On March 1, 1767, the president of the Council of Castilla, Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, Conde de Aranda, wrote to the Governor-General of the Filipinas, Jose Raon, informing him of the decree of the banishment of the Jesuits and the seizure of their property in the Filipinas. Abarca de Bolea was especially entrusted by Spanish King Carlos III with all matters related to the secret banishment of the Jesuits. Abarca de Bolea in his letter said:
On March 1, 1888, a group of native Filipinos and mestizos took a bold stand against colonial oppression by presenting a petition to expel Catholic friars from the Philippines. Addressed to Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain and delivered through the interim civil governor, Jose Centeno, this document - signed by around 810 individuals - marked a significant moment in the growing resistance against Spanish rule. Known as the "Anti-Friar Manifesto," it reflected the simmering discontent with the religious orders that had long wielded unchecked power over Filipino life.
On March 2, 1964, Senate President Ferdinand E. Marcos publicly announced that he was seeking the presidency of the Philippines while addressing members of the Rotary and Lions clubs in Dumaguete City. In the same speech, he recalled President Diosdado Macapagal's earlier pledge to serve only one term and said he was prepared to abandon his own presidential ambitions if Macapagal would carry out Liberal Party reforms and improve the country's economy.
Dr. Gelia Tagumpay Castillo, a name synonymous with rural sociology and participatory development in the Philippines was born Gelia Tagumpay on March 3, 1928, in Pagsanjan, Laguna. Dr. Castillo's journey in academia and research is a testament to her dedication to understanding and improving the lives of Filipino farmers and rural communities.
On March 3, 1917, Januaria Constantino Keller better known by her stage name Carmen Rosales, was born in Pangasinan. She was a noted Filipina actress and World War II guerilla fighter. Her screen name was adopted from her hometown of barrio Carmen in the town of Rosales in Pangasinan province.
On March 3, 1894, Paz Marquez-Benitez, a seminal figure in Philippine literature, was born in Lucena City, Quezon. More than just an author, she was a pioneering educator, editor, and institution-builder whose influence shaped the very foundations of Filipino writing in English. While she is rightfully celebrated for writing "Dead Stars", the first Filipino modern English-language short story, her true legacy lies in her profound role as a mentor to a generation of literary giants and as a catalyst for women's voices in the Philippines.
The story of the Philippine nation-building process is often told through a sequence of military engagements and the political maneuvers of male statesmen. However, a parallel and equally vital narrative exists in the intellectual and social transformation of the Filipino woman during the transition from Spanish colonial rule to American occupation and, eventually, toward independent statehood. At the center of this transformation stands Rosa Sevilla de Alvero. Her life serves as a bridge between the revolutionary fervor of the nineteenth century and the civic institutionalization of the twentieth.
Haydee Bofill Yorac was a Filipina public servant, law professor, and politician whose unwavering commitment to justice, integrity, and good governance left an indelible mark on the Philippines. Known for her brilliance, courage, and incorruptible spirit, Yorac was a prominent figure in the fight against corruption and the restoration of democratic values during and after the Marcos dictatorship. Her contributions as a human rights lawyer, educator, and government official earned her widespread respect and recognition, including the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2004.