Today in Philippine History: Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day

JUNE 30, 1899

Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree commending the last Spanish soldiers involved in the Siege of Baler Church for almost a year for their loyalty and gallantry. They are to be treated not as enemies or prisoners of war but as friends and were given the permission to return to Spain. Based from that event, the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day (Ora de la Amistad Hispano-Filipina) is now celebrated each year as declared under Republic Act No. 9187 to commemorate the cultural and historical ties, friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Spain.

Photo credit: http://malacanang.gov.ph/

Today in Philippine History: Tomas Mateo Claudio

JUNE 29, 1918

Tomas Mateo Claudio (May 7, 1892 - June 29, 1918), the first Filipino to die overseas in an international conflict was born in Morong, Rizal. The Philippine Assembly formed the Philippine National Guard to provide support to war-weary allied soldiers in World War I through the U.S. Expeditionary Force. Claudio enlisted in the U.S. Army’s 41st Infantry Division under Gen. John Pershing. Private Claudio took part in crucial battles in the Marne Offensive against the Germans. He was killed in action at the Battle of Château-Thierry, France on June 29, 1918.

Photo credit: http://globalbalita.com/

It's Now 150 Posts for Today in Philippine History!

Coming up daily with "Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition) has taught me a lot of things about our nation's past. 

It's officially 150 posts and it's still a long way for the 400th but I enjoy sharing each day's article unmindful of the long research, stamp scans, writing, layout and editing. This is my humble tribute to Selyo ug Kasaysayan (Stamps and History).

Today in Philippine History: Gen. MacArthur Announces End of Operations in Luzon

JUNE 28, 1945

Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced the end of operations in Luzon. The operations began on January 9, 1945 with the American landings called Operation Mike 1 in Lingayen Gulf. Japanese Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the commander of Luzon did not oppose the landings. Even after the announcement, Filipino units together with the US 8th Army troops continued mopping up operations against Japanese resistance forces. The majority of these resistance troops were in Mindanao. Finally on July 5, MacArthur announced the complete liberation of the Philippines.

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

Today in Philippine History: Fr. Jose Burgos Publishes the "Manifesto"

JUNE 27, 1864

The Manifesto que ala Noble Nacion Espanola Dirigen los Leales Filipinos (Manifesto Addressed to the Noble Spanish Nation by Loyal Filipinos) was published in Spain and written by an anonymous author. Historians recognized the author as Fr. Jose Apolonio Burgos based on its content and style. The "Manifesto" called for clerical equity and denounced Spanish prejudices and discrimination towards the Filipinos. Fr. Burgos along with Fr. Mariano Gomez and Fr. Jacinto Zamora were arrested and put to death by Spanish authorities in 1872.

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

Today in Philippine History: Rizal Arrives from Hong Kong

JUNE 26, 1892

Jose Rizal arrived in the Philippines together with his sister Lucia on board the boat Don Juan from Hong Kong and stayed at room no. 22 of the Hotel de Oriente, a two-story building with 83 rooms. He attended a reunion in the house of Doroteo Ongjunco located at Calle Ylaya, Tondo district. Among those he met in the house were Filipinos who were later arrested and executed after the Katipunan was discovered by the Spanish authorities. A week later, Rizal met Filipino masons in the same house and founded the civic organization La Liga Filipina.

Photo credit: http://joserizal.info/

Today in Philippine History: Galicano Apacible

JUNE 25, 1864

Galicano Apacible (June 25, 1864 – March 2, 1949), a patriot and propagandist was born in Balayan, Batangas. He was a cousin of Jose Rizal and headed the La Solidaridad, an organization created in Spain in 1888. He co-founded the Nacionalista Party and formed the Hong Kong Junta. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo sent him to Tokyo as a special agent to secure arms and ammunitions for the revolutionaries. Apacible was a physician, governor, representative of the 1st district of Batangas and the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 

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

Today in Philippine History: Legazpi Establishes Manila as Capital

JUNE 24, 1571

On the feast day of St. John the Baptist, Spanish Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi made Manila the capital of the Philippines. He named the city Nuevo Reino de Castilla (New Kingdom of Castille). The city government was established the following day complete with a cabildo (city council) and a court. Years later, King Philip II of Spain through his Royal Decree of June 1, 1574 renamed Manila Insigne y Siempre Leal de Ciudad (Distinguished and Ever Loyal City) and conferred a coat-of-arms for the city through his Royal Decree of March 26, 1596. 

Photo credit: http://visitpinas.com/

Today in Philippine History: Aguinaldo Changes Dictatorial Government to Revolutionary

JUNE 23, 1898

Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree written by Apolinario Mabini that changed his dictatorial government established on May 24, 1898 to a revolutionary one. Aguinaldo assumed the post as president and created different departments. The decree also provided for the creation of Congress that was advisory and ministerial. The aim of the new government was to "struggle for the independence of the Philippines until all nations, including Spain, shall expressly recognize it, and to prepare the country so that the true republic may be established."  

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

Today in Philippine History: Jovito Salonga

JUNE 22, 1920

Jovito “Jovy” Salonga (June 22, 1920), known as “The Nation’s Fiscalizer” was born in Pasig, Rizal. He was a World War II hero, congressman, Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman and consistently topped three senatorial elections in the administrations of Presidents Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos and Cory Aquino. He became senate president before he retired. During the martial law years, he fought the Marcos dictatorship. Salonga is a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2007. 

Photo credit: http://www.rmaf.org.ph/

Today in Philippine History: Jaime Lachica Cardinal Sin

JUNE 21, 2005

Jaime Lachica Cardinal Sin (August 31, 1928 – June 21, 2005), the charismatic Archbishop of Manila died at the age of 76 due to renal failure. The government through Presidential Proclamation No. 863 gave him a state funeral and a period of national mourning with thousands attending his funeral. Cardinal Sin was instrumental in toppling Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ regime through People Power 1 in 1986 that installed Cory Aquino as president. Again in 2001, he intervened that led to the ouster of Pres. Joseph Estrada and made Gloria Arroyo president.

Photo credit: http://manilacathedral.org/

Today in Philippine History: Battle of the Philippine Sea

JUNE 20, 1944

The Battle of the Philippine Sea was history’s largest carrier to carrier battle between the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy. Admirals Raymond Spruance and Marc Mitscher’s force of 7 fleet carriers, 8 light fleet carriers, 7 battleships, 8 heavy cruiser, 13 light cruisers, 58 destroyers, 28 submarines and 956 carrier aircrafts defeated Admirals Jisaburo Ozawa and Kakuji Kakuta’s 5 fleet carriers, 4 light fleet carriers, 5 battleships, 13 heavy cruiser, 6 light cruisers, 27 destroyers, 24 submarines, 6 oilers and 750 carrier and land-based aircrafts.

Photo credit: http://www.angelfire.com/fm/odyssey/philippinesea.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/

Today in Philippine History: Jose P. Rizal

JUNE 19, 1861

José Protacio Rizal (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896), the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race was born in Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh of the nine children of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos. Rizal was a novelist, poet, journalist, ophthalmologist and a nationalist. His two books, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo  exposed the injustices of the civil and church officials that led to his arrest, trial and execution.

Today in Philippine History: The University of the Philippines

JUNE 18, 1908

The University of the Philippines, the national university was founded after the First Philippine Legislature passed Act No. 1870 also known as the “University Act” upon the recommendation of Secretary of Public Instruction W. Morgan Schuster. Act No. 1870 authorized the Governor General to establish the University of the Philippines in the “city of Manila, or at any point he may deem most convenient.” U.P. today provides the largest degree programs in the country and Senate Resolution No. 276 recognizes it as the “nation’s premiere university”.

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

Today in Philippine History: Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence Created

JUNE 18, 1943

The Japanese High Command gave an order to create a Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence with the aim of making a constitution. The task was given to the KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong PiIipinas), a political party created by the Philippine Executive Commission headed by Jorge Vargas. After the constitution was finished and ratified, an election was held for the members of the unicameral National Assembly. Benigno S. Aquino Sr. became the speaker. Jose P. Laurel was elected president of the 2nd Philippine Republic.

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

Today in Philippine History: Lazaro Francisco

JUNE 17, 1980

Lazaro Francisco (February 22, 1898 - June 17, 1980), the National Artist for Literature and the recipient of the Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Literature in 1970 passed away on this day. Born in Orani, Bataan, Francisco wrote short stories and plays. He also wrote novels that were serialized in Liwayway, the weekly Tagalog magazine. His nationalism showed in his novels that include: Singsing na Pangkasal, Bayang Nagpatiwakal, Sa Paanan ng Krus, Ilaw sa Hilaga, Binhi at Bunga, Cesar, Sugat ng Alaala, Ama, Maganda Pa Ang Daigdig, and Daluyong.

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

Today in Philippine History: Battle of San Fernando

JUNE 16, 1899

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo gathered his army of around 4,000 with the purpose of retaking the town of San Fernando in Pampanga. The Battle for San Fernando began when Aguinaldo’s revolutionary army attacked U.S. positions in the strategic town and used several pieces of artillery. The American troops under Gen. Arthur MacArthur repulsed the Filipinos who retreated. Earlier on May 5, 1899, the Americans captured San Fernando with the defeated Filipino troops  of Gen. Antonio Luna burning the church, several buildings and railway station before they left.

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

Today in Philippine History: Sabino Padilla

JUNE 15, 1986

Sabino Padilla (August 21, 1894 - June 15, 1986), a native of San Miguel, Manila and one of the pillars of the Supreme Court of the Philippines passed away on this day. He was a legal luminary and staunch defender of justice. He started his career as a special attorney of the Bureau of Justice in 1919 then judge of the Court of First Instance and appellate judge of the Court of Appeals, On June 25, 1946, Pres. Manuel Roxas made him Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and later became the Secretary of Justice. He was the brother of Sen. Ambrosio Padilla. 

Photo credit: http://www.doj.gov.ph/

Today in Philippine History: Battle of Bessang Pass

JUNE 14, 1945

Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, the last stronghold of the Japanese forces under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita fell after 20,000 Filipino guerrilla fighters of the United States Army Forces in the Philippines (USAFIP-NL) under the command of Col. Russell Volckmann showed extra-ordinary valor. The Battle of Bessang Pass was a victory for the 121st, 15th, 66th and the Provisional Infantry Regiments of the USAFIP-NIL. The battle took four months and ended on June 14 with the successful planting of a symbolic flag made of a dirty green face towel by the 121st.

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

Today in Philippine History: Battle of Zapote Bridge

JUNE 13, 1899

The Battle of Zapote Bridge was the second largest battle in the Philippine-American War next to the February 4, 1899 Battle of Manila. Gen. Henry Ware Lawton assisted by Generals Loyd Wheaton and Samuel Ovenshine led 3,000 troops to crush the Philippine Revolutionary Army in Cavite. They were repulsed several times by the 5,000-strong infantry force of Gen. Artemio  Ricarte and Gen. Mariano Noriel. Admiral George Dewey unleashed a hundred sailors armed with machineguns that forced the Filipinos to retreat after many in their ranks lay dead. 

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

Today in Philippine History: Casimiro del Rosario

JUNE 13, 1896

Casimiro del Rosario (June 13, 1896 - September 15, 1982), the National Scientist for Physics, Astronomy and Meteorology was born in Bantayan, Cebu. He co-founded the Bartol Research Foundation in Philadelphia that pioneered researches in Physic and was the director of the Philippine Weather Bureau (now the PAGASA) for 11 years. Dr. del Rosario was known for his researches on ultraviolet light of different wavelengths, high voltage electrical discharges in a vacuum and a lot more that were published in prestigious international journals. 

Today in Philippine History: Independence Day 1898 (Part 4)

JUNE 12, 1898

Julian Felipe’s masterpiece, the Marcha Nacional Magdalo which Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo changed to Marcha Nacional Filipina was played by the marching band of San Francisco de Malabon whose members heard and practiced it a day before the proclamation of Philippine  Independence. The Marcha Nacional Filipina had melodic similarities with the Spanish National Anthem and Felipe admitted that he purposely did it “to preserve the memory of Spain.” On September 3, 1899, Jose Palma’s poem Filipinas became the lyrics of the national anthem.

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