On This Day - July 9, 1985 - Arturo Pineda Alcaraz, father of geothermal energy won the IBM Science and Technology Award

 

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

A baby - viral tiktok video in LEGO 😆

 

A baby - viral tiktok video in LEGO 😆

Recreating in LEGO! A baby - viral tiktok video in LEGO 😆 😆😆😆😆 #bridgertonscandal #HaloSilverTeam #LizzosBigGrrrls #ababy #OscarsAtHome #fyp #agegap #ohbaby #baby Say it - Monty.

On This Day - July 8, 1929 - Dwight F. Davis became the 9th American Governor-General of the Philippines

 

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:

1. Philippine Magazine, Volume 26, Number 1, August 1929
2. Herbert Hoover - Statements on the Governor Generalship of the Philippines, (http://goo.gl/qczqXp)
3. Presidential Museum and Library of the Philippines
4. Photo credit: Getty Images

On This Day - July 7, 1892 - The Katipunan was founded when Dr. Jose Rizal was deported to Dapitan

 

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

On This Day - July 6, 1765, Jose Raon, military officer of high rank, arrived in Manila to assume the position of Governor-General

 

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:

1. 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.

On This Day - July 5, 1992 - President Ramos opened two Malacañang extension offices

 

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.

Reference:
Philippines News Agency

On This Day - July 4, 1570 - Filipe II legalized the taking of slaves in Mindanao by the Spaniards

 

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:

1. 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.