On this day, June 11, 2005, whistleblower and former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director Samuel Ong sought shelter at the San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati.
The day before he revealed he had the “Mother of All Tapes” containing the alleged full wiretapped conversation of Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcellano and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo discussing alleged cheating in the 2004 Presidential Election.
His supporters and sympathizers gathered outside the seminary to safeguard him after he received threats to his life due to his revelations.
1987
On June 11, 1987, the Philippines established diplomatic relations with Albania.
Today, June 11, 1019, we celebrate 32 years of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Albania.
The Philippines has an Honorary Consulate in Tirana.
1978
On this day, Presidential Decree No. 1405 converted the Budget Commission into the Ministry of the Budget and gave it’s head the rank and status of a Minister and member of the Cabinet. Under the parliamentary form of government, the Minister of the Budget automatically chaired the Committee on Appropriations and Reorganization in the Batasang Pambansa.
1925
On June 11, 1925, Emilio Aguinaldo wrote a letter to Captain Emmanuel A. Baja his desire for the unique feature of the Philippine flag which was the flag with the red field on top, which denote a state of war.
1594
Today in History, on June 11, 1594, King Philip II of Spain issues a decree granting privileges, rights & suzerainty to the local pre-Hispanic elites in the Philippines. This decree institutionalized the local elite in the Spanish Philippines who would form the Principalía.
Philip II’s decree: “…we order the governors of those islands to show them good treatment & entrust them, in our name, with the government of the Indians, of whom they were formerly lords.”
The decree was made upon the advice of Domingo de Salazar, 1st Archbishop of Manila, who have observed that the Spanish encomenderos have most often abused the indigenous peoples in the colony.
The Council of the Indies (Real y Supremo Consejo de las Indias), the king’s advisory body on Spain’s overseas colonies, however, required that all indigenous peoples in the Philippines, whether converted to Catholicism, or not, should pay tribute. Salazar opposed this provision.
The colonial system gave the Principalía access to the limited power granted to the natives. They would often be the ones in line for gobernadorcillo/Capitan municipal and Cabezas de barangay, the only electable offices for “Indios” in Spanish Philippines.
During Spanish rule, Filipinos were not given the power to elect their leaders. Even under Maura Law, while the electorate for tribunal municipal (municipal council) was extended, only 12 electorates were handpicked by provincial gov, parish priest & outgoing Capitan municipal.
Many of the Filipino “Ilustrados” who afforded an education in Spain & Europe in the late 19th century were members of the Principalía. Some used their privilege to voice sentiments of Filipinos to Spain, calling initially for equal representation.
Today, many of the existing Philippine political dynasties, & even the ones in the regions, are rooted in the colonial system. Attempts have been made to break free from cycle, often the root cause of corruption. The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Art. II, Sec. 26, opens the door to dismantle it.