Berke Khan was a grandson of Genghis Khan and a Mongol military commander and ruler of the Golden Horde (division of the Mongol Empire) who effectively consolidated the power of the Blue Horde and White Horde from 1257 to 1266. He succeeded his brother Batu Khan of the Blue Horde (West), and was responsible for the first official establishment of Islam in a khanate of the Mongol Empire.
Following the Sack of Baghdad by Hulagu Khan, his cousin and head of the Mongol Ilkhanate based in Persia, he allied with the Egyptian Mamluks against Hulagu. Berke also supported Ariq Böke against Kublai in the Toluid Civil War, but did not intervene militarily in the war because he was occupied in his own war against Hulagu and the Ilkhanate.
Many historians are in agreement that the intervention by Berke against Hulagu saved the remainder of the Holy Land, including Mecca and Jerusalem, from the same fate as Baghdad.
Made in the year 2019 for QSL - Fifa Lego Soccer minifigure stopmotion Qatar.
Featuring minifigure of BAGHDAD BOUNEDJAH
QSL LEGO STOP MOTION.
The QNB Stars League is the main tournament managed by the Qatar Stars
League (QSL). The league is held every season with the participation of
12 clubs, which compete over 22 weeks for the championship.
The QSL gives much importance to the preparations, infrastructure,
operations and follow-up of all elements and associated tasks to
successfully deliver the tournament, with a goal of improving the
championship’s technical levels. This is reflected positively on the
performance of our national teams and professional football in Qatar.
The tournament receives wide media coverage locally and internationally.
All matches are broadcast live through our Host Broadcaster AL KASS
sports channel, which allocates a wide variety of programs to cover all
aspects related to the QNB Stars League.
The league is also widely covered by print media, radio, websites, and various social media platforms.
Each of the participating clubs must meet the standards of
professionalism in order to obtain licenses from the QSL to be eligible
to compete in the tournament.
Since the inception of the professional league, Qatar football has
achieved a lot at the club and country levels in Asian and regional
competitions. And the QNB Stars League has gained a prominent place
among the professional leagues in Asia.
Today in Philippine History, July 21, 1871, Praxedes Julia Fernandez was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila
On July 21, 1871, Praxedes Julia Fernandez, the so-called
singing sweetheart of Manila, a performer who is considered Queen of
Philippine Drama, was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila. She was one of the
three children of Mariano Fernandez and Josefa Quizon.
(Praxedes Julia Fernandez on her wedding day)
Yeyeng as she was popularly known, was one of the founders of Fersuta
company, the name framed from the names of the principal lady players, Fernandez, Suzara,and Tagorona. Her group presented many benefit shows for the widows and orphans of the soldiers of the Spanish army.
On September 30, 1891, in grateful acknowledgement of Miss Fernandez's
performances for charity, the Spanish army honored her with a gala
affair. As a memento of the occasion, she was presented with a silver
crown.
Yeyeng ended her stage career with a farewell presentation of the opera La Viuda Alegre at the Manila Grand Opera House on November 14, 1911.
On August 18, 1892, she was married to Ricardo Penalos Pastor, a professor in the Escuela de Artes y Oficios in Iloilo. Their marriage was not blessed with any children.
Today in Philippine History, July 20, 1826, Margarita Roxas de Ayala was born in San Miguel, Manila
On July 20, 1826, Margarita Roxas de Ayala, one of the Philippines' greatest businesswomen, and founder of La Concordia College, was born in San Miguel, Manila.
(Margarita Roxas de Ayala)
She was the eldest child of Domingo Roxas founder of Casa Roxas, and
Maria Saturnina Ubaldo, a Spaniard. During her early life she suffered
great indignity and injustice when her father was incarcerated three
times. The Spanish colonial authorities suspected that her father was a
sympathizer of the Filipino cause.
Don Domingo one of the earliest industrialists of the Philippines, was
an advocate for liberal reforms. He died in prison in 1843.
Assuming control of her father's company, Margarita acquired her vast
wealth as she diversified into real estate, mining, and alcohol
production.
She was married to her father's partner Don Antonio de Ayala, a
Spaniard from the Basque region of Alava de Ayala, Spain. Don Antonio
de Ayala was one of the first directors of Banco Español-Filipino de
Isabel II currently known as Bank of the Philippine Islands.
Margarita Roxas de Ayala became the foremost philanthropist of her
time, donating her own summer residence called La Concordia in Santa
Ana, Manila in 1868 to the Colegio de la Concordia which survives to
this day as La Concordia College.
The school upon her instruction was staffed by a Spanish order of nuns,
the Sisters of Charity, and dedicated to educating and giving
scholarships to marginalized women.
She died on November 1, 1869 at age 43 leaving Don Antonio to run the
company until his death in 1876.
They had three daughters. The first daughter Carmen Roxas de Ayala would
marry her cousin Don Pedro Pablo Roxas and their daughter Margarita
Roxas de Ayala y Roxas would later marry Eduardo Soriano. They would
become the parents of San Miguel Corporation industrialist Andres
Soriano.
References:
Philippines News Agency
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
"The United States conquered the moon but the Philippines has conquered the Universe."
Ms. Gloria Diaz won Miss Universe pageant on July 19, 1969, held in
Miami Beach, Florida, the same day the first man, astronaut Neil
Armstrong, landed on the moon.
Díaz was 18 when she was crowned Miss Universe after outshining and
outsmarting other candidates on the question on how to welcome the first
men that had just landed on the moon, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and
Michael Collins, as soon as they return to planet Earth.
The final question was:
"If the man from the moon should come down to earth and visit your hometown, what would you do to entertain him?"
Gloria’s winning answer was:
"Why, I guess I would do for him what I always do. Since he has been on the moon for so long, he would want a change."
Today in Philippine history, July 18, 1886, Federico
B. Sarabia, the first optometrist in the country, was born in Kalibo,
Aklan
On July 18, 1886, Federico B. Sarabia was born to Benigno Sarabia
and Inocenta Jimenez in Kalibo, Aklan. He was the first optometrist in
the country being the holder of Professional Regulatory Commission of
Optometry Certificate No. 1 issued in 1905.
(Dr. Federico B. Sarabia)
After graduating in Doctor of Optometry in 1905 from the University of
Northern Illinois College of Optometry, he had a brief practice of
optometry at Eye Infirmary in New York City. Then he returned to the
Philippines and established a clinic in Iloilo. He would later move to
Escolta and establish his clinic there, marking the first Sarabia
Optical in Manila.
This became the first of his chain of 38 clinics now dotting the
different cities in the entire country among them Metro Manila, Iloilo,
Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, Dumaguete,Roxas and Iligan.
Sarabia Optical is the biggest and most modern optical firm in the country today.
Among his early prominent clients at the Escolta clinic were Presidents
Manuel L. Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Manuel Roxas, and Elpidio Quirino and Doña Trinidad Rizal
- sister of Dr. Jose Rizal. Doña Trinidad's glasses can be found in
Fort Santiago as part of the Rizal Memorabilia, and are labeled
"anteojos de Federico Sarabia."
(The Sabaria Opitical in Escolta Manila)
In 1928, President Quezon appointed Dr. Sarabia as Chairman of the Board
of Examiners in Optometry. Dr. Sarabia also became the first President
of the Philippine College of Optometry.
Aside from Sarabia Optical, Dr. Sarabia also founded Aklan Academy in
Kalibo, Aklan and had organized the First National Congress of Coconut
Planters in the 1930's.
Today, Sarabia Optical has grown into a trusted and recognized retail
clinic operation. Although Dr. Federico Sarabia passed away on September
14, 1954, his legacy lives on. Five of his children have followed his
path as eye care professionals. Four of them are optometrists and one is
an ophthalmologist.
Source:
Dr. Federico B. Sarabia, Atty. Rex S. Salvilla, News Today, July 24, 2006
Today in Philippine History, July 17, 1948,
President Quirino signed RA No. 333 making Quezon City the capital of
the Philippines
On July 17, 1948, President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 333
making Quezon City the capital of the Philippines. RA 333 also
redefined the Caloocan-Quezon City boundary and specified the city's
area to be 156.60 square kilometers.
(President Elpidio Quirino delivers his 2nd State of the Nation Address
from his hospital bed in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, January 23, 1950.)
Baesa, Talipapa, San Bartolome, Pasong Tamo, Novaliches Poblacion,
Banlat, Kabuyao, Pugad Lawin, Bagbag, Pasong Putik which formerly
belonged to Novaliches and had an area of about 8,100 hectares, were
taken from Caloocan and ceded to Quezon City.
On June 16, 1950, the Quezon City Charter was revised by Republic Act No. 537, changing the city's boundaries to an area of 153.59 square kilometers.
Exactly six years after on June 16, 1956, more revisions to the city's
land area were made by Republic Act No. 1575, which defined its area as
151.06 km2 (58 sq mi).
On November 7, 1975 the promulgation of Presidential Decree No. 824 of President Ferdinand Marcos established Metro Manila.
Quezon City became one of Metro Manila's 17 cities and municipalities.
On February 23, 1998, Republic Act. No. 8535 was signed by President
Fidel V. Ramos. The Act provided for the creation of the City of
Novaliches comprising the 15 northernmost barangays of Quezon city.
However, in the succeeding plebiscite on October 23, 1999, an
overwhelming majority of Quezon City residents rejected the secession of
Novaliches.
Quezon City is the first local government in the Philippines with a computerized real estate assessment and payment system.
On This Day - July 16, 1844 - Narciso Claveria y Zaldua, a native of Gerona of Biscayan origin, became Governor-general of the Philippines
On July 16, 1844 Narciso
Claveria y Zaldua, a native of Gerona of Biscayan
origin, became Governor-general. His term was marked
with several reforms and accomplishments.
He corrected the calendar of the Philippine in 1844, established
military library in February 15, 1846, the first steam war vessels was
brought to the Philippines from London in 1848. It was also during his
term when the Manila paper La Esperanza ( December 1, 1846) and Diario de Manila (1848) were printed. Claveria also founded a casino called Sociedad de Recreo in October 31, 1844.
Regular clergy were forbidden to alienate property on November 11, 1849.
Most notably, surnames were given to native Filipinos on November 21,
1849 (some accounts say November 11, 1849) during his term.
Claveria returned to Spain and was succeeded by Antonio Maria Blanco who served on a temporary capacity.
Reference:
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, Volume 1, number 17, Blair, Emma Helen, ed. d.1911.
On
July 15, 1903, Simeon Ola surprise the 31st Philippine Scout Garrison
under the command of Sergeant Nicolas Napoli in Joveliar, Albay.
The
persistent effort of the peace panel and his battle weary men made Ola
realized that he could never win the war. He became open to the
agreement set by Colonel Harry H. Bandholtz, the Assistant Commander of
the Constabulary in Lucena, Tayabas, for his surrender. The agreement
included general amnesty, fair treatment and justice to his comrades in
arms. On September 25, 1903, the negotiating panel composed of Ramon
Santos, Eligio Arboleda, Epifanio Orozco, Frank L. Pyle, John Paegelow,
J.B. Allison and Joseph Rogers went to his camp in Malagnaton, Mapaco,
Guinobatan. Eventually, Ola surrendered to Governor Bette and Colonel
Bandholtz.
Charged
with sedition, Judges Adam Carson and James Blount presided over his
case. He was sentenced of 30 years imprisonment on November 10. 1903.
Fortunately, he was granted executive clemency so he was released from
prison on October 8, 1904.
In
1910, he entered politics and won as town mayor of Guinobatan, which he
served until 1913. He was again elected to the same position in 1916.
He served the term until 1919.
Simeon Ola died on February 14, 1952 and was interred at the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Guinobatan.
References: (All via the National Historical Commission of the Philippines)
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. 8th ed. Quezon City: Garotech, 1990.
Eminent Filipinos. Manila: National Historical Commission, 1970.
Quirino, Carlos. Who’s who in Philippine History. Manila: Tahanan Books, 1995.
On July 15, 1903, Simeon Ola surprise the 31st Philippine Scout Garrison under the command of Sergeant Nicolas Napoli in Joveliar, Albay.
The persistent effort of the peace panel and his battle weary men made Ola realized that he could never win the war. He became open to the agreement set by Colonel Harry H. Bandholtz, the Assistant Commander of the Constabulary in Lucena, Tayabas, for his surrender. The agreement included general amnesty, fair treatment and justice to his comrades in arms. On September 25, 1903, the negotiating panel composed of Ramon Santos, Eligio Arboleda, Epifanio Orozco, Frank L. Pyle, John Paegelow, J.B. Allison and Joseph Rogers went to his camp in Malagnaton, Mapaco, Guinobatan. Eventually, Ola surrendered to Governor Bette and Colonel Bandholtz.
Charged with sedition, Judges Adam Carson and James Blount presided over his case. He was sentenced of 30 years imprisonment on November 10. 1903. Fortunately, he was granted executive clemency so he was released from prison on October 8, 1904.
In 1910, he entered politics and won as town mayor of Guinobatan, which he served until 1913. He was again elected to the same position in 1916. He served the term until 1919.
Simeon Ola died on February 14, 1952 and was interred at the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Guinobatan.
References: (All via the National Historical Commission of the Philippines)
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. 8th ed. Quezon City: Garotech, 1990.
Eminent Filipinos. Manila: National Historical Commission, 1970.
Quirino, Carlos. Who’s who in Philippine History. Manila: Tahanan Books, 1995.
On July 14, 1906, General Macario Sakay surrendered to the United States. He would be among the last of the Filipino generals fighting since the Philippine Revolution to lay down their arms. The Tondo-born revolutionary entered various jobs in his early years, including being a barber, a tailor, a kalesa (cart) manufacturing apprentice, and even a stage actor. He joined the Katipunan in 1894 with the codename Tagausig (Prosecutor).
Organizing for the Revolution in the Manila area, he would later be imprisoned by the time of the Filipino-American War. During the advent of American rule in the Philippines, Sakay was granted amnesty and became a founding member of the Partido Nacionalista in 1901, which campaigned for Philippine independence through legal means. The 1901 Sedition Law (Act No. 292), however, prohibited advocating for independence, whether through "peaceable or forcible means." Disenchanted with the new setup provided by the United States, Sakay took up arms once more, assuming the presidency of the Republika ng Katagalugan (Tagalog Republic) in May 1902.
Establishing his center of operations in Morong (now Rizal Province, Dimasalang in Sakay's documents), Sakay organized his forces and awarded ranks to integrees who would be able to contribute weapons to the republic. It was also by this time when Sakay decided to keep his hair long, which became an iconic theme for the revolutionary leader. It was said that Sakay was once ambushed while taking a bath. While he survived the incident, he was convinced that personal care would be detrimental to the cause of attaining freedom. He would maintain a long hair until his death. The American government, meanwhile, took every opportunity to put Sakay in bad light, designating him as a bandit, among others.
In 1905, union leader Dominador Gomez was tasked to negotiate with Sakay in exchange for his freedom. Gomez's organization, the Union Obrera Democratica Filipina (UOD), was known to have conducted the first May Day commemoration in the Philippines for labor. The union, however, was also accused of supporting Sakay's activities, leading to arrests which forced members to dissolve the union.
Upon meeting with Sakay, Gomez argued that continued resistance was blocking the way towards the creation of a Filipino national assembly, the next legal step towards independence. Persuaded that a constitutional means was now available for Filipinos, Sakay agreed to end his struggle on the condition that amnesty was granted for all of his troops. Warm reception for Sakay in Manila, however, proved to be a conveniently concealed trap.
On July 17 of the same year (1906), a party supposedly hosted by Cavite Governor Louis J. Van Shaick (a Medal of Honor recipient) led to the disarming and the arrest of Sakay and the revolutionary leaders with him. While the Philippine Assembly was indeed organized and inaugurated in 1907, as provided for by the Philippine Organic Act, Sakay would have no opportunity to participate in the new body.
On September 13, 1907, Sakay was executed by American authorities. His recorded last words would be as follows: "Death comes to all of us sooner or later, so I will face the LORD Almighty calmly. But I want to tell you that we are not bandits and robbers, as the Americans have accused us, but members of the revolutionary force that defended our mother country, the Philippines! Farewell! Long live the Republic and may our independence be born in the future! Long live the Philippines!"
On July 13, 1905, General Alfredo M. Santos was born in Manila. Regarded as the first Filipino to achieve the rank of four star general under the modern organization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Santos took a bachelor's degree in engineering at Mapúa University and served as corps commander at the University of the Philippines Reserve Officers' Training Corps (UP ROTC). This background also made Santos the first UP Vanguard to become Chief of Staff of the AFP.
In 1936, he entered the armed forces as a probationary lieutenant. During the Second World War, Santos became part of the guerrilla group Filipino-American Irregular Troops (FAIT) after the defeat of Allied forces in Bataan.
After the war, Santos was sent to study in the United States. Upon his return, he was given the command of the 15th Battalion Combat Team (BCT) and attached units forming the Panay Task Force. Among the highlights of their campaign, codenamed "Operation Knockout", was the capture of Guillermo Capadocia, founding member of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP-1930) and later Commander of the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB) Regional Command No. 6 in the Visayas. Although Capadocia was able to escape, he would lose his life during the chase.
Also killed at this time would be Paterno Patrimonio (Kulafu), while other leaders such as Teodoro Tejada (Paking) and Simplicio Casas (Stalin) were captured and sentenced. This hastened the collapse of the HMB rebellion in Panay Island. In recognition of his military feats, President Ramon Magsaysay would thereafter confer Santos the rank of brigadier general in 1954. In the same year, Magsaysay appointed Jesus Vargas as the first three star general (lieutenant general) of the modern AFP, although it was a temporary rank.
On September 1, 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal appointed Santos as Chief of Staff, and granted him the rank of four star general. After his tenure, the United States government awarded him the Legion of Merit in December 1965 for his service during the Vietnam War. To recall, the first Filipino contingent (PHILCONV) for the aid of Vietnam was sent August 1964.
Today in Philippine History, July 10, 1934, the Filipino voters elected delegates to a constitutional convention
On July 10, 1934, the Filipino voters elected 202 delegates to a constitutional convention which drafted the Philippine Constitution of 1935.
(The opening of the Constitutional Convention in the House session hall of the Legislative Building in 1934.)
Headed by Claro M. Recto, the Constitutional Convention of 1934 was
responsible for framing the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution which was
approved by the United States on March 23, 1935.
The so-called "Seven Wise Men" -- Filemon Sotto, chairman, and Norberto
Romualdez, Manuel Roxas, Vicente Singson Encarnacion, Manuel C. Briones,
Miguel Cuaderno, and Conrado Benitez (who replaced Jose P. Laurel) --
prepared the draft of the Constitution.
The 1935 Constitution provided for unicameral National Assembly and the
President was elected to a six-year term without re-election.
The Constitution was amended in 1940 to have a bicameral Congress
composed of a Senate and House of Representatives, as well the creation
of an independent electoral commission. The amendment also granted the
President a four-year term with a maximum of two consecutive terms in
office.
Today in Philippine History, July 9, 1985, Arturo Alcaraz won the IBM Science and Technology Award
On July 9, 1985, Arturo Pineda Alcaraz, a volcanologist and acknowledged “father of geothermal energy” won the IBM Science and
Technology Award.
(Arturo Pineda Alcaraz)
Alcaraz, who earned his Masters of Science degree in Geology at the
University of Wisconsin in the United States as a government scholar,
pioneered in generating electricity by means of geothermal steam among
areas proximate to volcanoes.
With a vast and extensive knowledge on volcanoes in the Philippines,
Alcaraz explored the possibility of harnessing geothermal steam to
produce
energy. He succeeded in 1967 when the country's first geothermal plant
produced much needed electricity, ushering the era of geothermal-based
energy to power up homes and industries.
In 1951 when the Commission on Volcanology was officially created under
the National Research Council, Alcaraz was appointed Chief
Volcanologist, a post he held until 1974.
Along with his colleagues, he was able to set up a working model in
Tiwi, Albay. He was also able to prove that energy can be generated by
geothermal energy.
A steam from a one inch hole drilled 400 feet to the ground powered a
turbo generator which lighted up a light bulb. It was a milestone in the
Philippines' quest for energy self-sufficiency. Thus, Alcaraz carved his
name in the global field of Geothermal Energy and Mining.
Alcaraz was the 1982 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient for government
service for his scientific insight and selfless perseverance in guiding
Filipinos to understand and use one of their greatest natural resources.
Reference:
Philippine News Agency archives
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
Today in Philippine history, July 8, 1929, Dwight F. Davis became the 9th American Governor-General of the Philippines
(Governor-General Dwight Filley Davis)
On July 8, 1929, Dwight Filley Davis arrived in Manila to assume
the post of Governor-General of the Philippines. He was appointed by
U.S. President Herbert Hoover to succeed Henry L. Stimson. He was
accompanied by his daughter, Alice, in the place of her mother who was
unable to accompany him for reasons of health.
In his inaugural address, on the day of his arrival, Davis stated that
"close, cordial, and constructive cooperation under the Jones Law" will
be the keynote of his administration. He stated that "towards the
Philippine people, the people of the United States have but one desire -
to extend to them their friendly aid in the solution of the problems of
the future."
His appointment has on the whole been well received both in the
Philippines and in the United States, although there was an
understandable regret in many quarters that the appointment did not go
to Acting Governor-General Eugene A. Gilmore, whose long, faithful, and
able service in the Philippines fairly entitled him to the position.
Davis conducted one of the most extensive reconstructions of Malacañang
Palace, essentially transforming it from a wooden Spanish-era colonial
house, to a 1930s era large concrete mansion.
He resigned on January 9, 1932 for personal and family reasons.
In connection with the Davis' resignation, U.S. President Hoover stated:
"Governor General Davis accepted the appointment to the Philippine
Islands at great personal sacrifice. His resignation is based upon
personal and family reasons, the force of which must, I feel, receive
every consideration, particularly in view of the very generous
sacrifices which he has already made in consenting to remain in the
Philippine Islands much longer than his personal interests warranted. I
have accepted his resignation with the greatest reluctance. His
administration of the affairs of the Philippine Islands has been
eminently able and successful and constitutes a fitting continuation of
the distinguished service he previously rendered as Secretary of War.
The 2 years during which he served in the Philippine Islands have been
marked by exceptionally cordial and satisfactory relations between the
American chief executive and the legislative and other local
authorities. Governor General Davis relinquishes office with the deep
regret of all concerned, and with a further claim upon the gratitude and
affection of both the American and Filipino people."
Davis was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 1879, a Baptist,
married with four children, Harvard graduate, lawyer, athlete, decorated
for heroism during World War I, and Secretary of War in the Coolidge
Cabinet.
He is best remembered as the founder of the Davis Cup international tennis competition.
He died in Washington, D.C. on November 28, 1945, and was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
Philippine Magazine, Volume 26, Number 1, August 1929
Herbert Hoover - Statements on the Governor Generalship of the Philippines, (http://goo.gl/qczqXp)
Presidential Museum and Library of the Philippines
On This Day - July 7, 1892, the
deportation of Dr. Jose Rizal to Dapitan was made public; the Katipunan
was founded
On July 7, 1892, Governor-General Eulogio Despujol made
public the order of the deportation of Dr. Jose Rizal to Dapitan,
through a decree published in the Gaceta, to the remote town in
Zamboanga.
Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan from 1892 to 1896. Under the
missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, he practiced medicine, pursued
scientific studies, continued his artistic and literary works, widened
his knowledge of languages, established a school for boys, promoted
community development projects, invented a wooden machine for making
bricks, and engaged in farming and commerce.
Meanwhile, on this day, in Tondo, Manila, a group of Filipino patriots,
led by Andres Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, and Deodato
Arellano, among others, formally founded the Katipunan (Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mgá Anak ng Bayan), an anti-Spanish society with the goal of gaining Philippine independence.
The Katipunan, initially a secret organzation, had three principal
aims: political, moral and civic. The political aim was to fight for the
independence of the Philippines from Spain. The moral aim was to teach
Filipinos right conduct, cleanliness, and to fight against blind
obedience to religion and to overcome weakness of character. The civic
aim was to help one's self and to defend the poor and the oppressed.
During the next four years, the organization recruited members from
various parts of Manila and nearby provinces. Its discovery in August
1896 eventually led to the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution.
Reference:
Andres Bonifacio by Epifanio delos Santos, The Philippine Review, January/February 1918, Volume 1, Number 1/2
Philippine News Agency archives
Today in Philippine history, July 6, 1765, Jose Raon arrived in Manila to become Governor General
On July 6, 1765, Jose Raon (Jose Antonio Raon y Gutierrez) a native of Navarra,
military officer of high rank, arrived in Manila to assume the
position of Governor-General. He relieved Francisco Javier de la Torre.
(An artist concept of Jesuit priests)
He is remembered as very able but unscrupulous.
He is most conspicuous for his revision of the "Ordinances of Good
Government" drawn up by one of his predecessors Pedro Manuel de Arandia,
the revision being dated February 26, 1768; and the expulsion of the
Jesuits from the islands (1768), in pursuance of the orders received
from Madrid dated March 1, 1767. In 1769 he decreed the expulsion of
the Chinese from Filipinas, although this was not fully enforced.
Early in October, 1766, French astronomer Le Gentil, whose Voyage was
valuable contribution to science and to the history of Filipinas at that
time, arrived at Manila, commissioned by the French government to make
observations on the approaching transit of Venus. Le Gentil noted (in Le
Gentil, Voyage, II) that, Raon was one of the most shrewd of the
governors of Manila in enriching himself without causing any one to
complain. Raon even displayed to him (Le Gentil) the magnificent
"presents" which he had received from the officers of a French ship
which came to Manila in evasion of the standing prohibition of foreign
trade there.
Raon was condemned for having revealed to the Jesuits, beforehand, in
exchange for a large sum of money, the news that their expulsion had
been decreed, and for other acts of disobedience to the royal commands
regarding that expulsion.
The faithlessness of Raon eventually reached the Royal court which sent
Don Simon de Anda (second term) to relieve him and ordered Anda to
immediately commence legal proceedings against Raon. Many charges were
brought against him and three others; these were Francisco Henriquez de
Villacorta and Domingo Blas de Basaraz, members of the Audiencia, and
Juan Antonio Cosio, the governor's secretary.
In most of these charges, Raon tried to make excuses for his conduct, or
to throw the blame on Galvan or Villacorta; but Anda declares that they
were all partly or wholly proved, and that Raon neglected everything in
his official position. His secretary Cosio, was especially denounced
for having drawn up and attested the false declaration that Raon had
obeyed his instructions and performed his duty faithfully in the
expulsion of the Jesuits.
Raon was found guilty on the charge of having given information to the Jesuits of the measures to be taken against them.
Cosio was banished to Africa. Raon died in Manila.
Raon street in Quiapo, Manila was named after him.
Sources:
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators,
descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records
of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and
manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious
conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European
nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; (Volume 50,
1764-1800), Emma Helen Blair, et., al.
Today in Philippine History, July 5, 1992, President Ramos opened two Malacañang extension offices
(Malacañang sa Sugbo, the Malacanang in the Visayas is located in Cebu City along Morga Street across from Plaza Independencia)
On July 5, 1992, President Fidel Ramos opened two Malacañang extension offices, one in Cebu and the other in Davao, as part of his
campaign promise to make the seat of power accessible in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Malacañang Palace is the official residence of the President of the
Philippines. It also houses some national government offices such as the
Malacañang Museum and the Presidential Museum.
The palace is an 18th century villa along the Pasig River located in the
center of Manila. Originally a summer house built by Spanish
aristocrat
Don Luis Rocha, the structure was sold to Colonel Jose Miguel Formente,
and was later purchased by the state in 1825. It has been renovated and
expanded through the decades.
In 1937, it became the official residence of the Philippine President.
Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon was the first Filipino chief
executive to live in Malacañang Palace.
The late President Ferdinand E. Marcos and former First Lady Imelda R.
Marcos were the longest residents of Malacanang from 1965 to 1986.
Across the Pasig River is Malacañang Park, which contains a golf course,
park, billets for the presidential guards, as well as a
Commonwealth-era
presidential rest house, called Bahay Pangarap, and a recreation hall.
The Malacanang in the Visayas is located in Cebu City. It
is a building originally built in 1910 which previously housed the
Bureau of Customs office in the Port of Cebu City. The building was
restored in 2004 during the administration of Gloria Arroyo.
Today in Philippine history, July 4, 1570, Filipe II legalized the taking of slaves in Mindanao by the Spaniards
(Filipe II of Spain)
On July 4, 1570, King Filipe II promulgated a law legalizing the
taking of slaves in Mindanao by the Spaniards, which had often been
urged, by authorities in Manila, as one of the best methods of subduing
"fierce" people.
The law states (Recopilacion, lib. vi, tit. ii, ley xii):
"The islands of Mindanao are adjacent to those of the district of the
Filipinas. Their natives, who have adopted the religion of Mahomet, have
rebelled; and since then, in alliance with the enemies of this crown,
they have done great harm to our vassals. In order to facilitate their
punishment, it has been deemed an efficacious corrective to declare that
those who should be captured in war be made slaves.
"We order that such be done; but that this distinction be observed,
namely, that if the said Mindanaos be simply heathen, they be not
regarded as slaves; but if they be Moors by nation and birth, and shall
go to other islands to introduce their dogmas or teach their Mahometan
religion, or make war on the Spaniards or Indians who are subject to us,
or hinder our royal service, then in that case they may be made slaves.
But those who are Indians and shall have become Mahometans shall not be
made slaves. Such will be persuaded by lawful and kind methods to be
converted to our holy Catholic faith."
A general law that prohibited slavery of Filipino natives, which was
extended expressly to the Moluccas by a special law, was promulgated by
Felipe III, in Madrid, on October 10, 1618.
Sources:
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators,
descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records
of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and
manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious
conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European
nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; (Volume 35), Emma
Helen Blair, et., al.
