Today in History

July 8, 1951

Held at the Bayview Hotel in Manila, along Dewey Boulevard, the Maria Clara Awards was modeled after the annual American Oscar Awards to recognize the achievements of the local movie industry in the Philippines. This was the pre-cursor to the annual FAMAS Awards (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences).

National Artist Dr. Alejandro Roces is regarded as the Father of the Maria Clara Awards.

The coveted bronze Maria Clara statuette was scuplted by National Artist and UP professor, Guillermo E. Tolentino. 

The best picture that year was Kamay ni Satanas, starring Leila Morena, Reynaldo Dante & Nena Cardenas. It was directed by Gerardo de Leon.

In 1957

1957

In 1957, after working in various hospitals, Dra. Fe established her own Children’s Memorial Hospital (now the Fe Del Mundo Medical Center). It is the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines.

She was also the first woman pediatrician to be admitted to Harvard Medical School in 1936.

After World War II, she became the director of the Department of Pediatrics at Far Eastern University and her breakthroughs in research surrounding infant care led to commonly practiced methods worldwide—including the BRAT diet, which cures diarrhea.

She has dedicated most of her life into pioneering work on children's health.

Upcoming

July 9, 1683

Philip V (the Spirited) (Spanish: Felipe V) was King of Spain from 1700 to 1746.

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July 10, 1934

Election of the delegates of the 1934 Philippine Constitutional Convention was held on July 10, 1934.  The convention drafted the Philippine Commonwealth Constitution of 1935 in accordance with...

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July 13, 1924

Dr. Alejandro "Anding" Roces was a writer, journalist, dramatist, educator and a National Artist for Literature. With his own literary works he has received numerous awards. He was also a Secretary o...

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