On November 10, 1953, Ramon Magsaysay was elected President by the largest majority in the history of the country, 2,912,992 votes as against a vote of 1,313,991 for the incumbent, President Elpidio Quirino.

Young, vigorous, active, blunt, honest, a man of the people, Magsaysay, whose campaign slogan was “Magsaysay is My Guy,” commanded a soul-stirring following among the masses and the more enlightened classes as well.

All look to him to pull the country out of the swamp of post-war corruption in which it had become engulfed. That was the main, if not the only, issue in the elections.

During the election campaign, it was reported that people often came from far distances not only to see and hear him but to touch him, as if there was a virtue in him that could be communicated.

His captivating “Mambo Magsaysay” campaign jingle was composed by no other than Raul Manglapus in 1953 and arranged for Rosita Dela Vega-Da Roza to perform it. She is the singer you hear in the recording.

ALSO TODAY…

Juan Cailles

On November 10, 1871, Juan Cailles, a school teacher who fought during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War, was born in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Cailles, who served as a public school teacher of Amaya, Tanza, and Rosario, Cavite for five years when the revolution broke out, encouraged his pupils’ fathers to fight the Spaniards and join the Katipunan.

Cailles took part in many encounters with the Spaniards, particularly in engagements resulting in the deaths of his superior officers, such as General Candido Tria Tirona, Edilberto Evangelista, and Crispulo Aguinaldo, who facilitated his rapid promotion.

Candido Tria Tirona

On November 10, 1896, Candido Tria Tirona, revolutionary general and secretary of war in the Magdalo revolutionary council, died in action during the Battle of Binakayan, at Cavite el Viejo (present-day Kawit), Cavite.

The Battle of Binakayan was fought from November 9 to 11, 1896, when the forces of Ramon Blanco were decisively defeated. Aside from Tirona, Emilio Aguinaldo, the commanding general, Pio del Pilar, Vito Belarmino, Crispulo Aguinaldo, Baldomero Aguinaldo, and Pantaleon Garcia took part in the battle.

The Battle of Binakayan was the first decisive victory of the Emilio Aguinaldo-led Filipino revolutionaries over the Spaniards in Cavite.

Born on August 29, 1863, Candido Tria Tirona was the son of a wealthy couple, Estanislao Tria Tirona, and Juana Mata, both natives of Kawit, Cavite. Candido was studying in Manila when his father died, causing him to abandon his studies and attend to the extensive family properties.

References: American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Volume 29, Number 12, December 1953, Philippine New Agency archives, Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan

(Filed by JR AMIGO/ai/mnm)