Pres. Quezon Boards A Submarine For Antique

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

FEBRUARY 20, 1942

President Manuel L. Quezon together with his family, Vice President Sergio Osmeña, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, General Basilio Valdez, Manuel Nieto, and Fr. Ortiz boarded the submarine Swordfish in Corregidor, on their way to San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. 

The previous day, the evacuation of the civil government began after it became evident that Corregidor will soon be captured by the Japanese. 

Incidentally, it was also the birthday of First Lady Aurora Quezon and Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos. US General Douglas MacArthur advised President Quezon to leave for Australia. 

The Swordfish left Corregidor while Japanese forces bombarded the island fortress from Cavite. 

The group arrived at their destination on February 22, 1942 at 2:40 A.M. 

From Antique, Quezon’s party went to Iloilo City by land then left for Bacolod City on board the MV Princess of Negros. 

Before he left, President Quezon gave General MacArthur his ring and said: “When they find your body, I want them to know you fought for my country.” Two days later, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to leave for Australia.

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

Photo credit: pinterest

Pedro Abad Santos

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

JANUARY 31, 1940

Around 30,000 workers staged a huge parade in San Fernando, Pampanga to celebrate the 64th birthday of Pedro Abad Santos and to show support to President Manuel L. Quezon’s labor policies. 

Earlier, a reform program was formulated by the administration to address the social problems in the country. 

Quezon planned to launch it in San Fernando. Pedro’s group was asked to organize the farmers and workers for that purpose. 

Santos, who was popularly known as Don Perico introduced Quezon as a "Friend of the masses and of the poor” and told the audience to "plant in your hearts what he will say" but before Quezon’s speech, Don Perico laid out the peasants' grievances, accused the judges and fiscals of working for rich landowners, then turned to his brother Jose Abad Santos who was sitting beside Quezon and challenged him, as Secretary of Justice to clean up the courts. 

Jose Abad Santos would later become Supreme Court Chief Justice. 

Pedro Abad Santos (January 31, 1876 - January 15, 1945), was the eldest of the 10 children of wealthy couple Vicente Abad Santos and Toribia Basco. 

He completed his secondary education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Santo Tomas and topped the medical board examinations. 

He studied law all by himself and took the bar exams (this was allowed at the time ), which he topped in 1906. 

Santos was a major under General Maximino Hizon during the Philippine-American War. 

He was captured, charged and found guilty for his guerrilla activities and allied crimes but was later pardoned by US President Theodore Roosevelt. 

He founded the Partido Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PSP) in 1929. 

Luis Taruc, the founder of the guerrilla force Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon), was his protege and right hand man. 

Pedro Abad Santos died on January 15, 1945 at a guerrilla base in Minalin, Pampanga due to complications of his stomach ailment.

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

Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

Pres. Quezon Transfers The Seat Of Government To Corregidor

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 24, 1941

President Manuel L. Quezon decided to transfer the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government to the island of Corregidor. 

Before they left Malacañan Palace, Jose Abad Santos took his oath as Chief Justice with President Quezon administering the oath. 

Those present included General Basilio Valdez, Army Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense; Jorge B. Vargas, Executive Secretary; and Jose P. Laurel. 

As government officials waited on a ship in Manila Bay to take them to Corregidor, Japanese planes conducted air raids in Manila leaving people dead or wounded. 

From December 12 to 14, Quezon met with his cabinet composed of Jorge Vargas, Jose Laurel, Jose Yulo, Quintin Paredes, Elpidio Quirino, Benigno Aquino Sr. and others. 

They discussed on how to cushion the impact of the Japanese invasion and the total war that would affect the Filipinos. 

On December 30, 1941 in Corregidor, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos administered the oath of office to President Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmeña for their second term. 

On February 20, 1942, Quezon, his family and staff left Corregidor onboard an American submarine. 

Jorge Vargas was appointed mayor of Greater Manila Area and administered the “open city” when the Imperial Japanese forces arrived. 

Jose P. Laurel became President of the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic. 

CJ Jose Abad Santos, who refused to leave with Quezon was assigned as government caretaker for areas unoccupied by the Japanese. He was captured by the Japanese in Cebu but he refused to swear allegiance to the Japanese flag. He was taken to Malabang, Lanao del Sur and was shot to death.

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

Photo credit: quezon.ph

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)

All rights reserved

Photo credit: tumblr malacanang.gov.ph

The Boy Scouts Of The Philippines

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

OCTOBER 31, 1936

Commonwealth Act No. 111 signed by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon gave birth to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), the national Scout organization of the Philippines. 

The BSP was founded by Joseph Stevenot, Jorge B. Vargas, Carlos P. Romulo, Gen. Vicente Lim, Judge Manuel Camus, Arsenio Luz and Gabriel Daza. 

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines is the country’s largest and oldest youth organization. 

The BSP’s predecessor, the Philippine Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was established in 1923. 

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

Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/scoutsphilippines

Today in Philippine History: Rodolfo S. Cornejo

MAY 15, 1909

Dr. Rodolfo S. Cornejo (May 15, 1909 - August 11, 1991),  a distinguished composer-pianist-conductor and lecturer was born in Singalong, Manila. At 8, he was a church organist and composed “Glissando Waltz” when he was 10. His “Salute”, a military march dedicated to Gov. Gen. Leonard Wood got published and he was only 13. He became Pres. Manuel L. Quezon’s researcher and composer during the war. He also wrote scores for 27 films in Sampaguita Pictures. Cornejo wrote 300 compositions and his musical prowess gained for him many awards.

Photo credit: http://www.philippine-trivia.com/