The Birth Of The Commonwealth Of The Philippines

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 15, 1935

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated in a ceremony held outside the Legislative Building in Manila.

Manuel L. Quezon took his oath of office as the 1st President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while William Francis “Frank” Murphy’s position as Governor-General was changed to High Commissioner.

Among those in attendance was Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The Tydings-McDuffie Act (Philippine Independence Act) allowed for the creation of the Commonwealth with a ten-year transition period to full independence on July 4.

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

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Photo credit: tumblr malacanang.gov.ph

Gen. MacArthur Reestablishes The Commonwealth Government

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

OCTOBER 23, 1944

Gen. Douglas MacArthur reestablished the Commonwealth of the Philippines in Tacloban, Leyte with Sergio Osmeña as president. 

Also, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in World War II began and lasted for four days. 

The battle consisted of four main separate engagements called the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, Battle of Surigao Straight, Battle of Cape Engaño, and the Battle of Samar. 

American and Australian forces with 800 ships and 1,500 planes crippled the Imperial Japanese Navy’s force consisting of 67 ships and 300 planes.   

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

Photo credit: wallpaperweb.org

Today in Philippine History: Quezon Wins Commonwealth Presidency

MAY 14, 1935

An election was held to fill the position of the newly created Office of the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Manuel L. Quezon, a Nacionalista won the seat and was inaugurated into office on November 15, 1935. The Commonwealth has a strong executive, a unicameral (later amended to bicameral) National Assembly, and a Supreme Court. A plebiscite was also held to ratify the Constitution after Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt approved it on March 23, 1935 as conforming with Public Act No. 127 earlier passed by the U.S. Congress.

Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/