Today in Philippine History: The Philippine Bill of 1902

JULY 1, 1902

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the Philippine Bill of 1902 or the Cooper Act sponsored by Congressman Henry Allen Cooper. The bill proposed the creation and the administration of a civil government in the Philippines and called for the ratification of all changes made in the Philippine government by the U.S. president; extension of the American Bill of Rights to the Filipinos except the trial by jury; creation of a bicameral legislative body with the Philippine Commission as the upper house and the Philippine Assembly as the lower house among others.

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

Today in Philippine History: Dr. Olivia Salamanca

JULY 1, 1889

Dr. Olivia Simeona Demetria Salamanca y Diaz (July 1, 1889 - July 13, 1913), the second woman in the Philippines to earn a medical degree was born in San Roque, Cavite. The daughter of a wealthy couple, Col. Jose Salamanca of the Philippine Revolutionary Army who was a pharmacist and a signatory of the Malolos Constitution and Cresencia Diaz, Dr. Salamanca became the Secretary of the Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society in 1910. Her work with TB patients also made her a victim that led to her death on July 13, 1913. 

Photo credit: http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/ and http://nhcphistoricsites.blogspot.com/

Today in Philippine History: Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day

JUNE 30, 1899

Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree commending the last Spanish soldiers involved in the Siege of Baler Church for almost a year for their loyalty and gallantry. They are to be treated not as enemies or prisoners of war but as friends and were given the permission to return to Spain. Based from that event, the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day (Ora de la Amistad Hispano-Filipina) is now celebrated each year as declared under Republic Act No. 9187 to commemorate the cultural and historical ties, friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Spain.

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

Today in Philippine History: Tomas Mateo Claudio

JUNE 29, 1918

Tomas Mateo Claudio (May 7, 1892 - June 29, 1918), the first Filipino to die overseas in an international conflict was born in Morong, Rizal. The Philippine Assembly formed the Philippine National Guard to provide support to war-weary allied soldiers in World War I through the U.S. Expeditionary Force. Claudio enlisted in the U.S. Army’s 41st Infantry Division under Gen. John Pershing. Private Claudio took part in crucial battles in the Marne Offensive against the Germans. He was killed in action at the Battle of Château-Thierry, France on June 29, 1918.

Photo credit: http://globalbalita.com/

It's Now 150 Posts for Today in Philippine History!

Coming up daily with "Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition) has taught me a lot of things about our nation's past. 

It's officially 150 posts and it's still a long way for the 400th but I enjoy sharing each day's article unmindful of the long research, stamp scans, writing, layout and editing. This is my humble tribute to Selyo ug Kasaysayan (Stamps and History).

Today in Philippine History: Gen. MacArthur Announces End of Operations in Luzon

JUNE 28, 1945

Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced the end of operations in Luzon. The operations began on January 9, 1945 with the American landings called Operation Mike 1 in Lingayen Gulf. Japanese Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the commander of Luzon did not oppose the landings. Even after the announcement, Filipino units together with the US 8th Army troops continued mopping up operations against Japanese resistance forces. The majority of these resistance troops were in Mindanao. Finally on July 5, MacArthur announced the complete liberation of the Philippines.

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

Today in Philippine History: Fr. Jose Burgos Publishes the "Manifesto"

JUNE 27, 1864

The Manifesto que ala Noble Nacion Espanola Dirigen los Leales Filipinos (Manifesto Addressed to the Noble Spanish Nation by Loyal Filipinos) was published in Spain and written by an anonymous author. Historians recognized the author as Fr. Jose Apolonio Burgos based on its content and style. The "Manifesto" called for clerical equity and denounced Spanish prejudices and discrimination towards the Filipinos. Fr. Burgos along with Fr. Mariano Gomez and Fr. Jacinto Zamora were arrested and put to death by Spanish authorities in 1872.

Photo credit: http://ilocanopride.blogspot.com/