Thread by @indiohistorian

#TodayinHistory in 1847, Cayetano Arellano, 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, was born in Udyong (now Orion), Bataan, #PH. Although a controversial figure, Arellano set the foundation of the PH judiciary. THREAD. #history #kasaysayan

Born to Don Servando Arellano, a Spaniard, & Crisfora Lonzon of Bataan, Cayetano Arellano was a working student in his early years, finishing primary & secondary educ in @LetranOfficial, after w/c he finished Philosophy (1862), Theology (1867) & Laws (1876) at @UST1611official.

Arellano became instructor at the UST teaching Civil Law. Soon, he served as member ("regidor") of the council of the City of Manila (#Intramuros) from 1887 to 1889. He was soon appointed by the colonial gov as Magistrado Suplente of the Audiencia Territorial de Manila.

Arellano refused to be part of PH Revolution vs. Spain when it broke out in 1896, not believing in its cause. He was one of the 18 appointed by the Spanish gov (9 May 1898) to the Consultative Assembly in an effort to quell the the revolution.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1429749653096976384

When U.S. President William McKinley established the Schurman Commission to study the #PH situation after the U.S. acquired #PH under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, Arellano accompanied the group in their tour of PH, reorganizing local gov units.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1336997376947494917

He, together w/ Florentino Torres, Pedro Paterno & Benito Legarda (members of Malolos Congress who agree to PH autonomy under the US & not independence) testified before the Schurman Commission saying that #PH was not ready for self government. This was amidst PH-American War.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1385538789267836929

As the U.S. established its grip on PH at the turn of the 20th century, Gen. Elwell Otis, U.S. military gov-gen, requested Arellano's expertise in est. a judicial court, & consulted him in specific laws on criminal procedures, marriage, & local gov administration.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1478697656793051139

When the American-dominated Philippine Commission created the Supreme Court under the colonial regime in 1901, the U.S. gov-gen William Howard Taft appointed Arellano as first Chief Justice. To date, Arellano is the longest-serving CJ in PH history (1901-1920) serving for 19 yrs.

Photos:
- Portrait of Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano, from the Presidential Museum and Library
- The Schurman Commission (L-R: Jacob Schurman, Adm. George Dewey, Charels Denby, Dean Worcester), 1899, from @librarycongress

For @subselfie.
@tonitiemsin
@jmnualla