#TodayinHistory in 1878, Sergio Osmeña, 4th #PH President (official roster), and 2nd President of the PH Commonwealth, was born in Cebu City. As a journalist, turned Filipino political leader, his was a long track record from PH Revolution to Post-#WWII. (THREAD) #history
Hailing from #Cebu from a wealthy Chinese mestizo family, Osmeña studied in @uscphilippines, then at @LetranOfficial where he became acquainted w/ ML Quezon, Juan Sumulong & Emilio Jacinto, and pursued Law in @UST1611official. At 1st he was sympathetic to 🇪🇸 but his views changed
He contacted Aguinaldo in Oct 1899 at the heat of #PH-US War, as emissary of Cebuanos but observed that defeat for PH was imminent. He went back to Cebu, studied English, & began participating in the American civil gov system that the U.S. est. in PH, to push for independence.
From 1907 to 1916, Osmeña became the highest Filipino official as Speaker of the Philippine Assembly. W/ the Jones Law passage in 1916, the Philippine Commission was reorganized into #PH Senate, & Quezon overtook him as Senate President.
The soft rivalry bet the 2 went fever pitch in 1922, splitting the dominant Nacionalista Party into two. Quezon broke away & formed Nacionalista Colectivista, arguing that Osmeña was dictatorial when governing should be by a "collective." Osmeña denied the allegation.
In 1922, Osmeña left the Speakership, ran and got elected for the Senate. It marked an end to his preeminent leadership. Osmeña worked w/ Quezon w/ the Independence Missions, campaigning for #PH independence in the US Congress. They succeeded.
Sergio Osmeña served as VP (1935-1944). His term was supposed to have ended in 1943, but due to the Japanese occupation of #PH, both Quezon & Osmeña's terms were extended by the U.S. Congress. He assumed the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944.
His greatest moment was when he as President, together w/ Gen. D. MacArthur & Allied forces, landed in Leyte, on 20 Oct 1944, reestablishing #PH gov on Philippine soil. He ran for the presidency once again in 1946 but was defeated by Manuel Roxas.
*Photos from Presidential Museum & Library
- Candid photo of Pres. Sergio Osmeña from LIFE Magazine, 1944
- Osmeña, Quezon, Roxas, in the U.S., early 1930s
- Osmeña takes his oath as VP, 1935
- Osmeña takes his oath as President, 1944
*Editorial cartoon, Philippines Free Press.
#TodayinHistory in 1986, Marines broke thru Camp Aguinaldo's east wall, but hesitated due to civilian buffer. Soon, PH Air Force's 15th Strike Wing hovered. Crowd expected an attack but the airmen joined the crowd. Marcos issued kill order but it was not obeyed. THREAD. #EDSA37
Radyo Veritas provided a blow-by-blow account of #EDSA even as its transmission tower was compromised by the PH Constabulary attack, limiting its airing to Luzon. However, a mysterious radio station appeared at 12mn calling itself "Radyo Bandido."
Listeners tuned in, as Radyo Bandido (@DZRJ810AM) station played the Mambo Magsaysay jingle, making people realize that it was really Radyo Veritas gone rogue. soundcloud.com/podcast-ph/cla…
I disagree that the return of “holiday economics” is “good.” Holidays of historical significance are important annual markers for everyone— the learned & those who aren’t. Moving the dates arbitrarily dilutes the full meaning of past events that happened in a specific pt in time.
It defeats the purpose of memorialization, especially when an event being commemorated involves a gruesome battle, atrocity, or martyrdom. Moving the commemoration dates are tantamount to disrespect.
It’s this very reason that the late president PNoy restored the national observances during his term, no matter how inconvenient the dates were “economically.”
#TodayinHistory in 1986, #Marcos Sr. sent 12 tanks to #EDSA led by Gen. Artemio Tadiar in an attempt to arrest the defectors & disperse the crowd. But the human barricades across the intersection of Ortigas & EDSA forced the marines to pull back. THREAD. #EDSA37#PH#history
The day prior, as news of Ramos and Enrile’s defection reached Cory Aquino, she was staying for the night in secret at the Carmelite monastery in Cebu. The sisters saw it their moral duty to protect her, w/ conviction that they’re protecting the legitimately elected president.
At dawn, via Radyo Veritas, Enrile & Ramos began calling again for Marcos' ouster. At 5:30am, PH Constabulary attacked Radyo Veritas limiting its airing to Luzon only. A few hours later, men began cutting down trees & used these as barricade on roads near Camps Crame & Aguinaldo.
#TodayinHistory in 1986, after a plot to assault Malacañang was foiled, Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile & AFP Vice Chief-of-Staff Fidel V. Ramos held a press con announcing defection from Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Jaime Cardinal Sin urged people to protect them. #EDSA37#History
In 1985, to placate the growing concern of the int'l community on #PH under Marcos, Marcos agreed to a Snap Elections on 7 Feb 1986. Corazon Aquino & Salvador Laurel ran as opposition.
On election day, & days that followed for tally & canvassing of votes, int'l observers note widespread fraud & violence threatening the integrity of the elections. Upon announcement in Batasan that Marcos won, majority of people boycotted crony companies.
#TodayinHistory in 1890, poet, nationalist, political thinker, jurist, & statesman, Claro M. Recto, was born in Tiaong, Quezon Province. Recto reshaped modern #PH political thought, pushing for nationalist policies when the U.S. heavily influenced post-war PH affairs. THREAD.
Born to Don Claro Recto Sr. of Rosario Batangas & Doña Micaela Mayo of Lipa, among 5 other siblings, 3 of whom died, Claro lived in a generation of great awakening. In 6 years time after his birth, #PH Revolution vs. Spain broke out.
Recto studied Latin at Instituto de Rizal in Lipa, Batangas from 1900 to 1901 & pursued Bachelor og Arts in 1905 at @ateneodemanilau, achieving the highest grade—maxima cum laude. He pursued Law in 1909 at @UST1611official & wrote for several newspapers to support his education.
#TodayinHistory in 1986, the consequential Snap Elections began. The 2 contenders for the presidency were Ferdinand Marcos Sr. & Corazon C. Aquino. It is one of the landmark events that led to the EDSA People Power Revolution 3 weeks later. THREAD. #history#kasaysayan
After the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983, int'l support on Marcos Sr. waned. It was in Nov 1985 that Marcos Sr. was interviewed in the David Brinkley's show & said: "... all these childish claims to popularity on both sides have to be settled, then I think...
"... we better settle it by calling an election... And we will invite the members of the American Congress to please come and see what is happening here. All this talk about fraud... that's sourgrapes."
Corazon Aquino, after much thought and consultation accepted the challenge.