Col. PATRICIO C. BUYSON
Bacolor’s distinguished colonel, Patricio Buyson, was trained at Fort Sill where he finished a 6-month
course at the U.S. Armv Artillery and
Missile School. He had his baptism of
fire in the Korean war where the then-major served as a battery commander in
the Battalion Combat Team of the Philippine Army, which was attached the Third
Infantry Division Artillery, then commanded by Gen. Verdi B. Barnes. He and the
good general would meet again when, in August 1959, Maj. Buyson returned to
Fort Sill to take up a 9-month course in advanced officer artillery training,
which included the study of missiles. This was in preparation for a new
artillery school that was then being planned by the Philippine Army, and which
he was tapped to join as an instructor. Post-war, Maj. Buyson was assistant
superintendent of ROTC units in .Manila.
Lt. Gen. GREGORIO M.
CAMILING JR.
Named as the Commanding General of the Philippine Army in
2002, Lt. Col. Gregorio M. Camiling Jr. (b. 15 Nov. 1947) has parents whose are both Kapampangans:
Gregorio Camiling Sr. (Bacolor) and Apolonia M. Miclat (San Fernando). Two of
his brothers were officers of the AFP. After graduating as salutatorian of
Cubao High School, he gained admission at the Philippine Military Academy from
where he graduated in 1969. He rose quickly up the ranks; from a 2nd
lieutenant of the Philippine Army assigned Mindanao in 1969, he was made the
commanding officer of Alpha Company of the 26th Infantry Battalion from 1971-74
that saw action against Muslim rebels in the deep south. He was promoted to
Captain in 1975, and a Major of the AFP in 1977. Because of his military experience,
the Philippine Army named him as instructor and department head of the School
for Combat Arms (1977-1980). In the 90s, as a personal
choice of Pres. Cory Aquino, he served his 4th Mindanao tour as Chief of Staff
of the 4th Infantry Division, and stayed on in the region, providing support to
the government panel during the MNLF negotiations. In 1999, he was nominated as
commanding general of the UN Peace Keeping Forces in East Timor. Later that
year, he was promoted to Major General in October 16. From 2000-01, Maj.
Gen. Camiling served as chief of the
Southern Command of the AFP, which led to the neutralization of the Abu Sayyaf.
He was eventually promoted to Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, the 2nd highest-ranking military officer in the Philippines. He has
been awarded 9 Distinguished Service Star Awards Gold Cross Medal, 4 Military
Merit Medals with 4th Bronze Spearhead Device (Combat), 19 Military Merit
Medals, Silver Wing Medal, and 6 Military Commendation Medals, to name a few.
He is now retired.
Gen. RICARDO A. DAVID
JR.
Born in San Fernando, Gen. Ricardo David Jr. finished his
early education at Dolores Elementary School, as class valedictorian in 1967.
He moved to Victoria, Tarlac to continue his high school, graduating as salutatorian at Victoria High School. He
took up Engineering at St. Louis University, Baguio on a scholarship, which he
finished at the Philippine Military Academy, in 1973. He was the Commanding
Officer of the 50th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army (1996-98) and the
Commanding General of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army ( 2005- 2006).
The general then became the Northern Luzon AFP Command Chief. In 30 June 2010,
he was named by Pres. Benigno Aquino III as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines, a post he assumed in July. His decorations included:
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal,
Distinguished Aviation Cross, Distinguished Service Star and Combat Commander's
(Kagitingan) Badge, among others. In 2011, Gen. David was appointed by Pres.
Benigno Aquino III as the chief of Bureau of Immigration
Maj. PEDRO DEANG
The first Kapampángan valedictorian of the Philippine
Constabulary Academy hails from Minalin, and eventually moved to Angeles. Pedro
Deang (b. 16 January 1906) finished at
the top of his class in 1932, just the fourth batch of cadets to be graduated
from the country’s premiere military school. He joined the Philippine
Constabulary as a lieutenant and was assigned to Sulu. There he met his future
wife, Emiliana Rodriguez. When WWII broke out, Pedro was deployed to Bataan but not
after sending his wife and uncles to Guinobatan, Albay, where they waited for
his return. As a Major in Bataan, he was the operations officer of the 31st
Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, under Brig Gen Clifford Bluemel. He
served alongside the future president, Capt. Ramon Magsaysay, who was the motor
transport officer of the 32st Infantry. When Bataan fell, Maj. Deang, along with
thousands of American and Filipino surrenderees, joined the infamous Death
March. Along the way, he was rescued by civilians, but he opted to remain with
his men and rejoined the march to Capas, where he died at Camp O’Donnell on 23
April 1943.
Col. RAFAEL R. ESTRADA
The distinguished Col. Rafael Reynaldo Estrada was born
in Concepcion, Tarlac, (b. October 1918)
the son of Dr. Salvador Q. Estrada and Demetria Reynaldo. Highlights of his
military service include his membership in the 2nd Regular Division USAFFE, and
was also involved in the defense of Luzon and the Battle of Bataan (1941-42). With
rations lacking and ammunitions almost gone, their commanding officer, Gen.
Edward King surrendered to the Japanese on 9 April 1942. Estrada became a POW
(prisoner of war) and joined the notorious 100 km. Death March to Camp O’Donnel
in Tarlac. Luckily for him, he survived the march and imprisonment. After the
war he was appointed Director of the Philippine Veterans Board by President
Magsaysay and became Commissioner of the Veterans Claims Commission. He also
became the Founder and National Commander Emeritus of Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor, Inc. (DBC). To show his commitment to help war vets, Col. Estrada
developed the Blue Ridge Subdivision in Quezon City exclusively for WWII
veterans. Col. Estrada counts poet Nina Estrada-Puyat and former Sen. Eva Estrada-Kalaw as
half-sisters. The respected WWII veteran died at age 98 on Oct. 2016.
Brig. Gen. RAFAEL D. GOSECO
The late Brig. Gen Rafael D. Goseco (ret.), was a
homegrown boy from Sto. Niño, Guagua, a graduate of the esteemed Guagua
National College, founded in 1918. He would later serve the same school as its
President. His wife, Dr. Petronila S. Goseco, was also a dean at the college.
In May 1999, the generous general gave a deed of donation to the Court, giving
some 5,000 sq. m. of land, that were part of the family’s 20-hectare property
in Brgy. San Matias, Guagua,. The land was offered as site for the proposed
Hall of Justice and other buildings that the Court may be minded to construct.
According to General Goseco, his family will find fulfillment in knowing that
it had done something for the government. Gen. Goseco passed away in February
2015. His son Ronald, a graduate of UP and the PMA, assumedthe presidency of
Guagua National College.
Cmdre. JOSE G.
LANSANGAN JR.
Commodore Jose G.Lansangan, from Sta. Ana, was a
multi-facteted military man who was also a businessman, a college head, and
author. He finished a degree in Marine Transportation, a Master in Business and
Government Administration and in National Security Administration at the Royal
Naval Staff College in Greenwich, London. His military career included being
serving as Chief of Naval Staff of the Philippine navy (1876-78) and Commander
of the Cavite Naval Base (1978-1982). Eventually, he would assume the
presidency of the National Defense College of the Philippines (1982 -88). Together
with his partners, he put up a government, business and industry consultancy
firm (Martillano, Lansangan, Domingo & Associates, Inc.), headed the
FRIENDS Foundation, and served as president of the Makati Mabuhay Lions Club as
president. In March 2017, Cmdre. Lansangan wrote his memoirs, “The 21st Century Legacy Letters Volume 1: 17
Legacy Lessons”.
Rear Adm. ARMANDO
Q. MADAMBA
From San Juan, San Fernando, Armando Quizon Madamba (b. 3
Nov. 1938) was a product of Pampanga High School, class 1954. From there, he
went to the state university (U.P.) to study engineering, but moved to the PMA
after qualifying for the exams. At the academy, he gain renown for his
brilliance in military planning and strategy. The 1962 graduate joined the
Philippine Navy as ensign. He performed so well that his studies were sponsored
at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston,
Massachusetts. There, he earned his M.A. in International Affairs (1970) and
M.A. in Law and Diplomacy (1971). He was assigned to Iran as Attache at the
Philippine embassy for 5 years (1975-80). Towards the decade’s end, he attended
the Naval Command College course for Senior International Officers at the US
Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. As Deputy Chief of Staff, he pushed
for the complete modernization of AFP.
He retired as a Vice Admiral, but Pres. Fidel V. Ramos named him Ambassador to
the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation in 1996. He engaged in consultancy work after
his diplomatic stint. His impressive career has earned him the Distinguished
Conduct Star, the Distinguished Service Star, the Philippine Legion of Honor, Navy Distinguished Cross, the 1991 Cavalier
Award of the Philippine Military Academy and Outstanding Kapampangan Award for
Military Service in 1993.
Gen. RAFAEL M.
MANIAGO
The future general, Rafael Manarang Maniago (b. 7 Nov.
1936) comes from Parian, Mexico. He is
said to be a descendant of the brave 17th century hero, Francisco
Maniago, who led a revolt against Spain. He graduated from the Philippine
Military Academy in 1962 and joined the Philippine Army. He served as regional
military commander in different military zones and installations in the
Philippines. As a colonel, Maniago was named Commanding Officer of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
of the Philippine Army from 1988-89. It is known officially as the Peacemaker
Brigade which specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare. From 1990-91, the colonel
served as the Commander of the 502nd Infantry (Liberator) Brigade. Gen. Maniago
passed away on 1 January 2004.
Col. SAMUEL S.
QUIWA
Before his death from pneumonia on 12 February 2011, Col. Samuel Quiwa (b. 3 Feb.
1917) was considered as the last surviving World War II hero of San Fernando,
having outlived 16 other comrades. Quiwa , a USAFFE (U.S. Armed Forces in the
Far East) soldier, was a participant in the battles of Bataan and Corregidor in
1942. He was able to escape the 3-day
Death March that started in Mariveles, Bataan, but slipped back to war-ravaged
Corregidor, only to surrender to the Japanese. For 20 days, he became a POW,
along with other American military men, until they were transferred to Manila.
After his release, he went underground in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan as a
guerrilla fighter. When the country was liberated, he returned to active
service and was assigned to the 103rd Military Police Command, now the Northern
Luzon Command of the AFP. He retired in 1969. For his gallantry, he was awarded
the Philippine Defense Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal and
Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Medal, among others. Before his death, he managed
to receive financial reward from the U.S. government.
1st Lt. RUBEN P.
SONGCO
Capt. Ruben Paras Songco (b. 5 Sep. 1921/ d. 5 Dec.
1944), was a native son of Guagua. A graduate of the prestigious U.S. Naval
Academy, Annapolis,Maryland, in 1943, he excelled in football, tennis, lacrosse
and boxing. He was graduated a year early due to the War. During the War, he
was a member of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion missions that left for
Australia in Oct. 1943, with Gen. MacArthur attending their send-off. He was
with Maj. Lawrence Phillips, Capt.
Galang, 4 radio operators and 2 reconnaisance men when they landed in
Mindoro, only to be tracked and captured by the Japanese with the help of a
Filipino informer. 1st Lt. Ruben Songco was one of those killed; only 3
survived. The other sad thing about his shortlived military career was that, because of his Filipino nationality,
he was denied a commission in the U.S.
Navy.
SOURCES:
Patricio Buyson:
Pampanga High School, Golden 50th Anniversary Yearbook,
Gregorio Camiling
Jr.: http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~camiling/bio/gcamiling.htm
Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army Official Website
Ricardo David Jr.:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_David
Pedro Deang:
Picture and information courtesy of First Consul Elmer Cato.
Rafael Estrada:
https://www.dbc.org.ph/in-memoriam.html
Rafael Goseco:
GNC Batch of 2005 FB page
Jose G. Lansangan:
http://mldamanila.tripod.com/id63.htm
Armando Q. Madamba:
http://www.andropampanga.com/bio/madamba.htm
Rafael Maniago: Avianquests.com:
https://www.avianquests.com/2017/03/myths-uncovered-about-photographing.html
Samuel Quiwa:
“ LAST WW II WAR HERO IN SAN FERNANDO DIES”by Charlene Quiwa.
