The First Seven Days of January in Philippine History and Culture (January 1 to 7)

Jan. 1, 1892: Manuel Acuña Roxas (d. April 15, 1948), the fifth President of the Philippines, the last of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the first of the sovereign Third Philippine Republic is born in the town of Capiz (now Roxas City).


Jan. 2, 1942: As an implication of the outbreak of the Second World War II in Asia-Pacific, Manila in the Philippine Islands is declared "Open City" after being captured by Japanese military forces.


Jan. 2, 2006: Cecilia Muñoz-Palma (b. November 22, 1913), the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the Philippines dies at the age 92. Muñoz-Palma was appointed to the highest judicial court by President Ferdinand Marcos on October 29, 1973. She served until reaching the then-mandatory retirement age of 65.


Jan. 3, 1949: The Central Bank of the Philippines, precursor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), is established by virtue of Republic Act No. 265, which was signed by President Elpidio Quirino.


Jan. 6, 1812: Filipina revolutionary Melchora Aquino de Ramos (d. March 2, 1919), popularly known as Tandang Sora (Elder Sora) is born in Balintawak, Caloocan. Tandang Sora was known for giving refuge for the sick and wounded Filipino revolutionaries during the fight for independence from Spain. Her house functioned as a venue for the revolutionaries' secret meetings. 


Jan. 6, 1966: Multi-awarded singer, actress and TV host Sharon Cuneta is born in Pasay City. Cuneta is popularly known as the Megastar of Philippine Entertainment. She currently leads the cast of the TV5 series Madam Chairman.


Jan. 6, 1995:  A chemical fire in an apartment complex in Manila results in the discovery of plans for Oplan Bojinka, a large-scale three phase Islamist attack by Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Oplan Bojinka would involve a plot to assassinate Pope John Paul II, an air bombing of 11 airliners flying from Asia to the United States and a scheme to crash a plane into the Central Intelligance Agency's headquarters in Virginia. 


Jan. 7, 1901: Major General Arthur MacArthur Jr. orders the deportation of Filipino leaders of the Revolution, including Apolinario Mabini, to the island of Guam.