El Imperio de Calibán

The Philippines was at a turbulent, quickly moving setting during the last decade of the 19th century. Revolutions have gained momentum, Spain was losing grip of its colonies, and ideas of democracy were quickly spreading (arguably from the west) to different nations. Moreover, America was quickly rising to become another superpower. After settling its own conflict with British and Spanish colonizers and eventually a civil war, the country managed to efficiently set up a democratic government and sustain one of the most prosperous economic markets in the world.

Another significant change was the Philippines’ rapid press development. From the relatively slow output, due largely to the presiding Spanish friars and government, Filipinos made their way to quick publication which was of course in line with the revolutionary movement. By the 1890s papers in both the Spanish and Filipino language were already in circulation.

It was also around this time that…