On this Day... November 16

CEBU, Philippines – In 1978, mass murderer Charles Manson was refused parole by the California Community Release Board. Convicted with his hippie "family" of killing actress Sharon Tate and others, the 44-year-old Manson, who was serving nine concurrent life sentences, treated listeners to a three-hour monologue during which he sang a song denying his guilt. He appeared to agree with the adverse decision, however, since he said afterwards, "I don't belong in society. There's no place out there that I fit."

• In 42 B.C., Tiberius, "the emperor made from mud and blood," was born. He grew up extremely strong, and could poke his finger through an apple. On reaching the imperial throne he assumed complete power, then left Rome in the hands of his evil lieutenant Sejanus and retired to Capri. There he drank heavily, and indulged in bizarre sexual practices with women, boys, priests, and babes. In Rome almost every crime was made a capital offense. Every day some 20 bodies were dragged by hooks to the Tiber. Fathers were executed with or by their children, and since tradition forbade the strangling of virgins, they were violated first. When a tortured captive once begged to be put out of his misery, Tiberius smiled and said, "No. We are not friends again, yet!"

- from Today's the Day! By Jeremy Beadle

In Christian history -

• In 1946, The Church of the United Brethren in Christ and the Evangelical Church merge to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

- from This Day in Christian History By William D. Blake

In the Philippines -

• In 1904, the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan province where offenders sentenced to banishment were exiled, was established. It was designated for this purpose during the Spanish regime but was not implemented until the American occupation. The Iwahig facility was established for Filipinos who resisted the Americans' bid to colonize the Philippines. Governor Luke Wright authorized the establishment of the penal colony which originally covered 22 acres. Prisoners who could not be accommodated at the Bilibid Prison in Manila served their sentences at Iwahig. Unlike most prisons and other penal institutions, Iwahig's minimum security prisoners are not locked up behind bars. Only those classified as either medium or maximum security prisoners are subjected to tight monitoring. Iwahig's minimum security prisoners engage in agricultural work and live in dormitories. If permitted by the Bureau of Corrections, some of the inmates are allowed to live with their families and can also work at Iwahig's vast land. To generate income, some of them even set up shops and sell handicrafts handmade by prisoners. The inmates can even access educational opportunities and skills training.

- www.kahimyang.info

In Cebu -

• In 1676, Dominican Diego de Aguilar was appointed as the 5th Bishop of Cebu.

- from Cebuano Studies Center,

University of San Carlos