THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES
May 31 to June 6
June 1, 1649
Agustin Ponce Sumuroy, a native of Northern Samar province, led an uprising against Spanish conquerors in the town of Palapag. The Sumuroy Rebellion stemmed from the forced labor system imposed by the Spanish colonial government, which demanded residents to work in shipyards in Cavite province. The rebellion spread to other provinces like Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cebu, Bohol, Zamboanga and the city of Iligan in Lanao del Norte. A year later, in June 1650, Sumuroy was captured and executed after his own relatives and followers squealed on him. Historical markers were installed in Palapag in 2008 to commemorate his bravery.
June 1, 1882
Lucena, formerly a small barrio in the town of Tayabas in Quezon province, became a municipality. It was previously called Cotta because “cottas,” or forts, were built to defend the former barrio from Muslim raids. In June 1961, Lucena became a city and remained the capital of Quezon by virtue of Republic Act No. 3271. In July 1991, it became a highly urbanized city. Lucena and the whole Quezon province is known for their coconut industry, which is celebrated in the Niyogyugan Festival. The city’s assets in 2018 totaled P2.25 billion and its population in 2015 was 266,248.
June 1, 1966
The municipality of Olongapo in Zambales province became a city through Republic Act No. 4645, signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos. The city’s name was derived from “ulo ng apo,” referring to the head of a wise and old man. Olongapo was formerly controlled by the American government as a naval base, which is now known as the Subic Bay Freeport. It survived the devastation caused by the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions in 1991 and the economic losses due to the US bases withdrawal in 1992. Its population in 2015 was 233,040.
June 3, 2019
The International Committee of the Red Cross turned over a water and sanitation facility in Bualan spring in the town of Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur province. Some 6,000 residents, as well as families displaced by the 2017 Marawi siege, stood to benefit from the facility that would provide them access to clean drinking water. Residents said that it would also play a crucial role for the “wudhu” (washing) rite, which is a ritual among Muslims before they enter the mosque to pray. The facility could also benefit neighboring towns of Lanao del Sur that depended on electric water pumps during power outages.
Canceled events: Due to the national public health emergency in relation to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Sarangani Bay Festival in Glan, Sarangani province; Sangyaw Festival in Tacloban City, Leyte province; and Hinulawan Festival in Toledo, Cebu province, scheduled between May 31 and June 6, have been canceled by the local governments concerned.