A Strange Tale from the
War years in Pangasinan
How could I could forget this story from a man I adored , admired, questioned and sometime argue with?. Yes, how could I forget this true story that leads to the very core of my existence. This man never attended a formal school yet he could read and write. His story is about his bravery, nationalism and most of all sense of justice and fair play. I remember sitting on his lap when he told this story to me. I was with my older siblings ( I am the "kim-mot, the youngest") and my mother who adds comments and extra words to described vividly what really transpired. Witnessed to this family gathering was a "lamparaan" giving flickered light and casted shadows on the bamboo wall (tinidtid) of our house. There were no television and electricity then during those days of 1960's in our barrio of Macalong. Thus quality time is spent among the members of the family by sharing ones story.
This story happened during the Japanese Occupation of our country. I was not born yet. Manuel (popularly known as NOEL), the main character of this story was a member of the "guerilla movement", an underground movement against the Japanese invasion. In this story was his many encountered fights and battles against Japanese soldiers. He said that during the day, they act as ordinary citizens. It was during the night that they gathered and attacked their enemies. He was one of the fearless member of the movement. This was attested by older folks that i talked to during my later years
Not only that he is skilled in man-to-man combat but also good in handling guns. In between his story I would occasionally butted in and asked questions. I asked him how many Japs he killed? He answered me indirectly. Maybe, he wants to instill in my young mind that killing for the sake of killing is not good and the hardest thing to do. And this is not something to brag about.
It was during his captivity that this strange tale happened. Sad to say that he was picked up and jailed after the accusation of one of our "kababayans", a member of the Makapili, the original TNT (turo nang turo)of our times. Only during those times, they had to cover their faces with buri bags ( bayong).
According to him, he was imprisoned first in our town’s garrison. The late ex-Mayor Felixberto Ramos ( uncle of ex-President Fidel V. Ramos ) would visit him in his cell once in a while. They became kumpadres after the war.
Then he was transferred to Kem-pe- tai (the Secret Police of the Japanese occupational forces)headquarters in the neighboring town of Binalonan.. This was the last stage of captivity before a prisoner would be sentenced to death.
He related to us the Japanese cruelty against their captives. He showed me his scars in his body particularly in the rib cage area. His ribs, he said were broken by his captors' relentless hitting with the rifle’s rear end.
But he said that this is nothing compared to the fate of the American prisoner. For obvious reasons, the Japanese were more cruel to their Americans captives. The Americans were not allowed to have visitors thus denying them of some extra food and essential items needed for human existence. He said they were very skinny. They could hardly stand or walk.
In some instances, he would secretly passed on some of his rations to them. He was aware that this act could result in his immediate execution.
One day, he was sentenced to death by the firing squad. A day or two before his execution , he was ordered to dig his own hole.( This scenario is just like what we see in the war movies.) Before his execution, a twist of fate happened. The One up above intervened in a very strange way.
The prayers of his loved ones were answered. There was this Japanese guy who saw him at the very last moment. This guy was a private painter of Dr. Ross of Binalonan.
Dr. Ross was an influential figure before and even during the Japanese regime. ( I was able to see the residence of this renown physician in one of our side trip during the Boy Scout Jamboree in Binalonan. His house is huge and he had a private zoo. In short, he is rich)
This Japanese artist recognized Noel as the one who saved his life in the early part of the war. This painter (his real name was never mentioned) was imprisoned and sentenced to death by a guerilla court during the early part of the war. Bravely, Noel acted on his defense . His line of defense was " How could this guy (referring to the artist) be our enemy when in fact he was here in our country long time before the invasion?"
He further said, " Iso na ket sibilyan, ngarud awan basol na kadatayo (He is a civilian, he has no crime against us)
" It is not because that he is a Japanese that we prosecute him as our enemy." He said to his superior that he is willing to trade his life with this man if proven wrong in his conviction. Noel won his case. The painter was released. This guy embraced him tightly as way of expressing his gratitude.
Then came the Japanese turn to save the life of the one who saved his life: Noel. And indeed, he did. Because of Noel’s past act and sense of justice, he was given a second lease on life.
On that the same day, Noel accompanied by no less than the painter went home to his family. His family were delighted and surprised to see him alive. He was riding in a " kalesa " wearing a big sombrero, a gift from the painter.
This story, its lessons and values is a legacy I treasure most from him,... to the man I called PAPANG. Noel is my father... my reluctant hero. He never tried to avail of the benefits of WW II veteran. He died as a farmer with out a piece of land he can call his own... he died as an ordinary man. I supposed, that’s how he wants to be remembered.
SDA
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