Today in Philippine History: New Flag Flies in Victory in El Polvorin

MAY 31, 1898

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s troops made their second victory against Spanish forces in a place called El Polvorin in Binakayan, a barrio in Kawit, Cavite. The Filipino Revolutionary Army attacked a Spanish detachment and captured 250 soldiers. The Philippine flag was unfurled on top of Polvorin while another flag was flying over the steeple of Bacoor Church. Aguinaldo used the flags for the international forces in Manila Bay to witness the victory of the Filipinos and the end of 300 years of Spanish rule. The Filipinos won more victories and more Spanish prisoners.    

Photo credit: http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/

Preparing "Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort" for Gabii sa Kabilin 2014

Me and and my son Jerald Kervin got busy yesterday and today doing some last-minute retouches of my one-man stamp and photo exhibit for Cebu Stamp Club titled Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History @ the Fort) Stamp and Photo Exhibit at the Cuerpo de Guardia, Fort San Pedro in preparation for the May 30, 2014 Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage).

Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort opened last April 15, 2013 and will end on June 30, 2014.

Today in Philippine History: Marcela Agoncillo

MAY 30, 1946

Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo (June 24, 1860 – May 30, 1946), the Mother of the Philippine Flag died at the age of 86. Doña Marcela or Lola Celay as she was called during her old age greatly mourned the passing of her husband Don Felipe in 1941 that led to her failing health. She was a strong woman who survived the anguish caused by the burning of their house by the Japanese during the war that made her decide to take her children to Taal. Agoncillo’s greatest legacy was the hand-sewn “sun and stars flag” that embodied the aspirations of the Filipino people.   

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

Today in Philippine History: Cesar Bengzon

MAY 29, 1896

Cesar Bengzon (May 29, 1896 – September 3, 1992) was born in Camiling, Tarlac. He graduated Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws and placed second in the 1919 bar exams. Bengzon was a law clerk, Solicitor General, Undersecretary of Justice under Gov. Gen. Frank Murphy, Court of Appeals Judge, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of Justice under Pres. Elpidio Quirino and appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by Pres. Carlos P. Garcia. He later became the first Filipino to be in the International Court of Justice.

Photo credit: http://prabook.org/ 

Today in Philippine History: Gen. Elwell S. Otis Re-establishes the Audiencia Territorial

MAY 29, 1899

Major General Elwell S. Otis, the military governor of the Philippines re-established the Audiencia Territorial de Manila  (Regional Court of Manila), the highest court in the country next to the Supreme Court of Spain in Madrid prior to the U.S. occupation. This move was made after he consulted with Cayetano Arellano, a pro-American lawyer who held a high position in Emilio Aguinaldo’s cabinet. On August 13, 1898 after the fall of Manila, Gen. Wesley Merritt replaced the Audiencia Territorial with military commissions or court martials or provost courts.

Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/ and http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/

Today in Philippine History: The Battle of Alapan

MAY 28, 1898

The Battle of Alapan was the first military victory of General Emilio Aguinaldo after his arrival from exile. The 12,000 newly-armed Philippine Revolutionary Army engaged and defeated Gen. Leopoldo Garcia Pena’s troops in Alapan, Imus, Cavite. The Philippine flag sewn by Marcela Marino de Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad in Hong Kong was unfurled by Aguinaldo and hoisted for the first time at the Teatro Caviteño in front of Filipino troops, captured Spanish soldiers and American troops of Commodore George Dewey.

Photo credit: http://nhcphistoricsites.blogspot.com/

Today in Philippine History: Diego Silang

MAY 28, 1763

Diego Silang (December 16, 1730 – May 28, 1763), the revolutionary leader of Ilocos was assassinated by his friend Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec who were paid by the magistrate of the Royal Audencia, Simon de Anda. Silang led a revolt against Spain with the aim to establish an independent Ilocano nation and an end to Spanish rule. He conspired with the British after they invaded Manila and overthrew the Spanish government. The British installed him as governor of Ilocos. After his death, his wife Gabriela continued the Ilocos revolution.

Photo credit: http://www.visitilocandia.com/ and http://tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph/

Today in Philippine History: Jesus Robredo

MAY 27, 1958

Jesus “Jesse” Robredo (May 27, 1958 – August 18, 2012), was born in Naga, Camarines Sur. A mechanical engineer who became the mayor of Naga City in 1988, he was the youngest mayor in Philippine history and well-loved by his people. In 2010, Pres. Benigno Aquino III appointed him as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. On August 18, 2012, after leaving Cebu, the plane carrying him crashed off the shore of Masbate. He left behind his wife Maria Leonor Robredo and three children. Jesse was a recipient of the Quezon Service Cross.

Photo credit: http://davaocitybybattad.blogspot.com/

    

Today in Philippine History: Felipe Agoncillo

MAY 26, 1859

Felipe Agoncillo (May 26, 1859 – September 29, 1941), known as the first Filipino diplomat was born in Taal, Batangas and married to Marcela Agoncillo. As auxiliary fiscal in his hometown, he gained the ire of corrupt Spanish authorities and church officials who hated his righteous practice of the law and defense of the poor. During the Philippine Revolution, Gen. Emilio Auinaldo made him Minister Plenipotentiary to negotiate treaties with foreign governments. After the end of the Philippine-American War in 1902, he won a seat in the Philippine Assembly.

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

Today in Philippine History: The Girl Scouts of the Philippines

MAY 26, 1940

The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) was chartered under Philippine Commonwealth Act No. 542 with a mission to help girls and young women realize the ideals of womanhood and prepare themselves for their responsibilities in the home, and to the nation, and the world community. Pilar Hidalgo-Lim and Josefa Llanes Escoda spearheaded the organization of a scouting movement for girls and asked the help of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. In 1939, Escoda left for the U.S. and Great Britain to be trained and with the help of civic groups, the GSP was born. 

Photo credit: http://girlscouts.org.ph/

Today in Philippine History: Gen. Aguinaldo Establishes New HQ

MAY 25, 1898

A day after he announced his dictatorial government at the mansion of Maximo Inocencio at Calle Arsenal in Cavite Puerto, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo established the Teatro Caviteño as the Cuartel Heneral or General Headquarters. He also made the Hospital de San Juan de Dios as the hospital for Filipino revolutionaries and transferred his government to the Casa Gobierno Civil of the Spanish authorities at Cavite Puerto. Soon, arms shipments of 1,999 rifles, 200,000 rounds of ammunition and special armaments of war arrived at the dock of Cavite Arsenal.

Photo credit: http://www.philippinemasonry.org/

Senyor Santo Nino Postcard Collection

I saw this set yesterday and bought it as an addition to my collection. The Senyor Santo Nino Postcard Collection features watercolor images of the Fluvial Procession, Solemn Foot Procession, Pilgrim Center, Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino and a photo image of the Senyor Santo Nino de Cebu.

Me and Jerald Kervin with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

Jerald Kervin and I decided to take some snapshots with the great Spanish Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on our way to Fort San Pedro to check on my historical stamp and photo exhibit "Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort" in preparation for Gabii sa Kabilin 2014.

Today in Philippine History: Gen. Aguinaldo Establishes Dictatorial Government

MAY 24, 1898

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo established a dictatorial government upon the advice of Ambrosio Bautista his legal adviser. As dictator, he immediately reassumed command of all the Filipino forces. The dictatorship was necessary to continue the war against Spain and was temporary until a republic was in place. On May 19, Aguinaldo together with his staff arrived in Manila from their exile in Hong Kong aboard the USS McCulloch and learned that the truce signed between the revolutionaries and Spaniards in Biak-na-Bato have been violated in many areas. 

Photo credit: http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/

Today in Philippine History: Pilar Hidalgo-Lim

MAY 24, 1893

Pilar Hidalgo-Lim (May 24, 1893 – December 8, 1973) born in Boac, Marinduque, was an educator and civic leader who spearheaded the women’s suffrage movement. She was married to World War II hero Gen. Vicente Lim. She and Josefa LLanes-Escoda founded the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. The first woman to graduate cum laude in the University of Philippines, Hidalgo-Lim became president of the Centro Escolar University after the war. She sat as a member of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures, the Parole Board and the Integrity Board.

Photo credit: http://www.atingtahanan.com/

Today in Philippine History: Jesus Balmori

MAY 23, 1948

Jesus Balmori (January 10, 1887 – May 23, 1948) suffered from partial paralysis while traveling to Mexico then died of throat cancer. Shortly before his death, he finished writing his last poem, “A Cristo” (To Christ) which was dedicated to his wife. Balmori was the presidential technical assistant and member of the Philippine Historical Research Committee. Born in Ermita, Manila, he was a Spanish language journalist, playwright and poet. He held the post as the Philippine Ambassador of Goodwill to Spain, Mexico, South America and Japan.

Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort in Gabii sa Kabilin 2014

My one-man stamp and photo exhibit for Cebu Stamp Club titled "Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History at the Fort)" which opened last April 15, 2013 will be one of the highlights inside Fort San Pedro's Cuerpo de Guardia for this year's Gabii sa Kabilin 2014, Rise of the Queen on May 30, 2014.

"Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort" features Philippine history, heroes, presidents and events told through the wonderful world of stamps.

Click this link http://darthphilatelist.blogspot.com/2013/04/preparing-for-my-stamp-exhibit-at-fort.html to view the photos during our exhibit preparation and mounting last year.

Photos below were during the launching of "Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort" with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, selected guests and Cebu Stamp Club members.

More photos at Cebu Stamp Club's official Facebook page in this link https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.439290176160203.1073741828.297398937015995&type=3