THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES

July 12 to July 18

July 14, 1777

Cabanatuan, formerly a barrio of Gapan City (then a town) in Nueva Ecija province, became a municipality. It was the provincial capital from 1779 to 1816 and from 1912 to 1965. It was declared a city through Republic Act No. 526 on June 16, 1950. Historic events took place in the city, such as Antonio Luna’s assassination in Plaza Luzero and the transfer of the revolutionary government to Cabanatuan from San Isidro. In July 1966, a historical marker was installed to commemorate the founding of the city.

July 14,1899

The Revolutionary Congress in Tarlac province convened and elected its officers after Malolos in Bulacan province was captured by the Americans. Among those elected were Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista (president) and Felix Ferrer (vice president). But Apolinario Mabini later criticized the Congress in an article published in the revolutionary paper, La Independencia, because it was not representative of the people and the elections should not have been held because Filipinos were fighting a war.

July 15, 2014

The province of Albay recorded zero casualty after Typhoon “Glenda” (international name: Rammasun) hit land, first in Rapurapu town and then in Tabaco City. Glenda, which swept across Bicol and six other regions for five days, made three landfalls, two of which were in Albay. Provincial officials credited residents for the zero casualty, and said training and communication had made them aware of the risks in times of disaster. More than 500,000 residents were displaced, while 127 were injured in Albay. A total of 106 people died and 1,250 were injured as Glenda hit the country, based on the final report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

July 16,1937

The former municipalities of La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo and Arevalo in Iloilo province were annexed to the old Iloilo town to form the new city of Iloilo. The city was to hold its inauguration on the same day as stated in Proclamation No. 133, signed by then President Manuel Quezon. But the inaugural ceremony fell through because no city official had been appointed by the President, as prescribed in the Commonwealth Act No. 158, which amended the city charter. Iloilo City was finally inaugurated on Aug. 25, 1937, and Ramon Campos was sworn in as its first mayor.

Canceled events: Due to the national public health emergency in relation to the new coronavirus disease, the S’lang Festival in Malungon, Sarangani province; Kinabayo Festival in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte province; and Maubanog Festival in Mauban, Quezon province, scheduled between July 12 and July 18, have been canceled by the local governments concerned. Compiled by: Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research Sources: Inquirer Archives, officialgazette.gov.ph, ndrrmc.gov.ph, congress.gov.ph, iloilo.gov.ph, Historical Calendar (15211969), Historical Markers (Regions IIV and CAR), Tarlac Star Monitor, lcp.org.ph