This Week in Philippine History and Culture (March 24 to 31)

Mar. 24, 1934: The U.S. Congress passes the Tydings-McDuffie Act allowing the Philippines to become a self-governing commonwealth. On November 15, 1935 the Philippine Commonwealth is inaugurated with Manuel L. Quezon as President and Sergio Osmeña as Vice-President.

Mar. 24, 1990: Film and television actor Aljur Abrenica is born in Angeles City, Pampanga. A product of the reality-based talent-search program Starstruck, Abrenica went on to become a contract artist for GMA Network. He also appears in Regal Films' productions.

Mar. 25, 1935: Internationally renowned Filipino boxing icon Gabriel "Flash" Elorde (d. January 2, 1985) is born in Bogo, Cebu. On March 16, 1960, about 30,000 spectators at the newly built Araneta Coliseum witnessed Elorde's victory over Harold Gomes for the world junior-lightweight title. Elorde held the title until 1967.

Mar. 26, 1989: Filipino-Italian film and television actor Matteo Guidicelli is born in Cebu. Prior to venturing into show business, Guidicelli was known for being a racer. Guidicelli was recently seen in the ABS-CBN series Paraiso.

Mar. 26, 1996: Film and television actress Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo, popularly known as Kathryn Bernardo is born in in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. She is best known for playing the role of Mikay (later Princess Areeyah) in the primetime series Princess and I. Bernardo's most recent movie is Must Be ... Love, opposite Daniel Padilla.

Mar. 27, 1899: The Battle of Marilao River is waged. That was the only time Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the First Philippine Republic and leader of the resistance to the Americans, led Filipino forces during the Philippine-American War.

Mar. 29, 1911: Actor and musician Tito Arevalo (d. December 4, 2000) is born in Tondo, Manila. He won the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Award for Musical Scoring five times during a period spanning 1961 to 1972.

Mar. 29, 2002: Film and television actor Rico Yan (b. March 14, 1975) dies of pancreatitis in Palawan. At the time of his death, Yan was under an exclusive contract with the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network. Yan's last movie appearance was with real-life girlfriend Claudine Barretto in the Star Cinema production Got 2 Believe.

Mar. 30, 1951: Broadcast journalist Tina Monzon-Palma is born. Monzon-Palma is also program director of the Bantay Bata 163 and Sagip Kapamilya public service initiatives of the ABS-CBN Foundation.

Mar. 31, 1899: As the Philippine-American War rages on, American forces capture Malolos, the capital of the First Philippine Republic.

Mar. 31, 1976: Comedian, television and movie personality Jose Marie Borja-Viceral, popularly known as Vice Ganda or Vice, is born in Manila. Vice Ganda is a regular host/judge on the noontime variety show It's Showtime and host of weekly talk show Gandang Gabi Vice! He is also part of the main cast of two of the highest-grossing films in Philippine cinema: The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin, This Guy's in Love with U Mare! and Sisterakas.