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 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: Mariano Ponce

MARCH 23, 1863

Mariano Ponce (March 23, 1863 - May 23, 1918) was born in Baliuag, Bulacan. A doctor and a writer, he joined Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, and other Filipino patriots in the crusade for reforms. He co-founded La Solidaridad with Lopez Jaena in Barcelona on February 12, 1889. He wrote using the pseudonyms Naning, Kalipulako and Tigbalang. He was also one of the founders of Asociacion Hispano-Filipino.

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: The Tejeros Assembly

MARCH 22, 1897

As the Philippine Revolution raged on, Andres Bonifacio’s Magdiwang and Emilio Aguinaldo’s Magdalo factions of the K.K.K. decided to hold a revolutionary assembly in Tejeros. A revolutionary government was established after an election. Aguinaldo became president; Mariano Trias, vice president: Artemio Ricarte, captain-general; Emiliano Riego de Dios, director of war and much to his dismay, Supremo Andres Bonifacio got the director of the interior post.

Today in Philippine History: Marcela Marcelo Dies in Battle

MARCH 21, 1897

A heroine of the Philippine Revolution, Marcela Marcelo (1869-1897) of Malibay is killed in the Battle of Pasong Santol in Imus, Cavite. Also known as Selang Bagsik and Henerala Sela, she was a woman of great courage. Feared by the Spaniards, she led her platoon to battle against the enemy with just a bolo in her hand. 

Photo credit: http://www.watawat.net/

Today in Philippine History: Gabriela Silang

MARCH 19, 1731

Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang (March 19, 1731 - September 29, 1763) was born in Santa, Ilocos Sur. After the 1763 assassination of her husband Diego who led an uprising against the Spanish regime, she continued the fight as “La Henerala”. She led the insurgents and won many victories against the Spaniards. Gabriela was captured and hanged in Vigan on September 23, 1763.

Photo credit: http://jowanabueser.com/2010/07/17/formidable-filipina/

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: MacArthur's Eight Army in Zamboanga

MARCH 10, 1945

U.S. Eight Army invades Zamboanga Peninsula. Gen. Douglas MacArthur reported: We have landed near Zamboanga on the southwestern-most tip of Mindanao. The bulk of the enemy garrison, caught off guard, has fled to the hills in disorder. We now control the entire length of the western shores of the Philippine Islands from the northwestern tip of Luzon to the.southwestern tip of Mindanao..

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

Today in Philippine History: The Katipunan Elevates Balangay Mahiganti's Status

MARCH 8, 1896

The Supreme Council of the Katipunan (KKK), a revolutionary society ruled that the Balangay Mahiganti, a KKK branch in Ermita, Manila be elevated to the status of Sangguniang Bayan. The Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) was founded by Andres Bonifacio along with other Filipino patriots on the night of July 7, 1892.

Today in Philippine History: The Declaration of Purpose

MARCH 7, 1919

The American-sponsored Philippine Legislature passed the Declaration of Purpose that shows the position of the Filipinos on the issue of the granting of independence by the United States of America. This Declaration was passed five years after the Filipino revolutionaries were completely neutralized and the end of the Philippine-American War (1899-1914).

Today in Philippine History: Fort Santiago Becomes A National Shrine

MARCH 6, 1951
The historic Fort Santiago was declared a National Shrine to remember the national heroes and martyrs who were imprisoned and killed there. During the Spanish era, the fort became the prison for Filipinos suspected to rebel against the Spanish Crown. Prominent among the Filipinos was Dr. Jose Rizal who was jailed inside the fort before his execution in 1896.

Today in Philippine History: Central Methodist Episcopal Church

March 5, 1899
The Central Methodist Episcopal Church was the first Protestant church in the Philippines founded during the American occupation. It was later renamed Central United Methodist Church and is located at T.M. Kalaw, Ermita, Manila. The church was a result of Filipino-American ties after the surrender of Manila in 1898.

Today in Philippine History: Rose Sevilla Alvero

MARCH 4, 1879

Born on this very day in Tondo, Manila, Rosa Sevilla Alvero was an educator, journalist and social worker. She fought for the rights of women to vote and co-founded the Liga de Damas Filipinas (Federacion Catolica de Mujerez). She also founded Women’s Outlook, a national magazine for women. She was the first Dean of Women at the University of Santo Tomas.

EDSA 28: Kapitbisig Tungo sa Pagbangon

Today is the 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. We remember this day as the day we  regained freedom from the dictatorship of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Let the spirit of this peaceful revolution live on as we strive to make this nation free of corruption and poverty.

Watching Margo Frasco's Natividad at SM

It was an exciting evening as me and son Jerald Kervin went to SM Cinema 1 here in Cebu. We arrived before 7pm to support my niece Ansel Eve Baz Ancajas who plays the role of Fatima in Stage Left Productions' Natividad. 

The story of Natividad takes place in the household of the Natividad family where everyone regroups for their mother's birthday. The relationship of the family members is put to the test when the eldest son Miguel, a political rebel comes back home leading to the disgust of his father the governor of the town. Turmoil and anguish grips the family as the story progresses.  

It was all wows for me and the audience for the superb performances of the cast, the great set design, superb choice of music and nice costume design. 

Bravo and thumbs up to producer and director Margarita Domingo Frasco. The play was indeed worth our time and we are looking forward to seeing more of these presentations from Director Margo.