July 28, 1963: World Scout Jamboree bound Philippine Boy Scouts Perish in Plane Crash.

July 28, 1963, Filipino boy scouts aboard EgyptAir bound for Greece for the 11th World Scout Jamboree crashed in India.

On July 28, 1963, 24 Boy Scouts and scouting officials (20 scouts, 3 officials, and 1 chaplain) of the Philippines to the 11th Boy Scout World Jamboree in Marathon, Greece, perished in an airplane crash of a United Arab Airlines (now EgyptAir) jetliner in the Bay of Bombay, India.

The delegation took a KLM flight for Hong Kong to catch a connecting United Arab Airlines flight to Athens, Greece. The ill-fated plane carried 52 passengers and eight crew members. Aviation authorities were not able to ascertain conclusively the cause of the accident. Sabotage was ruled out.

The boy scouts who died in the plane crash:

Manila Boy Scout Council

• Ramon V. Albano
• Henry Chuatoco
• Jose Antonio Delgado
• Pedro Gandia
• Wilfredo Santiago and
• Ascario Tuason, Jr.

Quezon City Council

• Roberto Castor
• Romeo R. Rallos and
• Rogelio Ybardolaza.

The rest of the scouts

• Victor de Guia, Jr. (Baguio City)
• Antonio Limbaga (Zamboanga City)
• Roberto Lozano (Dagupan City)
• Paulo Madriñan (Pasay City)
• Jose Fermin Magbanua (Negros Oriental)
• Filamor Reyes and Antonio Torillo (Cavite)
• Benecio Tobias (Tarlac) and
• Felix Fuentebella, Jr., represented both the Manila and Goa, Camarines Sur Councils.

The Boy Scout Monument

Today, if you pass by the Tomas Morato street and Timog Avenue area, you will notice that certain streets in that central Quezon City district commonly referred to as the Scout Area (embraced by barangays Laging Handa, Obrero, Paligsahan, Roxas, and Sacred Heart) were named in their honor.

The Boy Scouts Memorial Rotonda in the Timog-Morato intersection in
Quezon City: immortalizing scouts who perished in a plane crash .

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icerocket tags: July 28 1963, Filipino, boy scouts, EgyptAir, Greece, 11th World Scout Jamboree, crashed, India, 1963, 24 Boy Scouts, scouting officials, 20 scouts, 3 officials, 1 chaplain, Philippines, Boy Scout World Jamboree, Marathon Greece, perished, airplane crash, United Arab Airlines, EgyptAir jetline, Bay of Bombay India, delegation, KLM flight, Hong Kong, United Arab Airlines, flight, Athens Greece, ill-fated plane, 52 passengers, eight crew members, Aviation authorities, cause of the accident, Sabotage, boy scouts, plane crash, Manila Boy Scout Council, Ramon V. Albano, Henry Chuatoco, Jose Antonio Delgado, Pedro Gandia, Wilfredo Santiago, Ascario Tuason Jr., Quezon City Council, Roberto Castor, Romeo R. Rallos, Rogelio Ybardolaza, Scouts Victor de Guia Jr., Baguio City, Antonio Limbaga, Zamboanga City, Roberto Lozano, Dagupan City, Paulo Madriñan, Pasay City, Jose Fermin Magbanua, Negros Oriental, Filamor Reyes, Antonio Torillo, Cavite, Benecio Tobias, Tarlac, Felix Fuentebella  Jr., Manila, Goa Camarines Sur Council, Boy Scout Monument, Tomas Morato, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, district, Scout Area, Barangay Laging Handa, Obrero, Paligsahan, Roxas, Sacred Heart, The Boy Scouts Memorial Rotonda, Timog-Morato intersection Quezon City: immortalizing scouts

keotag tags: July 28 1963, Filipino, boy scouts, EgyptAir, Greece, 11th World Scout Jamboree, crashed, India, 1963, 24 Boy Scouts, scouting officials, 20 scouts, 3 officials, 1 chaplain, Philippines, Boy Scout World Jamboree, Marathon Greece, perished, airplane crash, United Arab Airlines, EgyptAir jetline, Bay of Bombay India, delegation, KLM flight, Hong Kong, United Arab Airlines, flight, Athens Greece, ill-fated plane, 52 passengers, eight crew members, Aviation authorities, cause of the accident, Sabotage, boy scouts, plane crash, Manila Boy Scout Council, Ramon V. Albano, Henry Chuatoco, Jose Antonio Delgado, Pedro Gandia, Wilfredo Santiago, Ascario Tuason Jr., Quezon City Council, Roberto Castor, Romeo R. Rallos, Rogelio Ybardolaza, Scouts Victor de Guia Jr., Baguio City, Antonio Limbaga, Zamboanga City, Roberto Lozano, Dagupan City, Paulo Madriñan, Pasay City, Jose Fermin Magbanua, Negros Oriental, Filamor Reyes, Antonio Torillo, Cavite, Benecio Tobias, Tarlac, Felix Fuentebella  Jr., Manila, Goa Camarines Sur Council, Boy Scout Monument, Tomas Morato, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, district, Scout Area, Barangay Laging Handa, Obrero, Paligsahan, Roxas, Sacred Heart, The Boy Scouts Memorial Rotonda, Timog-Morato intersection Quezon City: immortalizing scouts

July 22, 1961: "Lo’ Waist Gang" Actor Boy Sta. Romana Killed in Gunfight!

July 22, 1961: Movie Actor Boy Sta. Romana Killed in Gunfight!

On July 22, 1961, movie tough guy “Boy” Sta. Romana, 25, was killed in a gunfight wounding also a Quezon City policeman (Victor Buenaventura) and a wealthy textile industrialist’s son (Edgardo Pascual- of the Pascual family) at the LVN Pictures compound, Central Boulevard, Quezon City. Sta. Romana sustained three bullet wounds and died on the spot lying face down under a heavy drizzle in front of the LVN studio  where the shooting occurred with one hand still holding his gun- a .38 caliber Luger-type pistol.

It was reported that Buenaventura was the one who fatally shot Sta. Romana and that both Buenaventura and Pascual were shot upon by Sta. Romana during the gunfight. Different versions on how the gunfight came about were documented. This sensational and tragic story was a big scandal at that time where prominent personalities were brought in for questioning like Joseph Estrada and Perla Bautista y Garcia who were reportedly with Sta. Romana during the incident.

Sta. Romana was a member of a popular showbiz group of teenagers ("barkada" youth of the 50s) known as the Lo’ Waist Gang originally composed of Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) , Zaldy Zshornack, Berting Labra, Boy Francisco, Butch Bautista, Tony S. Cruz, Bobby Gonzales, and Mario Antonio. Chiquito and Paquito Toledo followed later. The public tended to see Lo-Waist Gang as a real-life gang but FPJ says the group was actually a gang only onscreen. Their first movie in 1956 was named after their gang- the first of the highly successful series of Lo' Waist Gang Movies which made FPJ a star.

LO’ WAIST GANG (1956)

FPJ's LO' WAIST GANG (1958)

Because of the gang's popularity, some members of the group were easily provoked by rival gangs out to test them where FPJ and the rest of the gang often found themselves in hot waters. It was believed that it was one of these provocations which led to the unfortunate incident with Boy Sta. Romana, a known hot-tempered member of the group who met his untimely death at a very young age of 25.

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icerocket tags: July 22 1961, Movie Actor, Boy Sta. Romana, Killed, Gunfight, 1961, movie, tough guy, Boy, Sta. Romana, 25, wounding, Quezon City, policeman, Victor Buenaventura, wealthy, textile industrialist, Edgardo Pascual, Pascual family, LVN Pictures, compound, Central Boulevard Quezon City, Romana, LVN studio, shooting, .38 caliber Luger-type  pistol, Buenaventura, fatally shot, Pascual, versions, Joseph Estrada, Perla Bautista y Garcia, showbiz, teenagers, barkada, youth, 50s, Lo’ Waist Gang, Fernando Poe  Jr, FPJ, Zaldy Zshornack, Berting Labra, Boy Francisco, Butch Bautista, Tony S. Cruz, Bobby Gonzales, Mario Antonio, Chiquito, Paquito Toledo, Lo-Waist, real-life gang, FPJ, onscreen, 1956, Lo' Waist Gang Movies, LO’ WAIST GANG 1956, FPJ's LO' WAIST GANG , 1958

keotag tags: July 22 1961, Movie Actor, Boy Sta. Romana, Killed, Gunfight, 1961, movie, tough guy, Boy, Sta. Romana, 25, wounding, Quezon City, policeman, Victor Buenaventura, wealthy, textile industrialist, Edgardo Pascual, Pascual family, LVN Pictures, compound, Central Boulevard Quezon City, Romana, LVN studio, shooting, .38 caliber Luger-type  pistol, Buenaventura, fatally shot, Pascual, versions, Joseph Estrada, Perla Bautista y Garcia, showbiz, teenagers, barkada, youth, 50s, Lo’ Waist Gang, Fernando Poe  Jr, FPJ, Zaldy Zshornack, Berting Labra, Boy Francisco, Butch Bautista, Tony S. Cruz, Bobby Gonzales, Mario Antonio, Chiquito, Paquito Toledo, Lo-Waist, real-life gang, FPJ, onscreen, 1956, Lo' Waist Gang Movies, LO’ WAIST GANG 1956, FPJ's LO' WAIST GANG , 1958

July 6, 1986: "Acting President” Tolentino with Marcos Loyalists takes over Manila Hotel!

Amidst Marcos loyalists, Arturo Tolentino (LEFT, with  microphone), former Senator, Assemblyman
and Ferdinand Marcos’ running mate in the 1986 elections, claimed his Constitutional right as “acting President”.
(Photo from the June 26, 1987 issue of Philippines Free Press)

Barely four months after the restoration of democracy, the Corazon Aquino Presidency of the Philippines was threatened by rebel forces, under the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, who had taken over the Manila Hotel on July 6, 1986. 

Marcos and Tolentino 1986 Campaign poster

A group of military officers loyal to the deposed President, Ferdinand E. Marcos, takes over the Manila Hotel and declares Arturo Tolentino, who was Mr. Marcos's vice presidential running mate, as President. They surrender two days later.

The Filipino people did not stir though, and the rebellion was soon put down.

   

del.icio.us tags: Marcos loyalists, Arturo Tolentino, Senator, Assemblyman, Ferdinand Marcos, running mate, 1986 elections, Constitutional right, acting President, Photo, 1987, issue, Philippines, Free Press, democracy, Corazon Aquino, Presidency, Philippines, rebel forces, Reform the Armed Forces Movement, Manila Hotel, July 6 1986, Marcos and Tolentino, 1986 Campaign poster, military officers, loyal, deposed President, Ferdinand E. Marcos, takes over, Manila Hotel, Tolentino, Mr. Marcos, vice presidential running mate, President, surrender, Filipino, people, rebellion

icerocket tags: Marcos loyalists, Arturo Tolentino, Senator, Assemblyman, Ferdinand Marcos, running mate, 1986 elections, Constitutional right, acting President, Photo, 1987, issue, Philippines, Free Press, democracy, Corazon Aquino, Presidency, Philippines, rebel forces, Reform the Armed Forces Movement, Manila Hotel, July 6 1986, Marcos and Tolentino, 1986 Campaign poster, military officers, loyal, deposed President, Ferdinand E. Marcos, takes over, Manila Hotel, Tolentino, Mr. Marcos, vice presidential running mate, President, surrender, Filipino, people, rebellion

keotag tags: Marcos loyalists, Arturo Tolentino, Senator, Assemblyman, Ferdinand Marcos, running mate, 1986 elections, Constitutional right, acting President, Photo, 1987, issue, Philippines, Free Press, democracy, Corazon Aquino, Presidency, Philippines, rebel forces, Reform the Armed Forces Movement, Manila Hotel, July 6 1986, Marcos and Tolentino, 1986 Campaign poster, military officers, loyal, deposed President, Ferdinand E. Marcos, takes over, Manila Hotel, Tolentino, Mr. Marcos, vice presidential running mate, President, surrender, Filipino, people, rebellion

July 2, 1973: Inauguration of the San Juanico Bridge, the longest bridge in the Philippines.

On July 2, 1973, the San Juanico Bridge, the longest (2.16-kilometer) bridge in the Philippines which spans a body of sea water between the islands of Samar and Leyte in the Visayas, was inaugurated.

                                Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos cuts the ribbon to mark the opening of the bridge. Julio Cardinal Rosales,                     the President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Mrs. Cristina Ford, and other guests look on.

                                                President Ferdinand E. Marcos, First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, and                                                Julio Cardinal Rosales greet well-wishers at the San Juanico Bridge 

The San Juanico Bridge is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway (also known as the Maharlika Highway). 

The San Juanico Bridge carries the Pan-Philippine Highway between Samar and Leyte

Taken from the Leyte side of the bridge

The San Juanico Bridge is considered one of the most beautifully designed bridges in the country.

San Juanico Bridge : Graceful Crossings

del.icio.us tags: July 2 1973, San Juanico Bridge, longest, 2.16-kilometer, bridge, Philippines, spans, sea water, between islands, Samar, Leyte, Visayas, inaugurated, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, cuts the ribbon, opening of the bridge, Julio Cardinal Rosales, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Mrs. Cristina Ford, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Firs  Lady Imeld R. Marcos, Cardinal Rosales, Bridge, The San Juanico Bridge, Pan-Philippine Highway, Maharlika Highway, San Juanico Bridge, Highway, between Samar and Leyte, Leyte side, Graceful Crossings

icerocket tags: July 2 1973, San Juanico Bridge, longest, 2.16-kilometer, bridge, Philippines, spans, sea water, between islands, Samar, Leyte, Visayas, inaugurated, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, cuts the ribbon, opening of the bridge, Julio Cardinal Rosales, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Mrs. Cristina Ford, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Firs  Lady Imeld R. Marcos, Cardinal Rosales, Bridge, The San Juanico Bridge, Pan-Philippine Highway, Maharlika Highway, San Juanico Bridge, Highway, between Samar and Leyte, Leyte side, Graceful Crossings

keotag tags: July 2 1973, San Juanico Bridge, longest, 2.16-kilometer, bridge, Philippines, spans, sea water, between islands, Samar, Leyte, Visayas, inaugurated, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, cuts the ribbon, opening of the bridge, Julio Cardinal Rosales, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Mrs. Cristina Ford, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Firs  Lady Imeld R. Marcos, Cardinal Rosales, Bridge, The San Juanico Bridge, Pan-Philippine Highway, Maharlika Highway, San Juanico Bridge, Highway, between Samar and Leyte, Leyte side, Graceful Crossings