Today in Philippine History: Gen. Gregorio del Pilar Heads Peace Panel

MAY 22, 1899

President Emilio Aguinaldo created a commission to negotiate an armistice with the Americans after the Philippine Army suffered several losses in different battlefields and the unrelenting offensives of the U.S. forces. He appointed Gen. Gregorio del Pilar to head the panel that conferred with the Shurman Commission headed by Jacob Shurman from May 22 to 23. The talks however failed with the U.S. insistence that American sovereignty was non-negotiable. Eventually, the Philippine-American War ended in 1902 with Filipino leaders embracing America.

Photo credit: http://tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph/ and http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/ 

Today in Philippine History: Julio Nakpil

MAY 22, 1867

Julio Nakpil (22 May 1867 – 2 November 1960) was born in Quiapo, Manila. A composer and a general during the Philippine Revolution, he commanded the revolutionary forces in the north under Andres Bonifacio. Nakpil composed songs that were inspired by the revolution and one of his compositions became a candidate to become the Philippine National Anthem but was rejected by Emilio Aguinaldo in favor of Julian Felipe’s Lupang Hinirang. After Bonifacio’s death, he married the Supremo’s wife Gregoria de Jesus. Famous architect Juan Nakpil was their son.

Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/ and http://jesusabernardo.blogspot.com/

Today in Philippine History: Santiago Fonacier, Obispo Maximo II

MAY 21, 1885

Santiago Fonacier (May 21, 1885 – December 8, 1977), a clergyman, journalist and legislator was born in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. A priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, he founded and edited Spanish periodicals such as La Lucha and translated Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo into Ilocano. Fonacier was a reporter for La Democracia and El Grito del Pueblo. An assemblyman (1912) and senator (1919), Bishop Fonacier succeeded Gregorio  Aglipay in the Aglipayan Church and became Obispo Máximo II (Second Supreme Bishop). 

Photo credit: http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/18797-bookmarking-rizal-a-dead-tree-hero-in-a-digital-world 

Today in Philippine History: The Revolutionary Navy

MAY 20, 1898

The Revolutionary Navy started on this day when the Filipino flag was hoisted on the ship Magdalo. U.S. Commodore George Dewey turned over Admiral Patricio Montojos’ Reina Cristina’s small pinnace which the navy renamed Magdalo. President Emilio Aguinaldo formed the Revolutionary Navy during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution. It operated with eight steam launches captured from the Spaniards while wealthy Filipino patriots donated bigger ships. The navy’s flagship, Filipinas was purchased in China and naval stations were built.

Photo credit: http://www.navy.mil.ph/history.php

Today in Philippine History: Legazpi Claims Maynilad (Manila)

MAY 19, 1571

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (c. 1502 – August 20, 1572) took possession of Maynilad in the name of King Philip II of Spain. Also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo, Legazpi left Panay in the middle of April with a force consisting of 27 vessels, 280 Spaniards and 600 Visayan allies. Rajah Lakandula, the king of Tondo knowing that it is futile to resist the Spanish forces decided to welcome Legazpi and convinced his nephew Rajah Sulayman, the king of Maynilad to make peace with the Spanish Conquistador.     

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

Today in Philippine History: Lili Marlene Crashes with Col. Edwin Andrews in Lanao

MAY 18, 1947

Col. Edwin Andrews, the head of the Philippine Army Air Force (now the Philippine Air Force) along with high ranking government officials boarded a Douglas C-47 transport plane called Lili Marlene. The aircraft flew over Mt. Makaturing in Lanao del Sur but crashed killing everyone. The Lili Marlene arrived in Manila a day after the granting of Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 together with other aircraft and military equipment as part of the United States Military Aid. These were intended to be used to suppress the guerrilla and communist movements.    

Photo credit: http://www.zamboanga.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/

                    

Feast Day of St. Joseph

It's the feast day of St. Joseph and people especially in Mabolo, Cebu City are celebrating it. Happy fiesta everyone!