This Week’s Milestones: July 30-Aug. 5, 2017

July 31, 1900

The Battle of Paye, the first recorded armed encounter between American troops and Filipino revolutionary forces, took place in the town of Boac, Marinduque province. The Filipinos won despite their poor weaponry.

Aug. 1, 1989

Former President Corazon Aquino signed into law Republic Act No. 6734, which created the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). On Nov.19 of the same year, a plebiscite was held, and only four provinces — Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi — opted for self-rule. ARMM was later expanded in 2001 by virtue of Republic Act No. 9054 to include Basilan province and Marawi City after a plebiscite participated in by 25 cities and provinces in Mindanao.

Aug. 4, 1969

The municipality of San Jose in Nueva Ecija province became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 6051. The city’s main industry is agriculture and its products are vegetables, onion and rice. San Jose City has a population of 141, 581, as of 2015.