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: Independence Day 1898 (Part 2)

JUNE 12, 1898

The Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino or the Act of the Declaration of Philippine Independence was solemnly read by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista who also wrote it. The declaration was signed by 97 Filipinos and a retired American artillery officer, Col. L.M. Johnson. The proclamation was never recognized by Spain and the United States and on December 10, 1898, the Philippines was ceded by Spain to America for US $20 million. 

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

Today in Philippine History: Independence Day 1898 (Part 1)

JUNE 12, 1898

After the successive victories of the Philippine Revolutionary Army against the Spanish troops in different battlefields, President Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule in his ancestral home in Cavite El Viejo now Kawit, Cavite at around 4:00 and 5:00 in the afternoon. Before a huge crowd, the Act of the Declaration of Philippine  Independence was read, the Philippine Flag was unfurled and the National March was played.

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

Today in Philippine History: Julian Felipe Composes Marcha Nacional Magdalo

JUNE 11, 1898
Maestro Julian Felipe presented his draft composition Marcha Nacional Magdalo to Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo and was asked to play it on the piano in the presence of other revolutionary leaders for the following day’s Declaration of Philippine Independence event. After a short consultation and discussion with his generals, Aguinaldo agreed to adopt it as the Marcha Nacional Filipina. It was on June 5, 1898 when Felipe gave a letter of introduction to Aguinaldo that came from Gen. Mariano Trias recommending him to compose the independence march.

Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/

MagTV Na! Cebu Features Stamps Again and Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort Exhibit

ABS-CBN Cebu’s MagTV Na! featured my stamp collections in their June 8, 2014 KOLEKSYON! episode. The taping was at Cuerpo de Guardia, Fort San Pedro, the venue of my ongoing stamps and photo exhibit for Cebu Stamp Club titled Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History @ the Fort). 

Many thanks ABS-CBN Cebu and MagTV Na! for including me again for the third time (twice with my stamps and once with my son Jerald Kervin for a Back to School segment).

Thanks too Direk Gilbert Gamolo, kamags Blinky, kamags Phoebe, kamags Jonathan, kamags Borgie, kamags Bangs, kamags Charlie and the crew, Cebu Stamp Club, Fort San Pedro’s Erwin de la Cerna and his staff, my wife Julie with Jerald Kervin and Mark Yapching.

Today in Philippine History: Americans Victorious in Battle of Las Pinas and Paranaque

JUNE 10, 1899

Brig. Gen. Loyd Wheaton and Col. Samuel Ovenshine led provisionary brigades and took separate routes and met south of Manila. This reconnaissance-in-force under Maj. Gen. Henry Lawton was aimed to clear the countryside between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay after Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo’s Philippine Revolutionary Army retreated to the hills of Luzon. The heat-stroked American forces fought the Filipinos while Admiral George Dewey’s fleet in Manila Bay shelled the towns of Las Pinas and Paranaque that led to the defeat of the revolutionaries.

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

Today in Philippine History: Senate Convenes After World War II

JUNE 9, 1945

The Senate of the Philippines convened for the first time after the end of World War II and Manuel Roxas sat as senate president (July 9, 1945 - May 25, 1946) after being elected by his fellow legislators. In 1940, the 1935 Constitution was amended that adopted for the creation of a bicameral Congress of the Philippines consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Because of the war, elected legislators in 1941 were not able to serve their term. Immediately after the war, President Sergio Osmena Sr. restored the Commonwealth government.

Photo credit: http://pcdspo.gov.ph/