1521day.year
Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men came ashore to present-day Limasawa to participate in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.
In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan lands on Limasawa and celebrates the first recorded Catholic mass in the Philippines.
Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan arrives on the shores of Limasawa island, marking the first European contact with the Philippine archipelago. Accompanied by fifty crew members, he attends the inaugural Catholic mass, led by Father Pedro de Valderama. Local chiefs observe the ritual, initiating cultural and religious exchanges. This event heralds the spread of Christianity and the beginning of Spanish colonial influence in Southeast Asia. The mass becomes a cornerstone of Philippine religious identity and national memory. Magellan’s expedition thus reshapes the region’s history, bridging worlds across the Pacific.
1521
Ferdinand Magellan
fifty of his men
Limasawa
first Catholic mass in the Philippines
1918day.year
Daylight saving time goes into effect in the United States for the first time.
In 1918, the United States implemented daylight saving time for the first time to conserve fuel during World War I.
On this day in 1918, the United States implemented daylight saving time for the first time under the Standard Time Act of 1918. The measure was introduced to conserve fuel and resources during World War I. Clocks were advanced by one hour, marking the beginning of a practice that would be adopted widely across the country. After the war, DST was briefly repealed and then reinstated with modifications. Today, daylight saving time remains a seasonal ritual across many states, despite ongoing debates about its benefits and drawbacks.
Daylight saving time
1933day.year
The Civilian Conservation Corps is established with the mission of relieving rampant unemployment in the United States.
In 1933, President Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps to provide jobs and conserve natural resources during the Great Depression.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) on March 31, 1933 as part of the New Deal. The program provided outdoor work for young men suffering from the Great Depression. Enrollees built trails, planted trees, and constructed parks, roads, and flood-control projects across the United States. Over its nine-year run, the CCC employed over three million young Americans and conserved millions of acres of land. The legacy of the CCC endures in the nation’s parks and forests and in the tradition of environmental stewardship.
1933
Civilian Conservation Corps
United States
1990day.year
Approximately 200,000 protesters take to the streets of London to protest against the newly introduced Poll Tax.
Approximately 200,000 protesters marched through London on March 31, 1990 to oppose the newly imposed Poll Tax.
The Community Charge, widely known as the Poll Tax, was introduced by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's government as a flat-rate local tax. Many citizens viewed it as unfair, sparking widespread public anger. On March 31, 1990, an estimated 200,000 people rallied in central London to protest the measure. Demonstrators confronted police near Parliament Square, highlighting deep societal divisions. The mass turnout weakened political support for the tax and contributed to Thatcher's resignation later that year. Ultimately, the government repealed the Poll Tax in 1993, replacing it with the Council Tax to quell public unrest.
1990
200,000 protesters take to the streets of London
Poll Tax