The series of massive street demonstrations of the students, joined in by farmer groups, business and other sectors of the citizenry, have made me doubly conscious of what was happening in Philippine Society. The thrust of all these rallies/demonstrations, obviously was the demand for meaningful reforms in our body politic. I recalled the prayer of Father Pacifico Ortiz, (SJ) – his invocation prayer at the opening of the Session of the 7th Congress, where President Marcos was present, to deliver the traditional State of the Nation Address (SONA). Father Ortiz’s invocation prayer warned of the conditions of the country at the time, which he called a “Social Volcano” that may erupt anytime, if the ills of the country were not attended to. The series of street demonstrations occurring in various places of the country, was manifestation of the discontent and grievances of almost all sectors of the citizenry. Obviously, these lamentations that echoed all over of the land, was effectively articulated by the student sector, who were directly or subconsciously briefed in their classrooms studies. The media described the series of street marches from January to March 1970 by students, farmers, and reportedly joined in by the leftist organization, when they stormed the gates of Malacañan, as well as their demonstrations in front of Congress – as the first quarter storm (IQS).
The events that were unfolding almost everyday, not only in Manila but even in the provinces and the country-side, stirred further my innate feelings which had been lingering for some time., to look into the roots of national discord. Commencing perhaps in my childhood days when I was reading the newspapers reports that, our countrymen with imperialistic appetites were the source of the pressures which today threatens the unity of the Filipino people. As I grew into adulthood, I myself had witnessed the division of the Filipino nation, driven by passionate discontent and legitimate dissent. Consequently, discerning all these events that were happening in the country at the time, I decided as the theme of my maiden speech in Congress, “The New Colonialists”. I delivered my maiden speech on 7 March 1970, following the bloody street demonstration of 30 and 31 of January, where several of the young demonstrators were mortally wounded. I said in my speech, that “I agree in principle with those who identified colonialism as the source of our discontent. But I believe that accusing foreign-inspired colonialism is like beating a dead horse. We have been an independent nation for 25 years now, and if we still allow ourselves to be dominated by outsiders, then we have nothing to blame but our shameless stupidity or our woeful timidity.
I continued and I said – “I see therefore, not the vintages of the past, but its reincarnation. Yesterday, colonial exploitation wore a white face and was imported. Today, it wears a brown face, and is home-grown. When I speak of the untrustworthiness of the Filipinos with power, do I include the Legislators in the roll of the new colonialist? I do not intend to take refuge in the alibi of being a freshman in Congress. I am now a member of Congress, and even as I stand here, I am aware of the fact that voices raised in protest against the institution must necessarily involve me. If we are to believe in the legitimacy of the nationwide outcry for congressional reforms, among others, and if we are to believe in the logic of there being no reason for reform unless guilt were present, then let us be honest in admitting that, collectively or individually, we are not, to say the least, completely innocent . . . .”
Quoted from the “Newsette” dated March-April 1970, Official Organ of the PACD, describing the maiden speech – had this to say “. . . so substantial and meaningful was his speech that it reprinted in the Philippine Free Press, a magazine that rarely if over prints privilege speeches from a notorious Congress or elsewhere.
Indeed, Rep. Lumauig has reasons for attacking the new colonialists in our midst, many of whom have been referred to as Stonehills. He was right in assailing certain Filipinos who “deliberately combine political power and economic wealth to assume an ever expaning and ever ascending position of dominance over the rest of the affairs of our countrymen.”
The clean-cut and handsome solon points out - “All of us are guilty either of commission – the commission of injustice and the omission of not having responded appropriately. The privilege who sought the dominance of their will, the underprivileged who opted for convenience and temporary palliative rather than hold on to their dignity and sacrifice for more enduring benefits – all are equally guilty . . . “
Incident in the meeting of the National Economic Council (now NEDA)
As acting Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Economic Affairs, I was an ex-officio member of the National Economic Council (NEC) and my counterpart from the Senate, was Senator Emmanuel Pelaez, the Executive Director of the NEC, was a former Dean of the UP College of Business Administration.
A week before the NEC meeting, I sought an audience, with the Commissioner of Public Highways, Baltazar Aquino. I requested for funding support in the amount of P270, 000.00 to finish the approaches of the newly built steel bridge over the Ibulao River, the first of its kind in Ifugao. The old rickety wooden hanging bridge connected the main national highway from Nueva Vizcaya to Ifugao, particularly to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, which we were assiduously promoting as a tourist destination area.
Highway’s Commissioner Baltazar Aquino told me, that the Office did not have anymore funds for that purpose. He even called the Budget / Accounting people of his office to bring their records, and to see if there was any possible amount to accommodate my request. The Budget people came in, and showed me a long list of accounting and financial statements pointing to a zero balance in their budget accounts. I left the Highways Office very much disappointed and wondering how I can get money to finish a bridge – a life line conduit, which could bring progress to the province.
The following morning was a regular meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) and former precursor of NEDA. As Chairman of the Committee on the Economic Affairs of the House of Representatives, I was an ex-officio member of the National Economic Council. For the Senate, it was the late Senator Emmanuel Pelaez. Former Dean of the UP College of Business Administration. Gerry Sicat Chaired the National Economic Council.
The Council went over the agenda items for the meeting and acted accordingly. But when it considered the item of the San Juanico Bridge Project, I noticed it carried a budget of several million pesos. When I saw this, I pointed this out to Senator Pelaez, who was seated beside me. I told him, “Mr. Senator, noon kalian lang, a few days ago, I went to see Highways Commissioner Baltazar Aquino, and requested for a little amount about over two hundred thousand pesos (P200, 000.00) to finish my bridge and he said there was no more money in the Public Highways Office for that purpose.” Commissioner Baltazar Aquino was present in that meeting, and he was sponsoring the action on that particular item of the Agenda. Senator Pelaez commented, “Pangit naman yan, maliit lang pala ang hinihingi mo bakit hindi ka binigyan? Pa suspend mo na lang muna, ang consideration ng item na ito” – (referring to the San Juanico Bridge) which I did. Chairman Sicat, who was presiding over the meeting suspended the proceedings together with Commissioner Aquino. They approached me to withdraw my motion to suspend, as the project was that of the First Lady. I told Commissioner Aquino, “When I went to you, you said you have no money at all – here you give several million pesos”. I did not withdraw my motion to suspend and the meeting adjourned.
That afternoon, at about 5:00 pm, I was already in the Session Hall of the Congress. The session was going on, when the Session Hall Aide approached me, saying, “Your brother Governor, Gualberto Lumauig is on the phone and he says it is important that you talk with him.” The telephone was at one corner of the floor, and when I picked it up, my brother blurted out, - “The President (FM) called and told me what you did in your meeting at the National Economic Council this morning”. I explained to my brother what happened, and he must have related the same to FM. Anyway, in the latter part of the session proceedings, the Legislative Aide approached me and said, “Speaker Villareal would like to talk to you”. I approached the Speaker at the restroom and he said, “Mulong” , (that is how he called me) punta ka raw sa Malakanyang ngayon”. I immediately understood and I said, “Yes, Mr. Speaker” and I hurriedly left for Malacañan.
At Malacañan, I was ushered by Sec. Clave to the President’s Office, who was still attending to
two (2) visitors. When the visitors left, the President saw me and beckoned me to get near, and he said, “Ah Congressman Lumauig”, (with a smile) and in Ilocano said in a soft conversational tone – “Apay met nga pinasuspend mo tay project ni First Lady, ket iyap apura tayu tay pannakalipas na”. For a moment I was speechless, for I was taken aback. For all the while, I expected a tense scolding from the President. But instead, he was there smiling. I was sort of overwhelmed. Then again, he added, “What’s your problem anyway?”. Slowly, I related that incident with Highways Commissioner Aquino. Still smiling, he asked Sec. Clave to call Budget Commissioner Sychangco. Sec. Clave called Commissioner Sychangco but the latter was out of his office. So the President quickly scribbled a note on his Memo-Pad, and told Sec. Clave that it be brought to Com. Sychangco. The note directed Com. Sychangco to release the amount of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos, (P350, 000.00) for the completion of the Ibulao steel bridge in Ifugao. Then FM added, “You can have that note and see Com. Sychangco tomorrow”. I took the note and thanked the President for it. As I was about to leave, again in a fatherly tone, he asked me, “What really made you oppose / suspend the particular item in your NEC meeting?” For a moment, I hesitated to answer – but then I also thought, I could not hide the truth of what really happened. So lamely, I disclosed that it was really Senator Pelaez who told me to move to suspend consideration of the San Juanico Bridge item in the Agenda. Then he sort of flared up and said, “What? Why did he do that when I just recently approved his request for the electrification program of his hometown Medina, in Misamis Occidental?” As quickly as he raised his voice, he toned down and he gave me a parting advice, to attend to my legislative duties.
2nd Incident where FM called attention re my Congressional work
Aside from my Chairing the Economic Affairs Committee of the House, I was also made Chairman of the Sub-Committee of the House Appropriation Committee on the Armed Forces. During one of the deliberations of the Committee on the proposed appropriations of the Armed Forces, the Armed Forces Panel, that appeared before us, earnestly argued, that the AFP budget proposal should be favorably acted upon. Many of the members of the Committee were former AFP Officers like General Lucas Cauton, Col. Carmelo Barbero and others. Anyway, when the budget meeting was about to end, I noticed an item in the AFP’s Budget Proposal, an outlay for advance schooling for the AFP Officers in the US, like Fort Leavenworth, Fort Bragg etc. As the amount was quite substantial, I commented that instead of spending that amount for theoretical studies abroad – why don’t we send instead said officers to Vietnam and study thoroughly how the Vietnamese Army effectively devised a transport system of their personnel and resources, nt by any mechanized devise but by the use of man power and animals like carabaos and mules, how they have mastered the construction of caves, tunnels and underground passages in the war zone, that shielded them from detection by the powerful US Army Forces. Because of my comment, which incidentally was supported by Congressman Carmelo Barbero and General Lucas Cauton, the consideration of the AFP Budget proposal was suspended.
This incident was quickly relayed to Malacañan, for in the afternoon of the following day, my brother Governor Gualberto, again called me up saying the President (FM) sent word to him re the AFP subject incident. I told my brother to tell FM, that I will withdraw my comments on the AFP Budget, which I did. Most likely, he must have relayed this to the President, as I was not called anymore by the President.
Another Incident
Congressional works is not that serious all the time, especially during Committee Hearings. Some members, who were not able to participate in the plenary deliberation, would rather opt to be more active in the Committee Hearings. If said hearings are covered by TV and the Media, invariably one can expect much more active participation by the members in the proceedings. One such event was during the presentation of the AFP Budget Proposal which was held at the AFP Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. Almost all the members of the Appropriation Committee Chaired by Congressman Nicanor Ynigez, were in attendance. The hearing was covered by TV and Radio as well as the Newspapers. Briefing the Committee was no less than the Chief of Staff of the AFP, Gen. Romeo Espino. He was pointing out the progress of the AFP shown in the numerous charts before us. But what easily caught the attention of the Committee members was the program of the AFP on the manufacture of rockets. He disclosed that, there was an on going AFP program based in Corregidor. This was the manufacture of rockets, which would add to the weaponry of the AFP. The nomenclature given to the rocket was “Bong-bong” rocket. The rockets were of two (2) categories, the small one which had a radius or range of about one and a half mile or more, while the big one, would have a larger range of about two (2) to three (3) miles or thereabouts. But Gen. Espino quickly added that, a huge amount should be needed to perfect and improve on their rocket project. In fact, he said, they have already spent a considerable amount on these rockets program which is still in the initial phase. Hence, they have to spend much bigger amount for the bigger rocket phase.
At this juncture, a colleague in the Committee, who is known for his sartorial elegance and his forthrightness and often times colorful language, which he punctuates with comic relief, stood up and in sight of the TV, on a loud demanding voice said, “Mr. General, how much did you get from your big time racket?” The Committee and the audience let a loud guffaw and the hearing was adjourned.
UN Conference on the Environment (Sweden)
One morning in my Office at Congress, I received a phone call and the caller refused to identify himself. All that he said was this, “If you are really interested in Congress to stop the shenanigans in the Bureau of Customs, check now with the Bureau of Customs and find out that shipload of imported luxury items consigned to a big department store in Cebu. That cargo should merit hundreds of thousand in customs duties if levied upon.” I told the caller, that it might just be a crank call that he is doing and he retorted – “Bahala na kayo! Panay kayo daldal sa Kongreso, eto nga at sinasabi na sa iyo, tinatanong nyu pa kung totoo o hindi”, then he put down the phone. A news reporter Eddie Monteclaro was at my office and he heard all about the phone call. Then Eddie said – “Baka totoo nga naman Congressman.”
I picked up the phone and called Commissioner Geotina of the Bureau of Customs, and inquired what was that ship unloading its cargo of luxury items in Cebu. I asked if it was being taxed the real customs duties. Fortunately, Commissioner Geotina, who+ is a soft spoken person readily answered “Yes, I have a report from our customs people about that ship. I told Commissioner Geotina to double check on the details about that ship, as it might again explode in the media. That very afternoon, a story appeared in the Daily Mirror newspaper about that ship, and it mentioned that I was going to initiate a Congressional investigation on the matter.
That afternoon, the media were pressing me to disclose if I really do intend to have Congress investigate the Cebu Shipment. The following morning, the newspapers again carried the news that came out in the afternoon papers. At about 10:00 am that day, I was notified that Speaker Villareal’s Office called and requested that I drop at his office. As I entered the Speaker’s Office, there were several people and two Southern Colleagues in the House who were in a huddle with the Speaker.
After some moments, the people left including the Congressmen. It was just me and the Speaker. “Mulong, that was how the Speaker addressed me – yung gusto mong inbestigahan tungkol sa Cebu – ay huwag na muna kaya”. “Bakit ho Mr. Speaker?” Itinanong ko. Then again, sabi ni Speaker, “Alam mo Mulong, dito tayo sa Kongreso ay parang isang pamilya. Kami na mas nakakatanda sa inyo na mga bata, ay lagi gusto naming na mahasa kayo ng husto sa mga gawain natin bilang mga kinatawan. So, because you are actually Chairing the Committee on Economic Affairs and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Tourism, I have chosen you to represent the House in the 1st United Nation Conference to be held outside New York. It will be held in Stockholm, Sweden and it is called UN Conference on Environment. Senator Helena Benitez of the Senate will be your co-delegate to the Conference. Immediately, I perceived the meaning why I was called by the Speaker. It was what appeared in the papers about the purported Congressional investigation, which I reportedly wanted to take place. Anyway, when I was about to Speak, Speaker Villareal with his winsome smile and fatherly pat on the shoulder, said “Mulong, this will be your exposure to International Conferences.” As it was a Tuesday, he said – “The Conference will commence this coming Monday next week. Go prepare your travel papers and other needs. You are entitled to bring one Staff to act as your Secretary. Then I interrupted, “Mr. Speaker, could I have my wife Linda, as my Secretary”. Anyway, she is a civil service eligible and a graduate of Philosophy and Letters. Then the Speaker laughed, stood up and patted me on my back, “of course Mulong, that is what I meant, that you are entitled to a Secretarial Staff.” We flew to Sweden that Friday.
Congress – September 22, 1972 Friday evening when Martial Law was announced.
Before lunch time, speaker Villareal sent word, that I have to join their group, that was going to see President Marcos at the Palace that afternoon. Speaker Villareal, together with Congressmen Barbero and Joaquin Titong R. Roces were to leave for Russia, on an official mission, the following week. A week before, I arrived from an official trip from Russia and other Eastern European Socialist countries, as Chairman of the House Committee on Economics Affairs. My mission was to see the prospects of having trade with the socialist countries. When we arrived at the gates of Malacañan, I was surprised to see, that all the guards were in combat uniform and fully armed. They even had to inspect the trunk of Speaker Villareal’s car, where I rode with the Speaker.
When we went up the stairs of Malacañan, there were armed guards by every door, in combat gear. As we were ushered into the study room, we were met by Secretary Jake Clave who told us, that the President was still in the other room, as he was being interviewed (telephone) by US overseas media. After a while, Mrs. Imelda Marcos came out and greeted us. She said that FM was still busy answering queries of media from abroad (overseas interview). Sometime thereafter, FM came out smiling saying “sobra naman yung mga Media abroad, paulit-ulit nilang itinatanong kung mag Martial law daw tayo.” Congessman Mike Barbero, a former Colonel in the AFP, who was beside me, was listening intently and he whispered in Ilocano “Romy – agpaysun san”. FM who must have noticed Congressman Barbero whispering to me, blurted out – addressing Speaker Villareal “Oh Compadre, Mr. Speaker how are you in the House? Have you finished with our economic measures, as I intend to call Congress for another Special Session tomorrow?” Speaker Villareal responded, “Mr. President, tapos na kami, yun sa Senado lang ay magtatapos na rin sa pagkat, mamaya mag meeting yung Conference Committee of both Houses sa Hilton. Sinama ko si Congressman Lumauig dahil siya ang House Representative sa Conference Panel doon sa Economic Bill na naiiwan.” FM said, “Mabuti naman.”
Gayun pa man, inutusan niya si Sec. Clave na tawagan si Senate President Gil Puyat, para makausap
niya. Noong binigay ni Jake ang telepono kay FM, agad tinanong ni FM kay Senate President Puyat, kung tapos na ang pending measures sa Senado at idinagdag niya na “Nandito sila Speaker Villareal at sabi niya na tapos na raw sila sa House – dahil pag hindi pa, balak kong tawagan uli ang Kongreso for another Special Session bukas.” Malamang nasabi ni Senate President Puyat na tapos na sila – kaya sabi ni FM, “mabuti naman”, at ibinaba ang telepono. Tinanong ni FM si Speaker Villareal kung pagkatapos ang mission nila sa Russia, ay dadaan pa sila sa America. Sabi ni Speaker Villareal na malamang dadaan siya sa Washington. Sabi ni FM, “pakisabi mo sa mga kaibigan natin doon, na huwag silang mabahala sa epekto ng pagtatapos ng Laurel-Langley Agreement, sa pagkat maayos na natin yun.
After the talks, FM stood up and the rest of the group stood up. It was a clue for us to leave. When we were proceeding to the stairs, FM pulled me aside, and asked, “How were things going on in Ifugao?” I answered, “Mr. President, not much, only that what I informed you the other day, about a group of armed men were spotted to have passed the town that night and were sighted, to be proceeding to the nearby mountains.” Then FM said, “Don’t you worry, perhaps those were our men….” I was puzzled with that statement.
As we were descending the stairs of the palace, Congressman Barbero sidled up to me, and inquired what FM told me. Congressman Barbero added, “Did he tell you, that he was about to declare Martial Law?” I answered, “FM did not tell me anything about Martial Law.”
From the palace, we went back to Congress, and it was about 6:00 pm when we reached there. I disembarked from the car of Speaker Villareal and told him, that I was proceeding straight to the Bi-cameral Conference Committee meeting at the Hotel Hilton. When I reached the hotel, I noticed that there were many MetroCom personnel around the hotel and were all in battle gear. The hotel was literally surrounded by elements of MetroCom and other army contingents. As I entered the lobby
which was already full of soldiers, I proceeded to the elevator as the Bi-cameral Conference Committee was to meet at the upper floor. A few of our staff members of the Bi-cameral Conference Committee met me, to tell that the meeting will not go through as Senator Benigno Aquino, my Senate counterpart in the Bi-cameral panel was being fetched by the military. Seeing all the military people around, I easily understood and hurried back to the House, where with other Congressman with glummed face, waited for the inevitable.
A night of dialogue in Baguio City
I was invited as a Guest Speaker, in a Forum at Baguio City on 05 March 1971, sponsored by the Commission on National Integration, the University of the Philippines at Baguio and the Mindanao State University. The theme of the forum was about the problems confronting the cultural minorities. The venue for the Forum was at the Pines Hotel.
As the Forum was going on, shortly before the noon break, there were noises heard coming from outside of the Hotel. There were mostly students rallyists, who wanted to get inside the Hotel, to watch and perhaps to participate in the forum. They have just finished with their picket at the Saint Louis University, and were proceeding to the UP Baguio Campus. They have to pass by the Pines Hotel before reaching the UP Campus. The police stopped them at the driveway leading to the Hotel. The students tried to push their way through, but the police stood their grounds. There was a lot of pushing and jostling and shouting by the rallyists. So I got out of the Hotel and approached the police cordon, which stopped the students. I talked with the team leader of the police and asked if it would be possible to let the students proceed to the Hotel, if they desist from being noisy so as not to disturb the ongoing forum inside the Hotel.
The police team leader said, “That would be dangerous, as they might be again unruly.” Meanwhile, the rallyists ceased shouting as they watched me talk to the police. I then approached the rallyists, and they were saying, “Congressman Lumauig, apay dida kami pastriken? Why do they not allow us to get to the Pines Hotel?” I talked to them for a while, and they calmed down. I told them, that the forum was about to wind-up. After that they, could proceed to the Hotel, and I would be pleased to sit down with them, to know more about their concerns. They were receptive to my suggestion, but they opted to just proceed meanwhile to the UP Campus. They said though, that they will try to see me later in the day. In the afternoon at about 5:00 pm, a young UP lady student showed up at the Hotel and introduced herself as Didi, and requested that she withhold her surname. We had a long talk.
It was indeed an interesting exchange of views that I had with her. I was impressed with her youthful exuberance when she pontificated on the reformed society, that their group forecasted to happen in the country once their struggle for reform is attained. I was patiently listening to her, and she would ask me if I do understand and sympathize with all that she was telling me. I replied that, I understand all that she was saying, it was their privilege to think that way they did. But I did not agree though, I replied, to all that she was describing about the ills of Philippine Society. There are also a lot of our countrymen who seek reforms. I referred to the new crop of elected young Congressmen, who are as idealistic as they are, and are also agitating for reforms. But she did not agree with me. As it was already getting late, she stood up and begged to leave, as their group was to hold a meeting with the Miners community below the Mines View Park. She invited me to join them. I declined, as I told her I was to leave early the next morning back to Manila. I did walk her though to the driveway of Pines Hotel, and the street leading to the Convention Hall. We parted fr om there and she said, she would just write me a note before I’ll leave the Hotel tomorrow morning for Manila.
Early, the following morning as I was about to leave the Pines Hotel, I was handed an envelope with a letter. I opened the letter. It was from Didi. At this juncture, perhaps it would be best that I
reproduce her letter in full. See next post "letter of Didi".
Showing posts with label Romy Lumauig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romy Lumauig. Show all posts
Friday, May 7, 2010
Who is Romulo Lumauig -- End of WW II
During the closing months of November and December 1945, there were noticeable Japanese mass troop movements coming from Isabela and Cagayan Province that passed through at Bagabag. At first, they seem to be headed south towards Manila. But by January and February onwards in 1945, it was the reverse. Japanese troop units were now heading north towards Isabela and Cagayan Province and also towards Kiangan, Ifugao. Meanwhile, during the day, the skies began drowning with the roar of American planes that were strafing the Japanese troops. Due to the increasing presence and arrival of Japanese troops, and the almost strafing and bombing by the American planes in our town, the civilian populace opted to stay away from the centro/town and moved to two (2) evacuation centers – one located east of the town towards the “Magat River”, the place was called Baños, and the other site was in Tul-lag southwest of the town towards the foot of Mount Singian, about five kilometers west of the national highway.
Words passed around that the Japanese were now actually retreating as the American forces were already advancing towards Nueva Vizcaya. The news was that there was a fierce battle going on in the mountains of Sta. Fe, what is now known as the “Dalton Pass”. Reportedly, the American General leading the American forces was shot by a Japanese sniper. Hence, the place was called “Dalton Pass”. The Americans were expected to be in Nueva Vizcaya anytime. The Japanese troops must have been following an organized pattern of tactical positioning of their units for while the main body of their contingents were moving northward to Isabela or the Mountain Province, a unit was observed to have stayed at the junction of the highway northeastward leading to the Cagayan Valley towards the province of Isabela and Cagayan and northward to Mt. Province. They established their anti-aircraft batteries atop the hill of Brgy. Baretbet, along the north highway leading to Isabela, which was also astride the nearby Magat River. Several days later, when a pair of twin body American planes known as P-38’s flew over the place to do their almost daily routine of strafing and harassing the Japanese troops heading northward, the anti-aircraft batteries stationed in the hills of Baretbet, started to fire at them. It was a thrilling sight. Despite the continuous anti-aircraft firing at the American planes, the latter skillfully eluded the shots by their maneuvering and instead, dived and dropped their bombs at the anti-aircraft batteries on the ground. We did not have a way of knowing whether the American planes were able to knock-out the anti-aircraft batteries. But the battle between the American planes and the Japanese anti-aircraft units at Baretbet, continued almost daily for about a week and after that, the American planes flew undisturbed by any anti-craft firing. The Japanese failure to shot down any of the American planes may have been because they have already run out of anti-aircraft shells or that the American planes must have effectively destroyed the defiant Japanese anti-aircraft units.
With the almost daily bombing and strafing by US planes, the civilians at the two evacuation places, would just get into their make-shift air-raid shelters. Fortunately, the American forces must have been informed of these evacuation places, for the strafing and bombings were concentrated in the town and along the highway and adjacent places, where they spotted the presence of Japanese troops. Actually, the Japanese would move only during the night. At day time, they would dodge in camouflaged areas away from the highway. As soon as darkness sets in and there were no more American planes hovering above, they would resume their march northward. One incident though, that I could never forget was the apparently singled-out carpet bombing of the town of Bagabag. Before the town was anecdotally referred to as the “dark town”, or “malammuc” in Gaddang, or “nasipnget” in Ilocano, as the town was almost covered with thick tall lush coconut trees bearing abundant fruits.
A few days, before the arrival of the American liberation forces in Bagabag, one early morning, we heard the approaching deafening roar up high in the skies, unseen by the thick hovering clouds. Then suddenly, bombs were pouring down in torrents from the skies that swept clean the entire town. As the bombs hit their targets, the ground seemed to quiver with such intensity. The bombing directly hit the century-old Catholic Church and reduced it almost to ashes as well as the market place, the most visible structures in town. The town was almost wiped out of its houses, except for one or two that included our ancestral house near the market, which were still standing, but fully scarred with bomb fragments and its roofs and walls tattered with gaping holes from massive 50 caliber machine gun fires. When the American forces arrived few days later, and started clearing the town of debris, it took two (2) bulldozers to get in to the almost 50 meters deep and several meters wide circumference of the bomb-caused craters. Alongside our ancestral house in San Geronimo Street fronting the market place was a similar bomb-caused crater like what hit the church. The devastation caused by the bombing was so massive. Those that returned to their homes have to put up make shift shelters for their families even as they tried to salvage whatever was left of their ruined houses. Hunger was everywhere. The populace would wait with their empty cans or empty plates as the Americans lined-up for their daily mess rations. If the G. I. had any left in his mess kit, he would just push it over to the waiting person with empty plate and can. That was the situation in town for the first few days of the American Forces arrival.
Our ancestral house which was one of the two remaining standing houses in town with a bullet tattered roof, was where we resettled coming from our evacuation place in Tul-lag. Our house fronted the town market which the American Forces readily cleared and fixed to put up their Division Quartermaster Base. Alongside our house, was also cleared of the debris and the 32nd Infantry Division or better known as the Red Arrow Division of the US Eight Army chose it to be their Headquarters or Command Post. The officers of the 32nd Infantry Division approached my late father and inquired as to the condition of the civil government of the town. My father told them, that the
elected Mayor of the town was executed by the Japanese shortly before the arrival of the Americans. Noticing the apparent confusion in the town, due to the absence of civil government, they requested that my father meanwhile act as town Mayor and that he was free to choose the people to work with and set up the civil government structure. My father agreed, but he asked the Americans, to do something for the people who were suffering from hunger. The Americans Civil Affairs Office (CAO) initially provided sufficient sacks of rice and canned goods to be distributed to the needy. Meanwhile, my father designated a cousin of mine, Domingo Callueng who was a member of the Philippine Scout, a unit of the US Army, to be the acting Chief of Police, to speed up the restoration of order in the town.
The Civil Affairs Office of the American force advised my father, that they were ready to provide gainful employment to people, for maintenance and general assistance services in the various American camps. My father immediately called the able bodied men of the town, who were not busy building their make-shift shelter for their families or not yet resumed their farm work. Two teams were immediately organized. I and my younger brother Gualberto, who was only 12 years old at the time, while I was already 14 years old joined the working teams. Mr. Domingo Bollan, an elderly man and formerly a town crier and Mr. Agapito Castillo, a retired teacher, were designated as ‘capataz’ to head the work groups. I sort of became the interpreter for the groups, as the American Civil Affairs Officer, who took charge of the Civilian working groups, relayed all the work instructions through me, as I could easily understand his manner of speaking in English, which, I in turn conveyed to the two ‘capataz’. We were fetched in the early morning of each day by US Army trucks and brought back home after 5:00 pm. We were posted in the various American camps at the town of Lamut, then to the barrios of Banting, Halog and in Bolog along the highway leading to Kiangan.
Essentially, we were assigned to help clean the premises of the Army camps, dig drainage and canals and gather their trash cans and empty them of garbage, cleaned and put them back to their places. Often times, we were asked to guide them in the sporadic patrols, that they conducted in the
immediate areas of their camps, perhaps to check if there were still, Japanese strugglers that would attempt to hit their camps. I remember, one day at about noon time at Bolog, a stream of Japanese mortar fires rained on the camp. The mortar barrage came from the forested mountain side of the camp. The Americans scampered to fall flat in the ground, while our innocent workers continued their works despite the holler of the Americans to fall flat or seek cover. After a few minutes, the mortar barrage stopped. There were no casualties except for one or two Americans who were hit by mortar shell shrapnel’s. This employment with the US Army lasted for about six months until the first week of September when the Japanese surrendered.
Another incident which etched a lasting memory in my mind was that time when our working group was brought to Halog, a spot along the highway leading to Kiangan. A US Army unit camped in that area. But just across the highway, was another camp of Filipino Soldiers belonging to the Buenavista Regiment, composed mainly from elements of the Bulacan Guerilla Command of then Governor Santos of Bulacan. They were attached to the 32nd Infantry Division of the US Eight Army. I learned later, elements of the Buenavista Regiment acted as scouts of the American forces, that were then slowly inching their way towards Kiangan, where the main Japanese Forces, headed by Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita was reported to have put up their final stand.
One midday, the Americans as well as the Filipino soldiers lined-up at the kitchen tent for the noontime meal. Our civilian co-workers were just standing by waiting their turn to join the line. I was conversing then with our American Civil Affair Officer, when a tall and husky Filipino soldier from the Buenavista Regiment Unit approached us, and in his booming voice looked at me and said, “I notice you speak good English”, then he asked, are you an Ifugao?” I answered in English, “Yes sir, I am an Ifugao from Kiangan, Ifugao but my parents are from Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.” Then he smiled, and turned to the American Officer and said, “The operations here is rather convenient with the local populace speaking English.” About more than two decades later, I met that tall and husky Filipino
Officer of the Buenavista Regiment that talked to me in Halog, Kiangan, Ifugao. He turned out to be a high official of the land – Minister Blas Ople of the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the Republic.
With the surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, Commander of the Japanese Forces in the Philippines surrendered on September 3, 1945 in Kiangan, Ifugao to the American Forces. With a tight American Forces escort, he was brought down to Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya at the Headquarters of the 32nd Infantry Division which was adjacent to our residential lot. Filipino soldiers were not allowed to be in town. The highway from Kiangan to Bagabag was lined-up with American soldiers. As a small boy then, I saw actually the convoy of vehicles that brought Gen. Yamashita. As the vehicles stopped in front of the 32nd Infantry Division Headquarters, I saw Gen. Yamashita and his staff disembark. They were in full uniform with their sabers. They were ushered toward the open tent headquarters of the top officials of the 32nd Infantry Davidson, and on cue took, their seats facing their American counterparts. They must have been offered something to drink as I saw them and the American officers raising their glasses to drink. After sometime, everyone stood up and proceeded to board the waiting vehicles to proceed to the Bagabag Airport where Yamashita was flown to Baguio.
Meantime, as my father started organizing the civil government of the town, he was able to locate the duly elected vice-mayor of the town, who was then the Vice-Mayor of the late Mayor Inaldo. The Vice-Mayor was Caesario Dumlao, from the barrio of Tuao. It was in Tuao, where they evacuated and hid during the retreat of the Japanese forces. My father then turned over the office to the Civil Government to Caesario Dumalo. Our House continued to be the temporary Municipal building as the Civil Government was slowly restored.
Words passed around that the Japanese were now actually retreating as the American forces were already advancing towards Nueva Vizcaya. The news was that there was a fierce battle going on in the mountains of Sta. Fe, what is now known as the “Dalton Pass”. Reportedly, the American General leading the American forces was shot by a Japanese sniper. Hence, the place was called “Dalton Pass”. The Americans were expected to be in Nueva Vizcaya anytime. The Japanese troops must have been following an organized pattern of tactical positioning of their units for while the main body of their contingents were moving northward to Isabela or the Mountain Province, a unit was observed to have stayed at the junction of the highway northeastward leading to the Cagayan Valley towards the province of Isabela and Cagayan and northward to Mt. Province. They established their anti-aircraft batteries atop the hill of Brgy. Baretbet, along the north highway leading to Isabela, which was also astride the nearby Magat River. Several days later, when a pair of twin body American planes known as P-38’s flew over the place to do their almost daily routine of strafing and harassing the Japanese troops heading northward, the anti-aircraft batteries stationed in the hills of Baretbet, started to fire at them. It was a thrilling sight. Despite the continuous anti-aircraft firing at the American planes, the latter skillfully eluded the shots by their maneuvering and instead, dived and dropped their bombs at the anti-aircraft batteries on the ground. We did not have a way of knowing whether the American planes were able to knock-out the anti-aircraft batteries. But the battle between the American planes and the Japanese anti-aircraft units at Baretbet, continued almost daily for about a week and after that, the American planes flew undisturbed by any anti-craft firing. The Japanese failure to shot down any of the American planes may have been because they have already run out of anti-aircraft shells or that the American planes must have effectively destroyed the defiant Japanese anti-aircraft units.
With the almost daily bombing and strafing by US planes, the civilians at the two evacuation places, would just get into their make-shift air-raid shelters. Fortunately, the American forces must have been informed of these evacuation places, for the strafing and bombings were concentrated in the town and along the highway and adjacent places, where they spotted the presence of Japanese troops. Actually, the Japanese would move only during the night. At day time, they would dodge in camouflaged areas away from the highway. As soon as darkness sets in and there were no more American planes hovering above, they would resume their march northward. One incident though, that I could never forget was the apparently singled-out carpet bombing of the town of Bagabag. Before the town was anecdotally referred to as the “dark town”, or “malammuc” in Gaddang, or “nasipnget” in Ilocano, as the town was almost covered with thick tall lush coconut trees bearing abundant fruits.
A few days, before the arrival of the American liberation forces in Bagabag, one early morning, we heard the approaching deafening roar up high in the skies, unseen by the thick hovering clouds. Then suddenly, bombs were pouring down in torrents from the skies that swept clean the entire town. As the bombs hit their targets, the ground seemed to quiver with such intensity. The bombing directly hit the century-old Catholic Church and reduced it almost to ashes as well as the market place, the most visible structures in town. The town was almost wiped out of its houses, except for one or two that included our ancestral house near the market, which were still standing, but fully scarred with bomb fragments and its roofs and walls tattered with gaping holes from massive 50 caliber machine gun fires. When the American forces arrived few days later, and started clearing the town of debris, it took two (2) bulldozers to get in to the almost 50 meters deep and several meters wide circumference of the bomb-caused craters. Alongside our ancestral house in San Geronimo Street fronting the market place was a similar bomb-caused crater like what hit the church. The devastation caused by the bombing was so massive. Those that returned to their homes have to put up make shift shelters for their families even as they tried to salvage whatever was left of their ruined houses. Hunger was everywhere. The populace would wait with their empty cans or empty plates as the Americans lined-up for their daily mess rations. If the G. I. had any left in his mess kit, he would just push it over to the waiting person with empty plate and can. That was the situation in town for the first few days of the American Forces arrival.
Our ancestral house which was one of the two remaining standing houses in town with a bullet tattered roof, was where we resettled coming from our evacuation place in Tul-lag. Our house fronted the town market which the American Forces readily cleared and fixed to put up their Division Quartermaster Base. Alongside our house, was also cleared of the debris and the 32nd Infantry Division or better known as the Red Arrow Division of the US Eight Army chose it to be their Headquarters or Command Post. The officers of the 32nd Infantry Division approached my late father and inquired as to the condition of the civil government of the town. My father told them, that the
elected Mayor of the town was executed by the Japanese shortly before the arrival of the Americans. Noticing the apparent confusion in the town, due to the absence of civil government, they requested that my father meanwhile act as town Mayor and that he was free to choose the people to work with and set up the civil government structure. My father agreed, but he asked the Americans, to do something for the people who were suffering from hunger. The Americans Civil Affairs Office (CAO) initially provided sufficient sacks of rice and canned goods to be distributed to the needy. Meanwhile, my father designated a cousin of mine, Domingo Callueng who was a member of the Philippine Scout, a unit of the US Army, to be the acting Chief of Police, to speed up the restoration of order in the town.
The Civil Affairs Office of the American force advised my father, that they were ready to provide gainful employment to people, for maintenance and general assistance services in the various American camps. My father immediately called the able bodied men of the town, who were not busy building their make-shift shelter for their families or not yet resumed their farm work. Two teams were immediately organized. I and my younger brother Gualberto, who was only 12 years old at the time, while I was already 14 years old joined the working teams. Mr. Domingo Bollan, an elderly man and formerly a town crier and Mr. Agapito Castillo, a retired teacher, were designated as ‘capataz’ to head the work groups. I sort of became the interpreter for the groups, as the American Civil Affairs Officer, who took charge of the Civilian working groups, relayed all the work instructions through me, as I could easily understand his manner of speaking in English, which, I in turn conveyed to the two ‘capataz’. We were fetched in the early morning of each day by US Army trucks and brought back home after 5:00 pm. We were posted in the various American camps at the town of Lamut, then to the barrios of Banting, Halog and in Bolog along the highway leading to Kiangan.
Essentially, we were assigned to help clean the premises of the Army camps, dig drainage and canals and gather their trash cans and empty them of garbage, cleaned and put them back to their places. Often times, we were asked to guide them in the sporadic patrols, that they conducted in the
immediate areas of their camps, perhaps to check if there were still, Japanese strugglers that would attempt to hit their camps. I remember, one day at about noon time at Bolog, a stream of Japanese mortar fires rained on the camp. The mortar barrage came from the forested mountain side of the camp. The Americans scampered to fall flat in the ground, while our innocent workers continued their works despite the holler of the Americans to fall flat or seek cover. After a few minutes, the mortar barrage stopped. There were no casualties except for one or two Americans who were hit by mortar shell shrapnel’s. This employment with the US Army lasted for about six months until the first week of September when the Japanese surrendered.
Another incident which etched a lasting memory in my mind was that time when our working group was brought to Halog, a spot along the highway leading to Kiangan. A US Army unit camped in that area. But just across the highway, was another camp of Filipino Soldiers belonging to the Buenavista Regiment, composed mainly from elements of the Bulacan Guerilla Command of then Governor Santos of Bulacan. They were attached to the 32nd Infantry Division of the US Eight Army. I learned later, elements of the Buenavista Regiment acted as scouts of the American forces, that were then slowly inching their way towards Kiangan, where the main Japanese Forces, headed by Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita was reported to have put up their final stand.
One midday, the Americans as well as the Filipino soldiers lined-up at the kitchen tent for the noontime meal. Our civilian co-workers were just standing by waiting their turn to join the line. I was conversing then with our American Civil Affair Officer, when a tall and husky Filipino soldier from the Buenavista Regiment Unit approached us, and in his booming voice looked at me and said, “I notice you speak good English”, then he asked, are you an Ifugao?” I answered in English, “Yes sir, I am an Ifugao from Kiangan, Ifugao but my parents are from Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.” Then he smiled, and turned to the American Officer and said, “The operations here is rather convenient with the local populace speaking English.” About more than two decades later, I met that tall and husky Filipino
Officer of the Buenavista Regiment that talked to me in Halog, Kiangan, Ifugao. He turned out to be a high official of the land – Minister Blas Ople of the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the Republic.
With the surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, Commander of the Japanese Forces in the Philippines surrendered on September 3, 1945 in Kiangan, Ifugao to the American Forces. With a tight American Forces escort, he was brought down to Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya at the Headquarters of the 32nd Infantry Division which was adjacent to our residential lot. Filipino soldiers were not allowed to be in town. The highway from Kiangan to Bagabag was lined-up with American soldiers. As a small boy then, I saw actually the convoy of vehicles that brought Gen. Yamashita. As the vehicles stopped in front of the 32nd Infantry Division Headquarters, I saw Gen. Yamashita and his staff disembark. They were in full uniform with their sabers. They were ushered toward the open tent headquarters of the top officials of the 32nd Infantry Davidson, and on cue took, their seats facing their American counterparts. They must have been offered something to drink as I saw them and the American officers raising their glasses to drink. After sometime, everyone stood up and proceeded to board the waiting vehicles to proceed to the Bagabag Airport where Yamashita was flown to Baguio.
Meantime, as my father started organizing the civil government of the town, he was able to locate the duly elected vice-mayor of the town, who was then the Vice-Mayor of the late Mayor Inaldo. The Vice-Mayor was Caesario Dumlao, from the barrio of Tuao. It was in Tuao, where they evacuated and hid during the retreat of the Japanese forces. My father then turned over the office to the Civil Government to Caesario Dumalo. Our House continued to be the temporary Municipal building as the Civil Government was slowly restored.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Who is Romulo Lumauig -- Going to Congress
After my stint with the CNI, I was drafted as the official candidate of the Nacionalista Party for the Lone Congressional District of Ifugao. The Ifugaos knew of my having earlier worked in Congress with Nueva Vizcaya Congressman Leonardo Perez, and my being the incumbent Legal Division Chief of the Commission on National Integration. They contended, that with my broad experience and knowledge of the problems of the National Cultural Minorities, I could easily get the support of the Ifugao electorate. The Ifugao people, realized that together with my brother Gualberto, as the 1st elected and incumbent Governor of the new province of Ifugao, and I would be the 1st elected Congressman of the province, we could work as an effective tandem to attend the critical development needs of the newly organized province. I won in the Congressional elections of 1969, handily.
But an earlier incident that really ushered me into Ifugao politics, was when the then, Banaue Municipal Mayor Alipio Mondiguing, whom I assisted to get national support for their joint project with my Governor brother Gualberto, to develop the town of Banaue as a tourist spot, invited me to be the Guest of Honor and Speaker of the Banaue Town Fiesta in 1968. Mayor Mondiguing used to come to Manila to follow-up his requests for community improvements and public works projects with the various government national offices. When in Manila, he would literally park at my CNI Office. From there, we would make the telephone or personal follow-ups for his projects. Most often, I would accompany him to the government offices, where his proposed projects were pending for consideration. One office that we frequented, was the Bureau of Tourism and Travel Industry (BTTI), chaired by the late Greg Araneta, brother in-law of my UP law classmate, Jun Leido and later, my colleague in the House of Representative. He was also elected as Congressman of Oriental Mindoro. BTTI Chairman Greg Araneta, while very supportive of the Banaue Tourism Project, was a stickler for administrative procedures. Mayor Mondiguing and I had to observe and to comply with all the project document requirements. It took about several months, when the Banaue Tourism project was officially approved. Banaue finally got its five-star Banaue Hotel and also a Hostel.
Mayor Mondiguing introduced me to the crowd, (I was still then with the CNI) as the candidate to be the first Congressman elect of Ifugao. I was both surprised and flattered, as I did not expect at all, that Mayor Mondigiung was going to make such a public statement. Anyway, I thanked Mayor Mondiguing for his kind and generous introduction. But Mayor Mondiguing immediately blurted out – “Atty., I am serious. That was not a joke that I made. I suggest, do not go back to Manila yet as tomorrow, we will make our first round of the surrounding barrios. He prevailed on me to stay. The following morning, we proceeded to Hapao, one of the big barrios of Banaue then to Nungulunan, and other adjacent barrios and sitios. In those instant meetings with the barrio folks, he introduced me as “our candidate for Congress that we should vote for in the coming elections.” After four days of visiting the different barrios of Banaue, I returned to Manila. But the vagaries of politics was such, that by some quirk of event, Fred Mondiguing, lawyer son of Mayor Mondiguing eventually ran against me in that 1969 Congressional elections. He lost and I won handily.
My first few months in Congress was indeed hectic. As the saying goes – “My first day in Congress, I hit the ground running.” I had to fast tract the consideration and approval of the numerous development projects of the province, which were under study and review by the national offices concerned. The immediate improvement of the national highway linking the province to Nueva Vizcaya leading to Manila, was on the top list of our Action Program. The province had already an export potential for its well known Ifugao woodcarving products, as well as its vegetable production similar to that of Benguet Province. Next was to prod the Department of Education, to repair and improve the old dilapilated school houses (buildings) and/or to build more newer school buildings in several towns and barrios of the province. The old Municipal building in each of the towns had to be rehabilitated and to secure funds for building Municipal Halls for several municipalities without Municipal Halls. I also upgraded thru legislation, the existing Nayon Farm School into a National High School for Industrial Arts and Agri-Technology. To improve the basic talents of the natives in indigenous wood carvings and other wood crafts, I was able to put up the Lagawe School of Arts and Trade. It improved a lot of the basic skills of the Ifugaos in woodcraft. Later, my brother Governor Gualberto carried on with putting up more advance training schools like the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF), in Potia, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao. The health problem of the people must also be attended to. The existing health clinics in some of the municipalities were in most cases, mere dispensaries where free medicine and first aid treatment were done. I had to fast tract the establishment of hospitals in a far flung municipality Mayoyao, and later in Tinoc. Livelihood enhancement programs for a great number of the populace had to be organized and launched and also other related projects designed to advance the progress of the province.
Congress Doings
Before the opening session of the 7th Congress on January 1970, a series of caucuses were held by the House Majority party, the Nacionalista Party (NP), the Party to which I belong. Elected as Speaker of the House was Jose P. Laurel, Jr. The regular House Committees of the House was also organized and chaired by the senior members. The newly elected members of the House composed mostly of young ones, made some intimation, that the Chairmanship of the various House Committee, should not only come from the senior members, but the House leadership should also consider even the newly elected members. We were graciously advised, that it was the tradition in the House, that only the senior members would be given the chairmanship of the Committees. The junior members or neophyte could only, at most, be considered for the vice-chairmanship or just plain Committee members. Thus, when the composition of the various House Committees were finally announced, there were negative observations about the choice of Committee Chairmenship and membership. It was alleged, that vested interests dominated the powerful House Committees.
One Committee Chair, that elicited some harsh comments, was the powerful Committee on Economic-Affairs (CEA). It was announced that the amiable and soft spoken, Congressman from Davao, Lorenzo Sarmiento, would chair the Committee. The Sarmiento family of Davao was known for their wide ranging business interests in timber concessions, various industrial and commercial enterprises in Davao and other parts of Mindanao. They played a big factor in the increasing progress of Davao and Mindanao. The negative reaction to the announced Chairmanship of Congressman Sarmiento, to the Committee on Economic-affairs (CEA), was his identification with big business interests. It was perceived by the critics, that he may use his Committee position to unduly advance, his family’s business interests. Because of the furor raised to Congressman Sarmiento’s posting as CEA Chair, the House in a caucus decided to defer meanwhile the election of (CEA) chair. For about a month and a half, action on the Chairmanship of the CEA was deferred. Meanwhile, House Speaker Jose Laurel, Jr. conducted a survey of the House membership, to ascertain the extent of their business interests.
One early Monday morning, about the 2nd week of March 1970, I received a message from Speaker Laurel to join him at his private office at the Manila Bank Building at Bonifacio Drive St., Port Area, Manila. When I was ushered in to Speaker Laurel’s Office, I saw Congressman Lorenzo Sarmiento and the Speaker in a huddle. The Speaker beckoned me to join them. Speaker Laurel said that he made a survey of the varied interests (business, professionals etc.) of the House membership and, “Romy, he added, parang ikaw lang ang walang connection sa negosyo.” I answered, “Totoo, Mr. Speaker, hindi ako negosyante. Ang mga magulang ko po ay mga guro at wala talaga kaming ka ano-ano sa negosyo.” The Speaker smiled, and said, “That is why I called you and Congressman Sarmiento, so we can solve the problem of the Chairmanship of the CEA. I will make an announcement that you are chosen to be Vice-Chairman of the CEA and Congressman Sarmiento remains as Chairman. But it will be you who will actively handle the Committee Affairs, and Congressman Sarmiento will be there to guide and assist you meanwhile”. He asked me if I agreed with that kind of arrangement. I answered, “Yes Mr. Speaker, if that is the decision of the House leadership.” But I added, “Hwag lang naman akong pabayaan ni Congressman Sarmiento at bagito lang ako”. “Ay oo naman”, the Speaker remarked. “Si Enchong ay alalayan ka.” Congressman Sarmiento likewise remarked, “Nandito naman ako lagi eh, hwag kang mabahala Romy, madali mo naman matutunan ang pamalakad ng Committee.” The Speaker, called his media adviser, Tony, and instructed him to brief the media of what transpired. The EAC was regularly briefed and advised by the Congressional Economic Planning (CEPO), composed mostly of top acknowledged economists, graduates of world class economic schools abroad, (i.e. London School of Economics, Wharton, Yale, Harvard and Cornell University in the US, like Jose Romero, Alejandro Lichauco, Dr. Emmanuel Q. Yap,Dr. Vicente Valdepeñas and a few others.
Meanwhile, student rallies in the streets were increasing everyday. At one time, they barged inside the session hall and fully occupied the galleries. Then they sung the national anthem, and the Congressmen rose from their seats to stand. But when the singing ended and the Congressmen were about to take their seats, the students would again sing the national anthem and perforce, the Congressmen would again stand up. Speaker Laurel who was presiding over the House proceedings,
stood up from his chair at the rostrum and pounded for three times, the gavel on top of his table and loudly announced “ We are now witnessing how this unruly group, abused the hospitality of this Chamber. I order the House Security to evict them out of the gallery at once”. A loud scuffle occurred in the gallery, as the House Security people forced out the rallyists from the session hall.
Even as I was already in Congress, I still pursued any studies in Anthropology at the UP. Dr. Landa Jocano and Dr. Arsenio E. Manuel, well known Anthropologists and writers in Philippine societal structures, cultures and traditions, were my two guiding professors and advisers who eagerly and patiently encouraged me to further broaden and deepen my knowledge and understanding of Philippine Society. It was already the time when rallies in the streets were increasing almost every week. I arranged to attend my Anthropology studies at two o’clock to four o’clock in the afternoon. After class hours, I then would rush to Congress to be on time for the daily session which usually started at five in the afternoon. One afternoon on my way back to Congress from my afternoon class in the UP, there was already a huge rally of students at Congress. The street below Congress and the driveway leading to the doorway entrance to the Session Hall were already teaming with rallyists. My car was following the car of Senator Jose Roy of Tarlac with his No. 7 plate. I never used my No. 8 car plate as a Congressman. I was seated beside the driver in the front with the right glass window rolled down, as I was also eager to see, if I recognized a few of the rallyists. Just as Senator Roy stopped in front of the doorway entrance, a stone was hurled at the back of his car hitting the rear glass window which immediately cracked and broken with shattered glass pieces strewn on the car and the driveway. The policemen and other security people immediately surrounded the car of Senator Roy, as it was being led down and out of the driveway. At that moment I got frightened. I thought, I was next to be stoned as I saw several rallyists with arms raised and clenched fists. At that instance, I heard several voices coming from the rallyists standing along the driveway, saying “Huwag si Romy yan.” I looked at the right, and scanned the sea of faces. I caught a few familiar faces among the crowd. I recognized two or three of them to be my classmates in my Anthropology and Political Science classes. They were smiling and waving at me, and were shouting “Hi Romy”. I also waived back and felt so relieved. As I rushed out of my car and proceeded to the Session Hall, it was only then, that I could breathe in full. The session for the day adjourned early – about six pm. I went down to my office located in the basement of the Congress Building. As I entered my office, I was surprised to see Brig. General Mariano Ordoñez, the MetroCom Commander in Manila. He stood up and greeted me. So I asked what was the purpose of the visit. Then he said, “Congressman, we saw that after the stoning of the Senator Roys’ car, you were just a few feet behind his car, but you were not stoned. Mr. Congressman, perhaps those in that rally, knew you. Would you know them too, Sir?” I laughed a bit and I said – “Ah General, that is why I deserved a visit from you.” And I continued, “General, I recognized two of the girls in the rally, are my classmates from UP, but I don’t remember their names.” General Ordoñez smiled, thanked me and left. Those two girls that I saw, were my classmates in the Anthropology class. I learned later, that they joined the activists and went underground. One of them, was reportedly killed later in an encounter with government troops in the Sierra Madre mountains, on the border of Quezon Province and Bicol.
But an earlier incident that really ushered me into Ifugao politics, was when the then, Banaue Municipal Mayor Alipio Mondiguing, whom I assisted to get national support for their joint project with my Governor brother Gualberto, to develop the town of Banaue as a tourist spot, invited me to be the Guest of Honor and Speaker of the Banaue Town Fiesta in 1968. Mayor Mondiguing used to come to Manila to follow-up his requests for community improvements and public works projects with the various government national offices. When in Manila, he would literally park at my CNI Office. From there, we would make the telephone or personal follow-ups for his projects. Most often, I would accompany him to the government offices, where his proposed projects were pending for consideration. One office that we frequented, was the Bureau of Tourism and Travel Industry (BTTI), chaired by the late Greg Araneta, brother in-law of my UP law classmate, Jun Leido and later, my colleague in the House of Representative. He was also elected as Congressman of Oriental Mindoro. BTTI Chairman Greg Araneta, while very supportive of the Banaue Tourism Project, was a stickler for administrative procedures. Mayor Mondiguing and I had to observe and to comply with all the project document requirements. It took about several months, when the Banaue Tourism project was officially approved. Banaue finally got its five-star Banaue Hotel and also a Hostel.
Mayor Mondiguing introduced me to the crowd, (I was still then with the CNI) as the candidate to be the first Congressman elect of Ifugao. I was both surprised and flattered, as I did not expect at all, that Mayor Mondigiung was going to make such a public statement. Anyway, I thanked Mayor Mondiguing for his kind and generous introduction. But Mayor Mondiguing immediately blurted out – “Atty., I am serious. That was not a joke that I made. I suggest, do not go back to Manila yet as tomorrow, we will make our first round of the surrounding barrios. He prevailed on me to stay. The following morning, we proceeded to Hapao, one of the big barrios of Banaue then to Nungulunan, and other adjacent barrios and sitios. In those instant meetings with the barrio folks, he introduced me as “our candidate for Congress that we should vote for in the coming elections.” After four days of visiting the different barrios of Banaue, I returned to Manila. But the vagaries of politics was such, that by some quirk of event, Fred Mondiguing, lawyer son of Mayor Mondiguing eventually ran against me in that 1969 Congressional elections. He lost and I won handily.
My first few months in Congress was indeed hectic. As the saying goes – “My first day in Congress, I hit the ground running.” I had to fast tract the consideration and approval of the numerous development projects of the province, which were under study and review by the national offices concerned. The immediate improvement of the national highway linking the province to Nueva Vizcaya leading to Manila, was on the top list of our Action Program. The province had already an export potential for its well known Ifugao woodcarving products, as well as its vegetable production similar to that of Benguet Province. Next was to prod the Department of Education, to repair and improve the old dilapilated school houses (buildings) and/or to build more newer school buildings in several towns and barrios of the province. The old Municipal building in each of the towns had to be rehabilitated and to secure funds for building Municipal Halls for several municipalities without Municipal Halls. I also upgraded thru legislation, the existing Nayon Farm School into a National High School for Industrial Arts and Agri-Technology. To improve the basic talents of the natives in indigenous wood carvings and other wood crafts, I was able to put up the Lagawe School of Arts and Trade. It improved a lot of the basic skills of the Ifugaos in woodcraft. Later, my brother Governor Gualberto carried on with putting up more advance training schools like the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF), in Potia, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao. The health problem of the people must also be attended to. The existing health clinics in some of the municipalities were in most cases, mere dispensaries where free medicine and first aid treatment were done. I had to fast tract the establishment of hospitals in a far flung municipality Mayoyao, and later in Tinoc. Livelihood enhancement programs for a great number of the populace had to be organized and launched and also other related projects designed to advance the progress of the province.
Congress Doings
Before the opening session of the 7th Congress on January 1970, a series of caucuses were held by the House Majority party, the Nacionalista Party (NP), the Party to which I belong. Elected as Speaker of the House was Jose P. Laurel, Jr. The regular House Committees of the House was also organized and chaired by the senior members. The newly elected members of the House composed mostly of young ones, made some intimation, that the Chairmanship of the various House Committee, should not only come from the senior members, but the House leadership should also consider even the newly elected members. We were graciously advised, that it was the tradition in the House, that only the senior members would be given the chairmanship of the Committees. The junior members or neophyte could only, at most, be considered for the vice-chairmanship or just plain Committee members. Thus, when the composition of the various House Committees were finally announced, there were negative observations about the choice of Committee Chairmenship and membership. It was alleged, that vested interests dominated the powerful House Committees.
One Committee Chair, that elicited some harsh comments, was the powerful Committee on Economic-Affairs (CEA). It was announced that the amiable and soft spoken, Congressman from Davao, Lorenzo Sarmiento, would chair the Committee. The Sarmiento family of Davao was known for their wide ranging business interests in timber concessions, various industrial and commercial enterprises in Davao and other parts of Mindanao. They played a big factor in the increasing progress of Davao and Mindanao. The negative reaction to the announced Chairmanship of Congressman Sarmiento, to the Committee on Economic-affairs (CEA), was his identification with big business interests. It was perceived by the critics, that he may use his Committee position to unduly advance, his family’s business interests. Because of the furor raised to Congressman Sarmiento’s posting as CEA Chair, the House in a caucus decided to defer meanwhile the election of (CEA) chair. For about a month and a half, action on the Chairmanship of the CEA was deferred. Meanwhile, House Speaker Jose Laurel, Jr. conducted a survey of the House membership, to ascertain the extent of their business interests.
One early Monday morning, about the 2nd week of March 1970, I received a message from Speaker Laurel to join him at his private office at the Manila Bank Building at Bonifacio Drive St., Port Area, Manila. When I was ushered in to Speaker Laurel’s Office, I saw Congressman Lorenzo Sarmiento and the Speaker in a huddle. The Speaker beckoned me to join them. Speaker Laurel said that he made a survey of the varied interests (business, professionals etc.) of the House membership and, “Romy, he added, parang ikaw lang ang walang connection sa negosyo.” I answered, “Totoo, Mr. Speaker, hindi ako negosyante. Ang mga magulang ko po ay mga guro at wala talaga kaming ka ano-ano sa negosyo.” The Speaker smiled, and said, “That is why I called you and Congressman Sarmiento, so we can solve the problem of the Chairmanship of the CEA. I will make an announcement that you are chosen to be Vice-Chairman of the CEA and Congressman Sarmiento remains as Chairman. But it will be you who will actively handle the Committee Affairs, and Congressman Sarmiento will be there to guide and assist you meanwhile”. He asked me if I agreed with that kind of arrangement. I answered, “Yes Mr. Speaker, if that is the decision of the House leadership.” But I added, “Hwag lang naman akong pabayaan ni Congressman Sarmiento at bagito lang ako”. “Ay oo naman”, the Speaker remarked. “Si Enchong ay alalayan ka.” Congressman Sarmiento likewise remarked, “Nandito naman ako lagi eh, hwag kang mabahala Romy, madali mo naman matutunan ang pamalakad ng Committee.” The Speaker, called his media adviser, Tony, and instructed him to brief the media of what transpired. The EAC was regularly briefed and advised by the Congressional Economic Planning (CEPO), composed mostly of top acknowledged economists, graduates of world class economic schools abroad, (i.e. London School of Economics, Wharton, Yale, Harvard and Cornell University in the US, like Jose Romero, Alejandro Lichauco, Dr. Emmanuel Q. Yap,Dr. Vicente Valdepeñas and a few others.
Meanwhile, student rallies in the streets were increasing everyday. At one time, they barged inside the session hall and fully occupied the galleries. Then they sung the national anthem, and the Congressmen rose from their seats to stand. But when the singing ended and the Congressmen were about to take their seats, the students would again sing the national anthem and perforce, the Congressmen would again stand up. Speaker Laurel who was presiding over the House proceedings,
stood up from his chair at the rostrum and pounded for three times, the gavel on top of his table and loudly announced “ We are now witnessing how this unruly group, abused the hospitality of this Chamber. I order the House Security to evict them out of the gallery at once”. A loud scuffle occurred in the gallery, as the House Security people forced out the rallyists from the session hall.
Even as I was already in Congress, I still pursued any studies in Anthropology at the UP. Dr. Landa Jocano and Dr. Arsenio E. Manuel, well known Anthropologists and writers in Philippine societal structures, cultures and traditions, were my two guiding professors and advisers who eagerly and patiently encouraged me to further broaden and deepen my knowledge and understanding of Philippine Society. It was already the time when rallies in the streets were increasing almost every week. I arranged to attend my Anthropology studies at two o’clock to four o’clock in the afternoon. After class hours, I then would rush to Congress to be on time for the daily session which usually started at five in the afternoon. One afternoon on my way back to Congress from my afternoon class in the UP, there was already a huge rally of students at Congress. The street below Congress and the driveway leading to the doorway entrance to the Session Hall were already teaming with rallyists. My car was following the car of Senator Jose Roy of Tarlac with his No. 7 plate. I never used my No. 8 car plate as a Congressman. I was seated beside the driver in the front with the right glass window rolled down, as I was also eager to see, if I recognized a few of the rallyists. Just as Senator Roy stopped in front of the doorway entrance, a stone was hurled at the back of his car hitting the rear glass window which immediately cracked and broken with shattered glass pieces strewn on the car and the driveway. The policemen and other security people immediately surrounded the car of Senator Roy, as it was being led down and out of the driveway. At that moment I got frightened. I thought, I was next to be stoned as I saw several rallyists with arms raised and clenched fists. At that instance, I heard several voices coming from the rallyists standing along the driveway, saying “Huwag si Romy yan.” I looked at the right, and scanned the sea of faces. I caught a few familiar faces among the crowd. I recognized two or three of them to be my classmates in my Anthropology and Political Science classes. They were smiling and waving at me, and were shouting “Hi Romy”. I also waived back and felt so relieved. As I rushed out of my car and proceeded to the Session Hall, it was only then, that I could breathe in full. The session for the day adjourned early – about six pm. I went down to my office located in the basement of the Congress Building. As I entered my office, I was surprised to see Brig. General Mariano Ordoñez, the MetroCom Commander in Manila. He stood up and greeted me. So I asked what was the purpose of the visit. Then he said, “Congressman, we saw that after the stoning of the Senator Roys’ car, you were just a few feet behind his car, but you were not stoned. Mr. Congressman, perhaps those in that rally, knew you. Would you know them too, Sir?” I laughed a bit and I said – “Ah General, that is why I deserved a visit from you.” And I continued, “General, I recognized two of the girls in the rally, are my classmates from UP, but I don’t remember their names.” General Ordoñez smiled, thanked me and left. Those two girls that I saw, were my classmates in the Anthropology class. I learned later, that they joined the activists and went underground. One of them, was reportedly killed later in an encounter with government troops in the Sierra Madre mountains, on the border of Quezon Province and Bicol.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Who is Romulo Lumauig -- Working with Cong. Perez
After finishing my law studies and having passed the bar, the late Congressman then later, became Senator, Leonardo Perez of Nueva Vizcaya, invited me to join his staff in Congress. My task assignment was mainly legislative work. I studied intently the intricacies of legislation as well as the various House Committee proceedings and deliberations. I was also assigned the additional task to assist members of the National Cultural Minorities who resettled in Nueva Vizcaya after being displaced from their ancestral occupations with the construction of the Binga and Ambuklao hydro Dam in Baguio-Benguet. At one time, eighteen members of these cultural minorities were arrested and jailed in the Municipal Jail of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya after their arrest by forest guards of the Bureau of Forestry. They were caught doing kaingin along the fringes of the forests of Dupax. I was sent by Congressman Perez to talk to then Mayor Palugod of Dupax to set free the settlers. Mayor Palugod of Dupax, was just too glad to let them go free as the Municipality cannot afford to feed that number of people.
I saw the sad plight of the displaced people from their ancestral lands who were left alone to fend for themselves, without sufficient support from government. The government allegedly informed them that there were sufficient lands in Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya for them to resettle. But most of the arable lands in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija were private lands, already owned and occupied. The poor minorities had to settle in the forested areas which were not yet classified as alienable and disposable. Thus, many of them were arrested or harassed by the Bureau of Forestry personnel. Everytime, there were arrests by the Forestry people, we would invariably make representations for them to let go of the minorities as they were just trying to etch a living after being eased out of their ancestral lands. I could not help but commiserate with the displaced people. My first hand exposure to the miseries and deprivations suffered by the cultural minorities, must have conditioned my mind to detest any act of exploitation made against those less-advantaged among our citizenry. I was determined to come to their succor, circumstances permitting, if not now, perhaps in the days to come.
Meanwhile, as I started my active law practice, and enjoyed my bachelorhood days. Eventually I thought it best, that I should establish my family. I got married to the woman whom destiny perhaps so consigned to be my lifetime partner, Erlinda Guillermo, a graduate of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas. We were blest with four children – two boys and two girls namely Romulo Roman (RR), Jesus Victor (JV), Nona Romilda (Nona) and Maria Liza (Liza).
I saw the sad plight of the displaced people from their ancestral lands who were left alone to fend for themselves, without sufficient support from government. The government allegedly informed them that there were sufficient lands in Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya for them to resettle. But most of the arable lands in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija were private lands, already owned and occupied. The poor minorities had to settle in the forested areas which were not yet classified as alienable and disposable. Thus, many of them were arrested or harassed by the Bureau of Forestry personnel. Everytime, there were arrests by the Forestry people, we would invariably make representations for them to let go of the minorities as they were just trying to etch a living after being eased out of their ancestral lands. I could not help but commiserate with the displaced people. My first hand exposure to the miseries and deprivations suffered by the cultural minorities, must have conditioned my mind to detest any act of exploitation made against those less-advantaged among our citizenry. I was determined to come to their succor, circumstances permitting, if not now, perhaps in the days to come.
Meanwhile, as I started my active law practice, and enjoyed my bachelorhood days. Eventually I thought it best, that I should establish my family. I got married to the woman whom destiny perhaps so consigned to be my lifetime partner, Erlinda Guillermo, a graduate of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas. We were blest with four children – two boys and two girls namely Romulo Roman (RR), Jesus Victor (JV), Nona Romilda (Nona) and Maria Liza (Liza).
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Who is Romulo Lumauig -- College Education
After graduating from the St. Joseph’s High School in Kiangan, Ifugao, I enrolled in the University of the Philippines (UP). The initial course that I chose was Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSF), which still then was offered as a degree program in the UP. I started well in our class but in the midst of the semester, I began to take note, that most of my classmates were the sons or daughters of nationally prominent families like the Padillas, the Balmacedas, the Lims and others. As one coming from the province a “promdy”, I realized, the chances of joining the Foreign Service would be comparatively slim with this array of pedigreed competitors, whose parents were influential in Philippine society. Very often, they were featured in the popular newspapers of the day. In the succeeding semester, I shifted to Political Science and Pre – Law.
From a highly conservative Catholic mission school, I was thrown into the outside real world when I landed at UP. I was exposed to the free, easy and at times bold eccentricity that abounds in the world of academe, and the widespread activism in the UP environment. The usual constraints of my catholic school days, was slowly chopped off by the liberal and the almost unlimited leeway vested to the students in handling their studies, in the formulation of their views and perceptions, but of course, with the “quid-pro-quo”, that one must pass his chosen course. The UP student is unceasingly programmed to achieve excellence. Indeed, going to UP, knowingly or unknowingly, enveloped you with that distinctive feeling, known us the UP spirit, “to strive to push on UP and going to win”. I joined a Greek - lettered fraternity in the university, which emphasized a rare and distinctive bond of brotherhood amongst the members. It allowed a kind of behavioral liberalism, starting with our very rough and sometimes barbaric initiation rites and other unethical activities. But that is UP, where we were subtly made to think that “we have no right to be wrong, to do wrong and to go wrong.”
For my first two years in college, I stayed in the UP dormitory inside the Diliman Campus in Quezon City. The dormitories then, were the Army Quonset House buildings left by the US Army. Each building accommodated twenty occupants, as the design of the building was that of an army barrack. It was an elongated building with both ends accommodating ten people, while the center space or middle part of the building, served as a study/conference room for the occupants. Most of the dormitorians were students from the provinces, except for a few Manila students, who chose to reside in the dormitory during schooldays and would go home to their Manila residence or houses only on weekends. My co-dorm mates were students coming from all parts of the country from up North to down South in the Visayas and Mindanao. The North student groups were mainly the Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, Tagalogs, Pampagueños, Gaddangs, Ibanags and a few from the Bicol Region. The South groups were from Cebu, Eastern and Western Visaya.The Visayans coming from the Leyte region spoke a mixture of Cebu and Waray; while those from Western Visayas region Panay Island, spoke Ilonggo. My stay in the dormitory gave me the chance to meet and make friends with fellow students coming from different parts of the country.
Aside from the Political Science subjects in my pre-law course, I also developed interest in the Social Sciences. I joined the Anthropology class, then initially handled by Professor Tanco. Afterwards, Anthropologists Professors Jose Landa Jocano and Arsenio Manuel handled the succeeding advance classes in Anthropology. My interest in the study of Anthropology, which was defined as the study of society – the study of men (embracing women), their culture, beliefs, traditions, etc., was further enhanced with Dr. Landa Jocano and Dr. Arsenio E. Manuel, intense broad study and analysis of the country’s various societal and cultural groups, especially among the indigenous peoples. To further reinforce and broaden my knowledge on the social significance and aspects of Philippine Society, I also joined the class of Sociology Professor Jose Encarnacion. Later, with the arrival of Dr. Mario Zamoraa fresh graduate of Cornell University in Rochester, New York, USA, to head the Anthropology
Department of the UP, my involvement with Anthropology studies deepened as Dr. Zamora pointed out the need to establish a Tribal Research Center in the CNI. CNI Chairman Mamintal Tamano, readily agreed to the establishment of the Center. Tem Rodriguez who was then a Cultural Officer of the SEATO in Bangkok, Thailand, assisted us in putting up the center. Meanwhile, as part of my Anthropology course undertaking, and as a corollary to the establishment of the Tribal Research Centre, I wrote a book on the “Laws Affecting the Cultural Minorities”. The book was launched during the celebration of the Commission on National Integration (CNI) anniversary held at the University of the Philippines with President Ferdinand Marcos as Guest of Honor and Speaker for the event. My exposure to the basics of Anthropology and Sociology afforded me a better perception and appreciation of the structure and configuration of the various ethno-linguistic groups of the country.
Aside from my academic studies, I also enhanced my social and community involvement by organizing the “Vizcaya UP Varsitarians”. With fellow law students Noli Sagadraca, Romy Montefalco, who later became a Judge, and Johnny Mabbayad, Maurie Borromeo, from the Conservatory of Music and other lady students like the former Ms.Patrocinia Dumlao, Christie Baluyan, Pacita Galang, Arceli Domingo now Mrs. Agbayani, ALice Lazaro, Norie Tengco, Nely Moscoso, Corazon Callang and Ms. Fe Cabotaje-Antes and several others. We had an active Vizcaya student community where we would discuss a lot of issues including what we would all be in the future. UP Professor Concepcion Dadufalza was our adviser and later on she was succeeded by Ms. Sadang.
The ROTC program was derived from the Citizen Army concept in the Philippines anchored in our national aspirations for the defense of the country as laid down in the Philippine Constitution of 1935. The main implementing law was the National Defense Act (Commonwealth Act No. 1) which was passed on 21 December 1935. It embodied the recommendations of the American Military Adviser – Gen Douglas Mc Arthur to build a national defense system along the model of Switzerland’s Citizen Army. The military establishment of the Philippine Armed Forces would consist essentially two elements, a small standing force of professional troops and a mass reserve of partially trained citizen
soldiers. General Vicente Lim, (the first Filipino graduate of West Point Military Academy in the US.) recommended compelling all the colleges and universities to have ROTC. The regimentation of cadets who are taking ROTC was also approved by President Quezon as the best means of education of our future officers. Even Gen. Mc Arthur concurred in the compulsory course and regimentation of the Philippine Constabulary from the Philippine Army.
To me, the ROTC especially to the youth, dwelt in the values of discipline and leadership. Taking up and finishing even the basic two years training as a ROTC Cadet imbues one primarily with the essence of nationalism. And this is much more effectively attained, when one finishes the four years advance course. It contributes to further enhance the time honored values of respect, honesty, integrity, industry and concern for relatives, neighbors and countrymen, which was inculcated in us by our parents, by the schools and even by our religious faith. Even the late President Ramon Magsaysay, weighing all these problems that confronted the country at the time, saw the ROTC a ready asset that must be tapped in the gigantic task of nation building, security and development. He ordered the AFP to craft a realistic training program for the ROTC, particularly as a ready reserve component of the AFP Officer Corp and other related security requirements. At one time, the ROTC was tapped to guard the elections. In 1954, as directed by then Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay who later became President, that graduates of the ROTC advance course from the different colleges and universities all over the country should undergo an eight weeks intensive training course – the Special Company Officers Course (SCOC) under the auspices of the Philippine Army. Danilo Lazo of the UP ROTC, topped the SCOC course and got a direct commission in the AFP. After his stint in various units of the AFP, he retired with the rank of Brigadier General (Ret). Other ROTC graduates, who were integrated into the regular force of the AFP, actively participated in the army operation against dissidents and other groups that threatened the stability of the country.
The course was programmed for eight weeks and conducted during the summer season with the first class attended by graduates of the ROTC advanced course in 1954 and in 1957 the fourth class was joined by graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1957. Through the years this two-month summer camp training was conducted not only in the Army but likewise in the Air Force and Navy, although with different course titles.
The eight-week course consisted of subjects that dealt with developing habits of self-discipline and decorum. The participants had to be in “spic-and-span” uniform and appearance – in crew cut hairstyle; clean shaven faces sans mustache or sideburns; fingernails clean and short; brass equipment and shoes shined, etcetera. As the class plunged into a much regimented way of life “inside camp;” the participants were subjected to various activities, such as having the reveille and “policing” (clean up” of the area as early as 4 a. m. Normally, classes started from 8 am till 5 pm Mondays till Fridays. At times, classes were held in the evening until taps. There were also rank inspections and Troop Information and Education sessions or “pep talk” by commanding officers on Saturdays and mass on Sundays. Whatever spare time we had, was spent preparing for the weekly graded tests.
The SCOC was basically infantry-oriented in its traditional role to fight the enemy in close combat by fire, maneuver and shock action to defeat him or destroy his will to fight, as part of combat arms operations. Lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises and military stakes included such subjects as adjustments to army life, customs and traditions of the service, aptitude for the service, service etiquette, infantry tactics from squad to battalion in offensive, defensive and retrograde operations, infantry weapons, military intelligence, personnel management, logistics, plans and operation, troop leading, command and staff, communication skills, signal communication, command and leadership, civil-military relations and many other subjects on military science and tactics.
Graduating from SCOC, you are conferred the rank of Probationary 2nd Lieutenant, a grade prior to become a regular 2nd Lieutenant in the Reserve Force. Those who topped the course like my co-graduate from the University of the Philippines, Department of Military Service and Tactics (DMST) Danilo Lazo was immediately commissioned into the regular AFP Officer’s Corps. A few other graduates, also joined the Officer’s Corps as integrees. Unfortunately though, because of my physical deficiency at the time – I weighed only 98 lbs, I was not included in the list of probationary 2nd Lieutenant. I tried to argue that my being under weighed should not be taken against me as I have successfully hurdled the intense training and requirements of the course. I even pointed out, that I topped in one aspect of the course – infantry tactics from squad to battalion offensive, but still I was told, that it was not enough to earn my rank as Probationary Lieutenant. I went to see Defense Undersecretary Jose Crisol who was our guest speaker during our SCOC graduation, and presented my case to him. Secretary Crisol was rather sympathetic and he advised me to go to the medical station of the GHQ at Camp Aguinaldo. When I reported to the medical station, I was instructed to eat a whole bunch of banana to increase my weight. I did eat bananas as told, but I could only consume three pieces and not the whole “piling”. And when I weighed again, I simply could not increase my weight. In frustration and disgust, I forgot all about getting my shoulder bar even as Probationary Lieutenant.
In 1970 when I was already a Congressman and Chaired the Appropriate Sub-Committee on considering the budget of the Armed Forces, one of the members of the panel of AFP Officer, that appeared before the Committee hearing in the AFP Budget approached me, if my memory does not fail me, he was a Col. Albano of the Personnel Unit of the AFP, and told me, “You can get now your commission as a Reserve Officer in the AFP with the rank of Lt. Col.” He showed me a whole caboodle of a thick bunch of papers and asked me to sign every page and that I should undergo medical physical examination. I politely told the Col. I have no need for being AFP Officer even in the Reserve Force, as it was not given to me, when I most needed it.
Meanwhile, as a graduate of the four year advance course of the UP ROTC, I joined the UP Vanguard Fraternity of the corps of cadets which was founded by the late Brigadier General Senator Macario Peralta, Jr. of 1934 UP ROTC Class with the late Brig. Gen. Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro also of Class 1934. During my stint as Vanguard National Commander 1990-1992, in 14 August 1992, we inaugurated the UP VANGUARD HALL OF FAME and HISTORICAL ARCHIVES, dedicated to the UP Vanguard members who emblazoned their flowing achievements in various fields of human endeavor, as examplars for generations to follow. Of course, the great Seven, so first installed – President Manuel A. Roxas ’13, General Carlos P. Romulo ’29, General Alfredo M. Santos ’29, General Macario Peralta ’34, General Rigoberto J. Atienza ’33, Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro ’34 and General Salipada Pendatun ’36 – all had common bond as Citizen Soldiers, only two carried on with a professional military career, and the other five returned to their civil pursuits.
As former National Commander of the UP Vanguard Fraternity, I was actively involved in all the projects and programs of the fraternity. One early morning in 26 July 1984, in the early TV news report of the day, an announcement was flashed on the TV screen wit my name and that of Transport and Communications Minister Jose Dans, Jr., that under General Order (G. O.) No. 622 and pursuant to Project 3670, by authority of President Marcos we were commissioned as Lt. Col. in the AFP Reserve Force. I was assigned my AFPSN 0-119325-A JAGS.
From there, the ROTC graduates metamorphosed from their originally designed training in the profession of arms, to the more mundane necessities of a growing society as shown by their skills and capabilities in responding to the multifarious needs of the fast increasing and growing Philippine community. With their ROTC exposure and training, these graduates found themselves gravitating towards civil undertakings like guarding the polls during election time, leading rescue and rehabilitation teams during natural and even man-made disasters, active participation in medical and dental missions among the poor and deprived communities. By and large, then ROTC graduates trained in various disciplines and calling constituted a ready pool of man power for the growing needs of the business,
commercial, industrial, agriculture, entrepreneurial and the economic demands of a slowly but steadily forward moving country.
In brief, the citizen army original concept of purely training in the profession of arms, has evolved into a functional and ready force to respond to the call for the eradication of poverty, disease, hunger and solving the unemployment problems especially in the county-side from where the rampant use of drugs and other vices especially among the youth, the unschooled and school-drop-outs, who are the easy targets of lawless elements. Undeniably, the problems of law and order, abounds mostly, from the countryside.
There was a downside though in the ROTC program, with the death of an ROTC Cadet in the University of Santo Tomas, as a result of excessive hazing. Thereafter, some legislators filed a bill in Congress seeking the abolition or bastardization of the ROTC program by proposing that ROTC be made optional and voluntary. A law was passed, known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) emphasizing (3) program components namely (1) ROTC optional and voluntary; (2) Literary Training Service and; (3) Civil Welfare Training Service with six or seven national coordinating agencies mandated to implement the law. What could one expect of that set-up. It was a total flap. An awakened citizenry is now calling for the restoration of the ROTC program in accordance with the Citizen Army concept provided in Commonwealth Act No. 1 and the Constitution of the Philippines.
From a highly conservative Catholic mission school, I was thrown into the outside real world when I landed at UP. I was exposed to the free, easy and at times bold eccentricity that abounds in the world of academe, and the widespread activism in the UP environment. The usual constraints of my catholic school days, was slowly chopped off by the liberal and the almost unlimited leeway vested to the students in handling their studies, in the formulation of their views and perceptions, but of course, with the “quid-pro-quo”, that one must pass his chosen course. The UP student is unceasingly programmed to achieve excellence. Indeed, going to UP, knowingly or unknowingly, enveloped you with that distinctive feeling, known us the UP spirit, “to strive to push on UP and going to win”. I joined a Greek - lettered fraternity in the university, which emphasized a rare and distinctive bond of brotherhood amongst the members. It allowed a kind of behavioral liberalism, starting with our very rough and sometimes barbaric initiation rites and other unethical activities. But that is UP, where we were subtly made to think that “we have no right to be wrong, to do wrong and to go wrong.”
For my first two years in college, I stayed in the UP dormitory inside the Diliman Campus in Quezon City. The dormitories then, were the Army Quonset House buildings left by the US Army. Each building accommodated twenty occupants, as the design of the building was that of an army barrack. It was an elongated building with both ends accommodating ten people, while the center space or middle part of the building, served as a study/conference room for the occupants. Most of the dormitorians were students from the provinces, except for a few Manila students, who chose to reside in the dormitory during schooldays and would go home to their Manila residence or houses only on weekends. My co-dorm mates were students coming from all parts of the country from up North to down South in the Visayas and Mindanao. The North student groups were mainly the Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, Tagalogs, Pampagueños, Gaddangs, Ibanags and a few from the Bicol Region. The South groups were from Cebu, Eastern and Western Visaya.The Visayans coming from the Leyte region spoke a mixture of Cebu and Waray; while those from Western Visayas region Panay Island, spoke Ilonggo. My stay in the dormitory gave me the chance to meet and make friends with fellow students coming from different parts of the country.
Aside from the Political Science subjects in my pre-law course, I also developed interest in the Social Sciences. I joined the Anthropology class, then initially handled by Professor Tanco. Afterwards, Anthropologists Professors Jose Landa Jocano and Arsenio Manuel handled the succeeding advance classes in Anthropology. My interest in the study of Anthropology, which was defined as the study of society – the study of men (embracing women), their culture, beliefs, traditions, etc., was further enhanced with Dr. Landa Jocano and Dr. Arsenio E. Manuel, intense broad study and analysis of the country’s various societal and cultural groups, especially among the indigenous peoples. To further reinforce and broaden my knowledge on the social significance and aspects of Philippine Society, I also joined the class of Sociology Professor Jose Encarnacion. Later, with the arrival of Dr. Mario Zamoraa fresh graduate of Cornell University in Rochester, New York, USA, to head the Anthropology
Department of the UP, my involvement with Anthropology studies deepened as Dr. Zamora pointed out the need to establish a Tribal Research Center in the CNI. CNI Chairman Mamintal Tamano, readily agreed to the establishment of the Center. Tem Rodriguez who was then a Cultural Officer of the SEATO in Bangkok, Thailand, assisted us in putting up the center. Meanwhile, as part of my Anthropology course undertaking, and as a corollary to the establishment of the Tribal Research Centre, I wrote a book on the “Laws Affecting the Cultural Minorities”. The book was launched during the celebration of the Commission on National Integration (CNI) anniversary held at the University of the Philippines with President Ferdinand Marcos as Guest of Honor and Speaker for the event. My exposure to the basics of Anthropology and Sociology afforded me a better perception and appreciation of the structure and configuration of the various ethno-linguistic groups of the country.
Aside from my academic studies, I also enhanced my social and community involvement by organizing the “Vizcaya UP Varsitarians”. With fellow law students Noli Sagadraca, Romy Montefalco, who later became a Judge, and Johnny Mabbayad, Maurie Borromeo, from the Conservatory of Music and other lady students like the former Ms.Patrocinia Dumlao, Christie Baluyan, Pacita Galang, Arceli Domingo now Mrs. Agbayani, ALice Lazaro, Norie Tengco, Nely Moscoso, Corazon Callang and Ms. Fe Cabotaje-Antes and several others. We had an active Vizcaya student community where we would discuss a lot of issues including what we would all be in the future. UP Professor Concepcion Dadufalza was our adviser and later on she was succeeded by Ms. Sadang.
The ROTC program was derived from the Citizen Army concept in the Philippines anchored in our national aspirations for the defense of the country as laid down in the Philippine Constitution of 1935. The main implementing law was the National Defense Act (Commonwealth Act No. 1) which was passed on 21 December 1935. It embodied the recommendations of the American Military Adviser – Gen Douglas Mc Arthur to build a national defense system along the model of Switzerland’s Citizen Army. The military establishment of the Philippine Armed Forces would consist essentially two elements, a small standing force of professional troops and a mass reserve of partially trained citizen
soldiers. General Vicente Lim, (the first Filipino graduate of West Point Military Academy in the US.) recommended compelling all the colleges and universities to have ROTC. The regimentation of cadets who are taking ROTC was also approved by President Quezon as the best means of education of our future officers. Even Gen. Mc Arthur concurred in the compulsory course and regimentation of the Philippine Constabulary from the Philippine Army.
To me, the ROTC especially to the youth, dwelt in the values of discipline and leadership. Taking up and finishing even the basic two years training as a ROTC Cadet imbues one primarily with the essence of nationalism. And this is much more effectively attained, when one finishes the four years advance course. It contributes to further enhance the time honored values of respect, honesty, integrity, industry and concern for relatives, neighbors and countrymen, which was inculcated in us by our parents, by the schools and even by our religious faith. Even the late President Ramon Magsaysay, weighing all these problems that confronted the country at the time, saw the ROTC a ready asset that must be tapped in the gigantic task of nation building, security and development. He ordered the AFP to craft a realistic training program for the ROTC, particularly as a ready reserve component of the AFP Officer Corp and other related security requirements. At one time, the ROTC was tapped to guard the elections. In 1954, as directed by then Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay who later became President, that graduates of the ROTC advance course from the different colleges and universities all over the country should undergo an eight weeks intensive training course – the Special Company Officers Course (SCOC) under the auspices of the Philippine Army. Danilo Lazo of the UP ROTC, topped the SCOC course and got a direct commission in the AFP. After his stint in various units of the AFP, he retired with the rank of Brigadier General (Ret). Other ROTC graduates, who were integrated into the regular force of the AFP, actively participated in the army operation against dissidents and other groups that threatened the stability of the country.
The course was programmed for eight weeks and conducted during the summer season with the first class attended by graduates of the ROTC advanced course in 1954 and in 1957 the fourth class was joined by graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1957. Through the years this two-month summer camp training was conducted not only in the Army but likewise in the Air Force and Navy, although with different course titles.
The eight-week course consisted of subjects that dealt with developing habits of self-discipline and decorum. The participants had to be in “spic-and-span” uniform and appearance – in crew cut hairstyle; clean shaven faces sans mustache or sideburns; fingernails clean and short; brass equipment and shoes shined, etcetera. As the class plunged into a much regimented way of life “inside camp;” the participants were subjected to various activities, such as having the reveille and “policing” (clean up” of the area as early as 4 a. m. Normally, classes started from 8 am till 5 pm Mondays till Fridays. At times, classes were held in the evening until taps. There were also rank inspections and Troop Information and Education sessions or “pep talk” by commanding officers on Saturdays and mass on Sundays. Whatever spare time we had, was spent preparing for the weekly graded tests.
The SCOC was basically infantry-oriented in its traditional role to fight the enemy in close combat by fire, maneuver and shock action to defeat him or destroy his will to fight, as part of combat arms operations. Lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises and military stakes included such subjects as adjustments to army life, customs and traditions of the service, aptitude for the service, service etiquette, infantry tactics from squad to battalion in offensive, defensive and retrograde operations, infantry weapons, military intelligence, personnel management, logistics, plans and operation, troop leading, command and staff, communication skills, signal communication, command and leadership, civil-military relations and many other subjects on military science and tactics.
Graduating from SCOC, you are conferred the rank of Probationary 2nd Lieutenant, a grade prior to become a regular 2nd Lieutenant in the Reserve Force. Those who topped the course like my co-graduate from the University of the Philippines, Department of Military Service and Tactics (DMST) Danilo Lazo was immediately commissioned into the regular AFP Officer’s Corps. A few other graduates, also joined the Officer’s Corps as integrees. Unfortunately though, because of my physical deficiency at the time – I weighed only 98 lbs, I was not included in the list of probationary 2nd Lieutenant. I tried to argue that my being under weighed should not be taken against me as I have successfully hurdled the intense training and requirements of the course. I even pointed out, that I topped in one aspect of the course – infantry tactics from squad to battalion offensive, but still I was told, that it was not enough to earn my rank as Probationary Lieutenant. I went to see Defense Undersecretary Jose Crisol who was our guest speaker during our SCOC graduation, and presented my case to him. Secretary Crisol was rather sympathetic and he advised me to go to the medical station of the GHQ at Camp Aguinaldo. When I reported to the medical station, I was instructed to eat a whole bunch of banana to increase my weight. I did eat bananas as told, but I could only consume three pieces and not the whole “piling”. And when I weighed again, I simply could not increase my weight. In frustration and disgust, I forgot all about getting my shoulder bar even as Probationary Lieutenant.
In 1970 when I was already a Congressman and Chaired the Appropriate Sub-Committee on considering the budget of the Armed Forces, one of the members of the panel of AFP Officer, that appeared before the Committee hearing in the AFP Budget approached me, if my memory does not fail me, he was a Col. Albano of the Personnel Unit of the AFP, and told me, “You can get now your commission as a Reserve Officer in the AFP with the rank of Lt. Col.” He showed me a whole caboodle of a thick bunch of papers and asked me to sign every page and that I should undergo medical physical examination. I politely told the Col. I have no need for being AFP Officer even in the Reserve Force, as it was not given to me, when I most needed it.
Meanwhile, as a graduate of the four year advance course of the UP ROTC, I joined the UP Vanguard Fraternity of the corps of cadets which was founded by the late Brigadier General Senator Macario Peralta, Jr. of 1934 UP ROTC Class with the late Brig. Gen. Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro also of Class 1934. During my stint as Vanguard National Commander 1990-1992, in 14 August 1992, we inaugurated the UP VANGUARD HALL OF FAME and HISTORICAL ARCHIVES, dedicated to the UP Vanguard members who emblazoned their flowing achievements in various fields of human endeavor, as examplars for generations to follow. Of course, the great Seven, so first installed – President Manuel A. Roxas ’13, General Carlos P. Romulo ’29, General Alfredo M. Santos ’29, General Macario Peralta ’34, General Rigoberto J. Atienza ’33, Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro ’34 and General Salipada Pendatun ’36 – all had common bond as Citizen Soldiers, only two carried on with a professional military career, and the other five returned to their civil pursuits.
As former National Commander of the UP Vanguard Fraternity, I was actively involved in all the projects and programs of the fraternity. One early morning in 26 July 1984, in the early TV news report of the day, an announcement was flashed on the TV screen wit my name and that of Transport and Communications Minister Jose Dans, Jr., that under General Order (G. O.) No. 622 and pursuant to Project 3670, by authority of President Marcos we were commissioned as Lt. Col. in the AFP Reserve Force. I was assigned my AFPSN 0-119325-A JAGS.
From there, the ROTC graduates metamorphosed from their originally designed training in the profession of arms, to the more mundane necessities of a growing society as shown by their skills and capabilities in responding to the multifarious needs of the fast increasing and growing Philippine community. With their ROTC exposure and training, these graduates found themselves gravitating towards civil undertakings like guarding the polls during election time, leading rescue and rehabilitation teams during natural and even man-made disasters, active participation in medical and dental missions among the poor and deprived communities. By and large, then ROTC graduates trained in various disciplines and calling constituted a ready pool of man power for the growing needs of the business,
commercial, industrial, agriculture, entrepreneurial and the economic demands of a slowly but steadily forward moving country.
In brief, the citizen army original concept of purely training in the profession of arms, has evolved into a functional and ready force to respond to the call for the eradication of poverty, disease, hunger and solving the unemployment problems especially in the county-side from where the rampant use of drugs and other vices especially among the youth, the unschooled and school-drop-outs, who are the easy targets of lawless elements. Undeniably, the problems of law and order, abounds mostly, from the countryside.
There was a downside though in the ROTC program, with the death of an ROTC Cadet in the University of Santo Tomas, as a result of excessive hazing. Thereafter, some legislators filed a bill in Congress seeking the abolition or bastardization of the ROTC program by proposing that ROTC be made optional and voluntary. A law was passed, known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) emphasizing (3) program components namely (1) ROTC optional and voluntary; (2) Literary Training Service and; (3) Civil Welfare Training Service with six or seven national coordinating agencies mandated to implement the law. What could one expect of that set-up. It was a total flap. An awakened citizenry is now calling for the restoration of the ROTC program in accordance with the Citizen Army concept provided in Commonwealth Act No. 1 and the Constitution of the Philippines.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Who is Romulo Lumauig -- Going to the Big City, Manila
Like so many youths of my generation, I was easily attracted and fascinated, by the prospects of a new beginning with the liberation of the country from the Japanese invaders. My quest for adventure was answered, when a cousin of mine, who was with the Philippines Scout, a unit of the US Army (AUS), brought me with him to the big city of Manila. With his help, I landed a job as a janitor and a shine-boy of a Philippine Scout Company, the security force guarding the vast Base “X” of the US Army, at Quezon City. Under the T/O of the US Army, a Company size is composed of four platoons, with each platoon commanded by a lieutenant, as commanding officer, and one Ex-O or Executive Officer. Overall, there were 102 officers and men whose shoes I have to shine three (3) times a week.
The Commanding Officer of this Philippine Scout Unit, was a Major Dingcong, who was one of the top officers of the 14th Infantry of USAFIP-NL that actively participated in the last war against the Japanese in Ifugao prior to the surrender of Japan. The men of the Philippine Scouts treated me well and considered me like a small brother. It was here also that I met Major Calaguas, the first Filipino soldier who was awarded the US Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II. In his personal recount of the war – he was a member of the Phil. Scouts that retreated to Bataan during the early days of the war as the Japanese Army advanced to Bataan. It was noontime, he said, when their unit was besieged by the advancing Japanese forces that were about to overran their camp. Major Calaguas who was then only a sergeant at that time, despite the ferocity of fire from the Japanese advancing troops stood up, grabbed a machine-gun and continuously fired back, at the Japanese that stopped their advancing towards their camp. The Japanese quickly retreated and the camp was saved.
The Commanding Officer of this Philippine Scout Unit, was a Major Dingcong, who was one of the top officers of the 14th Infantry of USAFIP-NL that actively participated in the last war against the Japanese in Ifugao prior to the surrender of Japan. The men of the Philippine Scouts treated me well and considered me like a small brother. It was here also that I met Major Calaguas, the first Filipino soldier who was awarded the US Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II. In his personal recount of the war – he was a member of the Phil. Scouts that retreated to Bataan during the early days of the war as the Japanese Army advanced to Bataan. It was noontime, he said, when their unit was besieged by the advancing Japanese forces that were about to overran their camp. Major Calaguas who was then only a sergeant at that time, despite the ferocity of fire from the Japanese advancing troops stood up, grabbed a machine-gun and continuously fired back, at the Japanese that stopped their advancing towards their camp. The Japanese quickly retreated and the camp was saved.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Who is Romulo Lumauig -- Return to Nueva Vizcaya
With the outbreak of World War II on December 8, 1941, my parents decided that we leave Kiangan, Ifugao, and go back to Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya, our ancestral province (The Lumauig’s are a close-knit clan in town), where we had our relatives and few land holdings. My late father, who was a sort of political or economic strategist, opined, that in critical times, it’s always best to be among your support groups and dependable allies. He proved to be correct. Our adjustment to a new environment was rather easy and convenient as we were warmly welcomed by our relatives (uncles, aunties and cousins) and immediately made us comfortable as the 1st group of war evacuees that arrived in Bagabag.
From the mainly scholastic-oriented life in Kiangan, Ifugao—where my parents were teachers, and we the children were all in school, the exigencies of the times demanded, that we must now adopt to the ways of rural living. My late father, a very versatile person really loved farming, decided that we now personally work on, and improve the family farm, introduced us to a crash course in farming. Even barely eleven years old at that time, I easily learned to plow with the extended arched handle of the wooden plow on my right shoulder. I dexterously handled the plow and guided the carabao, on a straight line course in plowing the rice field. From plowing, planting and seeing to it that the irrigation water flowed constantly to the rice fields, then to harvesting and stacking up the harvested palay, to be threshed by a circling carabao into palay grains. It was a practicum in actual farming. My late father, in recognition for my being a tried and accomplished farmer, gave me two more carabaos and a horse to tend to.
Such was the rustic life that we led in Bagabag, for the duration of the war, until the liberation period in 1945. Meanwhile, the family bonding even became more intense, as we maintained our religious closeness through constant individual and collective devotional prayers, always mindful of the adage, that “the family that prays together, stays together.” The family, placed total faith in the Lord, fully conscious that those were perilous times. We feared not only the oppression and the brutality of the Japanese occupation forces, who were then garrisoned at Bagabag,—but also, our dread for the harsh impositions of some guerilla elements, on the civilian population. My late mother, who was a devotee of Our Lady of Piat as well as to St. Jerome, the Patron Saint of Bagabag, was untiring in her regular prayers for protection that, no harm shall befall the family. Through all those dangerous years though, we knew we were fully taken cared of by the Lord. Our faith in his goodness and caring never wavered. As the scriptures say in Lamentations, 3:22, 23, 24 “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness, the Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” We were the only family in town that was spared of casualty. The whole family survived the war.
From the mainly scholastic-oriented life in Kiangan, Ifugao—where my parents were teachers, and we the children were all in school, the exigencies of the times demanded, that we must now adopt to the ways of rural living. My late father, a very versatile person really loved farming, decided that we now personally work on, and improve the family farm, introduced us to a crash course in farming. Even barely eleven years old at that time, I easily learned to plow with the extended arched handle of the wooden plow on my right shoulder. I dexterously handled the plow and guided the carabao, on a straight line course in plowing the rice field. From plowing, planting and seeing to it that the irrigation water flowed constantly to the rice fields, then to harvesting and stacking up the harvested palay, to be threshed by a circling carabao into palay grains. It was a practicum in actual farming. My late father, in recognition for my being a tried and accomplished farmer, gave me two more carabaos and a horse to tend to.
Such was the rustic life that we led in Bagabag, for the duration of the war, until the liberation period in 1945. Meanwhile, the family bonding even became more intense, as we maintained our religious closeness through constant individual and collective devotional prayers, always mindful of the adage, that “the family that prays together, stays together.” The family, placed total faith in the Lord, fully conscious that those were perilous times. We feared not only the oppression and the brutality of the Japanese occupation forces, who were then garrisoned at Bagabag,—but also, our dread for the harsh impositions of some guerilla elements, on the civilian population. My late mother, who was a devotee of Our Lady of Piat as well as to St. Jerome, the Patron Saint of Bagabag, was untiring in her regular prayers for protection that, no harm shall befall the family. Through all those dangerous years though, we knew we were fully taken cared of by the Lord. Our faith in his goodness and caring never wavered. As the scriptures say in Lamentations, 3:22, 23, 24 “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness, the Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” We were the only family in town that was spared of casualty. The whole family survived the war.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Who is Romy Lumauig?
(Photo above) 1st UN Conference on Environment outside of New York, USA. Atty. Romy Lumauig represented the Philippines.
(Photo above) Atty. Romy Lumauig in one of the instances where he acted as Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives (1970).
(Photo below) Congressman Romy Lumauig then Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry addressing the 10th International Small Business Conference at Singapore in 1983.
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