This Week’s Milestones: April 3 to 9

April 4, 1639

A Spanish expedition led by Captain Francisco Atienza and Father Agustin de San Pedro reached Lanao through the shores of Lake Lanao. They were composed of 500 Caraga Filipinos and 50 Spaniards. They reached the lake region in the course of their campaign against the allies of Sultan Kudarat, hero to both the Maguindanao of Cotabato and Maranao of Lanao. The locals defeated the Spanish troops, forcing them to leave the lake.

April 4, 1998

Antipolo was converted into a component city of the province of Rizal, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8508. The city has a land area of 306.10 square kilometers, which is almost 26 percent of the total land area of Rizal, and covers 16 barangays in its territory. According to the latest census, Antipolo City is the largest component city in terms of population with 887,399 persons as of 2020.

April 5, 1572

After being colonized by Martin de Goiti in 1571, Pangasinan was made an encomienda by the Spanish royal crown the following year. Pangasinan, which derived its name from the word “panag asinan,” which means “where salt is made,” became a province in 1580 after it was organized into a political unit under an alcalde mayor who at that time has authority as head of the province or provincial government with judicial function. To commemorate the day when Pangasinan became an encomienda and the year it became a province, Pangasinan celebrates April 5, 1580, as the official founding day of the province.

A historical marker was installed in the Hagonoy Church in Bulacan by the National Historical Institute. Also known as the National Shrine and Parish of St. Anne, the first church was made under the patronage of St. Anne with Father Diego Ordoñez Vivar as its first priest. The church was built together with the foundation of the town by the Augustinian priests in 1581.
(NHCP PHOTO)

April 5, 1981

A historical marker was installed at Hagonoy Church in Bulacan by the National Historical Institute. Also known as the National Shrine and Parish of St. Anne, the first church was made under the patronage of St. Anne with Father Diego Ordoñez Vivar as its first priest. The church was built together with the foundation of the town by the Augustinian priests in 1581.

This week’s festival:
Due to the national public health emergency in relation to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Lang-Ay Festival in Mountain Province scheduled between April 3 and April 9 will push through, with participants urged to observe minimum health and safety protocols.

Compiled by:

Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research
Sources: Inquirer Archives, Historical Calendar (1521-1969), Historical Markers Regions I-IV and CAR, The Maranaws, Dwellers of the Lake, Official Gazette of the Philippines, Philippine Statistics Authority, pangasinan.gov.ph, Sta. Ana de Hagonoy official Facebook page, coa.gov.ph

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