NHI unveils “Pedro Abad Santos” historical marker

SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA - The National Historical Institute (NHI) will unveil the historical marker “PEDRO ABAD SANTOS” at the Heroes Hall Compound, Lazatin Boulevard, San Fernando City, Pampanga on January 31, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. The unveiling ceremony will coincide with his 134th Birth Anniversary.

Pedro Abad Santos was born in San Fernando, Pampanga. He was the eldest of the ten children of Vincente Abad Santos and Toribia Basco.  Pedro took his secondary education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts and his law degrees at the University of Santo Tomas. He was admitted to the bar in 1906.  During the Filipino-American War, Pedro was captured and imprisoned because he was charged by the American Military Commission with guerilla activities and allied crimes. He was later pardoned by President Theodore Roosevelt. He served as Justice of the Peace of San Fernando, Pampanga from 1907-1909; became Councilor of his town from January 1910 until March 1912. He served as delegate of the Second District of Pampanga in the Philippine Assembly from 1916-1922. He was a member of the Philippine Independence Mission to the U.S.  in 1922.    After his defeat in the gubernatorial elections in 1926, he left for Moscow where he studied at the Lenin Institute. As early as 1932, he was propagating unionism and advocating land reform.  Pedro died at the age of 69 due to acute ulcer with intestinal complications in the Huk base in Minalin, Pampanga

The unveiling of the historical marker will be led by NHI Executive Director and Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez. The historical marker shall be officially turned-over to the City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga.    NHI Deputy Executive Director Emelita V. Almosara and the family of the honoree will sign as witnesses in the Certificate of Transfer of the historical marker.

The NHI is the national government agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine history and heritage through research, information dissemination, conservation, including the marking of historic sites and structures, and the maintenance and administration of national shrines, monuments and landmarks.

For more information, contact Eleonor B. Samonte at NHI, tel. nos. 5231037/5239050.