February 3-7 , 1937; 33rd International Eucharistic Congress in Manila, Philippines.

Pontifical masses held in Rizal Park during the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress inManila, Philippines attended by approximately 1.5 million people from around the world.

In the Catholic Church, a Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is an important Roman Catholic doctrine. Congresses bring together people from a wide area, and typically involve large open-air Masses, Eucharistic adoration (Blessed Sacrament), and other devotional ceremonies held over several days. Congresses may both refer to National (varies by country) and International Eucharistic Congresses. 

The first congress in Asia was the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress which was held in Manila, Philippines during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI, and was attended by approximately 1.5 million people from around the world. Pontifical masses were held in Rizal Park, with hundreds of thousands of people attending each one.

technorati tags: Catholic Church Eucharistic Congress clergy religious laity witness Real Presence of Jesus Eucharist Roman Catholic doctrine Congresses open-air=Masses Eucharistic adoration Blessed Sacrament devotional ceremonies National International Eucharistic Congresses first congress in Asia 33rd International Eucharistic Congress Manila Philippines pontificate Pope Pius XI 1.5 million people Pontifical masses Rizal Park hundreds of thousands people

del.icio.us tags: Catholic Church Eucharistic Congress clergy religious laity witness Real Presence of Jesus Eucharist Roman Catholic doctrine Congresses open-air=Masses Eucharistic adoration Blessed Sacrament devotional ceremonies National International Eucharistic Congresses first congress in Asia 33rd International Eucharistic Congress Manila Philippines pontificate Pope Pius XI 1.5 million people Pontifical masses Rizal Park hundreds of thousands people

keotag tags: Catholic Church Eucharistic Congress clergy religious laity witness Real Presence of Jesus Eucharist Roman Catholic doctrine Congresses open-air=Masses Eucharistic adoration Blessed Sacrament devotional ceremonies National International Eucharistic Congresses first congress in Asia 33rd International Eucharistic Congress Manila Philippines pontificate Pope Pius XI 1.5 million people Pontifical masses Rizal Park hundreds of thousands people

1930s Black Nazarene procession.

The Black Nazarene (Spanish: El Nazareno Negro, Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno; Filipino: Poóng Itím na Nazareno), is a life-sized iconic statue of Jesus Christ enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene located at the Quiapo district in the City of Manila, Philippines. The image carved by an anonymous Mexican artist in the 17th century depicts Jesus bearing the cross en route to his crucifixion. The statue is renowned in the Philippines and considered miraculous by many Filipino Catholics.

There are three annual dates when the statue is brought out of its shrine for public veneration: New Year's Day (the first day of its novena); Good Friday; and January 9. The procession on the 9th of January reenacts the image's Traslación in 1787 (English: "passage" or "transfer"), or solemn transfer to the Minor Basilica from its original location in what is now Rizal Park. The Traslación procession is the largest of the three, drawing millions of devotees and lasting anywhere from 14 to 20 hours.

technorati tags: The Black Nazarene Spanish El Nazareno  Negro Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno Filipino Poóng Itím na Nazareno life-sized iconic statue Jesus Christ enshrined Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Quiapo district City of Manila Philippines image carved anonymous Mexican artist 17th century Jesus cross crucifixion statue miraculous Filipino Catholics public veneration New Year's Day novena Good Friday January 9 procession Traslación 1787 English passage transfer solemn transfer Minor Basilica original location Rizal Park Traslación procession millions devotees

del.icio.us tags: The Black Nazarene Spanish El Nazareno  Negro Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno Filipino Poóng Itím na Nazareno life-sized iconic statue Jesus Christ enshrined Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Quiapo district City of Manila Philippines image carved anonymous Mexican artist 17th century Jesus cross crucifixion statue miraculous Filipino Catholics public veneration New Year's Day novena Good Friday January 9 procession Traslación 1787 English passage transfer solemn transfer Minor Basilica original location Rizal Park Traslación procession millions devotees

keotag tags: The Black Nazarene Spanish El Nazareno  Negro Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno Filipino Poóng Itím na Nazareno life-sized iconic statue Jesus Christ enshrined Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Quiapo district City of Manila Philippines image carved anonymous Mexican artist 17th century Jesus cross crucifixion statue miraculous Filipino Catholics public veneration New Year's Day novena Good Friday January 9 procession Traslación 1787 English passage transfer solemn transfer Minor Basilica original location Rizal Park Traslación procession millions devotees

February 28, 1945: Sherman tank enters Intramuros.

On the 28th of  February 1945.  A M4 Sherman tank finally breached the defenses of Fort Santiago, Intramuros (the heart of Manila), entering through the Santa Lucia Gate.

Sanji Iwabuchi (March 2, 1895 - February 26, 1945) was the Japanese rear admiral 
during World War II in command of the naval forces in Manila, Philippines in 1945.

February 3, 1945, the battle for the liberation of Manila started. The Manila Naval Defense Force, under Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji, composed of around 15,000 troops, defended Manila to the last man. There was only one Japanese tank attached to naval forces in the defense. Tanks played a vital role for the American operations. The 44th Tank Battalion and 640th Tank Destroyer Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division and the 754th Tank Battalion and 711th Tank Battalion of the 37th Division played a significant role in liberating Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. The city joined Stalingrad as being the host to some of the fiercest urban fighting during the war. Manila was successfully liberated on March 3, 1945 when the last Japanese unit was wiped out. 

technorati tags: 28th of February 1945 M4 Sherman tank defenses Fort Santiago Intramuros heart of Manila Santa Lucia Gate Sanji Iwabuchi Japanese rear admiral World War II command naval forces Manila, Philippines 1945 February 3, 1945 battle liberation of Manila Manila Naval Defense Force Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji defended Manila Japanese tank naval forces defense Tanks American operations 44th Tank Battalion 640th Tank Destroyer Battalion 1st Cavalry Division 754th Tank Battalion 711th Tank Battalion 37th Division Manila capital city of the Philippines Stalingrad fiercest urban fighting war

del.icio.us tags: 28th of February 1945 M4 Sherman tank defenses Fort Santiago Intramuros heart of Manila Santa Lucia Gate Sanji Iwabuchi Japanese rear admiral World War II command naval forces Manila, Philippines 1945 February 3, 1945 battle liberation of Manila Manila Naval Defense Force Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji defended Manila Japanese tank naval forces defense Tanks American operations 44th Tank Battalion 640th Tank Destroyer Battalion 1st Cavalry Division 754th Tank Battalion 711th Tank Battalion 37th Division Manila capital city of the Philippines Stalingrad fiercest urban fighting war

keotag tags: 28th of February 1945 M4 Sherman tank defenses Fort Santiago Intramuros heart of Manila Santa Lucia Gate Sanji Iwabuchi Japanese rear admiral World War II command naval forces Manila, Philippines 1945 February 3, 1945 battle liberation of Manila Manila Naval Defense Force Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji defended Manila Japanese tank naval forces defense Tanks American operations 44th Tank Battalion 640th Tank Destroyer Battalion 1st Cavalry Division 754th Tank Battalion 711th Tank Battalion 37th Division Manila capital city of the Philippines Stalingrad fiercest urban fighting war

January 22, 1987: Mendiola Massacre.

Wounded protesters/farmers; Mendiola Bridge, Manila- January 22, 1987

On January 22, 1987 eleven months into the Cory Aquino Philippine presidency, thousands of frustrated farmers marched to Malacañang demanding land reform and the distribution of land at no cost to beneficiaries. In a violent dispersal, 13 protesters were killed in what has gone down in history as the “Mendiola Massacre.”

technorati tags: January 22, 1987 eleven months Cory Aquino presidency farmers marched Malacañang land reform distribution land beneficiaries violent dispersal, 13 protesters killed history Mendiola Massacre

del.icio.us tags: January 22, 1987 eleven months Cory Aquino presidency farmers marched Malacañang land reform distribution land beneficiaries violent dispersal, 13 protesters killed history Mendiola Massacre

keotag tags: January 22, 1987 eleven months Cory Aquino presidency farmers marched Malacañang land reform distribution land beneficiaries violent dispersal, 13 protesters killed history Mendiola Massacre

January 12th and 23rd, 1949- "White Russians" Refugees arrived In the Philippines!

‘GIVE ME YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE’ ‘White Russians’ disembark on Tubabao Island from their rusty ship after a journey that took them from Bolshevik Russia to Maoist China and finally to the Philippines, the only country willing to shelter them in 1948. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

White Russians arrived in January 1949, 49 of them (the “advance echelon”) by air on the 12th, and 492 by sea on the 23rd, on board  S.S. Hwa Lien. Around a total of 6,000 anti-communist so-called White Russian refugees were welcomed into the Philippines shores in 1949. After fleeing Russia for China, they again had to seek refuge when the Maoist revolutionary army was about to take over Shanghai. Of all the countries in the world, only the Philippines accepted them.

TEMPORARY HOME. The so-called White Russian refugees made Guiuan, Eastern Samar their home for two to 3 years. Photo by the Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco, USA

After a grueling odyssey from Shanghai, the White Russians found a temporary home in Guiuan.  As refugees poured in, the practically uninhabited island of Tubabao was transformed into what was known as Russian Refugee Camp.   It was divided into 14 districts, each district taking care of its own needs.  Eventually, electricity, hospital, sanatorium, supply office, cemetery and churches of every denomination were set up.  After almost three years of refuge in the island and of waiting for immigration officers, they were eventually admitted to France, Chile and other South American countries, the United States and Australia, but the great majority was finally settled in the U.S. 

However unpleasant may have been their life in the island, especially for the elderly, the White Russians were freed from the power of Josef Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung.  Obviously, their plight was better than of those who chose to remain in China , for whom life in the 1950s was almost intolerable.

technorati tags: White Russians January 1949, 49 advance echelon air S.S. Hwa Lien 6,000 anti-communist White Russian refugees Philippines shores 1949 Russia China Maoist revolutionary army Shanghai countries world Philippines TEMPORARY HOME Guiuan Eastern Samar Photo Museum of Russian Culture San Francisco USA odyssey Shanghai White Russians Guiuan refugees poured  in uninhabited island Tubabao transformed Russian Refugee Camp 14 districts district electricity hospital sanatorium supply office cemetery churches denomination island immigration officers France Chile South American countries United States Australia U.S. unpleasant power Josef Stalin Mao Tse-Tung China
del.icio.us tags: White Russians January 1949, 49 advance echelon air S.S. Hwa Lien 6,000 anti-communist White Russian refugees Philippines shores 1949 Russia China Maoist revolutionary army Shanghai countries world Philippines TEMPORARY HOME Guiuan Eastern Samar Photo Museum of Russian Culture San Francisco USA odyssey Shanghai White Russians Guiuan refugees poured  in uninhabited island Tubabao transformed Russian Refugee Camp 14 districts district electricity hospital sanatorium supply office cemetery churches denomination island immigration officers France Chile South American countries United States Australia U.S. unpleasant power Josef Stalin Mao Tse-Tung China
keotag tags: White Russians January 1949, 49 advance echelon air S.S. Hwa Lien 6,000 anti-communist White Russian refugees Philippines shores 1949 Russia China Maoist revolutionary army Shanghai countries world Philippines TEMPORARY HOME Guiuan Eastern Samar Photo Museum of Russian Culture San Francisco USA odyssey Shanghai White Russians Guiuan refugees poured  in uninhabited island Tubabao transformed Russian Refugee Camp 14 districts district electricity hospital sanatorium supply office cemetery churches denomination island immigration officers France Chile South American countries United States Australia U.S. unpleasant power Josef Stalin Mao Tse-Tung China