THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES: Aug. 25-31, 2019

Aug. 27, 2018

Start of the 12-day mission of a research team that found up to 30 Mindoro dwarf buffalos, or “tamaraws” (Bubalus mindorensis), a critically endangered animal species, grazing on Mt. Gimparay in Naujan town, Oriental Mindoro province.

The team included the provincial environment officer of Oriental Mindoro, municipal environment officers of Socorro and Naujan, and members of the Naujan Lake National Park-Protected Area, Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc., D’Aboville Foundation and Sigod Katangona Datiyan Kanyam Deya Samahan.

Endemic to Mindoro, the tamaraw is about a meter tall, its tail shorter than that of the carabao (water buffalo) and its horns V-shaped, in contrast with the carabao’s flaring horns.

Aug. 28, 1649

The first town fiesta was held in Cagayan de Oro (now a city) in Misamis Oriental province in honor of  St. Augustine of Hippo, its patron saint.

The residents chose St. Augustine as the town’s patron because of his namesake Fray Agustin de San Pedro, who baptized around 10,000 persons for the Catholic faith in Mindanao and Romblon province.

Fray Agustin built a fort and a church (Gaston Park and St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral today) where he baptized the first Christian converts of Cagayan de Oro.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research