Features

Who Destroyed Intramuros”, based on a chapter from Saul Hofileña’s book Under the Stacks

By: Ley Akino | February 9, 2026

On this 81st anniversary of the Battle of Manila, I made a short documentary titled Who Destroyed Intramuros, based on a chapter from Saul Hofileña’s book Under the Stacks.

The documentary recounts the events from the rescue of hostages at the University of Sto. Tomas to the Battle of Manila in 1945, presenting what happened and how Intramuros was destroyed during the fighting.

This is what history is—a story set in reality, with characters that lived among us

By: Maxine Cruz | January 24, 2026

The book begins strong with the first chapter entitled “The Salt Seekers” which revolves around atrocities from the Japanese Occupation that are often overlooked or sanitized by modern curriculum. This chapter was graphic and did not shy away from the truth encouraging a courageous attitude for approaching historical text.

The meaning of the count

By: Michael Charleston “Xiao” B. Chua | January 6, 2026

Lawyer Saul Hofileña, who successfully defended pro bono some historians who were sued for just doing their job for the government, when the government was unable to defend them, a bibliophile, former Manila Times columnist and a historian who wrote the bestseller “Under the Stacks,” just recently released his latest book, “Counting Filipinos.”

Remembering Jaime de Guzman

By: Jojo G. Silvestre | March 27, 2023

I met with Saul Hofileña Jr. over a cup of coffee and we spoke about Jaime de Guzman, a highly exceptional painter who died 25 February 2023. Jaime first became famous in the 1960s with his dark series of murals. Saul used to visit the artist in his studio/home in Candelaria, Quezon.

Jaime De Guzman, farewell

By: Gemma Cruz Araneta | March 2, 2023

Jaime and I met shortly after I had seen him on television in 1968; it was a mid-morning show where guests answered imponderable questions. Jaime, introduced as a promising painter, was asked who among the Filipinas he would like to date.

The ‘Limasawa 6’ case: criminalizing research

By: Jenny Ortueste | June 14, 2021

I write this on our country’s 123rd Independence Day, which got me thinking about this year, 2021, its significant historical milestones, and other history-related matters.

The ‘Limasawa 6’ case: case dismissed!

By: Jojo Silvestre | June 24, 2021

In what is surely a triumph for the justice system and for the rule of law, reason, and logic, a criminal complaint filed against six historians for their research findings has been thrown out by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Butuan City.

SC Declares with Finality against PhilHealth with Eye Doctor

By: Jenny Ortueste | December 20, 2019

The Supreme Court recently declared final and executory their July 2019 decision in favor of an ophthalmologist whose accreditation as a healthcare professional was illegally suspended by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth).

SC declares PhilHealth Ruling as Illegal

By: Jenny Ortuoste | September 9, 2019

The Supreme Court declared as illegal in its Resolution of July 30, the suspension of Dr. Mario Reyes, a practicing ophthalmologist and former head of the Ophthalmology Department of the Ospital ng Maynila. According to Atty. Saul Hofileña Jr., lawyer for Dr. Reyes.

More Historic Hocus Paintings at the National Museum

By: Jojo G. Silvestre | February 23, 2023

The National Museum of the Philippines has put on permanent display five more Hocus paintings at the National Museum of Anthropology located just across the National Museum of Fine Arts. The first batch was hung at the National Museum of Fine Arts in 2017.

The South China Sea Turmoil, explained

By: Jenny Ortuoste | October 8, 2022

With increasing globalization and the economic interdependence of nations necessarily comes a greater focus on geopolitics and a watchfulness on the conduct of states that can, or do, pose threats to the safety and sovereignty of others.

Saul Hofileña Jr. on his Hocus opus (Part 2)

By: Jojo Silvestre | September 23, 2022

Saul Hofilena Jr (SHJ): Maybe because of its novelty and the way the National Museum presented the exhibition. Also, each time there was a HOCUS exhibition, I would write a book detailing the history behind each artwork, and lectures were conducted in the National Museum of the Philippines.

A lawful glossary of geological terms

By: Gemma Cruz Araneta | September 22, 2022

Two eminent lawyers, Saul and Daniel Hofileña, father and son, authored an elucidating monograph, “Turmoil at the South China Sea” which to me is a veritable dictionary of basic yet misapplied terms.

Saul Hofileña Jr. on his Hocus opus (Part 1)

By: Jojo G. Silvestre | September 16, 2022

My dear friend, Saul Hofileña Jr., is a lawyer, a historian, a law professor, and a former law school dean. He has authored 15 books on law, history, and art.

Andres Luna: Outstanding architect in prewar Manila

By: Jojo G. Silvestre | July 23, 2022

In 1918, Andres Luna de San Pedro graduated from the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Immediately, he was hired by the French government, obviously on sheer talent, having been vouched for by his professors.

Andres Luna de San Pedro – The Making of a Great Architect

By: Jojo G. Silvestre | July 15, 2022

I have often wondered about the artistic life and career of the architect Andres Luna de San Pedro, son of the painter and hero Juan Luna, because I would read now and then about his famous works, including the Crystal Arcade in Escolta, and my search for a good reference finally came to an end with a gift of a book, Luna, Arquitecto, from the author himself, lawyer and history expert Saul Hofileña Jr.

Hocus astounds with artbook “Jucio Final”

By: Jenny Ortuoste | July 9, 2022

In a first for the Philippine art world, a lawyer-historian and a painter-conservator teamed up to produce a series of paintings on historical themes that bring to life our colonial past and the ways we come to terms with it.

Quadricula (Hocus II)

The Hofileña-Custodio Paintings

By Sylvia L. Mayuga and Xiao Chua | March 2020

The Quadricula/Hocus Exhibit

Philippines Graphic | January 20, 2020

Vol. 30, No. 34

A Hocus II: The return of the two-headed beast

By: Eric S. Caruncho | September 22, 2019

“Quadricula” marks the return of Hocus, the singular two-headed creature who took the local art world by storm in April of 2017 with an eponymous six-month exhibit at the National Museum of Fine Arts (NMFA).