MANILA – In celebration of the 81st Araw ng Kagitingan, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) together with the Philippine Veteran’s Affairs Office (PVAO), will screen the documentary ‘Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerillas,’ for free on 5 April 2023, 4pm at the Metropolitan Theater.

The film is part of Kasaysayan sa MET, a partnership of the NHCP together with the National Commission for the Culture and Arts (NCCA) – Metropolitan Theater in conducting special programs for the public at the MET. The collaboration aims to showcase historical films and documentaries from the NHCP and its local partners by providing a venue for public engagement with Philippine history and culture.

Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerilla is a 53-minute documentary that tells the history of an underground army who fought against the Japanese during World War II. These ‘unsurrendered’ were the Hunters ROTC Guerillas, one of the first and youngest of the Philippine resistance fighters. The documentary was produced by Spyron-AV Manila and sponsored by Philippine Veterans Bank and Forerunner Technologies, Inc.

The NHCP is the principal government agency mandated with strengthening our people’s nationalism through the promotion and popularization of Philippine history and the protection of our cultural heritage.

1. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, through the 2023 General Appropriations Act, intends to apply the sum of Nine Million, Nine Hundred Sixty Thousand, Twenty-Six Pesos and 32/100 (₱9,960,026.32) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Restoration of Patnongon Old Casa Municipal). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines now invites bids for the above Procurement Project. Completion of the Works is required two hundred forty (240) calendar days. The bidder must have an experience of having completed a Single Largest Completed Contract (SLCC) on Restoration of Unreinforced Masonry. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II (Instructions to Bidders).

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184.

4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM or via bac@nhcp.gov.ph..

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders on 30 March 2023 from given address and website/s below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (₱ 10,000.00). The Procuring Entity shall allow the bidder to present its proof of payment for the fees via a photocopy of the receipt included in the submitted bid or via e-mail (bac@nhcp.gov.ph).

6. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines will hold a Pre-Bid Conference^[1] on 12 April 2023 (Wednesday), 9:30 AM at Multipurpose Board Room, 4/F NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw Avenue, Ermita, Manila, and/or through videoconferencing/webcasting via Microsoft Teams App, which shall be open to prospective bidders. To access the Pre-Bid Conference, click this MS Teams Link: https://bit.ly/3nkLyH7.

7. Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat through (i) manual submission at the office address as indicated below, (ii) online or electronic submission as indicated below, on or before 24 April 2023 (Monday), 9:30 AM. One (1) original and three (3) additional copies of the technical and financial proposals must be provided. Late bids shall not be accepted. Please see the diagram below for your guidance.

8. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 16.

9. Bid opening for the technical and financial proposals shall be on 24 April 2023 (Monday) at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM, respectively at the given address below and/or through Microsoft Teams App. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend the activity. To access the opening of the technical and financial bid proposals, click this MS Teams link: https://bit.ly/3JNuMYV.

10. All bidders are reminded that each and every page of the Bidding Documents submitted should be duly signed by the bidder’s authorized representative/s pursuant to Section 25.8 of the 2016 revised IRR of R.A. No. 9184. Moreover, all legally executable documents (e.g., Omnibus Sworn Statement) must be duly notarized. Submitted bids which have unsigned pages and/or unnotarized legal documents shall be considered non-responsive.

11. All bidders are advised to adopt the new, revised format of the Omnibus Sworn Statement issued pursuant to GPPB Circular No 4-2020 as adopted by GPPB Resolution No. 16-2020. The revised format of the OSS consists of 10 articles/paragraphs (with two new additional provisions since the previous 2016 edition), a template of which may be downloaded from the GPPB website thru this link https://www.gppb.gov.ph/downloadables.php.

12. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Sections 35.6 and 41 of the 2016 revised IRR of RA No. 9184, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

13. For further information, please refer to:
    Engr. Benjamin T. Paulin II
    BAC Secretariat Head
    National Historical Commission of the Philippines
    T.M. Kalaw Ave., Ermita, Manila 1000
    E-mail Address: bac@nhcp.gov.ph
    Cellphone No.: 09664700559
    Facsimile No.: (02) 8536-3181
    Website: http://www.nhcp.gov.ph 

14. You may visit the following websites: 

For downloading of Bidding Documents:
http://nhcp.gov.ph/category/nhcp/procurement/bid-opportunities/ 

For online bid submission:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3KboP7KFWN4OnmvK25MDcRk9BkrYnoDww5g9HLyMOEw8G5w/viewform

ALVIN R. ALCID
BAC Chairperson

^[1] May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a pre-bid conference.

Download bidding documents here.

By Ericson Dublas
Shrine Curator II, Museo ni Mariano Ponce

Today, we remember the 160^th Birth Anniversary of Mariano Ponce y Collantes, known as the workhorse of the overseas Filipino reformist movement in the late 19^th century, and one who encountered extraordinary challenges during his studies at the Universidad de Santo Tomas (UST) in Intramuros, Manila. This, at a time, when most of the Filipino propagandists in Europe passed and obtained their degrees with flying colors in premier colonial universities. But unlike his fellow illustrados who bore their sobresaliente grades, young Mariano Ponce had a different experience because as a student, it took him four years to finish three academic years.

Based on the surviving records of Ponce from UST dated 1881-1885, it indicated that he spent a considerable amount of time trying to finish his medical course. The question left to us is “why?” The answer lies not only in his existing academic records, but also on the effects of natural calamities and epidemics on students’ education in the 1880s.

Three gentlemen from Baliwag Polytechnic College led by Atty. Robert John Donesa, Mr. Giovanni Labao, and Mr. Sammy Manalaysay conducted research at the UST Archives, resulting to the rediscovery of Mariano Ponce’s academic records from 1881-1885. According to Atty. Donesa, a historian from Baliwag, the grading system of UST in the late 1900s consisted of the following:

This grading system used by the Dominican-run UST in Intramuros in the late 19^th century became the thrust of scrutinizing the academic life of Ponce as a medical student.*

Martriculados en curo preparatorio de Medicina, UST, 1881.

In his 1881 academic record, the young Mariano Ponce (19 years old) enrolled in Preparatorio de Medicina (Preparatory Medicine) with three subjects namely, Ampliacion de Fisica (Advanced Physics) under Catedratico (Professor) Fray Jenaro Buitrago, Ampliacion de Quimica (Advanced Chemistry under Catedratico Don Jose Gort y Gijo, and Ampliacion de Historia Natural (Advanced Natural History) under Catedratico Don Castro Eleva. The academic year of 1881 had more than sixty students from different age brackets with fifteen as the youngest and the oldest at twenty-eight years old. Majority of Ponce’s classmates were from Manila; others from Pangasinan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and as far as Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros, and Palawan. Ponce also had three Peninsulares classmates from Barcelona and two from Madrid. Ponce, the lone Bulaqueño from the class hailed from Baliwag.

Full academic record of UST where Mariano Ponce (red box) initially enrolled in UST, 1881.

However, all of Ponce’s grades in 1881 were small three “s” or suspenso which meant conditioned or almost failed, and he needed to take removal examinations for all his subjects during his first year in UST. Unfortunately, he did not take his removal examinations in 1881, thus failing his first year in UST. Interestingly, a prominent revolutionary fellow named Galicano Apacible from Balayan, Batangas belonged to the same class with Mariano Ponce in 1881. But Apacible received a Bueno or good grades and passed all the subjects.

In 1882, Ponce re-enrolled all his previously failed subjects under the same professors in UST. This time, he passed all his subjects and obtained capital “A” grades or aprobado meaning he survived to take his second year of preparatory medicine.

Mariano Ponce received passing grades in his 1882 academic year in UST.

During Ponce’s academic year in 1882, the declining number of students for each subject was noticeable from over sixty to just more than fifty new enrollees and re-enrollees. This time, Ponce was not the only Bulaqueño in the class; he was joined by Ambrosio Marasigan y Alabado from Paombong, and Gregorio Santillan y Lorenzo and Pablo Fernando y Ampon from Bulakan. The eldest in class was thirty years of age and the youngest was fifteen. Just like his previous year, Ponce had Spaniard classmates, one from Pamplona and Barcelona.

At the age of 21, Ponce officially enrolled in his first year of medicine in 1883 after passing his second stint in preparatory course. He took three subjects: Anatomia General e Histologia primer curso (General Anatomy and Histology), Anatomia descriptiva primer curso (Descriptive Anatomy I) and Ejercicios de Osteologia y dissection primer curso (Exercises in Osteology and Dissection I). His professor in all these subjects was Don Rafael Ginard. The number of students drastically dropped to half compared to the almost fifty enrolled students in 1882.

Academic record of UST, 1883.

Mariano Ponce’s incomplete academic record in UST, 1883.

However, Ponce’s grades were unknown and his academic record in 1883 showed nothing about it. But it can be noticed in the document that he paid his first installment fee of eight pesos for the first plazo (term) but his second term is blank, hence no grade was given to him.  It seems that he dropped out from the course and stopped studying for some reason because he did not pay another eight pesos for the second installment fee, nor the additional four pesos for the examination fee. Two of his other Bulaqueño classmates also failed to complete this academic year: Gregorio Santillan y Lorenzo dropped out, and Pablo Fernando y Ampon got a conditional grade and did not take extraordinary examinations.

Academic record of UST, 1884.

In 1884, Ponce returned to UST and re-enrolled all the subjects he dropped in the previous year. This time, he paid the matriculation fees for the first and second term, including the examination fee. Ponce obtained a grade of Suspenso (conditioned) in the preliminaries and to pass the academic year, he took an extraordinary examination. Extraordinary examinations were given to students who got conditioned or incomplete grades, quite like our present-day removal exams. Ponce passed the extraordinary examination and was given a grade of Aprobado (passed) in his repeated first year in the college of medicine. He then continued his second year in 1885, his last academic year in UST.

Mariano Ponce’s passing grade for academic year 1884 in UST.

In 1885, Ponce, who was 23 years old then, matriculated his second year in the college of medicine. This time, he took four subjects; Anatomia general e Histologia segundo curso (General Anatomy and Histology II), Anatomia descriptiva segundo curso (Descriptive anatomy II) and Ejercicio de Disseccion segundo curso (Exercise in Dissection II) under Don Antonio Jimenez Baena and Fisiologia, Higiene Privada y Publica (Physiology and Private and Public Hygiene) under Don Carlos Nalda. Out of the enrolled thirty-four students of local and Spanish descent during the said academic year, only half of the class passed including Mariano Ponce who obtained Aprobado (passed) grade. He did not enroll in the following year and left for Spain to continue his studies in 1887.

Academic record in 1885 in UST where Ponce passed his final year in UST.

After looking at the academic records of Mariano Ponce in UST, one might think that he was not a brilliant student, far from the likes of young Apolinario Mabini and Jose Rizal. However, these archival documents must be contextualized to avoid making hasty generalizations regarding Ponce’s academic life.

To clearly understand his life as a student, we need to determine possible factors that resulted to Ponce’s low grades and repetitive years in UST. Analyzing other primary documents together with validation and corroboration of historically significant events during 1881-1885 may reveal something about the context of his student life in the late 19^th century Manila.

There were two factors which directly affected Ponce life as student between 1881-1885. First, there was widespread cholera in Manila that resulted in hundreds of deaths and severely interrupted the economy of the colonial capital and nearby towns and provinces. Second, late 19^th century Manila was struck by various natural disasters and calamities such as earthquakes and typhoons that devastated major infrastructures which included schools and university buildings.

The cholera epidemic of 1882-1883 resulted in massive significant deaths. The disease arrived in Manila from Zamboanga and Iloilo on 21 August 1882, and killed one out of ten people before subsiding in October. The epidemic led to the creation of sanitary and quarantine protocols, establishment of welfare organizations to aid affected areas of the cholera death toll, and the closure of Manila parish cemeteries and nearby structures such as schools and universities.

Following the surge of cholera, Jose M. Cecilio (a friend and former classmate of Rizal) reported the situation on the ground to Jose Rizal in a letter on 28 August 1882:

“…Cholera has invaded Manila and its districts and caused considerable ravages. It has also invaded the greater number of provinces in the south… Because of this terrible guest we are few in the house, many having gone home to their respective towns. Vicente Gella is still here. He was already to go home… but no boat would take him, and the poor man is left with anxiety to leave.”

The year 1882 was the last year of Rizal studying in UST while it was Ponce’s second year of re-taking preparatory medicine. It was also the year when classes were unexpectedly suspended in all learning institutions. Students were sent back to their respective towns and provinces. Jose M. Cecilio’s letter to Rizal on 19 October 1882 confirmed these lockdowns and indefinite class suspension due to the severity of cholera outbreak in Manila. Cecilio stated;

“Your friends and fellow townsmen have gone to their towns where they are remaining until now on account of the closing of the schools. These will open soon in as much as cholera cases are few nowadays. According to the medical meeting held in the Civil Government, the epidemic remains in the city and it is advisable to take care so that it would not rebound as it is happening today in some districts.”

Aside from the cholera outbreak, Manila was visited by a terrible typhoon and destroyed most of the houses built from light materials. According to a report of Samuel Kneeland in 1883,

“The typhoon was the most severe that has visited the islands for fifty years. Houses were unroofed, vessels driven ashore, whole villages prostrated, trees torn up by roots; metal plates, tiles, timbers, and heavy weights were carried to great heights and distances. Millions of property were destroyed in the city and its suburbs… and general distress and business prostrations are the result.”

Looking back at the time when Ponce was in UST in 1882, despite the sudden suspension of classes due to cholera, he still managed to obtain a passing grade for the said academic year. However, students were obliged to do self-study and take examinations the moment class suspensions were lifted.

For his academic year in 1881, Ponce dropped his subjects because he was unable to settle his remaining tuition fees aside from his initial payment for the first term. He did not intentionally drop his subjects but was forced to, due to personal issues.

Another possible reason is the earthquake that hit Southern Luzon and Manila in July 1880. Also known as the 1880 Southern Luzon earthquake, it was considered one of the most destructive tremors in Philippine history. Records of tremors and aftershocks that were published in Diario de Manila were collected and compiled into a small volume titled, “Los Terremotos en Filipinas en Julio de 1880.” The 1880 earthquake collapsed structures in Manila including churches, government buildings, schools, and universities. According to a report from the Japan Gazette:

” The damages at present ascertained in the public and private buildings are very considerable, but it is not even possible yet to estimate approximately the loss of materials which must have run up to an important sum.”

Churches in Intramuros and its nearby suburbs were reportedly heavily damaged by the 1880 earthquake. Some of these churches are near to premier Catholic-run universities such as Santo Domingo church in Intramuros where UST was originally located before transferring to Quezon City in 1954.

“San Agustin and San Franciso (churches) very seriously damaged, Santo Domingo, and San Sebastian appear not to have suffered, but we hear the walls are cracked through level with the ground and they will both have to come down.”

For students like Ponce, the massive earthquake of 1880, the cholera epidemic, and the devastating typhoon of 1882 left an unimaginable place for a student to study or even for people to live. During these years, the calamities affected teaching formats of schools and universities and the learning of their students. However, as observed through the academic records of Mariano Ponce, natural calamities did not hold back some students from enrolling in their classes to attain education.

Mariano Ponce’s experience as a student in UST is parallel to students in present time when the Covid-19 pandemic emerged. Educational systems tend to be disrupted when catastrophes occur. The cholera epidemic of 1882 happened more than a hundred years from the Covid-19 pandemic, but there are similar experiences that affect students despite being in different generations.

For Mariano Ponce, grades are just LETTERS not numbers. He confronted a challenging time in university when natural disasters persisted. It is true that his academic grades were generally low, but majority of his classmates had similar grades too. In fact, as we look at his historical biography, his grades did not diminish his achievements because his academic performance did not dictate his success in life. Mariano Ponce was an ordinary student, in an extraordinary time and he became more extraordinary as he belonged to the pantheon of illustrious Filipino heroes of our nation.

SOURCES

Primary Sources

____________. Academic Records of Mariano Ponce from 1881-85, UST Archives.

____________. The Japan Gazette, A Fortnightly Summary of the Political, Commercial, Literary and Social Events of Japan: Vol. 26, Yokohama, 1880.

____________. The American Journal of Science, Volume 121. The earthquake of the Philippine Islands, 1880.

Samuel Kneeland. The Typhoon at Manila, Philippine Islands, 1882.

Secondary Sources

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino people Edition: 8th ed., Garotech Publishing, Quezon City, 1990.

Santillan, N.M.R and M.B.P Conde, Kasaysayan at Kamalayan, LIKAS, Quezon City, 1998.

Veneracion, Jaime B. Kasaysayan ng Bulakan, Bahay-Saliksikan ng Kasaysayan, Germany. 1986.

Constantino, Renato. The Philippines: A Past Revisited, Quezon City, 1975.

Diokno, Maria Serena I and Ramon Villegas, Kasaysayan: the story of the Filipino people. Vol.4, Life in the colony, Asia Publishing Company, 1998.

Mojares, Resil B. The Itineraries of Mariano Ponce, Philippines, 2013

Veneracion, Jaime B. Mariano Ponce Y. Collantes: Dangal ng Lahing Pilipino. NHCP, 2018.

Veneracion, Jaime B. Mariano Ponce y Collantes: Makabayan, Bayani. NHCP, 2016.

_____________. Naning: Mariano Ponce 150^th Birth Anniversary Commemorative Lectures and Selected Artcicles form La Solidaridad, NHCP, Manila, 2013.

Acknowledgements

Bulacan Provincial Library

Baliwag Polytechnic College

Atty. Robert John Donesa

Mr. Giovanni Labao

Mr. Sammy Manalaysay

CANDON CITY, ILOCOS SUR – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in coordination with the City of Candon will spearhead the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites for the 125th anniversary of the Cry of Candon on 25 March 2023, 9:00 a.m., in Candon, Ilocos Sur. The event is one of the many commemorative events NHCP plans to conduct in line with the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood.

The flag-raising ceremony will be officiated by the Philippine National Police (PNP). NHCP Chairman Emmanuel Franco Calairo, Candon City Mayor Eric D. Singson, Candon City Vice Mayor Kristelle G. Singson, and descendants of the Cry of Candon heroes will all offer wreaths.

After the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites, Candon City Vice Mayor Singson will deliver her welcome remarks to be followed by a message from Candon City Mayor Singson. NHCP Chairman Calairo will give his speech, followed by a short response from the descendants of the Cry of Candon heroes.

The Cry of Candon started on 25 March 1898 as Ilocanos under the leadership of Isabelo Abaya, fought for their freedom against Spanish colonization. The revolutionaries captured Spanish officials and priests, and declared the “Republica Filipina Katipunan” inside the convent of Candon. The newly established republic was immediately crushed by the Spaniards on 27 March 1898 and the area was taken under Spanish control again.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine historical heritage through research and publication, conservation, marking of historic sites and structures, and administration of national shrines and museums.

BALIWAG CITY – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in coordination with the Provincial Government and City Government of Baliwag, will lead the commemoration of the 160th birth anniversary of Mariano Ponce on 22 March 2023, 8:00 a.m., at the NHCP Museo ni Mariano Ponce, M. Ponce St., Baliwag City, Bulacan

Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark T. Lapid will spearhead the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies. He will be joined by NHCP OIC Executive Director Carminda R. Arevalo, Congresswoman Augustina Dominique C. Pancho, Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando, and Baliwag City Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella. Representatives from other national and local government agencies, military, civic, and religious sectors will also join the celebration.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine historical heritage through research and publication, heraldry, conservation, marking of historic sites and structures, and administration of national shrines and museums.

TABACO CITY ─ The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) led by its Chairman Emmanuel Franco Calairo, will unveil the historical marker, “Tabaco Presidencia Building” on 24 March 2023, 8:00 a.m. in line with the 22nd founding anniversary of Tabaco as a city. The marker states:

TABACO PRESIDENCIA BUILDING

IPINATAYO NA YARI SA KONKRETO AT KAHOY SA PANGANGASIWA NI ARKITEKTO JUAN ARELLANO AT PINASINAYAAN NI PUNONG-BAYAN BERNARDINO SANTILLAN. 26 OKTUBRE1929. NAKALIGTAS SA PINSALA NG IKALAWANG DIGMAANG PANDAIGDIG. NAPANATILI ANG KATATAGAN MULA SA PANANALASA NG MGA MALALAKAS NA BAGYONG SENING, 1970; REMING, 2006; AT ROLLY, 2020. ISINAAYOS NG PAMAHALAANG LOKAL HANGGANG SA KASALUKUYAN. ISA SA MGA NATATANGING PAMPUBLIKONG ISTRUKTURANG MAY ISTILONG NEO-KLASIKAL SA BANSA.

Chairman Calairo will officially turn over the marker to Tabaco City Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro. 1st District of Albay Representative Edcel C. Lagman, and NHCP Deputy Executive Director Alvin R. Alcid will stand as witnesses during the signing of the certificate of transfer.

Mayor Lagman-Luistro will deliver her acceptance message, to be followed by Representative Lagman’s words of inspiration.

Among the highlights of the program is the unveiling of the portraits featuring former mayors who served Tabaco City.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research, and publications, and to preserve historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.

For more information, contact the Historic Sites and Education Division at NHCP tel. nos. 53351217 loc. 126.

Kawit, Cavite – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines with the Local Government of Kawit will lead the commemoration of the 154th birth anniversary of Emilio Aguinaldo on 22 March 2022, Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. at Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite.

A holy mass dedicated in his memory will be officiated by Reverend Fr. Efren Bugayong, Parish Priest of the Parroquia de Santa Maria Magdalena, at 6:30 a.m.

4Ps Partylist Representative Marcelino C. Libanan will lead the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony officiated by the Philippine Navy (PN)-Naval Base Cavite Band and Philippine National Police (PNP) Kawit Police, Tourist Police Unit. Other wreath offerors to the event are 1st District Representative Ramon “Jolo” Revilla III; NHCP Chairman Emmanuel Franco Calairo; Cavite Governor Juanito Victor C. Remulla; Kawit Mayor Angelo Emilio G. Aguinaldo; Kawit Vice Mayor Edward R. Samala; Cavite PPO Provincial Director PCOL Christopher F. Olazo; Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Philippine Archipelago Dr. Jose P. Rizal Masonic Lodge No. 19 PIH Raymund R. Caballero; Gran Logia Nacional de Filipinas at Supremo Consejo del Grado 33 para Filipinas SGC/Ad Vitam Geronimo Esguerra, and Gran Maestre Artemuz Cruz; Gran Logia Soberana de Archipelago Filipino Logia Magdalo Nu. 23 WM Antonio Ola Sobejana IV; Gran Logia Soberana del Archipelago Filipino VM Christian Maristela, and IPB Victor Raquipis; Independent Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands President Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Lodge #5 MW Apolonio S. Toledo; Order of Demolay General Emilio Aguinaldo Chapter No 23; and a descendant of Emilio Aguinaldo.

The blessing of the tomb of Emilio Aguinaldo will also be officiated by Rev. Fr. Bugayong. He will be joined by the descendants of Emilio Aguinaldo and guests.

A short program will commence after the blessing. NHCP Chairman Calairo will deliver his welcome remarks to be followed by messages of Representative Revilla and Governor Remulla, while Kawit Mayor Aguinaldo will introduce the guest of honor. One of the highlights of the program is Representative Libanan’s speech.

Emilio Aguinaldo was born on 22 March 1869 in Kawit, Cavite to parents Carlos Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy-Aguinaldo. He became a gobernardocillo capitan municipal and a Freemason at the age of 25. Aguinaldo also joined the Katipunan and became the first president of the First Philippine Republic.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research, and publications, and to preserve historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.

This Bid Bulletin is issued to modify, amend or clarify items in the issued Bidding Documents for the project:
Microsoft Office 365 Business Standard Subscription Accounts- 227 Licenses Renewal

 PLEASE BE INFORMED OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATIONS:
AMENDMENT REGARDING THE SUBMISSION OF BID DOCUMENTS.

Also, we would like to reiterate item 10 in page 9 which states

10. All bidders are reminded that each and every page of the Bidding Documents submitted should be duly signed by the bidder’s authorized representative/s and that all legally executable documents (e.g., Omnibus Sworn Statement) are duly notarized. Submitted bids which have unsigned pages and/or unnotarized legal documents shall be considered non-responsive.

For the guidance of all concerned.

ALVIN R. ALCID
Chairman, BAC

This Bid Bulletin is issued to modify, amend or clarify items in the issued Bidding Documents for the project:
Microsoft Office 365 Business Standard Subscription Accounts- 227 Licenses Renewal

 PLEASE BE INFORMED OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATIONS:
AMENDMENT REGARDING THE SUBMISSION OF BID DOCUMENTS.

Also, we would like to reiterate item 10 in page 9 which states

10. All bidders are reminded that each and every page of the Bidding Documents submitted should be duly signed by the bidder’s authorized representative/s and that all legally executable documents (e.g., Omnibus Sworn Statement) are duly notarized. Submitted bids which have unsigned pages and/or unnotarized legal documents shall be considered non-responsive.

For the guidance of all concerned.

ALVIN R. ALCID
Chairman, BAC

Click to download Bid Bulletin No. 01

Introduction

As we celebrate National Women’s Month, we also remember the two women who lit the lives of two illustrious Filipinos – Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio.. The popular adage, ”Behind a successful man is a woman” is apt for both Gregoria de Jesus and Josephine Bracken. These women supported their partners through thick or thin, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of our heroes. Their love and commitment, shown even amidst tremendous grief and distress, gave strength to Bonifacio and Rizal even in their last moments. Circumstantially, both de Jesus and Bracken share the same day of the month in the moment of their passing, which gave added meaning and significance to both lives and the destinies they shared.

Childhood and family background

Gregoria de Jesus, nicknamed “Oryang”, was born on 9 May 1875 at 13 Baltazar Street, (now Zamora) which is now part of the City of Caloocan. Her parents were Nicolas de Jesus (a master mason, carpenter, and government official who once held the rank of second lieutenant, chief lieutenant, and soon, gobernadorcillo) and Baltazara Alvarez Francisco who was related to the Alvarezes of Cavite. In her short autobiography, Oryang detailed her educational background: she attended public school and finished the first grades of instruction. She was a winner in an examination given by the Governor-General and the town curate, having garnered a silver medal.

She stopped schooling to help her sister manage their business so that their brothers could study in Manila (indicating the situation of women at that time wherein males were prioritized in obtaining education). She supervised their land, stet, and rice harvest, while paying the wages of their workers on Sunday mornings.

Josephine’s childhood was in stark difference compared to Oryang. Josephine’s father, James Bracken, was a corporal in the British Army and as such, was assigned to several British posts around the world. Her siblings were born in different British military outposts, while she was born on 9 August 1876 in Hong Kong. Her mother, Elizabeth Jane MacBride, died giving birth to her. As a soldier and a single parent raising his children, it was a difficult task for James Bracken. He was forced to give up Josephine for adoption.

The next chapter of Josephine’s life was spent with the Taufer household. George Taufer, a former machinist from New York, became her adopted father. She had a good relationship with the Taufer couple until the death of Mrs. Taufer on 8 October 1882 due to a heart disease. She was only seven years old when it happened. Soon, Mr. Taufer remarried again. However, another tragedy befell the family as his second wife got ill again and died on 26 April 1890. It was  painful for both father and daughter to experience these tragedies within the family.

But the worst was yet to come. Mr. Taufer married for the third time on 12 November 1891. His third wife caused so much trouble for Josephine that she decided to run away on 12 December 1891. She was temporarily sheltered in an Italian convent. Two months had passed by when Mr. Taufer begged Josephine to come back as his third wife was starving him. Being the loving daughter that she was, she relented and went back to the Taufer household on 3 February 1892. On 14 September, as she detailed in her very short autobiography, she expelled the third wife from the household.

Josephine Bracken, in conclusion, lived a very challenging childhood and teenage life.

Meeting their husbands and familial objections

Andres Bonifacio was one of the (young) men who made a visit to Gregoria de Jesus when she was 18 years old. Teodoro Plata, her cousin, introduced Andres to Gregoria. Soon, with Andres’ perseverance, Oryang fell in love with him. But their situation was difficult. Oryang’s parents were reluctant with the blossoming relationship to begin. Furthermore, Oryang’s father objected to Bonifacio as he was a Mason, who was, at the time, branded as heretics, separatists, and anti-friar.

Soon, her parents gave in, and they were allowed to marry. The couple first married through a Catholic rite at Binondo Church in March 1893. A week after, they were married again and officiated in Katipunan rites, and attended by their fellow Katipuneros. There, she adopted the title ‘Lakambini’ and was sworn to obey the Katipunan charter.

Similarly, Jose Rizal and Josephine Bracken’s relationship met the same hurdle with the objection of their families. When Mr. George Taufer began to experience problems with his eyes and no ophthalmologist in Hong Kong could cure him, he opted to visit Dr. Jose Rizal in the Philippines to seek treatment. The old man was accompanied by Josephine Bracken along with her sister and a servant. Meeting them in Dapitan while in exile, Rizal was smitten with Josephine. Mr. Taufer and Josephine’s stay in Dapitan were a time of fleeting happiness and revelation for both Rizal and Bracken’s feelings for each other. When the Taufers left Dapitan, Rizal asked for Josephine’s hand, which the old man objected to. The family left but Josephine went back to Rizal’s side.

As Mr. Taufer objected to Rizal’s proposal of marriage to Josephine Bracken, it was the same with the Rizal family. Most of them suspected Josephine as a spy. Rizal tried to mend the estranged ties of Josephine with his family. In many of the letters he wrote, Rizal always praised Josephine in an effort to win his family over for her. He indicated how Josephine prepared food the family had sent to Dapitan and how she had cared for him.

In his letter to his mother, Teodora Alonso, dated 14 March 1895, Rizal introduced Josephine to his mother. He pleaded with his mother to treat her as if she was her own. He explained that “she is almost alone in the world; she has only very distant relatives.”

Rizal would have married Josephine Bracken while they were in Dapitan. But due to the perceived masonic leanings of Rizal, even when Josephine was a Catholic, the priests refused them the rite of marriage. Unlike Andres Bonifacio and Gregoria de Jesus who consummated their marriage, the couple were only allowed to marry each other hours before Rizal’s execution, and with the claimed retraction of Rizal and his alleged return to the Catholic faith.

Young lasses fell in love with older gentlemen

Both ladies fell in love with much older men. Oryang was only eighteen years old when she married Andres Bonifacio who was thirty years old, in 1893. Meanwhile Josephine was only eighteen years old when she met Jose Rizal in Dapitan. When they were married on 30 December 1896, Josephine was twenty-years old, and Jose Rizal, thirty-five years old.

Living with their husbands

As wives, both Gregoria de Jesus and Josephine Bracken diligently fulfilled their roles. Being the Lakambini of the Katipunan, Gregoria was with Andres Bonifacio as he carried out his duties as President of the Katipunan. She also made sure that Katipunan items such as seals, documents, and weapons were kept in safety. Whenever the Spaniards conducted surprise inspections, she was able to hide them, and transport them to a safer place while evading authorities.

Josephine, on the other hand, returned to Dapitan in April 1895. In his letter to his family, Rizal divulged the couple’s decision for Josephine to stay with him for good.. Having been barred to marry in the duration of Rizal’s exile in Dapitan, Rizal and Josephine Bracken lived as common-law husband and wife.

Death of their infants

Tragedy struck both couples. Andres and Oryang had a child named Andres but he contracted chickenpox months after his birth, finally succumbing to death. Meanwhile, Jose and Josephine’s baby, named Peter by Josephine and Francisco by Rizal’s sisters, was stillborn. Rizal buried his son near the gazebo and burned it down when he was to leave for Cuba in 1896.

Revolutionary activities

In the underground Katipunan movement, Gregoria and other women members served as fronts whenever male members were secretly holding a meeting. Together with Benita Rodriguez, they sewed the Katipunan flag. When the revolution broke out, de Jesus hid and avoided arrest. She used the alias “Manuela Gonzaga” to hide her identity. Soon, she joined Andres in Balara en route to Cavite. During the revolution, she tagged along with Andres whether in the open battlefields or in getting through the mountains on foot. She learned to ride the horse and shoot a rifle. She also experienced sleeping on the ground, drinking dirty water, and enduring hunger for a day. She also experienced hardships in the hands of fellow Filipinos. Oryang endured all of these for her love for Bonifacio and the country.

After the execution of Rizal, Josephine stayed in the company of Paciano, Trinidad and Josefa Rizal. In Cavite, they met Andres Bonifacio and joined the revolution. This was perhaps the only time she and Gregoria de Jesus met. She helped in the installation of a field hospital in Tejeros. She was also at the firing line, holding a mauser at the Battle of Perez Dasmariñas. When Cavite was on the verge of defeat, she escaped to Laguna with Paciano. She went back to Hong Kong through Manila with the aid of Venancio Cueto.

Final days of their husbands

Gregoria de Jesus was separated from Andres Bonifacio when the latter was arrested and stood on trial in Maragondon, Cavite. After Andres was executed in the mountains of Maragondon, Gregoria searched for him, hoping that she could, at the very least, get the remains, but to no avail.

In contrast, Jose Rizal and Josephine Bracken were able to re-unite in Rizal’s final moments. Two hours before Rizal’s execution, as per the documents in the Cuerpo de Vigilancia showed, they were able to marry through a Catholic rite.

A second chance at love

After the death of Andres Bonifacio, Oryang laid low in Pasig, probably in the mountains of the present-day Rizal province. There, she met Julio Nakpil, an ally of Andres Bonifacio and commander of all the Katipinan troops in the north. In a time of grief and loss, Oryang found the courage to live again. She fell in love marriage with Nakpil,  and were able to marry on 10 December 1898 in the church at Quiapo, Manila. They were allowed to live in the house of Dr. Ariston Bautista whose wife, Petrona Nakpil, was a sister of her husband. Their union brought forth eight children whom Dr. Bautista supported. One of the couple’s children was the National Artist for Architecture Juan Nakpil.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, Bracken found refuge in the family of Felipe Agoncillo. There, she met Vicente Abad and they got married on 15 December 1898. They had a daughter named Dolores. After some time, Bracken returned to the Philippines and taught English in Cebu. One notable student of hers was Commonwealth president, Sergio Osmeña.

Quincenas Catapusan

Gregoria lived a long life. She died on 15 March 1943 from a heart disease. She was sixty-eight years old. She was buried at the La Loma Cemetery.

Josephine Bracken, on the other hand, contracted tuberculosis in the larynx at the time of her marriage with Vicente Abad in 1898. She eventually died in Hong Kong on 15 March 1902. She was buried at Happy Valley Cemetery.

The lives of Gregoria de Jesus and Josephine Bracken were quite similar in a sense that their lives were changed when they both fell in love with men of renown. Down to their last breath, they shared the day of death, 15 March, only forty-one years apart.

Sources:

Quirino, Carlos. The Great Malayan. Makati City, Tahanan Books. 1997

Rizal, Jose P. Jose Rizal: Letters with Family Members. Manila, National Historical Commission of the Philippines. 2011.

De Viana, Augusto. A Glimpse Into the Life of Josephine Bracken.

A Glimpse into the Life of Josephine Bracken

Craig, Austin. The True Story of Mrs. Rizal. Philippine Education Magazine. Manila. December 1927

Gamboa, Virginia. The Last Days if Doctor Jose Rizal’s Wife. The Sunday Tribune. December 29, 1929, page 4.

Ramos-de Leon, Lilia. Hero’s Wife: Josephine Was Different. The Times. June 19, 1979, page 13.

_____, Documentary Sources of Philippine History, Volume 11. Navotas, National Bookstore, Inc. 1900.

Daguio, Estela Fermin. Faces of Courage: Centennial Year Edition. City of Manila, Saint Bernadette Publications, Inc. 1998.

Gonzalez, Michaela-Beltran Ed. D., Ancheta, Herminia M. M.A. Filipino Women in Nation Building: A Compilation of Brief Biographies. Quezon City, Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. 1984.

___, Filipinos in History, Vol. I. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1982.

___, Historical Bulletin: The Propaganda Movement Volume XXIX, 1993 to XXX, 1994.

Remember ‘Lola’ Gregoria. Philippine Daily inquirer. November 23, 1997.

QUEZON CITY – Antique cars are grand relics of the past; which will always have a significant, if not a special place in history. Preserving them is a great and costly undertaking which the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has done with the Presidential Car Museum. Hence, it is not surprising that the ceremonial signing of the Implementing Rules of Regulation (IRR) of the Vintage Vehicle Law (Republic Act 11698) will be done in the museum.

Under the Act, cars that are currently or previously owned by  any President of the Philippines; a car regularly used by the President or officially designated by the Presidential Security Group (PSG); cars used as private vehicles of the President during their term on a  regular basis; cars used for historic events or even once owned by a person of historic significance as recognized by NHCP, will be included. It also covers vehicles used in events of historic significance, considered one of a kind or unique and those used in the olden days before the common use of cars in the country.

The act also stipulates that vintage vehicles may be imported without restriction as long as it serves in the interest of preserving cultural and historical heritage of the country, as certified by the NHCP. The agency is also expected to promote and encourage correct and safe maintenance of vintage vehicles through information and education campaigns.

The Vintage Vehicle Act IRR will also set guidelines to vintage vehicle owners, and local motoring community in the hopes of developing the local vintage car restoration industry.

The program’s welcome remarks will be delivered by NHCP Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Franco Calairo; along with messages coming from Hon. Paul Ruiz Daza, Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Northern Samar 1st District Representative; Hon. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Senate President; and Atty. Jose Arturo Tugade, Assistant Secretary, Land Transportation Office.

Members and representatives from the Automobile Association of the Philippines, Manila Sports Car Club, Makati Rotary Club, Porsche Car Club, and Vintage Car Club will also be present. The event  starts at 830am, Sunday on 12 March 2023 at the Presidential Car Museum, Quezon Memorial Circle. The museum will be closed until 1pm but regular guests may visit after the program.

The NHCP is the national agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine historical heritage through research and publication, conservation, heraldry and administration of historic sites and structures.

1. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, through the 2023 General Appropriation Act intends to apply the sum of One Million, Nine Hundred Twenty-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred Pesos (₱1,929,500.00) being the ABC to payments under the contract for Microsoft Office 365 Business Standard Subscription Accounts – 227 Licenses Renewal. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 

2. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines now invites bids for the above Procurement Project. Delivery of the Goods is required on April 19, 2023 for 125 licenses and on August 18, 2023 for the last 102 licenses. Bidders should have completed, within Three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.  The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II (Instructions to Bidders).

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184.  Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA No. 5183.

4. Prospective Bidders may obtain further information from National Historical Commission of the Philippines and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM or via bac@nhcp.gov.ph.

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 9 March 2023 from the given address and website(s) below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (₱5,000.00). The Procuring Entity shall allow the bidder to present its proof of payment for the fees in person or via e-mail at the e-mail address indicated below.

6. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines will hold a Pre-Bid Conference^[1] on 16 March 2023, 9:30 AM, at 1/F Finance and Administrative Division (FAD) Conference Room, NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw Avenue, Ermita, Manila, and/or through videoconferencing/webcasting via Microsoft Teams App, which shall be open to prospective bidders. To access the Pre-Bid Conference, click this http://bit.ly/3YyF0BE.

7. Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat through manual submission at the office address indicated below, on or before 28 March 2023, 9:30 AM. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 14.

9. Bid opening for the technical and financial proposals shall be on 28 March 2023 at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM, respectively at the given address below and/or through Microsoft Teams App. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend the activity. To access the opening of the technical and financial bid proposals, click this MS Teams link: http://bit.ly/3F1AEMw.

10. All bidders are reminded that each and every page of the Bidding Documents submitted should be duly signed by the bidder’s authorized representative/s and that all legally executable documents (e.g., Omnibus Sworn Statement) are duly notarized. Submitted bids which have unsigned pages and/or unnotarized legal documents shall be considered non-responsive.

11. All bidders are advised to adopt the new, revised format of the Omnibus Sworn Statement issued pursuant to GPPB Circular No 4-2020 as adopted by GPPB Resolution No. 16-2020. The revised format of the OSS consists of 10 articles/paragraphs (with two new additional provisions since the previous 2016 edition), a template of which may be downloaded from the GPPB website thru this link https://www.gppb.gov.ph/downloadables.php.

12. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Sections 35.6 and 41 of the 2016 revised IRR of RA No. 9184, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

13. For further information, please refer to:
    Engr. Benjamin T. Paulin II
    National Historical Commission of the Philippines
    T.M. Kalaw Ave., Ermita, Manila 1000
    E-mail Address: bac@nhcp.gov.ph
    Cellphone No.:
    Facsimile No.: (02) 8536-3181
    Website: http://www.nhcp.gov.ph 

14. 14. You may visit the following websites:
        For downloading of Bidding Documents:
         http://nhcp.gov.ph/category/nhcp/procurement/bid-opportunities/
        For online bid submission:  here.
        

______________________________________
ALVIN R. ALCID
BAC Chairperson
^[1] May be deleted in case the ABC is less than One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000) where the Procuring Entity may not hold a Pre-Bid Conference.

Download bidding documents here.