193RD BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLINARIO DELA CRUZ by Quennie Ann J. Palafox        Spain notwithstanding her insufficient number of men made successful conquests in the archipelago not with the aid of their swords but with the cross, and this was made possible by converting the natives into the Christian faith. For many years continue reading : 193rd Birth Anniversary of Apolinario Dela Cruz

ISABELO DE LOS REYES     Isabelo de los Reyes was born on July 7, 1864 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Elias de los Reyes and Leona Florentino, a well known poetess of the Philippines.       At the age six, the young Beluce (his nickname then) was committed by his father to the continue reading : Isabelo de los Reyes

SIEGE OF BALER All books depicting the stories of war have always had sad endings as war was never splendid or heroic regardless of its cause when it destroys many lives, including innocent victims. The color red in the Philippine flag symbolizes the valor of the Filipinos who offered their lives for the cause of continue reading : Siege of Baler

HISTORY OF BALER        The name Baler originated from the term “balod,” which is the indigenous name for mountain doves or palomas montes that abound in the area.   It was founded as a mission by Franciscan missionaries headed by Fr. Blas Palomino in 1609. The early inhabitants were the Dumagat and Ilongot natives. continue reading : History of Baler

FIRST EXECUTIVE MINISTER OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO (CHURCH OF CHRIST) by: Quennie Ann J. Palafox        Hailed as one of the most successful and influential religions in the Philippines which is now established in 84 countries and territories worldwide and with members of different races and ethnic affiliations, the Iglesia ni Cristo’s continue reading : First Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ)

REMEMBERING THE UNREMEMBERED FILIPINO PATRIOTS IN PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION by: Quennie Ann  Palafox        The Philippine Revolution that sparked in 1896 had witnessed the rise of great Filipino patriots all over the country who took significant roles and made noteworthy contributions in the revolution that became forerunner to the Philippine’s quest for freedom from continue reading : Remembering the Unremembered Filipino Patriots in Philippine Revolution

POSTSCRIPT TO INDEPENDENCE DAY – THE BATTLE OF TARAKA by: Ma. Cielito G. Reyno       Six years had passed since the declaration of Philippine independence at Kawit, and two years since its declarer, the First Philippine Republic President, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, had been hunted down and captured by the soldiers of the new colonizer and continue reading : Postscript to Independence Day- The Battle of Taraka

WHY DID SAKAY WEAR HIS HAIR LONG? by: Quennie Ann Palafox       He was given a bad-boy image because of his conspicuous long hair and his being the leader of a group of long-haired rugged men labeled as bandits or ladrones by the American colonizers; he established the Tagalog Republic in the mountain continue reading : Why Did Sakay Wear His Hair Long?

THE OTHER BATTLE OF ZAPOTE: THE FILIPINOS BLOODY DEFENSE OF THE MOTHERLAND by Ma. Cielito G. Reyno       A year after General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines in Kawit, Cavite on 12 June 1898, the Filipinos made one of their bravest and strongest stands to defend and preserve their hard-won freedom against continue reading : The other battle of Zapote: The Filipinos’ bloody defense of the Motherland

THE PHILIPPINE BILL OF 1902: TURNING POINT IN PHILIPPINE LEGISLATION By Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay       From 1907 to 1916, the Philippine Assembly served as the lower house of the legislature with the Philippine Commission, headed by the American Governor-General, as the upper chamber.  The inauguration of the Philippine Assembly on October 16, 1907 continue reading : The Philippine Bill of 1902:  Turning Point in Philippine Legislation

THE SECULARIZATION ISSUE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE by Peter Jaynul V. Uckung       We all know that the agitation for secularization precipitated the execution of Father Gomes, Burgos, and Zamora, which in turn engendered the seed of discontent among the Filipino reformists, which in turn fanned the flame of Philippine revolution. But few knew the continue reading : The Secularization Issue was an international Issue

THE BATTLE OF BANGKUSAY: A PARADIGM OF DEFIANCE AGAINST COLONIAL CONQUEST By Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay      While it is true that it took us Filipinos almost three centuries before we successfully proclaim our independence from the Spaniards, and that several Filipino patriots sacrificed their lives and performed heroic deeds to liberate the country from continue reading : The Battle of Bangkusay: A Paradigm of Defiance against Colonial Conquest