Andres Bonifacio Issues The Acta De Tejeros

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

MARCH 23, 1897

Andres Bonifacio gathered his followers and came out with the "Acta de Tejeros", a document that rejected the results of the convention held in Tejeros a day earlier. 

They called the gathering as disorderly and its decision invalid and illegitimate and signified their opposition to the new government. 

It was signed by Bonifacio and leaders of the KKK Magdiwang council. 

They later gathered at Casa Hacienda de Naic and came up with another document called the Naic Military Agreement which called for a government that was independent of the one established in Tejeros headed by President Emilio Aguinaldo. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

The Start Of The Philippine-American War

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

FEBRUARY 4, 1899

Private William Walter Grayson of the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry fired on a group of Filipino troops killing Corporal Anastasio Felix while on patrol between Blockhouse 7 and Barrio Santol (now Sociego corner Silencio Strets), Sta. Mesa, Manila. 

Corporal Felix belong to the 4th Company, Morong Battalion under Captain Serapio Narvaez, with Colonel Luciano San Miguel as the battalion commander. 

Grayson’s unit, under Colonel John M. Stotsenburg had been encamped in Sta. Mesa since December 5, 1898. 

This incident was the start of the Battle of Manila, and was also the beginning of the Philippine-American War (1899-1902). 

19,000 American soldiers engaged Filipino troops numbering around 15,000 in the two-day battle. 

President Emilio Aguinaldo, who was in Malolos when the fighting began was informed that the Americans started the hostilities. 

To avoid an open conflict with the Americans, Aguinaldo tried to broker a ceasefire by sending an emissary to US General Elwell S. Otis, saying "the firing on our side the night before had been against my order." 

Otis, a veteran in the American Indian Wars rejected the ceasefire. 

Pres. Aguinaldo told his followers: “It is my duty to maintain the integrity of our national honor, and that of the army so unjustly attacked by those, who posing as our friends, attempt to dominate us in place of the Spaniards. Therefore, for the defense of the nation entrusted to me, I hereby order and command: Peace and friendly relations between the Philippine Republic and the American army of occupation are broken—and the latter will be treated as enemies with the limits prescribed by the laws of War.”

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: philippineamericanwar.com 

Julian Felipe

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

JANUARY 28, 1861

Julian Felipe (January 28, 1861 - October 2, 1944), a music teacher, band leader, and composer of the Philippine National Anthem was born in Cavite to parents Justo Felipe and Victoria Reyes. 

He started to play music under Leandro Costa at the age of 10. 

After the death of Cosca, Recollect Father Pedro Catalan taught him how to play the piano and later hired him to be the organist at the San Pedro Parish Church in Cavite. 

He taught music at the La Sagrada Familia, and came up with music pieces such as Aurorita, Danza, and Reina de Cavite (Queen of Cavite). 

He was a member of the Santa Cecilia Musical Society, and joined the Philippine Revolution in 1896. 

The Spanish authorities arrested and imprisoned him at Fort Santiago together with the “13 Martyrs of Cavite.” Felipe was released on June 2, 1897 after he was found innocent of the charges against him. 

On June 5, 1898 he handed a letter of introduction to Emilio Aguinaldo which came from Gen. Mariano Trias recommending him to compose the independence march. 

Aguinaldo asked him to make a musical score to be used for the June 12, 1898 Declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite. 

He presented his draft composition Marcha Nacional Magdalo to President Aguinaldo and was asked to play it on the piano in the presence of other revolutionary leaders on June 11, 1898. 

After a short consultation and discussion with his generals, Aguinaldo agreed to adopt it as the Marcha Nacional Filipina. 

Felipe became councilor of Cavite after the Philippine-American War. 

He died at his residence in Sampaloc, Manila on October 2, 1944.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Historia.Caviteña

Isabelo Artacho

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 19, 1859

Isabelo Artacho (November 19, 1859 - 1910), a lawyer and revolutionary leader, was born in Pangasinan. 

Artacho, together with Felix Ferrer wrote the 1897 Constitution of the Biak-na-Bato Republic which was copied from the Cuban Constitution. 

With the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, Emilio Aguinaldo and his men left for Hong Kong with a Mexican $400,000 check given by the Spanish authorities. 

Artacho and other insurgents in Biak-na-bato asked Gov. Gen. Fernando Primo de Rivera for the remaining 400,000. 200,000 was given which they divided.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: philippines-islands-lemuria blogspot.com

Gen. Candido Tirona

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 10, 1896

Gen. Candido Tirona y Mata (August 29, 1862 - November 10, 1896), the Secretary of War of the Magdalo Council and hero of the Battle of Binakayan was stabbed in the neck by a bayonet charge and died on the spot.

The Battle of Binakayan and Dalahican was fought on November 9-11, 1896 where Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco’s army of 20,000 troops was defeated by the 112,000-strong revolutionaries of the Magdiwang and Magdalo Councils of the Katipunan led by Emilio Aguinaldo, Santiago Alvarez, Candido Tirona, Pio del Pilar and Edilberto Evangelista.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: nhcphistoricsites.blogspot.com

The Battles Of Binakayan And Dalahican

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 9, 1896

The simultaneous Battle of Binakayan and the Battle of Dalahican was fought between the Spanish forces of Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco y Erenas and the revolutionary troops of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and Gen. Candido Tirona in Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit) and in Dalahican and Dagatan in Noveleta and in some parts in Imus and Bacoor. 

The battle began on November 9, 1896 until November 11, 1896. The Spanish army tasted their first defeat and retreated in disarray and demoralized. This was the first major victory of the Filipino revolutionaries. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org