Today in Philippine History: Roberto Regala

JUNE 7, 1897

Roberto Regala (June 7, 1897 - 1979) was born in Bacolor, Pampanga. He finished Bachelor of Arts and Law at the University of the Philippines and took up Doctorate in Civil Laws at Yale  University and Special Studies in Constitutional Law and International Law at the University of Chicago, Oxford University and Sorbonne, Paris. He was the Department of Interior Technical Assistant, Public Service Commission Secretary, Department of Justice Chief Legal and Ambassador. Pres. Diosdado Macapagal appointed him Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 

Today in Philippine History: President Joseph Ejercito Estrada

APRIL 19, 1937

Joseph Ejercito Estrada popularly known as Erap was born as Jose Marcelo Ejercito in Tondo, Manila. He is a movie actor/producer who became the mayor of San Juan, a senator and vice president to Pres. Fidel V. Ramos. In the 1998 elections, he won by a landslide and became the 13th President of the Philippines and the Third President of the Fifth Republic. Erap was ousted from power during People Power 2 in 1991 and was charged and sentenced for plunder. He was pardoned by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and is the incumbent mayor of the City of Manila.

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Estrada at
http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/joseph-ejercito-estrada.php

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

Today in Philippine History: Vice President Elpidio Quirino Becomes President

APRIL 17, 1948

Vice President Elpidio R. Quirino (November 16, 1890 - February 29, 1956) assumed the presidency after President Manuel A. Roxas died of a heart attack in Clark Field, Pampanga. In the 1949 elections, he ran for president under the Liberal Party and won. His six years in office was credited for postwar reconstruction and a booming economy as well as increased support and aid from the United States. However, his government was accused of widespread graft and corruption and failed to contain the Huks, a communist group led by Luis Taruc.

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Quirino at

http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/elpidio-quirino.php

Today in Philippine History: President Manuel A. Roxas Dies

APRIL 15, 1948

President Manuel A. Roxas (January 1, 1892 – April 15, 1948) died of a heart attack. Earlier, he gave a speech before the U.S. Thirteenth Air Force but was rushed to the residence of Major General E. L. Eubank in Clark Field, Pampanga after he felt dizzy. Roxas passed away that same night. He was the fifth President of the Philippines, the first president of the 3rd Philippine Republic and the last president of the Philippine Commonwealth. On April 8, 2001, Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed R.A. No. 9067 declaring April 15 as President Manuel A. Roxas Day.

Today in Philippine History: Battle of Sta. Cruz

APRIL 10, 1899

The Battle of Sta. Cruz was part of General Henry W. Lawton’s Laguna de Bay Campaign. General Elwell S. Otis, Commander of the US VII Corps ordered Lawton’s 2nd Division to head for Laguna Province and neutralize the Filipino revolutionaries’ stronghold in the town of Sta. Cruz commanded by Gen. Juan Cailles. Lawton led his 1,509 men in attacking the heavily guarded town. In this battle, 96 Filipino soldiers of General Emilio Aguinaldo died, 6 launches and 41 Filipinos were captured. The remaining revolutionaries withdrew to Pagsanjan.

Today in Philippine History: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

APRIL 5, 1947

The daughter of President Diosdado Macapagal, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was born in San Juan and spent her early years in Lubao, Pampanga. An economist by profession, she became Senator, Vice President and the 14th President of the Philippines. She served two terms, the first was the remaining term of deposed President Joseph Ejercito Estrada on January 20, 2001 to June 30, 2004. She won a second term until her defeat to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in 2010. She is Pampanga’s 2nd District Representative and is under hospital arrest.

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Arroyo at 

http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/gloria-macapagal-arroyo.php

Today in Philippine History: Aguinaldo Swears Allegiance to the United States

APRIL 1, 1901

President Emilio Aguinaldo swore allegiance to the United Sates and issued a proclamation addressed to the Filipino people and called his generals and soldiers to recognize the sovereignty of the US over the Philippines. This was defied by some generals, Katipuneros and Moro fighters in Mindanao thereby extending the Philippine-American War.  

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

Today in Philippine History: The Tydings-McDuffie Law

MARCH 24, 1934
The Tydings-McDuffie Law or the Philippine Independence Act was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Authored by U.S. Senator Millard Tydings (Democrat) of Maryland and Alabama Representative John McDuffie (Democrat), this U.S. federal law provided for the complete independence of the Philippine Islands. Earlier, Manuel L. Quezon headed a “Philippine Independence Mission” to Washington, D.C. to secure the act’s approval in Congress.

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Manuel L. Quezon at 
http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/manuel-quezon.php

Photo credits: popdc.wordpress.com and http://tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph/

Today in Philippine History: General Funston Captures Aguinaldo

MARCH 23, 1901

American General Frederick Funston successful captured President Emilio Aguinaldo in a house in Palanan, Isabela. His capture was a well-planned action that involved 78 Macabebe Scouts who were loyal to the Americans. They posed as the added reinforcements to augment Aguinaldo’s forces along with the five ex-Philippine Army officers Gregorio Cadhit, Cecilio Segismundo, Hilario Tal Placido, Dionisio Bato and Lazaro Segovia.

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Aguinaldo at http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/emilio-aguinaldo.php

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

Today in Philippine History: President Emilio F. Aguinaldo

MARCH 22, 1869

Emilio Famy Aguinaldo (March 22, 1869 - February 6, 1964) was born in Kawit, Cavite. He joined the Katipunan in 1894 and was known as Magdalo. Aguinaldo led the Filipino forces against the Spaniards during the Philippine Revolution (1896-98) and the Americans in the Philippine-American War (1899-1901). He was inaugurated as the 1st President of the Philippines on January 23, 1899 in Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan.

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Aguinaldo at http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/emilio-aguinaldo.php 

Today in Philippine History: President Fidel V. Ramos

MARCH 18, 1928

Born on this day in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Fidel V. Ramos is the 12th President of the Philippines. Popularly called FVR, he was a civil engineer and a soldier prior to taking his oath of office as president on June 30, 1992 before Chief Justice Andres Narvasa. He is credited for the international confidence and economic turnaround of the country during his six years in office.

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Ramos at 
http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/fidel-ramos.php

Today in Philippine History: President Ramon Magsaysay Dies

March 17, 1957
President Ramon Magsaysay’s term ends abruptly after his presidential plane crashes in Mt. Manunggal, Cebu and killing him instantly along with 24 other passengers. The 7th President of the Republic of the Philippines, 49-year old Magsaysay earned the title “Champion of the Masses” for his leadership and commitment for the Filipino people. 

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Magsaysay at http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/ramon-magsaysay.php

Today in Philippine History: The RP-US Military Bases Agreement

MARCH 14, 1947
The RP-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA) is signed by President Manuel A. Roxas and United States Ambassador Paul V. McNutt in Malacanang Palace. The MBA grants the US to maintain military, naval and air bases in the country for the mutual defense of both countries.

The 4-cents stamp depicts President Manuel Roxas as he takes his oath of office before Chief Justice Manuel Moran as President of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946. Ambassador Paul McNutt is beside Roxas.

Today in Philippine History: President Jose P. Laurel

MARCH 9, 1891
President Jose Paciano Laurel y Garcia was born in Tanauan, Batangas. During World War II, he was installed as president of the Second Philippine Republic, a Japanese puppet government from 1943 to 1945. It was only during the term of President Diosdado Macapagal (1961-65) that Laurel was officially considered the legitimate 3rd President of the Philippines. 

Please visit my personal collection featuring the stamps of President Laurel at http://thephilippinepresidentscollection.yolasite.com/jose-laurel.php