Today in Philippine History: Independence Day 1898 (Part 3)

JUNE 12, 1898

The sun and stars flag now known as the Philippine National Flag was unfurled before the jubilant crowd. It was designed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Marino Agoncillo with the assistance of her 7-year old daughter Lorenza and Jose Rizal’s niece Delfina Rizal Herboza de Natividad. Contrary to what everyone thought, Aguinaldo just unfurled the flag but did not wave it. It was Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Aguinaldo’s War Counselor who waved it in the central window and not in the balcony which did not exist during that time.

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

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: 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/