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Rizal Day 2011
The nation marks today the 115th commemoration of Jose Rizal’s martyrdom at Luneta.
The flag raising ceremony was led by President Benigno S. Aquino III with Vice President Jejomar Binay, Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, NHCP Chairman Dr. Serena Diokno, other government officials, dignitaries, members of the AFP, PNP, and the general public.
After the wreath laying at Rizal’s monument and a 21-gun salute to the National Hero, the President unveiled the new marker for the “Rizal Fountain” at the Noli Me Tangere Garden in Luneta.
Here are the 360 panoramas of today’s event at Rizal Park.
148th Birth Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio
Today the nation marks the 148th birth anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897), founder and the supreme leader of the Katipunan.
Bonifacio was born to Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro in Tondo, Manila and was the eldest of five children.
Bonifacio was married twice. His first wife was a certain Monica who died of leprosy. His second wife, Gregoria de Jesús was of Caloocan, whom he married in 1893. They had one son who died in infancy.
On July 7, 1892, the day after Rizal’s deportation was announced, Bonifacio and others founded the Katipunan, or in full, Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (“Highest and Most Respected Society of the Children of the Country”). The secret society sought independence from Spain through armed revolt.
When Spanish authority ordered an intensive manhunt, Bonifacio called thousands of Katipunan members to a mass gathering in Caloocan, where they decided to start their revolt. The event, marked by the tearing of cedulas (community tax certificates) was later called the “Cry of Balintawak” or “Cry of Pugad Lawin”.
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2nd Anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre
November 23rd marks the 2nd anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre wherein exactly two years ago, 58 people were killed, mostly journalists. It is also the first international commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity as declared such by the International Federation of Journalists and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange to recall the Ampatuan Massacre.
The march started near the University of Santo Thomas, and then proceeded to the heart of the “university belt” in Manila where a brief program was held. Along the way, volunteers traced body outlines on the concrete pavement with chalk and leaders of different student journals toke the stage and delivered their messages. The march ended at the foot of Mendiola Bridge near Malacanang; a dramatic program was again enacted. Relatives of the victims voiced their sentiments using placards and banners while some members of the media lie on the street to have their body traced. The program ended with the lighting of candles in remembrance of the victims, for which justice has yet to be served.
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Roxas Boulevard after Typhoon Nesat
When Typhoon Pedring (International Code Name: Nesat) roared through Central Luzon, I was in Cebu and only experienced one night and two days of rain there, a far cry from the devastation that befell the Manila Bay area as well as the equally ravaged provinces in the north.
I would have put on my wetsuit, sling a goggle, wrapped the camera and stand atop the pedestrian overpass near the US Embassy and shoot to my heart’s delight! Imagining myself frantically clicking the camera shuttle as waves upon waves hammered the sea wall, sending a cascade of water, stones, fish and trash in my immediate surroundings, while amidst all these chaos, a sense of awe and trepidation encompasses my being as the full fury of mother nature is being unleashed. (sigh!)
So 2 weeks after the storm, I finally had time to survey the damages to Roxas Boulevard’s sea wall, especially the stretch from the US Embassy to Rajah Sulaiman Park. According to the workers I talked with, the clearing/cleaning operations will last until December and the actual redesign/reconstruction will likely take several months thereafter.
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Arrival Ceremony of BRP Gregorio del Pilar
August 23, 2011 marks another milestone for the Philippine Navy as the newest and biggest ship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF15) officially docked in Manila with no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III as Guest of Honor and Speaker during the arrival ceremony.
