by PNA
On November 22, 1896, Jose Corazon de Jesus, a noted Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos' desire for independence during the American occupation, was born in Sta. Cruz. Manila.
During the early years of the American regime, De Jesus worked as a journalist for the revolutionary newspapers Independence, The Brotherhood, The Union, Renaissance and Democracy.
He later joined the Nacionalista Party which wanted the independence of the Philippines from the United States.
He received his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1920. Having been busy writing column for the Tagalog newspaper Taliba, De Jesus had no chance of practicing his legal profession.
In his column “Buhay Maynila†(Manila Life) under the pseudonym Huseng Batute, he satirized society under the American colonizers and espoused independence for the Philippines.
De Jesus's works also appeared in several magazines and newspapers, notably Ang Democracia, Taliba, Liwayway, El Debate and Sampagita, in addition to his articles that have appeared in various anthologies and textbooks from grade school to college.
De Jesus was also known as “King of Balagtasan†as he was acclaimed winner of the showdown on debate in 1925.
One of his famous works, the Tagalog poem Bayan Ko (My Country, 1929) was used as lyrics for a patriotic song that became popular during the dictatorial regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s.
De Jesus died on May 26, 1932, and was buried in Manila's North Cemetery.
Also on this same day in 1913, Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, the first Filipino woman to be chosen Justice of the Supreme Court, was born in Bauan, Batangas.
Appointed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on October 29, 1973, Muñoz-Palma penned several opinions adverse to the martial law government of her appointer.
She later became a leading figure in the political opposition against Marcos, and was elected to the Batasang Pambansa as an assembly member for Quezon City.
During President Corazon C. Aquino's presidency following the 1986 People Power Revolution, Muñoz-Palma was appointed president of the 1986 Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution.
She died on January 2, 2006, at the age of 92.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=44372.0
