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MLQ's "Hello Jorge" legacy

By Rodolfo A. Arizala

If today, there is a "Hello, Garci," which tends to change the course of our political history, sixty-four years ago today, one early December morning, there was a "Hello, Jorge" phone conversation which changed not only the political history of the Philippines, but also its economic and social conditions.

The following based or taken from the old, yellowing pages of a book, The Saga of Jose P. Laurel, (His Brother´s Keeper), by Teofilo del Castillo and Jose del Castillo published in 1949 by Associated Authors´Company, Manila and Delaware, would help refresh our memory.

UP IN BAGUIO, THE DAWN WAS ON THE TIPS of the pine trees. And the cool night air was bedded down in the mountain dells and on the knolls, and the mansion of President Quezon was still a blur in the enveloping darkness. Inside a telephone rang. . . .

The moment Quezon heard the sound of his secretary´s voice, he knew that this was such a call. "Hello, Jorge, what is on?" Quezon snapped.

"Mr. President," Vargas voice came from across the plains of Luzon and up the mountains, "Mr. President, the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor! Early this morning. . ."

"What!" Quezon pressed the phone close to his ear. "Jorge, you´re crazy! War may have been declared but the Japanese would never dare attack Hawaii. . .

"General MacArthur´s office just called me, Mr. President, and confirmed the United Press and Associated Press reports over the phone. Other American territories in the Pacific are being bombed, too." x x x x x

Briefly and swiftly Quezon gave Vargas a stream of instructions over the telephone he was still holding in his hand. Vargas must summon the members of his cabinet at once&emdash;in Marikina&emdash;they must all be there before noon the next day. Vargas must be sure to get hold of Teofilo Sison, who was the Secretary of National Defense. Besides, Sison was also the chairman of the Civilian Emergency Administration, and Quezon was thinking of what to do with the civilian population; of the problems of food for a long siege. The civilian morale must be kept up at all cost. x x xx

Why such emergency cabinet meeting in Marikina? It was simply because under the shady mango trees and bamboo thickets and old orchards, Manuel L. Quezon constructed one of his country estates. There in Marikina the days are clear and cool and the air fresh which are good for his health. But where is Marikina? In Chapter 4 of the Castillo book &endash; "The Parting Words: Stand at Your Posts" the authors wrote:

MARIKINA IS A AN HOUR´S RIDE FROM MANILA. It is a charming small town on a rolling hill that falls gently down a vast expanse of tropical plain where fields and farms cut golden patches out of the lush green of the countryside. A bubbling stream runs through the heart of the town and flows among the groves and farms. Marikina is, however, better known throughout the country for the wooden sandals and the slippers manufactured in its shops. Moreover, the surrounding country is covered with haciendas and gardens. x x x xx

Because of the imminent danger from air-raids, the meetings were often held under a mango tree. From the first day, faithful to their duty all the members of the president´s official family came to the meetings. x x x x x

Meantime, that morning under the big mango tree in Marikina, the members of the cabinet sat down to tackle another batch of urgent business. They had disposed of some emergency measures of food problems, of three-months advance salaries for government employees as one way of paring down the bulk of currency the government had intended to salvage. Quezon had reorganized his cabinet, shuffling posts and making his secretaries take added duties which those going away with him to Bataan were leaving. He was leaving to the Japs a cabinet of his own design and under instructions from him. x x x x x

When Secretary Jose P. Laurel expressed his desire to go with Pres. Quezon to Corregidor, according to Castillo´s book, Quezon scowled, his eyes blazed, "No, Laurel," said he. "No. You and the members of the cabinet should stay behind. You must remain at your posts to carry on the work and to protect the people. But do not take the oath of allegiance. You may cooperate &endash; short of taking the oath of allegiance to Japan."

What happened next after that historic meeting under the mango tree in Marikina is history. Suffice to mention it here that after the "Hello, Jorge" phone conversation between President Manuel L. Quezon and his Executive Secretary Jorge Vargas that December morning about the breaking out of the war in the Pacific, Quezon recalled what he told his audience on 15 December 1941, during the anniversary of the Philippine Commonwealth. He said:

"I pray that our people may be spared the horrors of war, but if it comes to us, I shall welcome it for two reasons: first, that we may show the people of the United States that we are loyal to them; second, that you may learn to suffer, and, if needs be, to die. For many years now of material prosperity which has come to our wealthy families under American sovereignty, you have become soft&emdash;you think only of dancing and cabarets. But only those who know how to suffer and die in order to be free are worthy of that freedom."

Quezon was not disappointed with the attitude and behavior of his people during the war. For the Filipinos showed acts of loyalty, bravery, sacrifice and heroism from the early days of the war up to the last stand in Bataan and Corregidor. Thousands of Filipinos died in the field of battle as well as in concentration camps. After the surrender of Bataan and Corregidor, many continued to resist the Japanese occupation forces through guerrilla warfare until the arrival of Allied Liberation Forces in 1944 &endash; 45.

The "Hello, Jorge" phone conversation one early December morning sixty-four years ago left a legacy of loyalty, faithfulness to democracy; and willingness to suffer and die for if necessary.

Over 12,000 flee flash floods in Lucena City

9,000 ready for evacuation in Laguna

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reports that "some 12,120 residents from at least 14 villages were forced to flee to evacuation centers on Tuesday to escape threatening flash floods from rising water levels in Lucena City, some 136 kilometers south of Manila.

Low-pressure areas bringing heavy rains also prompted the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) in Mabitac town, in Laguna province to advise 9,000 residents from eight villages to prepare for evacuation if the downpour continues to avoid being caught in flash floods."

Please click above for complete story.

by Mila Glodava

My sister Melecia Garcia celebrates her birthday on Dec. 4th. I feel a need to give her a special tribute this year, because she will be retiring soon from her work at Bolling Air Force Base, where she received numerous accolades for outstanding work. Family and friends call her Lily, but my children call her with affection as Ninang Lily, which is how I will refer to her in this tribute.

Why do I feel a need to give her a tribute? Not only because she's been a great daughter, sister, and aunt to the Garcia family, she also has has many outstanding qualities as friend, a worker, and a humanitarian. As a humanitarian, Ninang Lily has supported Metro Infanta Foundation from its inception. Without her incredible support, I don't think we could have had such an impact to our beloved town during their times of need. Indeed, she has been one of the most generous donors of the Foundation and more.

But she is more than just a donor to the Foundation. She is arguably a very accomplished woman. I think of her not only as a trailblazer, being a woman civil engineer, but also as a very spiritual person whose love for the church is unquestionable.

Although Garcia received an offer to work in the Philippines Department of Public Works shortly after graduation, her desire to help her church proved stronger, and decided to teach physics and mathematics at Mt. Carmel High School in Casiguran, Quezon, which was then run by Carmelite Father Alan Rieger. In addition she used her engineering skills as supervisor of the construction project of the parish church in Maria Aurora. This experience brought her back to the reason she became an engineer -- to do construction work -- and soon was working with other construction companies. A registered professional engineer in the Philippines since 1972, Ninang Lily ventured into subcontracting for construction projects with the Philippine Military Bases.

In 1973, Ninang Lily immigrated to the United States and landed her first job as assistant office engineer with the Bechtel company, a construction consultant to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). She was promoted to Office Engineer at the Resident Engineer Field Office. She also worked for the Frank Basil Inc./A-E Firm as an estimator.

Ninang Lily received recognition for outstanding performance in her line of duty include three certificates from Becthel for her dedicated service in the construction of the Metro Subway in Washington, DC. Her vital role was preparing construction estimate, reviewing submittals, preparing and negotiating proposed change order. "I am proud of the part I played int eh construction of Metro Subway," she said, "specifically the the stations at Takoma Park , Silver Spring , Fort Totten, Catholic University , Brookland, Huntington and Eisenhower."

Bolling Air Force Base was equally impressed with her work ethics and dedication with the 11th Wing. In recognition, Ninang Lily received in 1999 Air Force Category II Award, and Air Force Design Excellence Award. In 2003 she received the Civil Engineers Mission Support Group and Volunteer Awards.

But most of all, she is proudest as project engineer of the following:

1) Potomac Shoreline: from design to construction completion (cradle to grave Potomac Shoreline,

2) McChord Street: realignment of the disjointed street,

3) Brookley Ave: turning it from industrial looking street to a boulevard-like avenue aligned with Washingtonian lights, trees, landscape

4) MacDill Boulevard: reconfiguration

5) Chappie James Blvd.: widening

6) Arnold Avenue: Aligned with lights and landscape

In addition, Ninang Lily has worked tirelessly as a volunteer in many areas. A charter member of the Philippine American Washington engineer (PAMWE), she received recognition for outstanding service as treasurer for three successive years (1981-1983). She also served as president of the Mt. Carmel Guild, which funded much needed repairs and renovation in the Carmelite monastery in Washington, DC. She also serves as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at Bolling Air Force Base and the national Shrine.

I hope that you will find the above as a fitting and well-deserved tribute to one of our major supporters.

To Ninang Lily, we give you our love, our thanks and our prayers for your lifetime achievements and contribution to society.

Mabuhay ka, Ninang Lily.

Louie Labayen to direct the inaugural concert of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Symphony Orchestra on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 pm (Family Night), and on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 pm (Gala Evening). Tickets start $8 for children and$12 for adults. If you are in the Gig harbor area in the State of Washington, please make an effort to see Louie Labayen and his inaugural as artistic director of the new symphony orchestra.

Kababayans finding success in new ventures

Geoffrey Estacio is endorsing "Lumpia-An" a booming franchise food chain as part of the OFWNET program to help the Filipinos in their daily life.

"Baka me interesado sa inyong mag negosyo sa Pilipinas while abroad," he said. In additin to "Lumpia-An" OFWNET also is promoting the Mobile Car Wash and now Lumpia-an. "I'd like also to request prayers for the growth of these business. It helps generate extra income for the business owners and to the employees. "

If interested, please contact Geoffrey at "Estacio Geoffrey" <Geoffrey.Estacio@tetrapak.com>

Posted: Dec. 3, 2005

Our beloved kababayan Atty. Mario "Jojo" C. Buñag who was recently confirmed by Pres GMA as regular BIR Commissioner instead of mere "BIR Officer-in-Charge" continues to give honor to our town because of his diligence and hardwork. Hereunder is a column of Mr. Max V. Soliven, publisher of The Philippine Star about BIR Commissioner Buñag.

Regards.

Rudy

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The challenge of China's 'coolie' labor offensive

We had a big turnout yesterday morning at our Tuesday Club in the EDSA Plaza Hotel. There was Jose Mario "Jojo" Buñag who happily has been confirmed, as he deserves, as Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Jojo, the former BIR Deputy Commissioner, Legal and Inspection Group, succeeded resigned BIR Chief Willy Parayno (alas, one of the "Hyatt 10"), as Officer-in-Charge Commissioner, but now he's been formalized by President GMA as the boss of the Internal Revenue agency.

Jojo graduated from the college of Law of the Ateneo in 1968, cum laude, as Class Valedictorian, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the same university, major in Humanities.

Indeed, he was Class Valedictorian all the way through, from Infanta Elementary School (in Quezon province) to the Ateneo High School where he was the Gold Medalist for Academic Excellence and 1st Honors, also winning the Gold Medals for Religion, Physics, Tagalog and History.

Topping these all, Buñag earned a Masters in Comparative Jurisprudence in 1973 from the New York University School of Law, where he was a University Fellow. He went on to do a graduate course in Taxation (1984-1985) in NYU, too.

However, it's not university degrees and honors that make a man. Jojo has demonstrated grit and diligence both in the practice of law, and in the BIR which he joined in 2002.

We asked him how tax collections are going and he answered (what else?) that the BIR is doing fine. What about EVAT? "We're collecting it, but EVAT collection still hasn't hit its stride."

Right now, I think, the priority is not to dampen the Christmas spirit &endash; which won't welcome, at this stage of jingle bells, a reminder that the Taxman cometh to check the ring of the cash register.

Everywhere, you see festooned in flaming red the sign: "Ask for your BIR Receipt."

How many are really asking we'll soon know.

Most of our revolutionary leaders and generals either surrendered, wounded, captured, assassinated or killed in the field of battle.  For example, Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan and who started the revolution against colonial rule, was killed or shot by his co-revolutionaries near Mt. Buntis in Cavite due to rivalry for leadership; Gen. Antonio Luna was also killed by fellow-revolutionaries during a shooting incident at Kabanatuan; while Senator Ninoy Aquino was shot as he was coming down from the plane which brought him back to the Philippines.  General Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the American forces at his hideout in Palanan, while Gen. Miguel Malvar of Batangas was the last Filipino General who surrendered to the American forces. Gen. Artemio Ricarte (alias Vibora) went on self-exile to Japan.  However, there was a young general of the Aguinaldo army called by the Americans "the boy general" who died in the field of battle -- while defending Tirad Pass on 2 December 1899, as rear guard of Aguinaldo´s retreating army to the North.

Here is what young General Gregorio del Pilar, aged barely 22 years old, wrote in his pocket diary in the morning of 2nd December 1899: "The General (Emilio Aguinaldo) has given me the pick of all the men that can be spared and ordered me to defend the pass.  I realize what a terrible task is given me.  And yet I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life.  What I do is done for my beloved country.  No sacrifice can be too great."

And so, General Gregorio del Pilar that early morning of December positioned his men--sixty of them -- in trenches or embankments atop Tirad Pass some 4,500 feet high overlooking a valley and waited anxiously for the American forces. A battalion of the 33rd Volunteer Infantry consisting of about 300 men under Major March was in pursuit of General Aguinaldo and his men. The Americans believed that only the capture of the wily Filipino leader could end the Filipino resistance.  Through Januario Galut, an Igorot, the Americans found a secret trail to the top of Tirad Pass.  The Filipino soldiers fired at the advancing enemy forces. Herunder is what an American war correspondent named Richard Henry Little of the Chicago Tribune wrote describing the battle that morning:

"We had seen him (Del Pilar) cheering his men in the fight.  One of our companies crouched up close under the side of the cliff where he had built his first intrenchment, heard his voice continuously during the fight urging his men to greater effort, scolding them, praising them, cursing, appealing one moment to their love of their native land and the next instant threatening to kill them himself if they did not stand firm.

"Driven from the first intrenchment he fell back slowly to the second in full sight o our sharpshooters and under a heavy fire.  Not until everyman around him in the second intrenchment was down did he turn his white horse around and ride slowly up the winding trail.  Then we who were below saw an American squirm his way out to the top of a high flat rock, and take deliberate aim at the figure on the white horse. We held our breath, not knowing whether to pray that the sharpshooter would shoot straight or miss. Then came the spiteful crack of the Krag rifle and the man on horseback rolled to the ground, and when the troops charging up the mountainside reached him, the boy general of the Filipinos was dead.

According to war correspondent Richard Henry Little, when they finally went up  "We saw a solitary figure lying on the road.  The body was almost stripped of clothing, and there were no marks of rank on the blood-soaked coat. . . ."

Why was the body of General Gregorio del Pilar almost naked?  The pursuing soldiers of General March looted the dead body of the Filipino general stripping it of clothing and whatever valuables they could find for souvenirs. Thus, wrote war correspondent Henry Little: "And when Private Sullivan went by in his (Del Pilar´s)  trousers, and Sniders with his shoes, and the other man who had the cuff buttons, and the sergeant who had the spur, and the man who had the handkerchief, and another that had his shoulder straps, it suddenly occurred to me that his glory was about all we had left him.

"The body lay naked for several days until an American lieutenant, Dennis Quinlan of the 11th Cavalry, arrived and buried it with military honors. On the headstone he inscribed: GENERAL GREGORIO DEL PILAR; KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF TIRAD PASS, DECEMBER 2D, 1899; COMMANDING AGUINALDO´S REAR GUARD- AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN."

On that fateful day of 2nd December 1899, Chicago Tribune war correspondent Richard Henry Little  concluded in his diary: "It was a great fight that was fought away up on the trail of lonely Tirad Pass on that Saturday morning of Dec. 2.  It brought glory to Major March´ battalion of the 33rd Volunteer Infantry who were victors.  It brought no discredit to the little band of sixty Filipinos who fought and died there.  Sixty was the number that at Aguinaldo´s orders had come down into the pass that morning to arrest the onward march of the Americans.  Seven were all that went back over the pass that night to tell Aguinaldo that they had tried and failed.  Fifty-three of them were either killed or wounded. . . ."

Filipino historian Agoncillo wrote in his A Short History of te Filipino People,  "The afternoon of the battle, Aguinaldo received the fatal  news. All the members of the Aguinaldo party, said one of the soldiers in his diary, ´shed bitter tears and all wanted to fight the Americans.´"

The battle of Tirad Pass showed us three aspects of the Filipino-American War of 1899:

1. The heroism and bravery of a small band of soldiers under a young general named Gregorio del Pilar who fought valiantly as Aguinaldo´s rear guard.

2. The barbarities of war. Soldiers of the U.S. 33rd Volunteer Infantry looting the body of dead Filipino general  for souvenirs.

3. Another group of American soldiers, the U.S. 11th Cavalry, which gave the  fallen and almost naked body of a young Filipino general a decent burial with "military honors."