A Question of Heroes

Random number between 1 and 237, page 139 of National Artist Nick Joaquin's A Question of Heroes is part of chapter 9, "Where Did Aguinaldo Fail?" (Highlight box mine.) #goliwaliwph #antedated #catchup #august2018 pic.twitter.com/z6HtzbjfUM

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) September 2, 2018

Random number between 1 and 237, page 139 of National Artist Nick Joaquin's A Question of Heroes is part of chapter 9, "Where Did Aguinaldo Fail?" I scanned the page, and my eyes fell on the paragraph I boxed in yellow:

The difference between the two sides in their treatment of Aguinaldo is striking. The Spaniards were leaning over backwards in their efforts to attract him and their promises grew not only in number but in definiteness: autonomy, reform, decentralization, local representation, a General Government of the Philippines. All the things that the Propaganda had fought for were now, it seemed, ours for the taking. On the other hand, the Americans had stopped promising anything at all; were growing vaguer and vaguer, more cold and calculating; were, in fact, one might say, no longer on speaking terms with Aguinaldo. Yet it was increasingly to the hostile Americans that he clung; it was the increasingly propitiatory Spaniards that he spurned.

Titles from my personal library were pre-selected for liwaliw Pages this month in observance of National History Month per Proclamation No. 339, series of 2012, by former President Benigno S. Aquino III.

[This post is antedated: 20180901]