This Week in Philippine History and Culture

Feb. 11, 1986: Evelio Bellaflor Javier (b. October 14, 1942), an opposition leader during the term of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, is assassinated in the town of San Jose in Antique province. Javier was elected provincial governor in 1971. He lost the Batasang Pambansa elections in 1984. At the time of his death, Javier was director of Corazon Aquino's campaign in Antique.

Feb. 11, 1987: The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines goes into effect.

Feb. 11, 1989: Movie and television actress Lourdes Virginia Moran Poe, better known as Lovi Poe, is born in Quezon City. A contract star of GMA Network, Poe is currently part of the weekly noontime variety show Party Pilipinas. Poe is also a recording artist, having released albums including The Best of My Heart and Bloom.

Feb. 13, 1907: Katy de la Cruz (d. November 10, 2004), a singer known for jazz vocals and torch songs, is born in Bustos, Bulacan. The career of de la Cruz spanned almost eighty years since the 1920s. De la Cruz also ventured into the movies, and she even won the FAMAS Best Supporting Actress Award for the 1953 film Inspirasyon.

Feb. 14, 1924: Juan Ponce Enrile, the President of the Senate of the Philippines since 2008, is born in the town of Gonzaga, Cagayan province. Enrile's career in the government has spanned more than four decades.

Feb. 14, 1971: Actress and television host Kris Aquino, the youngest daughter of former Philippine senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, is born. She is currently seen in the ABS-CBN talk show Kris TV, the drama series Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw, and starting February 16, the talent search program Pilipinas Got Talent.

Feb. 14, 1977: Recording artist-turned-actress Donna Cruz is born in Manila. Cruz popularized the single "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso," which is a track in her 1991 debut album, Donna.

Feb. 14, 1984: Television personality John Prats is born in Manila. He is part of the ABS-CBN weekly noontime variety show ASAP 18. Before becoming known for his dance albums, Prats was paired with Heart Evangelista in various ABS-CBN television programs and movies.

Feb. 14, 1985: Television personality Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco, better known as Heart Evangelista, is born in Makati. Prior to transferring to GMA Network in 2008, Evangelista was paired with John Prats in various ABS-CBN television programs and movies.

Feb. 14, 1992: Television host/journalist and actress Helen Vela (b. October 31, 1946) dies in Rochester, Minnesota. Aside from being known for hosting the drama anthology/counseling program Lovingly Yours, Helen, Vela also co-hosted the variety program Student Canteen. Vela also anchored various news programs for the defunct Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Feb. 16, 1945: In the Pacific theatre of the Second World War, American forces land on Corregidor Island in the Philippines. Less than three years before, the island's combined Filipino and American defenders had capitulated to Japanese forces on May 6, 1942.