Today in Philippine History: Battle of Zapote Bridge

JUNE 13, 1899

The Battle of Zapote Bridge was the second largest battle in the Philippine-American War next to the February 4, 1899 Battle of Manila. Gen. Henry Ware Lawton assisted by Generals Loyd Wheaton and Samuel Ovenshine led 3,000 troops to crush the Philippine Revolutionary Army in Cavite. They were repulsed several times by the 5,000-strong infantry force of Gen. Artemio  Ricarte and Gen. Mariano Noriel. Admiral George Dewey unleashed a hundred sailors armed with machineguns that forced the Filipinos to retreat after many in their ranks lay dead. 

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Today in Philippine History: Casimiro del Rosario

JUNE 13, 1896

Casimiro del Rosario (June 13, 1896 - September 15, 1982), the National Scientist for Physics, Astronomy and Meteorology was born in Bantayan, Cebu. He co-founded the Bartol Research Foundation in Philadelphia that pioneered researches in Physic and was the director of the Philippine Weather Bureau (now the PAGASA) for 11 years. Dr. del Rosario was known for his researches on ultraviolet light of different wavelengths, high voltage electrical discharges in a vacuum and a lot more that were published in prestigious international journals. 

Today in Philippine History: Independence Day 1898 (Part 4)

JUNE 12, 1898

Julian Felipe’s masterpiece, the Marcha Nacional Magdalo which Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo changed to Marcha Nacional Filipina was played by the marching band of San Francisco de Malabon whose members heard and practiced it a day before the proclamation of Philippine  Independence. The Marcha Nacional Filipina had melodic similarities with the Spanish National Anthem and Felipe admitted that he purposely did it “to preserve the memory of Spain.” On September 3, 1899, Jose Palma’s poem Filipinas became the lyrics of the national anthem.

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

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/