Brig. Gen. Jose Candido Alejandrino

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 1, 1870

Brigadier General Jose Candido Alejandrino y Magdangal (December 1, 1870 - June 1, 1951), an Ilustrado and a general during the Philippine Revolution, the Philippine-American War, and a senator, was born on December 1, 1870 in Binondo, Manila. 

He studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila and finished his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Santo Tomas. 

He continued his studies in Spain and earned a Chemical Engineering degree at the University of Ghent in Belgium. He became a member of the Propaganda Movement and was part of the editorial staff of La Solidaridad. 

Alejandrino was instrumental in bringing Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo to the printing press. 

He was active in acquiring weapons for the revolutionaries and was with Emilio Aguinaldo, who accepted to go on exile in Hong Kong in accordance with the Pact of Biak-na-Bato signed on December 14, 1897. 

Alejandrino served in the Malolos Congress in 1898 and was one of the committee members who drafted the Malolos Constitution. Aguinaldo offered him a post as Director of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce and was later designated as Chief of Engineers of the army. 

He directed the building of trenches in Bulacan and Caloocan. Together with General Antonio Luna, they suggested to Aguinaldo to build a defensive line to delay the advancement of American troops in capturing the railway but was not implemented because of Luna’s death in the hands of Aguinaldo’s men. 

After Aguinaldo’s capture and surrender in 1901, Alejandrino married Adela, the daughter of Telesforo Chiudan. Governor-General Leonard Wood made him a senator of the Twelfth Senatorial District of the Philippines.

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

Photo credit: en wikipedia com

Andres Bonifacio

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 30, 1863

Andres Bonifacio (November 30, 1863 - May 10, 1897) was born in Tondo, Manila. 

His father, Santiago Bonifacio was a tailor, a boatman and a politician who operated a river-ferry. His mother Catalina de Castro was a worker at a cigarette-rolling factory. The couple have five children namely: Andres, Ciriaco, Procopio, Espiridiona, Troadio, and Maxima. Catalina died in 1888 because of tuberculosis and a year later, Santiago passed away. 

With his parents gone, Andres was forced to give up his studies and started working full-time to support his younger siblings. 

Andres married Monica who lived in Bacoor, but got ill and died because of leprosy. In 1892, he met Gregoria de Jesus and the two got married at the Binondo Church. 

Andres worked hard and educated himself. Although unable to finish high school, he could talk fluent Spanish and a little English. He was a wide reader and read books about the French Revolution, law, politics and religion. 

He joined Jose Rizal’s La Liga Filipina and soon founded the "Katastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” (KKK or Katipunan) on July 7, 1892, a secret society that aims to separate the Philippines from Spain. 

Bonifacio was also called the “Supremo” and used the Katipunan name MAYPAG-ASA and recruited many Filipinos. 

In 1896, the Philippine revolution began which was an armed struggle against Spain for freedom and independence. 

In 1897, he and his brother were killed but not in the hands of the Spaniards whom he fought but by his fellow Filipinos under General Emilio Aguinaldo.

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

Photo credit: malacanang.gov.ph

Act No. 2874

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 29, 1919

Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison (1913-21) approved the second Public Land Act (Act No. 2874) that hastened the disposition of public agricultural lands by introducing the system of land classification and increased the homestead area of 16 hectares to 24 hectares. 

The law provided that citizens of the Philippine Islands or of the United States, over 18 years of age or head of a family, who did not own 24 hectares of land, might enter a homestead not to exceed 24 hectares in area. 

Individuals can purchase up to 100 hectares of public land and up to 1024 hectares in the case of corporations provided that 61% of the capital stock of which, however, had to be owned by citizens of the Philippine Islands or the United States. 

Leases were limited to 1024 hectares for 25 years and renewable for another 25 years. 

The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources through the Director of Lands has the executive authority for the enforcement of the law.

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

Photo credit: digital.commons.nys.edu

Magellan Enters "The Sea of the South"

Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan with three ships under his command, entered "The Sea of the South" on November 28, 1520. 

He sailed the Atlantic Ocean earlier, through the dangerous straits below South America which is now known as the Straight of Magellan. 

This earned for him as the first European to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic. 

This was the first westward crossing from the Pacific. Magellan and his fleet arrived at the island of Guam on March 6, 1521.

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

Photo credit: wikipedia.com

The 23rd SEA Games

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

November 27, 2005

The Philippines for the third time hosted the 23rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) from November 27 - December 5, 2005 in Manila. 

40 sports in 443 events with 7,000 athletes and officials from 11 countries came to compete. 

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo opened and closed the games at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park. 

The motto was “One Heritage, One Southeast Asia” while the logo, called the "Ethnic-Masked Athlete" depicts an athlete wearing a gold festival mask and a headgear. 

The mascot featured a Philippine eagle named “Gilas” designed by Filipino sportswriter and columnist Danny Simon. 

The official hymn “We’re All Just One” was composed by singer-composer Jose Mari Chan and lyricist Rene Nieva. Julie Abueva sang the hymn and was accompanied by the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. 

The Philippines ranked first in the final medal tally followed by Thailand and Vietnam.

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

Photo credit: wikipedia.com

Fr. Mariano Dacanay

 

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 26, 1862

Fr. Mariano Dacanay, an Ilokano priest was born in Bacnotan, La Union. 

He was responsible for giving the title “Mi Ultimo Adios” (“My Last Farewell”), a poem by Jose Rizal written in Spanish on December 29, 1896. 

Fr. Dacanay was a noted translator of religious works and was jailed for his Masonic leanings and a supporter of the Katipunan. 

He published the poem in the first issue of “La Independencia” on September 28, 1898. 

“Mi Ultimo Adios”, Rizal’s 14 five-line stanza poem was written a day before he was executed by firing squad at the Luneta. 

It was unsigned, untitled and undated. Rizal placed the poem inside a small alcohol stove (cocinilla). 

When his mother Teodora together with his sisters visited him in prison, he told his sister Trinidad that there was something in the stove. 

A guard gave them the stove as they left. At home, they found a folded paper with the poem and made copies and sent them to Rizal’s friends in the country and abroad.

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

Photo credit: joserizal.com

Fernando Poe Jr. Stamps

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

Fernando Poe, Jr., a Filipino actor, cultural icon and the 2010 National Artist for Film was featured on stamps to highlight the November Stamp Collecting Month issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation. Series 1 was released on November 10 , 2010 while Series 2 came out on November 25, 2010. 

The stamps became a big boost to the campaign to promote letter writing in the age of electronic media, cellphone technology and social media. 

“Nothing can compare to the personal touch in writing letters, and the smell that goes with love letters," said veteran actress Susan Roces, Poe’s wife who herself continues her family tradition of collecting stamps. 

FPJ or Da King as he was called began his acting career in the 1950s where he played the hero defending the common people. 

These roles earned for him the respect and admiration of the masses where he won numerous awards and prizes both as an actor and film director. 

FPJ ran in the 2004 Presidential election but lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

Poe was formally conferred the National Artist for Cinema post humous award on August 16, 2012 by President Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III.

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

Photo credit: fpj-daking.blogspot.com