Ocean Breeze

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Jose P. Rizal Images

Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest for a group painting by Juan Luna.

Rizal posing as a novice who fell asleep during a funeral vigil for a group painting by Juan Luna.

A picture of Rizal from a group picture taken in Juan Luna's studio.

Jose P. Rizal Images

Painting of Rizal by Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo (Madrid,1883)

Rizal at 23, Madrid

Rizal wearing a costume during the carnival season in Spain.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Filipino Presidents

Emilio Aguinaldo

(1869-1964; President 1898-1901)

First President of the First Republic of the Philippines

“We may be losing our hope to succeed in the present battle because of lack of warfare manpower, however what we cannot lose is our hope to die for the sake of freedom.”

      Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the First Republic was born in Kawit, Cavite on March 22, 1869. His father is Carlos Aguinaldo and his mother is Trinidad Famy y Valero.
Emilio was nicknamed Miong. At age three, he almost died because he became ill of smallpox and his parents were afraid of his condition.
      Miong’s first teacher was his aunt Sotera. He first attended school at the National School in Kawit, and his first teacher is Felipe Canda of Baliuag, Bulacan. Miong is a bright student and likes to study which makes his teacher fond of him.
      He continued his studies at San Juan de Letran College. After three months, he went home and quit his studies. Upon his return to his hometown, he was appointed as Cabesa de Barangay or Village Chieftain and it wasn’t long because of his great leadership skill, that he was invited by a friend, Santiago Alvarez to join Katipunan. The Katipunan is a secret organization of Filipinos who were against the grave abuse of power of the Spanish government in the Philippines. This organization also started the revolution against the Spanish. The Katipuneros, including Emilio Aguinaldo revolted against the Spaniards in 1896. Because of his bravery and valor, he led the revolt and he became the President in Tejeros convention because of a conspiracy and his persuasion of the officials and leaders to vote for him instead of Bonifacio because Aguinaldo said that Bonifacio has no formal education, illiterate and poor.
        In the said convention, Emilio Aguinaldo have said: “My Filipino countrymen, open your eyes. Let the blood of our fellow Filipino that was oppressed by the Spanish lingers in your hearts so that we may not surrender to the Spaniards. We haven’t committed any wrongdoings to not obtain freedom.”
       Aguinaldo ordered the execution of his biggest rival, Bonifacio brothers, Andres and Procopio at Mt. Buntis, Maragondon, Cavite on May 10, 1897.
       After the pact in Biak-na-Bato, the Filipinos and the Spanish agreed to halt the war. The treaty were to obliged the Spanish government to forgive the Filipino revolutionist. It is also obligatory for the Spanish to pay in the amount of one million, seven hundred thousand pesos (P1,700,000) for te damaged properties during the revolution.
        Emilio Aguinaldo and other Filipino leaders escaped to Hong Kong. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo deposited one million, seven hundred thousand pesos, paid by the Spanish government to the Filipinos, in Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank on January 2, 1898. However, the Spanish betrayed and followed the treaties in Biak na Bato (Halved Stones). Filipinos too advantage of the Spanish-American War in Cuba. They have decided to return to the Philippines and continue the movement for freedom. Gen. Aguinaldo made connections with the Americans. He had entrusted to the American consulate in Hong Kong, the amount used to purchase arms and weapons. However, Gen. Aguinaldo was deceived again. No help came from the Americans.
        Upon Gen. Aguinaldo’s return to the Philippines on May, 1898, a battle between the Filipinos and the Spanish erupted. Aguinaldo successfully declared the Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. On this occasion, as the First President of First Republic, Emilio Aguinaldo uttered:
        “We are free now. We don’t just obey. We are people who recognize the law, make friends and respect other countries. We have enough abilities to be independent and to be fee.” I am congratulating all the Filipinos. From now on, we already have our own rights to freedom to be known as the “Republic of the Philippines.”
         President Aguinaldo appointed Felipe Agoncillo to be the Philippine representative in United States. Agoncillo tried to talk with President McKinley but he failed. The Americans ignored the desire of the Filipinos to recognize the Philippines as a free country. Instead, on December 10, 1898, in the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the United States, the Philippines was ceded to the United States by Spain in the amount of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).
          The Filipinos started killing Americans in the Philippines. The Americans thought that in the amount they gave to Spain, they will capture the hearts and minds of the Filipinos. Aguinaldo tries to stop the war. Due to lack of skill and power, Filipinos were easily defeated by the Americans. During the battle of Tirad Pass in Ilocos Norte province on December 1899, Gen. Aguinaldo narrowly escapes the tragic battle of the Filipinos against Americans by heeding the warning of one of his troops not to come to the losing battle.
            Finally, Aguinaldo captured by the Americans on March 23, 1901 in Palanan, Isabela. He was made to swear allegiance to America on April 1, 1901.
           In 1935, President Aguinaldo run for election as President of a Commonwealth government. His opponents include Manuel L. Quezon and Gregorio Aglipay. Aguinaldo was easily defeated and the presidency was won by Manuel L. Quezon.
          When the Japanese occupied Philippines in 1941, Aguinaldo doesn’t have enough strength to lead. Through radio transmitter, he made announcements to Gen. Douglas MacArthur on February 6, 1942 to surrender the Philippines to Japan to avoid the increase in casualties of Filipinos and damage of properties. President Aguinaldo is one of the signatories of the Constitution of the Republic under Japan.
          Aguinaldo’s first wife is Hilaria del Rosario with which he has five children namely Miguel, Carmen, Maria, Emilio and Cristina. Nine years after his wife’s death, President Aguinaldo remarried and his second wife is Maria Agoncillo. President Emilio Aguinaldo died on February 6, 1964.

Major World Events During Aguinaldo’s Administration

Netherlands. First Hague Peace Conference, 1899

China. Boxer uprising against foreign domination, 1900

Australia. Commonwealth of Australia established, 1901

South Africa. Boer War 1899 – 1902

Emilio Aguinaldo Images

General Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the First Republic of the Philippines

President Aguinaldo on his last visit to Malolos, Bulacan.

Emilio Aguinaldo Images

Taken this image of President Aguinaldo while being interviewed by a writer in the historic home in Cavite. Seated on a wheel chair because of an illness.

President Aguinaldo looking at President Elpidio Quirino doing a handshake with Mr. Thomas Lockett of America

A rare picture taken of President Aguinaldo and President Manuel Quezon.

General Aguinaldo at the age of 29 when he installed or declared Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, after the bloody battle or paglalaban. This image was taken in Cavite.

The historic porch of their home in Kawit, Cavite, beside President and Mrs. Emilio Aguinaldo were Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko of Japan.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Malacanan Palace

Home of the Philippine Presidents

            The home of the Philippine presidents is a building called – Malacanan. However, many believe that the word came from the three Tagalog words, “may lakan diyan” which literally translates “there’s a nobleman there.” It is told in the history of the Philippines before the Spanish arrived that a Filipino local leader is called “lakan or nobleman.” Being defined, the word Malacanan is a shortened word which means “there is a nobleman or aristocrat there.” It is considered an aristocrat a leader of a certain territory during those times.
           Two hundred seven years ago, Malacanan Palace is only known by its nickname "bahay na bato" or “house of stone.” The “house of stone” is owned by Don Luis Rocha. Soon, the “house of stone” is purchased by Col. Luis Miguel Formento, a Spaniard, in the amount of one thousand one hundred pesos (P 1,100). The purchase took place on November 16, 1802.
          On January 22, 1825, the house of stone was purchased by the Spanish government in the Philippines in the amount of five thousand one hundred pesos (P5,100). Don Clemente Cobarruvias, a government official, managed the purchase negotiation. An ordinance issued on August 27, 1847 establishes the house of stone as a summer residence of the governor general in the Philippines. It will also house the guests of the government.
         When an earthquake destroyed the original residence of the governor general in Intramuros on June 3, 1863, the house of stone became the official residence of Governor General Rafael de Echague. He called it Posicion de Malacanan.
          There are lots of changes at the palace. Additional rooms and offices are made along the corners of the “house of stone.” However the palace was destroyed by a strong earthquake of 1869. Massive renovations are again being done and also undergone changes to deliver the basic necessity at the palace. Reconstruction finished on December, 1870.
          Less than two years passed, when a strong storm destroyed again the Palace last October 13, 1872.The worse damage of the calamity was the office of the governor general. While the palace is being rebuilt, the kitchen was destroyed by a fire when its reconstruction is almost finished. They are enforced to make stringent measures and changes to avoid fire in the future.
         The palace was destroyed again by a typhoon again on May 29, 1873. The main building of the palace was severely devastated. It was reconstructed again and therefore, balcony was added and made improvements to the original hall. Extensive reconstruction to broaden and widen the main office was undertaken. The total cost of reconstruction amounted to twenty-four thousand three hundred sixty-three ($24,363).
         A strong earthquake occurred on July 1880 brought down again the vulnerable palace. After a done to all damages, the total cost reached to a hefty thirty six thousand dollars ($36,000). Renovations and beautification were done in 1885 during the state visit to the Philippines of Prince Oscar of Sweden. The flag pole was transferred at the main door of the palace. It was implanted in a concrete stone that has a steel wire.
        Through the years, additional facilities supplemented to meet the needs in the Palace. It includes official car terminal, animal food storage, guard’s quarter, and fence railings on the shoreline of the social hall. Total costs spent amounted to one hundred eighty-three thousand, five hundred sixty seven dollars ($183, 567). Since 1869, this amount is the total amount of money spent for the Palace excluding other expenses.
        In 1898, the interiors of the Palace are needed to be filled so as not to be stranded by floodwater. Floodwater is the breeding ground of mosquitoes and other insects. There is another major change in the Palace after the interiors was filled.
       Soon, the government bought a tract of land that’s worth one hundred seventy six thousand pesos (P176,000). As the palace made expansions, a tennis court, swimming pool, new fences and additional rooms were built as needed by the Palace.
      After a few years, to ensure convenient and comfortable living conditions at the palace and to respond to the growing needs, changes were made to the exteriors of the Palace. The buildings were adorned with marble decorations from Romblon. Expensive wood carvings were placed in the interior walls of the apalace. Renovations were completed in 1821. Total expenses reached one million, three hundred fifty thousand pesos (P1, 350, 000).
     Many years had passed and every time a new President is sworn into office, there are lots of transformations being done at the palace. The changes made according to the preferences of the transition president and first lady.
     Every time there is a new president at Malacanan, the palace is even more beautiful in the eyes of the international community and even in the eyes of the Filipinos.
     There is a big difference in the present palace from the “house of stone” since it was officially called Malacanan, the home of the Philippine presidents.