Jan. 18, 1792
The municipality of Santa Rosa in Laguna province was established after it was separated from the town of Biñan. In 2004, Santa Rosa became a city. For the city’s 225th founding anniversary last year, the Philippine Postal Corp. released a stamp featuring the city’s landmarks. Santa Rosa, dubbed as the “Lion City of South Luzon,” was named after St. Rose of Lima.
Jan. 20, 1872
About 200 Filipino soldiers and arsenal workers in Cavite province staged a revolt after they discovered that labor measures in favor of the workers were abolished by then Governor General Rafael de Izquierdo. Several Spanish soldiers were killed and military units were sent to quell the rebellion, which would later be known as the Cavite Mutiny. The leaders and some mutineers, as well as priests Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora, who were implicated in the revolt, were later executed. Their martyrdom is said to have led to the first stirrings of the Filipino revolution.
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research
Sources: Inquirer Archives, DOT, Official Calendar of the Republic, Philippine History by Maria Christine Halili, The Philippines: A Global Study Handbook by Damon Woods, villasis.gov.ph, aklan.gov.ph