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: The Philippine Red Cross (PRC)

APRIL 15, 1947

 The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) was inaugurated in Malacanang after President Manuel A. Roxas signed Republic Act No. 95 with Aurora Aragon Quezon (February 19, 1888 – April 28, 1949) as the first Chairman. Dona Aurora was the wife of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon who established an independent Red Cross in 1934. That time, the Philippines was not granted recognition by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) because it was a U.S. territory and then a Commonwealth. At present, Richard Gordon sits as the PRC Chairman.

Today in Philippine History: Magellan's Gift to the Queen

APRIL 14, 1521

After Cebu’s Rajah Humabon and his wife were baptized, Ferdinand Magellan gave Queen Juana an image of the Child Jesus. This gift was well loved by the Cebuanos that they called HIM the “Sto. Nino of Cebu”. Antonio Pigafetta also gave the queen a statue of Our Lady. After being the first to be recovered years later, the Sto. Nino became the symbol of the Catholic Faith in the Philippines and is venerated by Filipinos today. The original image is found at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino and is under the care of the Augustinian Fathers.

Today in Philippine History: Magellan Plants Cross in Cebu

APRIL 14, 1521

Ferdinand Magellan (1480 - April 27, 1521) had a cross planted in Cebu and told Fr. Pedro de Valderama to bless it. Later, the priest baptized Cebu’s Rajah Humabon, his wife and 800 subjects composed of men, women and children. Humabon was named “Don Carlos” in honor of King Charles V of Spain while the queen was called “Dona Juana”, taken from the name of the Spanish queen. The Magellan’s Cross is very much around and is the landmark of Cebu.

Manny Pacquiao Faces Timothy Bradley Again

Here in the Philippines, everyone will be watching the rematch between the People's Champ Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.  

The last fight between the two was a controversial one wherein Pacquiao lost to Bradley. Let's see who is the better among the two this time. I just hope that this will be Manny's redemption after he knocks down Timothy.

UPDATE: After 12 rounds of dominating Bradley, Manny won the match by a unanimous decision by the judges. Congratulations Pacman for the victory.

Today in Philippine History: Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera

APRIL 13, 1857

Trinidad Hermenegildo Pardo de Tavera y Gorricho (April 13, 1857 – March 26, 1925) was born in Manila with Spanish and Portuguese ethnicity. A man of vast learning, he was a physician, historian, politician and a versatile writer next to his friend Jose Rizal. His sister Paz was the wife of Juan Luna. During the American period, he was a member of the Philippine Commission and founded the Federal Party. Prior to his death on March 25, 1925, he was the director of the Philippine Library and Museum and founded the Philippine Library Association.

Photo credit: http://bayanihannews.com.au/

Today of Philippine History: Cry of Paminitan

APRIL 12, 1895

Katipunan leader Andres Bonifacio (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897) along with Emilio Jacinto, Aurelio Tolentino, Guillermo Masangkay and other Katipuneros went to the mountains of San Mateo and Montalban. A Good Friday, they came across Paminitan cave in Montalban,  Distrito de Morong (Rodriguez, Rizal) and went inside to hold an initiation rite for new members. Bonifacio then wrote on the walls “Viva la Independencia Filipina” and this came to be known as the Cry of Paminitan or The First Cry for Freedom.