MANILA — Today (December 19, 1899) in Filipino history, General Henry Ware Lawton met his fate in the intense clash at Paye near San Mateo, Rizal, marking a significant chapter in the nation’s struggle for independence.

General Lawton, distinguished as the highest-ranking American officer to fall in battle during the Spanish-American or Philippine-American wars, was known for his hands-on approach to combat. His life was tragically cut short by a skilled Filipino sharpshooter in the midst of the conflict.

Widely admired among both his troops and the general public, General Lawton’s legacy endured, with his image gracing Filipino currency during the American colonial era in the 1920s. A notable plaza in downtown Manila was originally named after him, later renamed Liwasang Bonifacio in 1963, yet affectionately referred to by Filipinos as Lawton Plaza.

On December 30, 1899, General Lawton’s remains began their journey back to the United States aboard the USS Thomas, arriving in San Francisco on January 30, 1900. He found his final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery on February 9, 1900.

Born on March 17, 1843, in Maumee, Ohio, General Lawton’s legacy lives on as a symbol of sacrifice and valor in the pursuit of freedom. Today, we honor his memory and recognize the pivotal role he played in the complex tapestry of Philippine history.

Merchant Jose Basa, who helped smuggle Rizal’s novel to PH is born

Also today, December 19, 1839, Jose Ma. Basa, a successful merchant who donated money for the smuggling of Dr. Jose Rizal’s novels to the Philippines, was born in Binondo, Manila to Matias Basa and Joaquina San Agustin.

Basa, a reformist group member who was accused of participating in the 1872 revolt that led to the execution of three Filipino priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora (Gomburza), was exiled (along with several others) in the Marianas, where he stayed for two years before moving to Hong Kong with his family.

Basa and the others who were accused in the 1872 revolt were given pardons under the condition that they would not return to the Philippines. Hence, Basa’s home in Hong Kong was turned into a temporary house for some of the exiled Filipinos.

In 1898, when General Emilio Aguinaldo established a junta in Hong Kong, Basa served in the general’s committee and was appointed as the Director of Justice.

Basketball players Jaworski and Reynoso assaulted referees for alleged biased officiating

On the same date (December 19, 1971), the festive local basketball scene was rocked by the physical mauling of a pair of referees in an All-Filipino game in the country’s No. 1 commercial league, the Manila Industrial Commercial and Athletic Association (MICAA), by a pair of prominent players from the Meralco club, Robert Jaworski and Alberto “Big Boy” Reynoso.

Disgusted with the alleged biased officiating against the Reddy Kilowatts in an elimination-round MICAA All-Filipino game with the powerhouse Crispa Floro Redmanizers, Meralco stars Jaworski and Reynoso took matters into their own hands to kick and punch whistle-tooters Jose (Joe) Obias and Dr. Edilberto “Ting” Cruz before an overflowing crowd at the cool-turned-hot Rizal Memorial Coliseum midway through the infamous game that was eventually called off.

Following the assault, Jaworski and Reynoso were meted a lifetime ban by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), then the basketball governing body in the country, and the MICAA. Or so it seemed.

The violent skirmish happened with the game over 28 minutes gone and Crispa ahead, 65-50. It seemed that the Reddy Kilowatts were getting the shorter end of the officiating. All hell broke loose when a Meralco player was whistled a charging foul by Obias off Crispa’s big man Rudolf Kutch.

The burly Reynoso furiously chased Obias in anger over the perceived questionable call, issuing a running kick that barely missed. An equally enraged Jaworski went after a running Obias and floored the latter with a right-straight punch in front of the Meralco bench before the two ganged up on the fallen Obias. Source: Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan

(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)