Cornejo's encyclopedia

ONE of the books I have always planned to read but never got around to doing is the massive "Cornejo's Pre-war Encyclopedic Directory of the Philippines." It isn't the type of book to curl up in bed with on a cold rainy day because it is over 2,700 pages thick. A bookstand is required to browse over it comfortably. I'm ashamed to admit that in my library this valuable reference work was used primarily as a doorstopper. Its secondary use was as a weapon of self-defense against would-be robbers. I can assure you that if the Cornejo encyclopedia were flung in your face, you would, literally, see stars.

Thus, I was absolutely delighted to find the book in the growing Filipiniana collection of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University. The book not only reminded me of home, it gave me a mild form of limited exercise since I had to carry it from the library up four flights in a nearby building to my office. Since the book is not mine, I could not use it as a doorstopper, so after many years I have finally opened it, looked at its pictures and read some of its contents.

If you attempt to read the kilometric title page of the work in one breath you will turn blue: "Cornejo's Commonwealth Directory of the Philippines (Formerly: Cornejo's Philippine Directory) Awarded Gold Medal, First Prize, Philippine Carnival and Exposition, 1926. 1939 Encyclopedic Edition Commemorating the First Three Years of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, 1935-1938; the XXXIII International Eucharistic Congress, and other historic events in the Islands from time immemorial to the present containing: A history of the Philippines, from pre-Spanish Era to date, including a compilation of important State Documents, Inaugural Addresses and Speeches of American and Filipino Statesmen; Opinion and Press Statements of Military and Naval Authorities, Politicians, Economists, Educators and Writers on Philippine Affairs; Interesting facts about the Presidents of the United States of America, from Washington to Roosevelt (F.D.), and their pictures and brief biographical data; Government of the US, and Military and Naval Rosters; a Directory of Schools, Colleges and Universities; Physicians and Hospitals in the Philippines; a list of newspapers and other publications; mining concerns and a list of Licensed Mining Engineers; Manila Classified Business Directory, Directory of Importers; Directory of Exporters; Alphabetical list of Manila Business firms, and a pictorial directory of Manila Businessmen, Biographical Directory of Leading residents of the Philippines; Ecclesiastical directory; Directory of the Officers of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines for 1935-38 and 1939-40; Philippine population as of 1939; and other Miscellaneous Information, with Road Maps of the Philippines. Compiled, Edited and Published by Miguel R. Cornejo, A.B., LL.B."

Unfortunately, no human, alone, can cope with the information explosion. The editor of an encyclopedia can be likened to Sisyphus, condemned to futile labor. Sisyphus, in the Greek underworld, is condemned to push a heavy boulder up a hill. Toward the end of the day the rock rolls downhill and he repeats the process again, every day for eternity.

I hope Cornejo was financially compensated for his labors. Perhaps there was some sense in the work for he labored on various editions from 1919 to 1939 (the last edition is what I am now using).

These days yearbooks and other reference books are quickly discarded and converted to scrap because the only ones who would care to read obsolete 64-year-old information today would be historians and antique collectors.

Just going over the Cornejo Encyclopedia made me understand and visualize the time many old folks look back to with fondness as "pistaym" for this was, literally, the period shortly before World War II, a nostalgic place kept in memory as "peace time." After the war, the Philippines and the Filipinos would never be the same again.

A list of obsolete Manila street names reflected the changing times. Streets mentioned in "Noli Me Tangere" like Anloague became Juan Luna, and Sacristia became Ongpin. Other examples: Alix was changed to Legarda, Aceiteros to Marcelino de Santos, Nebraska to Arquiza, Bagumbayan to P. Burgos, Bambang and Bambang Pequeno to Dart, Bang-Bang to Bambang, Callejon No. 1 to Victorino, Callejon No. 2 to Central, Caturay to Gutierrez, Echague to Padre Valderrama, Gagalangin to Juan Luna. Some heroes were erased: General Luna was changed to Manuguit, General Makabulos to Cristina, General Maxilom to Adelina, General Tinio to Paquito, Lapulapu to Nicodemus, Mabini to Torres Bugallon. The Supremo was honored by renaming Malecon as A. Bonifacio. Slowly streets named after heroes, values and significant events were renamed in honor of petty, forgettable characters.

Much can be inferred from the obscure information in a dated encyclopedia, the data used as a source for historical research and reflection on what we were, what we are and probably what we can or fail to be. But then poor Cornejo is used as a doorstopper.

Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu