Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
  Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles targeting Ukraine’s energy 

  facilities ahead of peace talks, prompting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to call

   for increased international pressure. 

• Partial U.S. Government Shutdown Still Unresolved
  Lawmakers have yet to end the partial government shutdown, with discussions 

  continuing and political maneuvering ongoing. 

• Current Top Headlines Briefing
  The Washington Post highlights key U.S. political developments — including 

  the shutdown, news involving Bill and Hillary Clinton, and cultural stories — 

  in its daily briefing. 

• Local & Sports Headlines from Morning Roundups
  Regional morning news services are reporting a mix of updates, including a

   major sports venue set to host Olympic soccermatches in 2028.