Today in History : February 15th

On this date in...

1872: The "GOMBURZA" Filipino priest-martyrs are tried by the colonial Spanish military tribunal at the Fort Santiago on charges of instigating the Cavite Mutiny; Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, who have advocated the secularization of the clergy in the Philippines, will be found guilty and sentenced to death.

1954: During World War II, Headquarters Squadron 11 participated in campaigns in the Solomon Islands, New Britain, Peleliu, Central Pacific, and Philippines Islands campaign. On February 15, 1954, Headquarters and Service Battalion 11 was redesignated Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 11 (H&MS-11).

1998: During the American occupation of the Philippines, Parañaque became one of the first municipalities in the Metro Manila region. It was converted into a chartered city.

Today in History : February 14th

On this date in...

1935: Upsilon Phi Sigma (YΦΣ, commonly known as UPS) is Founded at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. UPS is a National Inter-University and Collegiate Fraternity and Sorority with 164 active chapters. It is one of the oldest fraternities and sororities in the Philippines.

1939: Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon proclaimed his social justice program before a gathering of farmers in front of the Municipal Government building of San Fernando.

1946: PAL resumed operations after a five-year hiatus with service to 15 domestic points with five Douglas DC-3s and a payroll of 108 names. Philippine Airlines returned to its original home, the Nielson Airport in Makati. The airport, heavily damaged during the war, was refurbished and modernized by PAL at a hefty cost of over one million pesos, quickly becoming the official port of entry for air
passengers into the Philippines.

The airport was operated by Manila International Air Terminal, Inc., a wholly-owned PAL subsidiary.

1952: Filipino revolutionary leader from Albay, Simeon A. Ola, dies at a ripe old age of 86; Ola was a fervent revolutionary leader who persisted in fighting despite the imperialists' superior firepower and combat training--thus inspiring more patriots to join his army during the Filipino-American War for several years

1970: John Carlos G. De los Reyes, better known as JC De los Reyes was born. JC is a councilor in Olongapo City, Philippines and standard-bearer of the Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) in the 2010 Philippine presidential elections.

1986: Parties of the opposition, the UNIDO and LABAN, begin protest rallies against the election results as they are convinced that massive fraud has been committed. Corazon Aquino calls for a boycott of all establishments closely associated with the administration.

1998: President Fidel Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8526, converting the Municipality of Valenzuela under the administration of Mayor Bobbit L. Carlos into a highly urbanized city, making Valenzuela the 12th city in Metro Manila and the 83rd in the Philippines.

Today in History : February 13th

On this date in...

1565: López de Legazpi's troops arrived in the Philippines and landed in the shores of Cebu. After a brief struggle with hostile natives, they left the island in search of food, water, supplies and other resources.

1897: Patriotic Filipino journalist Isabelo de los Reyes, known for his stirring and pungent articles critical of the Spanish colonial friars, is jailed at the Bilibid Prison for supposed complicity in the Philippine Revolution that broke out in 1896; while in prison, he will write his Sensecional Memoria addressed to the Governor and wherein he points out that the friars are the ones responsible for sowing the seeds of discontent and revolution in the Philippines.

1917: Bagong Buhay Lodge was formally constituted and started to be referred as Lodge No. 17 under the unified Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands (fusion of the Filipino-dominated Grand Regional Lodge of the Philippines, and the American-dominated Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, and other small jurisdictions) and became under the direct jurisdiction of American Masons with Bro. Emilio Basa as the Worshipful Master, Bro. Emilio Espinosa, and Bro. Ceferino Lorenzana as the Senior and Junior Warden, respectively.

1953: Enrico de Jesus Puno, better known as Rico J. Puno, was born. Rico Puno is a popular Filipino pop singing artist who is credited as a pioneer-promoter of original Filipino music. He started the trend of incorporating Tagalog lyrics in his rendition of the American song The Way We Were and other foreign songs. Also known as Rico J. and as The Total Entertainer, Puno is a singer who regularly infused his on-stage performance with comedy and jokes.

Today in History : February 12th

On this date in...

1901: Apolinario Mabini, Gen. Artemio Ricarte and other defiant revolutionary leaders who have been deported from the Philippines begin their exile in Guam; refusing to swear fealty to imperialist America, they form part of the handful of proud survivors of the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War who stand out against the many who have given up the cause of independence for their native country.

1903: José Palma, a poet and soldier, died in Manila. He was born in Tondo, Manila, on June 3, 1876. He was the younger brother of Dr. Rafael Palma. Palma was also a staff member of La Independencia. He wrote Filipinas, a patriotic poem in Spanish, which became the lyrics of the Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine national anthem.

1998: With the approval of Republic Act No. 8491, the eagle and lion on the lower half of the shield were not specified, and therefore removed. However, the modified arms are not in wide use, pending the ratification of the law by a national referendum called for that purpose, as mandated by the Philippine Constitution.

2006: Your Song, a weekly musical anthology program of ABS-CBN, began its airing. It is broadcast Sundays afternoon. The plot of each episode is inspired by a hit song performed by a local artist. The song title is used as the episode title, while the song itself is used throughout the episode as background music. A new cast is featured in each episode.

Today in History : February 11th

On this date in...

1913: The Cadastral Law Act (Act 2259) was enacted for compulsory registration of land titles with private ownership. Under this Act, registration of titles was judicial in nature. The Court of Land Registration exercised jurisdiction over all applicants for the registration of titles to land or building in the Philippines, with the power to hear and determine all questions arising upon such applications.

1987: The new constitution was proclaimed ratified and took effect. On that same day, Aquino, the other government officials, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines pledged allegiance to the Constitution. It provides for a republican form of government and a bicameral legislature composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate.

Today in History : February 10th

On this date in...

1763: The Seven Years War was ended by the Peace of Paris. At the time of signing the treaty, the signatories were not aware that the Philippines had been taken by the British and was being administered as a British colony. Consequently no specific provision was made for the Philippines. Instead they fell under the general provision that all other lands not otherwise provided for be returned to the Spanish Crown.

1945: Manuel C. Colayco, Filipino "liberation hero" dies after a hand grenade explodes in front of the University of Santo Tomas' main gate where he was pointing out to his fellow guerrilla soldiers the strategic spots and important buildings in the campus; Colayco's group was leading the rescue operations to free Filipino and Americans being held captive by the Japanese in UST during World War II.

Today in History : February 9th

On this date in...

1909: Gaudencio Antonino was born in Jaen, Nueva Ecija. After obtaining his elementary and secondary education, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines and earned his degree in civil engineering. At the board examinations, he emerged 7th place. Gaudencio Antonino was a senator of the Philippine Senate in 1961.

1978: Mark Muñoz was born in Yokosuka, Japan. Mark is a Filipino-American mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

1987: The peace talks for Muslim autonomy continue in Manila. Surigao del Norte Governor Wencelito Andanar is the chief government representative. Three rebel groups are invited, namely: the MNLF, MNLF-reformists, and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). The MNLF is represented by Mujalab Hashim, the MNLF-reformists send Napic Bides and Macabanton Abbas as their representatives. The MILF, however, does not participate, as it demands that for its representation in the peace talks, it must be invited through the Organization of Islamic Conference or through the Muslim League. It is agreed at this meeting that the government and MNLF groups will submit their respective proposals for full autonomy for Mindanao.