By: Salvador Isorena/Green Alert
This month’s trivia. October received its name from the ancient Roman calendar. “October” comes from the Latin word meaning “eight.” It was the eighth month of the year in the Roman Calendar.
However, in the Gregorian calendar established in 1582, October is placed as the 10th month with a total number of 31 days. Cosmos and calendula are its flowers; with opal and tourmaline, as birthstone. Libra, the Scales {September 23-Otober 22} and Scorpio, the Scorpion {October 23-November 21} are its zodiac signs.
Historical events and notable personalities born in this month were:
October 1— James Earl Carter, Jr., born 1924; First free rural delivery of mail in U.S., 1896; International Atomic Energy Agency’s first conference opened, Vienna, 1957; National holiday in Cyprus, Nigeria, People’s Republic of China; Tuvalu; October 2—Mohandas Gandhi born 1869; Wallace Stevens born 1879; First Pan-American conference, Washington, D.C.1889; National holiday in Guinea;
On this day in 1943, President Jose P. Laurel, Benigno Aquino, director-general, and Jorge B. Vargas, ex-officio president of the KALIBAPI made an official call on the Japanese emperor. Earlier on December 2, 1942, the Japanese military administration announced that political parties had been dissolved “ of their own free will.” The Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas {KABILAPI], a non-political organization was established on that day. KALABAPI’s aim was to bring about the rapid reconstruction of the Philippines and the rehabilitation of the Filipino people.
This organization was designed to coordinate all activities and services of associations and individuals concerned with the promotion of the total well-being of every and to foster a stable foundation for the New Philippines by inculcating the Asian virtues of hard work, faith, self-reliance, loyalty, bravery, discipline and self-sacrifice.
Jorge B. Vargas, who was then the mayor of greater Manila before the Japanese occupation of the city, had been instructed by President Quezon and General MacArthur to cooperate with the enemy. This was to avert further anguish on the Filipino people.
With the approval of the Constitution {which was not submitted to the Filipino people for ratification} and the election of Jose P. Laurel as President of the Republic, Laurel, Aquino and Vargas flew to Tokyo on September 29, where they met with high-ranking Japanese officials to discuss Philippine independence. They made an official call on the emperor on October 2. Then on October 5, these three Filipino leaders returned to Manila. Two days later, the government announced the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines would be on October 14.
October 4—Rutherford B. Hayes born 1822; First artificial satellite launched by the U.S.S.R., 1957; Independence Day in Lesotho; October 5—Gregorian calendar established, 1582; President Truman delivered first presidential address telecast from White House, 1947;
On October 5, 2021, Marcos Jr. announced his intention to run for the presidency. In remarks at that time, he said: “{As} I speak to you today, the Philippines faces one of the greatest tests in its history…the global pandemic has raced to our country, destroying the lives of people, of families, of entire communities. And if we have learned anything in the time of {coronavirus disease 2019 {Covid-19 pandemic}, it is that each of us no matter our station is in need of the help of our fellow Filipinos. We must face the challenge as one, as country, as one people,”he said.
October 6—George Westinghouse born 1846; American Library Association founded, 1876; October 8—Chicago fire started and burned for 27 hours, 1871; October –National holiday in Uganda; October 10—U.S. Naval Academy opened at Annapolis, 1845; Oklahoma Historical Day; National Day in Taiwan; October 11—Eleanor Roosevelt born 1884; Pulaski Day; October 12—Columbus landed in America, 1492; National holiday in Equatorial Guinea; Spain; October 13—Margaret Thatcher born, 1925; White House cornerstone laid, 1792;
On this day, Captain Bernard L. Anderson, a U.S. Air Force officer, issued a directive confirming Captain Alejo S. Santos, “C” Company, 31st Infantry of the USAFFE, command over the Bulacan Military Area {BMA};
October 14—William Penn born 1644; Dwight D. Eisenhower born 1890; William, the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings, 1066; On this day in 1943, Manila was in a holiday mood, despite the traces of war. Five hundred to eight hundred thousand people gathered in front of the Legislative Building that morning to witness the proclamation of Philippine Independence and the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines. In the afternoon, a pact of Alliance between the Philippines and Japan was signed by the Philippine Minister of Foreign Affairs, Claro M. Recto, and the Japanese Ambassador, Shozo Murata.
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The political season, started with the filing of COCs for the midterm 2025 elections to be held next year—May 12, 2025. Henceforth, it’s no wonder when majority, if not all, aspirants would be bombarded with all sorts of solicitations—birthdays, baptisms, basic needs.
You Tube abound with vloggers –pros and cons—peddling all sorts of issues and mind-boggling revelations. The administration’s senatorial slate, the Duterte-led opposition, and other political parties from the senatorial down to the municipal level had their respective show of force as they filed their COCs on October 1-8, 2024. The good news is that COMELEC said the filing of COCs was generally, festive, peaceful, with no untoward incident reported.
In his column, Moments, Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, [Sunday/October 13, 2024 WWW. INQUIRER. NET] reminded us that October is the month of the Rosary. “Please take note that one of the best gifts we can give to people is to pray for them. Let us pray for one another. Intercessory prayer, prayer offered for others. It is a prayer that is pleasing to God. Pray. Pray on. Pray pa more. Let’s pray for each other,”Fr. Orbos exhorted us to do.
October 15, is the feast day of St. Theresa of Avila. Sharing with you her beautiful prayer to remind us to be strong , and not be stressed or rattled as we journey on this wounded world of ours. “Nada te turbe”: Let nothing disturb you; Let nothing frighten you. Everything is passing; Only God does not change; He who has God has everything; Let nothing disturb you: “Nada te turbe…”. Amen.
