On this Day... November 18

CEBU, Philippines – In 1928, Mickey Mouse was officially born. Legend has it that Disney got the idea for his first superstar from the mice playing in his studio wastebasket. Walt did the original voice-track himself, and since then Mickey Mouse has appeared in over a hundred films, won an Oscar, been awarded a medal by the League of Nations, and received more fan mail than any other star. On his 15th anniversary in 1978, a still-youthful Mickey did a whistle-stop tour from California to New York. He gave a performance for the Carters at the White House and was given a party at New York's Museum of Modern Art!

• In 1307, William Tell shot an apple from his son's head. The legendary Swiss marksman had been forced to do it after refusing to make obeisance to the imperial rule of the Hapsburgs. As a precaution he'd stuck a second bolt for his crossbow in his belt, and told the local governor, Gessler, that it was for him should the boy die. Tell was hauled off to prison, escaped, killed Gessler, and started the struggle for Swiss independence. Unfortunately, there's no evidence to show that the story is true, and equivalents occur in Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Persian legends. There never was a Gessler - and "Tell" derives from the word "mad" in German.

- from Today's the Day! By Jeremy Beadle

In Christian history -

• In 1866, English devotional writer Katherine Hankey penned the verses we sing today as the hymn "I Love to Tell the Story."

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

In the Philippines -

• In 1848, Trinidad Tecson, popularly known as the "Mother of Biak-na-Bato," was born in San Miguel de Payumo Mayumo, Bulacan. At the age of 47, Tecson joined the Katipunan women chapter in 1895. She was one of the few revolutionary women who actually fought side-by-side with the revolutionary men for the country's freedom from the Spanish colonizers. At one time, when the Katipuneros lacked firearms, she went with three companions to the courthouse in Caloocan, Rizal and succeeded in subduing the civil guards and seizing their guns. She was likened to "Tandang Sora" or Melchora Aquino, who was called "Mother of the Katipunan" for her heroic role of feeding and nursing wounded Katipuneros in the battlefield. The Katipuneros' hideout in Biak-na-Bato also served as the headquarters of General Emilio Aguinaldo. It was Aguinaldo who called Tecson as the "Mother of Biak-na-Bato." During the Philippine-American war, Tecson joined the revolutionary forces led by Gen. Gregorio del Pilar. She also served in the Malolos Republic as the Commissary of War. Tecson died on January 28, 1928 at the Philippine General Hospital at the age of 80. She was buried at the Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution in Cementerio del Norte or Manila North Cemetery.

- www.kahimyang.info

In Cebu -

• In1907, Lt. Col. Ammon A. Augar assumed command of the U.S. garrison in Cebu, succeeding Major Henry W. Hovey.

- from Cebuano Studies Center, University of San Carlos