Today in History : January 22nd

On this date in...

1878: Britain leashes North Borneo from the Sultan of Sulu in the Philippines for $5,000 a year; the deal is part of the British government's bid to acquire greater control of the island and to protect and assist the North Borneo Chartered Company tasked to administer the internal affairs of the protectorate island.

1899: Tomas P. Arejola was appointed to the Malolos Congress, representing his home province of Ambos Camarines, but he remained in Spain and was not able to participate in its sessions. Somehow, however, his name appeared as one of the signatories to the Malolos Constitution, which was approved by the Congress on this day.

2006: ABS-CBN's broadcast of Solar Sports' "Hataw Pacquiao, Laban ng Bayan" became the 3rd most watched TV event in Philippine history[18] as AGB Nielsen Media Research showed that 2.073 million households (5.261 million individuals) watched the Pacquiao-Morales rematch compared to "Rosalinda"'s 1.486 million households (3.787 million individuals) of its July 13, 2000 episode

Today in History : January 21st

On this date in...

1893: Fernando Mamuri Maramág was born in Ilagan, Isabela. He was educated in the Philippine Normal School, and then transferred to the University of the Philippines. He worked as teacher at the Instituto de Manila, which later became the University of Manila. He was also writer and editor at several magazines, including Rising Philippines, Citizen, Philippine National Weekly, Philippines Herald, and The Tribune. He also served in the Publication Division of the Department of Justice, and then transferred to the office of the President of the Senate under Manuel L. Quezon. Si Fernando Maramag ay isa sa mga pinakamagagaling na manunulat na Pilipino. Nakilala siya sa larangan ng panulaan at pamamahayag. Naging editor siya ng The Manila Tribune.

1898: The Malolos Constitution was promulgated. Two days later, the Philippine republic was inaugurated with Emilio Aguinaldo as president.

1899: The Malolos Constitution is declared in effect by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the fledgling Philippine Republic; in less than a month, the Philippine-American War will be started by the US forces.

1987: Jay-R Siaboc (Eduardo Siaboc Jr. in real life) was born, he is a Filipino singer actor who hailed from Toledo City, Cebu. He was first recognized as runner-up to grand star dreamer Yeng Constantino in the very first season of ABS-CBN’s Philippine version of Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA).

Today in History : January 20th

On this date in...

1942: During World War II, Japan's Congress grants the Philippines the "honor of independence" on the condition that the Filipinos collaborate in the promotion of the Co-Prosperity Sphere.

1947: Erbito Salavaria was a retired Filipino professional boxer who was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines. He was known as the one of Asia’s best during the 70’s in the flyweight division.

1984: Toni Gonzaga was born in Taytay, Province of Rizal, Philippines. She is a Filipina commercial model, singer and an actress. She had been participating in various singing competitions since she was seven and finally entered the showbusiness at the age of thirteen when she became a contestant in a singing competition.

2001: the Supreme Court declared the presidency vacant. Arroyo was sworn in on the same day as the 14th president of the Philippines by Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. In her speech before the people at EDSA, Arroyo reiterated the following principles that her administration will pursue: being bold in national ambition to win the fight against poverty; improve the moral standards of government and society to provide a strong foundation for good governance; change the politics of personality and patronage to a politics of to a new politics of party programs and process of dialogue with the people; promote leadership by example and solid traits such as work ethic and a dignified lifestyle, matching action to rhetoric, and performing rather than grandstanding; pursue an economic philosophy of transparency and private enterprise and extend the opportunities to the rural countryside.

Today in History : January 19th

On this date in...

1886: Voluntary migration of natives to the Philippine island of Palawan is encouraged by a royal decree issued by the Spanish colonial king; incentives include exemptions from payments of tax and dues to public treasury, free passage, land gratis (three hectares), etc.

1982: UnionBank was formed as a government-owned commercial bank, the result of a merger between Union Savings and Mortgage Bank and Bancom Development Corporation, one of the leading development banks in the Philippines at the time and the parent of Union Savings and Mortgage.

2001: the Armed Forces of the Philippines, seeing the political upheaval throughout the country, decided to withdraw its support from the president(Joseph Estrada) and transfer its allegiance to the vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Today in History : January 18th

On this date in...

1899: The first issue of the Philippine revolutionary newspaper "Kalayaan" (Freedom) issue comes out; authored by Katipunan founder Andres Bonifacio & Emilio Jacinto, et al., the second issue will never reach circulation because the printing press will be discovered by the Spanish colonial authorities.

1995: Pope John Paul II offered mass to an estimated 4 to 5 million people at Luneta Park, Manila, Philippines, making it to the Guiness Book of World Records for the Biggest Papal Crowd.

Today in History : January 17th

On this date in...

1901: Philippine President on-the-guerrilla-run Emilio Aguinaldo issues a manifesto condemning the atrocities of imperialist Americans during the Philippine-American War.

1981: Marcos officially lifted martial law. However, he retained much of the government's power for arrest and detention. Corruption and nepotism as well as civil unrest contributed to a serious decline in economic growth and development under Marcos, whose health declined due to lupus.

Today in History : January 16th

On this date in...

1967: The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)was established. SEAFDEC is currently made up of 11 Member Countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam; and has the Council of Directors, composed of nominees from Member Countries, as policy-making body to provide directives and guidance on activities of the Center.

1981: The Lung Center of the Philippines which provides health care specifically on lung and pulmonary diseases, was established in Quezon City by President Ferdinand E. Marcos under Presidential Decree No. 1823.

1899: The members of the first Philippine Commission were appointed by President William McKinley. Also known as the Schurman Commission, it was composed of Jacob Schurman as chairman and George Dewey, Elwell Otis, Dean Worcester, and Charles Denby as members.

2007: Jainal Antel Sali, Jr., leader of Abu Sayyaf A.K.A. Abu Solaiman, Abu Solajman, Abu Sulaiman, Abu Sulayman, and Jainal Antal Sali, Jr., was killed during a gunfight with Armed Forces of the Philippines Airborne Special Forces soldiers in a village about 590 miles south of Manila. Local villagers and Sali's wife identified his body.