On this Day... September 16

CEBU, Philippines -  .In 1891, Hitler's successor, Karl Doenitz, was born. A Nazi from the party's early days, he became the Reich's grand admiral. He was almost solely responsible for rebuilding the German U-boat fleet, and by the end of the war was probably the only senior officer Hitler still trusted. He claimed he only discovered "the demonic side" of Hitler's nature "too late," but it must have been very late, since he was loyal to the day of Hitler's death, when he became the Fuhrer himself. He ruled Germany for just nine days - and in return was imprisoned for ten years. Compared to Hitler, he said, "We are all worms."

.In 1824, the gluttonous Louis XVIII of France died and a bizarre custom was celebrated for the last time. It had long been a tradition that dead French kings were embalmed, but not buried for 40 days. During that time a wax effigy was served with meals and wine. Louis had been so greedy that his misters ordered the food and drink part of the ceremony to be discontinued. They were sure that the sight of such vast amounts of food being presented to a dummy would make people laugh so much it would break the palace windows!

- from Today's the Day! By Jeremy Beadle In Christian history - . In 1976, in Minneapolis the Episcopal Church approved the ordination of women to the priesthood, specifically approving an action in which four bishops had ordained 11 women to the Episcopal priesthood on July 29, 1974 - at that time, in defiance of church law. - from This Day in Christian History

In Cebu - . In 1635, Father Pedro Chirino, author of one of the first history books of the Philippines, died in Manila. Chirino a Jesuit missionary, wrote the Relacion de las Islas Filipinas in 1603, it was mainly intended as a history of the missions in the islands conducted by the Jesuits, which begun in 1581. Chirino gave a full and detailed account of the missions from that time until his departure in 1602. He narrates many things of interest and importance regarding the people, their customs and character, their language and state of civilization, their religious beliefs and worship, and the results of missionary labors and influence upon them. Chirino also recorded the transition of Filipino writing from the Baybayin script to the Latin alphabet. He acted as missionary to the Tagalogs and the Pintados, and was superior of the Jesuit colleges at Manila and Cebu. He cultivated the friendship of Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa, whom he advised to found the college of San Ignacio and the seminary of San Jose in Manila. On July 7, 1602, he left Cavite for Acapulco by the vessel "San Antonio" in order to take immediate action in the affairs of the mission in the Filipinas at both the royal and pontifical courts. He obtained a decree from Father General Claudius Aquaviva, by which the mission in the Filipinas was elevated to a vice-province, independent of the province of Mexico. On July 17, 1606, he returned to Manila. The village of Taitai (Taytay) was moved to its present site by him.

- www.kahimyang.info

. In1907, second-class train coaches began to run the Danao-Cebu railroad operated by the Philippine Railway Company.

. In 1965, Carlos J. Cuizon became Acting Mayor of Cebu City, succeeding Sergio Osmeña, Jr. Cuizon remained mayor until December 31, 1967.

- from Cebuano Studies Center, University of San Carlos