NOVEMBER 2015 ARTICLE 3

MDS NEWSLETTER

Date Issued: NOVEMBER 2015

BONIFACIO DAY

     Bonifacio Day (“Kaarawan ni Bonifacio” in tagalog) is a natinala public holiday in the philippinees that celebrates the    birthday of one of the Philippines that celebrates the birthday of one of the Philippines’ greatest heroes, Andres Bonifacio. 
      Born in 30 November 1863, Bonifacio considered as the Father of the Philipine Revolution against Spanish colonization. He, along with some others, started a movement known as the ‘Katipunan’ in 1892. 
      The Katipunan was a secret revolutionary society that instigated military revolts against the Spanish colonisers. Bonifacio became the Katipunan’s military leader and the president of the revolutionary government, which (according to some historians) makes Bonifacio the first president of the Philippine Republic. Bonifacio and the Katipunan recruited many citizens to their cause, eventually becoming the most prominent revolutionary force the Spaniards had to face. 
     However Bonifacio’s leadership was contested by some others, and iin particular, Emilio Aguinaldo. After a series iof leadership challenges and internal rifts, Aguinaldo violently took over the revolutionary forces and unjustly ordered Bonifacio to be tried and executed under the guise of treason. Bonifacio Day id held on 30 November, or the Monday nearest this day to create a long weekend. Unlike the main national hero, Jose Rizal, Bonifacio Day is celebrated on his day of birth, rather than his day day of death. This is because Bonifacio was killed by his fellow countrymen, rather than at the hands of foreign colonisers.

Sources: http://publicholidays.ph/bonifacio-day/

NOVEMBER 2015 ARTICLE 2

MDS NEWSLETTER
Date Issued: NOVEMBER 2015

ALL SAINTS DAY

November 1 is All Saints’ Day (Todos Los Santos or Undas), a cherished tradition among Filipino, particularly Catholics, who pay honor and respect to the memories of their departed loved ones by going to memorial parks, mausoleums, columbarium, and cemeteries to hold vigil, offer prayers, flowers, candles - even food, and reunite with relatives. Filipinos consider All Saints’ Day an important holiday, next to Christmas and Holy Week. They go home to their loved ones are buried to meet with relatives and friends, share stories, and together pray for their dearly departed - a wonderful testimony of strong family values and kinship. Tombs are cleaned, repaired and repainted prior to Undas observance. On the day itself, they are lighted and decorated with flowers, candels and balloons, a way of letting the spirits of the dead knowthat even though they are gone, their memory stays in the hearts of those they left behind. On Undas eve in rural communities,  groups of older ppeople, and sometimes children, organize singing groups that go from house to house to serenadefamilies called “pangangaluluwa” or the Visayan “kalag - kalag” (souling), a practice believed to bring peace to departed souls. Government agencies, as well as private companies and individuals, make sure that the traditional event will be peaceful and orderly.  The Oplan Undas and the Lakbay Alalay assistance programs for motorists are activated to ensure that roads and highways  are in good shape. Buses are inspected and medical personnel are ready in strategic areas. The Catholic Church has set up a special website where Filipino workers abroad who cannot come home to visit the graves of their loved ones can offer prayers, light candles, say the rosary.  All Saints’ Day observance in the country is similar to the Mexican Tradition of “Dia de los Muertos” of “Day of the Dead”, in which the focus is on similar gathering before tombs of loved ones. It is also called All Hallows Tide, All-Hallomas, or All Hallows’ Day. In many Wester churches, it is held on November 1, while in many eastern churches it is on the first Sunday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day may have origated in ancient Rome which observes on May 13, 609, The Feast of Lemures in which restless spirits of the dead were propitiated. It was observed on different dates until Pope Gregory III (731-741) instituted November 1 to be the official date of All Saints’ Day. The church later declared All Saints’ day the feast for all Christian saints known and unknown.

Sources: http://www.mb.com.ph/all-saints-day-a-day-of-remembrance/

NOVEMBER 2015 ARTICLE 1

MDS NEWSLETTER
Date Issued: NOVEMBER 2015

23rd NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MONTH

“Our children are the future of the city, their health, happiness and welfare are our priority”., Mayor Melan said during his speech in the Children’s Month Celebration last November 13, 2015.

In celebration of 23rd National Children Month the City Government of Trece Martires through the City Social & Welfare Development Office organized the half day activity at the city hall grounds for almost 1000 day care students ages 3-5 years old. The event started with a parade around the city hall with the Daycare Students, Daycare Workers, members of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) & Technical Working Group. Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan had a short speech followed by Mayor Melan De Sagun. The Daycare Students gave an intermission number at the end of the activity. Mascots sponsored by Jollibee and Mcdonalds entertained the people. 

President Aquino has signed Republic Act 10661 declaring  the month November as the National Children’s Month. The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) said the law mainly changed the month of celebration from October to November to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989 and the Philippines’ signing of the CRC. The law seeks to instill the signifance of adoption of the CRC by the UN in the Filipino conciousness. Patricia Luna, CWC Executive Director, said they welcomed the enactment of the law.