Today in Philippine History: MacArthur Announces the Liberation of the Philippines

Today in Philippine History:
JULY 5, 1945
Gen. Douglas MacArthur in a GHQ communiqué announced that “the Philippines had been liberated and all operations ended.” This was announced even though Japanese Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya was still held out in northern Luzon. The fighting went on as the Japanese continued to resist until Yamashita surrendered in Ifugao on the same day Gen. Yoshijiru Umezu formally surrendered for Japan on September 2, 1945 onboard the USS Missouri. MacArthur was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for defending the Philippines.

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Today in Philippine History: Manuel Sityar

Today in Philippine History:
JULY 5, 1896
Lt. Manuel Bernal Sityar, a Spanish mestizo and a Guardia Sibil (Civil Guard) stationed in Pasig wrote a confidential letter to the Governor General that certain individuals in Mandaluyong and San Juan del Monte were enlisting people for unknown reasons and making them sign a pledge in blood. On August 30, 1896, The Philippine revolution began as 800 Katipuneros headed by Andres Bonifacio attacked the polverin, a Spanish powder magazine in San Juan del Monte. In 1898, Sityar being half-Filipino defected to Emilio Aguinaldo’s army and was promoted colonel. 

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

Today in Philippine History: Crisanto delos Reyes

JULY 4, 1895
Crisanto Mendoza delos Reyes (October 25, 1828 - July 4, 1895), a businessman, mason and nationalist died when his health deteriorated after being heartbroken with the passing of his wife Dorotea in 1888 and daughter Juana in 1892. During the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, Delos Reyes together with Fathers Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora were charged by the Spanish authorities as the principal instigators and accomplices in the rebellion. The priests were executed while Delos Reyes and ten others were exiled to a penal colony in Spain.

Today in Philippine History: The Republic of the Philippines

July 4, 1946
The United States granted the Philippines her most cherished independence in ceremonies held at the temporary Independence Grandstand which was built in front of the Rizal Monument. The Philippine flag was raised while the American flag was lowered. The Republic of the Philippines was born with Manuel Roxas taking his oath as president. On this day starting in 1946, Filipinos celebrated independence day until President Diosdado Macapal changed it to June 12 through Proclamation No. 28 issued in 1962 affirming Aguinaldo's proclamation in Kawit, Cavite.

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Today in Philippine History: Vicente Orestes Romualdez

JULY 3, 1929
Vicente Orestes Romualdez y Lopez (July 3, 1885 - September 30, 1955), the father of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos was born in Tolosa, Leyte. He was “Hukom Pamayapa” in Tolosa and later served as provincial sheriff of Leyte. Romualdez studied law at Escuela de Derechos de Manila and passed the bar in 1916. He received the title “Doctorate of Civil Laws (Sobresaliente) at the University of Sto. Tomas in 1923. During the Japanese occupation, he joined the guerrilla movement. His brother Norberto was a Supreme Court Associate Justice.

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Today in Philippine History: La Liga Filipina

JULY 3, 1892

The La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League), a mutual aid, self-help society was founded by Dr. Jose Rizal in the house of Doroteo Ongjunco in Calle Ylaya, Tondo, Manila with Ambrosio  Salvador as President: Deodato Arellano, secretary: Bonifacio Arevalo, treasurer; and Agustin dela Rosa, fiscal. Also in the gathering were Pedro Serrano Laktaw (Panday Pira), Domingo Franco (Felipe Leal), Jose Ramos (Socorro), Moises Salvador (Araw), Faustino Villaruel (Ilaw), Numeriano Adriano (Ipil), Apolinario Mabini (Katabay) and Andres Bonifacio (May Pagasa). 

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Today in Philippine History: Imelda Romualdez Marcos

JULY 2, 1929

Imelda Romualdez Marcos (July 29, 1926), the former First Lady and widow of Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos was born in Manila to Remedios Trinidad and Vicente Romualdez, the brother of Supreme Court Associate Justice Norberto Romualdez. Known as the “Rose of Tacloban”, Imelda was a singer, model and Muse of Manila before marrying Marcos. Their union was called the conjugal dictatorship and ruled the country for 20 years before being ousted by the 1986 People Power Revolution. She is the incumbent Congresswoman of Ilocos Norte.

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Today in Philippine History: Bell Trade Act of 1946

JULY 2, 1946

The Bell Trade Act or the Philippine Trade Act of 1946 was approved by the Philippine Legislature during the term of Pres. Manuel Roxas. The Act sponsored by Missouri Congressman Charles Jasper Bell was passed by the U.S. Congress and governed the granting of Philippine independence. It controversially tied the Philippine economy to that of the United States. An $800 million post-war fund was offered if the Act was ratified. Pres. Sergio Osmeña called it a curtailment of Philippine sovereignty, virtual nullification of Philippine Independence.”

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Today in Philippine History: The Philippine Bill of 1902

JULY 1, 1902

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the Philippine Bill of 1902 or the Cooper Act sponsored by Congressman Henry Allen Cooper. The bill proposed the creation and the administration of a civil government in the Philippines and called for the ratification of all changes made in the Philippine government by the U.S. president; extension of the American Bill of Rights to the Filipinos except the trial by jury; creation of a bicameral legislative body with the Philippine Commission as the upper house and the Philippine Assembly as the lower house among others.

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Today in Philippine History: Dr. Olivia Salamanca

JULY 1, 1889

Dr. Olivia Simeona Demetria Salamanca y Diaz (July 1, 1889 - July 13, 1913), the second woman in the Philippines to earn a medical degree was born in San Roque, Cavite. The daughter of a wealthy couple, Col. Jose Salamanca of the Philippine Revolutionary Army who was a pharmacist and a signatory of the Malolos Constitution and Cresencia Diaz, Dr. Salamanca became the Secretary of the Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society in 1910. Her work with TB patients also made her a victim that led to her death on July 13, 1913. 

Photo credit: http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/ and http://nhcphistoricsites.blogspot.com/