Carlos P. Romulo : Mr. United Nations

Carlos Pena Romulo was born on January 14,1899 in Camiling, Tarlac. He began his journalistic career when he was a Bachelor of Arts at the University of  the Philippines. There, he was editor of college paper, "The Varsity News". After finishing his A.B. course, in 1918, he went to the United States and took an M.A. degree in Comparative Literature. In 1919, he became assistant editor of "The Citizen", a weekly magazine in Manila. In 1922, he served as associate editor of the Philippine Herald and was promoted to editor in 1927. In 1930, he was made editor of the "Tribune". A year later, he became editor -in -chief of the Tribune La Vanguardia -Taliba newspapers. In 1934, he became publisher of the Debate-Herald- Mabuhay_ Monday Mail Publications. 

In 1942, Romulo, achieved the distinction of being the only Filipino and First Asian to win the coveted Pulitzer Prize in Journalism. His prize-winning work consisted of a series of articles entitled "The Changing Tide in the Far East ". 

Romulo was also an educator. He began his teaching career at UP as a young assistant professor in English in 1923. He became associate professor and acting head of the University's English Department and was appointed coach of the UP Round the World Debating Team that won all its debates in the United States. In 1932, he became the first UP graduate to become member of the Board of Regents of the University. 

During World War II, Romulo was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. After MacArthur's return, to the Philippines, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He was with MacArthur and Osmena when the American liberation forces landed at Palo, Leyte on October 20, 1944. For his wartime exploits, he received six military decorations_one of them was the Philippine Congressional Medal of Honor.

Romulo worked in the government for more than 50 years. He held the positions as :Philippine Ambassador or Chief of Mission to the United Nations, President of the University of the Philippines, Secretary of Education, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He shone best as a Diplomat  and was internationally admired. He was one of the signatories of the UN Charter which was signed on June 26,1945 in San Francisco, California. In 1949, he became the first Filipino and first Asian to be elected as President of the UN General Assembly. He outlived by many years the other signatories to the UN Charter.Thus, kings,presidents,prime ministers and ambassadors who were only kids when the UN Charter was signed felt proud and honored each time they had a chance to be with Romulo in the UN. He was known  locally and in the diplomatic world as "Mr. U.N."

Despite being member of the cabinet during martial law, he maintained his relative independence. He became disappointed with Marcos' authoritarian rule. After the assassination of Ninoy, he said,"For the first time in 47 years, I walk before the United Nations with my head bowed !". He  retired from public service on January 14,1984. In a ceremony in Malacanang, Pres. Marcos conferred to him the "Bayaning Bagong Republika"medal and promoted him to the rank of Major General and ordered that the Philippine flag be hoisted perpetually in front of his house.He received 76 honorary degrees and 85 local and international awards. This great man had made us Filipinos proud of our heritage. _ the only Filipino to serve under eight presidents, from Quezon to Marcos, was a distinguished journalist, writer,educator,orator, soldier, diplomat and statesman.

Reference :  Carlos P. Romulo : Mr. United Nations  , by Conrado O. Benitez

Ang Boy Sto. Niño de Tigbauan Celebration

Ang mga  babae gintuga kang Ginoo nga may duna nga "mother instinct". Kon indi man sanda makapamata, ginataw-an nanda it katumanan ang anda pagkananay sa nanuhaytuhay nga paagi. Sa kadya nga konsepto ginbun-ag kang Catholic Women's League ang kahiwatan kang Boy Sto. Niño sa Tigbauan kang tuig1973, kag ginbatiti asta nga nangin tradisyon sa sulod kang kalim-an ron ka tuig kar-on. Saludo ako sa CWL nga amo ang nangin nanay kang Boy Sto. Niño Celebration.

Kang pamangkuton ni Susan Roces si Fernando Poe nga "Bakit  parang sobra pa yata ang debosyon mo kay Mama Mary  kesa kay Jesus Christ?" Sinabat tana ni Fernando Poe nga: "Bakit, kung wala ang Mama Mary, meron kang Jesus Christ?" Sa amo dya nga punto, kon wara man ang CWL, wara man it Boy Sto. Niño Celebration. Gani salamat sa CWL,nga amo ang nanay kadya nga selebrasyon kay ginatuladan nanda ang pagkakamarahalon ni Birhen Maria bilang nanay sa kabuhi ni Hesukristo. Salamat man  sa mga ginikanan kang mga Boy Sto. Niño kag sa tanan nga mga  nagasuporta sa aton nga selebrasyon bilang pagpadungog sa aton Mahal nga Señor Santo Niño kag nagapainit sa debosyon kang mga tao sa Ginoo..Viva Senyor Sto. Nino! Panginbulahan, Boy Sto. Nino  kag CWL!

          

Manuel A. Roxas : A Patriot and a Brilliant Statesman

 Manuel Acuna Roxas was born in Capiz, (now Roxas City), on January 1, 1892. He became an orphan at an early age. His father died because of the atrocity of the guardia civil during the Spanish time. When the Americans landed in Capiz in 1898, he befriended them to learn their language .The early years of school in the life of Manuel was spent in St. Joseph's College in Hongkong where he finished his elementary course. He returned to the Philippines and continued his studies in high school at Araullo High School where he finished it in 1910 with the highest honors. He studied law at Y.M..C.A., but transferred to the University of the Philippines where he finished the course in 1913. He took the bar exam given by the Supreme Court and got the highest score. Because of his proficiency in Spanish, and English language, he was appointed interpreter in a court and later,became the secretary of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Cayetano Arellano. In 1917, he was elected councilor of Capiz, and later as governor of the province of Capiz. Later on, he was elected Representative of Capiz and became the Speaker of the House. He held the position for 11 years. In 1938, he was appointed by President Quezon as Head of the National Economic Council and Secretary of Finance. He also became the head of the National Development Company. He was elected Senator in 1941. When the war broke out in 1941, he served in the office of  Gen. MacArthur. Because of his adeptness and experience, he was appointed to lead the army as a General. 

On February 20,1942, Quezon escaped to U.S.through Australia. He wanted to bring Roxas to Australia but the latter demurred because he believed his presence in the Philippines was needed to boost the morale of the people and the armed forces. Convinced of his logic, Quezon sadly proceeded to Australia, leaving Roxas behind. On May 6, 1942, Corregidor fell. On May 11,1942, Roxas was captured by the Japanese in Mindanao. Gen. Yoshihida Hayashi ordered to execute Roxas for refusing to collaborate with the Japanese.  A Christian  Japanese officer, Lt. Col. Nobuhiko Jimbo who admired Roxas' brilliant intelligence and patriotism after talking to him for three days, did not obey Hayashi's order. He hid Roxas at the Furukuwa Plantation and rushed by military plane to Manila and submitted Roxas' case and pleaded for his life to Gen. Homma , who upon Gen. Washi's recommendation, rescinded Hayashi's execution order. On November 22,1942, Col. Jimbo brought Roxas to Manila and took him to his home to reunite  with his family.

Roxas was appointed as head of the Economic Council Planning Board and Food Administrator under the Japanese government. He secretly kept in touch with the guerrilla movement . He informed the guerrillas of every move of the Japanese. Many of his messengers were caught and killed by the enemy but not one of them squealed the true mastermind of the secret movement .

In December 1944,Roxas was taken by the Japanese to Baguio City, but he escaped his captors and rejoined Gen. MacArthur in April 1945.

When peace was restored, Roxas was elected as head of the Commonwealth Assembly in 1945. He run for presidential election on which he won and became the third and last president of the Commonwealth government  On April 23, 1946 he won the presidential election and became  the first President of the Philippine Republic that was inaugurated on July 4,1946 ,upon the proclamation of Philippine Independence witnessed by 25 nations in Luneta, Manila. But never was a republic born in the world with such staggering problems as the new-born Republic of the Philippines. The Philippines was the most devastated by the Japanese during the Second World War _"the most completely destroyed and dislocated battleground of war".

Roxas, a brilliant and able statesman.began the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-ravaged Philippines. With the economic and military assistance of the United States, he was able to improve the ruined economy, to check the rising tide of inflation, and to stabilize the Philippine currency. He launched many projects. His term in office was marked by great strides in restoring our country to its pre-war status and by a very great improvement in government income.

On April 15,1948, after he delivered a speech as a guest speaker  before the U.S. 13th Air Force at Clark Airfield, Pampanga he had a heart attack and passed away that night. His untimely death orphaned the country when he was needed most. In memory of his selfless service to his country, places ,streets and buildings were named after him as a  way of remembering his greatness.But the best way to honor him is to emulate his deeds. 

References: _A Brief History of the Philippines ,  Bulwagan ng mga Bayani ,  The Philippines; a Unique Nation , In the Grade School_April ,1965

                                                         

 

January Significant Dates and Events

1.  Community Development Week   _First Week                                                                                             2.Thrift Week  _                                  First Week 

3.Unknown Citizens' Day_                  Second Sunday

 4.Children's Day_                               Third Sunday

5.National Mental Health Week _        Third Week

6.Traffic Accident Prevention Week _ January 19_25

7. Civil Liberties Day _                        January 21

8.Courtesy Week_                                 fourth Week

9.January 1, 1892 _Birth of  Manuel  A. Roxas ,_ patriot, brilliant statesman  and first President of the            Philippine Republic

10.January 4,1812 _Birth of Melchora Aquino (Tandang Sora) , "Mother of the Katipunan"

11.January 7, 1945 _The Liberation Forces of Gen. Douglas Macarthur landed at Blue Beach in Dagupan.

12.January 17,1861 _Birth of Julian Felipe, musician, patriot, Katipunero and composer of the Philippine National Anthem .

13.January 19.1945 _Josefa Llanes Escoda, organizer of the Girl Scout of the Philippines movement was         killed by the Japanese.

14. January 27,1945 _The Philippine Government -in -exile  in America, resumed occupancy of Malakanyang

15.January 14,1899_Birth of Carlos P. Romulo, the first Asian to be elected as President of the UN General Assembly.