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Real Filipinos — Ramon Magsaysay — Part 2

August 3, 2009 By Philly Leave a Comment

Last week I published part one of this series.  You’ll note there are links just above this sentence to let you navigate directly to the various installments of this article.  Enjoy.

A while back I published some articles on the ‘real Filipinos’ which pleased me, at least, greatly.  I recently came across some very well done biographical material, thanks to the US Army History Center, on one of my personal heroes and a Filipino whose life is worth knowing about, I think.  Sadly, you won’t find this material anywhere online in the Philippines … although there was never so much as a hint of scandal attached to his name, and although he was the only Filipino president to die without multiple mansions, wealth and prestige gained at the expense of his fellow Filipinos, there is little known or mention about Ramon (The Guy) Magsaysay in day to day life here.  You won’t even find him on a bank note,  the anniversary of his birth and death are seldom noted, and I personally think it’s a shame .. so rather than complain, I will inform … my readers can form their own judgment:

Ramon Magsaysay

Once in Congress, Magsaysay continued to fight for veteran rights and was soon appointed to the House Committee on National Defense, the committee with oversight responsibility for the armed forces. He became the committee’s chairman after his reelection in 1949 and was instrumental in transferring the Police Constabulary from the Interior Department to the Department of National Defense. Magsaysay was also responsible for the reorganization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines into battalion combat teams, and its assumption of responsibility from the Police Constabulary for the anti-Huk campaign in Luzon.

While Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee, he traveled to Washington in April 1950 on a quest to obtain financial aid for the faltering government in Manila. The importance of this visit was twofold.

First, after conferring with General George C. Marshall (who was still in retirement before becoming Secretary of Defense in the fall), and speaking with President Truman and the National Security Council, he received $10 million in emergency aid to pay the military and offer rewards for information about the insurgents and was promised additional assistance under the Military Assistance Agreement of March 1947.

Second, and as important for the anti-Huk campaign, he met and befriended newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Edward G. Lansdale, an Air Force intelligence officer familiar with the Philippines and her people, and who would very shortly become Magsaysay’s personal JUSMAG advisor.

On his return to Manila, Magsaysay told Roxas’ successor, President Quirino that Philippine prestige in the United States was at a low ebb as a result of poor social conditions and Huk success in the Luzon countryside. He suggested that the president take immediate steps to purge the government of corrupt officials and institute needed agrarian reforms.

The Philippine president suggested that Magsaysay confine his attentions to the military situation and promptly ignored Magsaysay’s comments. After all, Magsaysay had succeeded in bringing home $10 million and the future seemed to promise even more American money and equipment.

Part 3 next week

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Real Filipinos — Ramon Magsaysay – Part 1

July 27, 2009 By Philly Leave a Comment

A while back I published some articles on the ‘real Filipinos’ which pleased me, at least, greatly.  I recently came across some very well done biographical material, thanks to the US Army History Center, on one of my personal heroes and a Filipino whose life is worth knowing about, I think.  Sadly, you won’t find this material anywhere online in the Philippines … although there was never so much as a hint of scandal attached to his name, and although he was the only Filipino president to die without multiple mansions, wealth and prestige gained at the expense of his fellow Filipinos, there is little known or mention about Ramon (The Guy) Magsaysay in day to day life here.  You won’t even find him on a bank note,  the anniversary of his birth and death are seldom noted, and I personally think it’s a shame .. so rather than complain, I will inform … my readers can for their own judgment:

Ramon Magsaysay

Born the son of a village school teacher in the small village of Iba, the capital of Zambales Province and in the very shadow of Mount Pinatubo, Ramon Magsaysay spent his formative years surrounded by the people of central Luzon. When Ramon was six years old, he learned about honesty and integrity from his father, who lost his teaching job in the public school when he refused to pass the school superintendent’s son in his carpentry class. Outcast by the community, the Magsaysay family moved to Castillejas, where his father set up a small carpentry and blacksmith shop to support the family. His father’s example took root in Ramon and remained a cornerstone of his personality throughout his life.

Ramon entered Zambales Academy, an equivalent to high school, at the age of thirteen and graduated as salutatorian. In 1927, he enrolled in the Academy of Liberal Arts at the University of the Philippines but was forced to leave because of poor health. After recovering his health, Magsaysay transferred to Jose Rizal College, from which he was graduated in 1932 with a degree in commerce. The only job he could find was as a mechanic at the Try Transportation Bus Company in Manila. Within a few years, he rose to become the company’s general manager. At the outbreak of World War II, he quit his position in Manila and joined the Philippine 31st Infantry Division.

After the fall of Bataan, Magsaysay joined a USAFFE (United States Army Forces in the Far East) guerrilla unit. Commissioned at the grade of captain, he served as G-1, supply officer, was promoted to major, and eventually became the commander of the Zambales Military District, responsible for the actions of nearly 10,000 USAFFE fighters in the area near Mount Pinatubo. His prowess as a military commander became well known and resulted in the Japanese placing a 100,000 peso bounty on his life. (at that time, when a US Army private was paid a whopping $21 a month, base pay, this would be equivalent to $50,000 USD, perhaps more like $10,000,000 USD in 2009 dollars). In February 1945, General MacArthur appointed Major Magsaysay the military governor of Zambales due to his honesty, integrity, and ability. During his tenure as military governor he became an outspoken champion for veteran rights and impressed the local population with his dedication to improving their life. A year later, President Roxas asked him to join the Liberal Party and run for a congressional seat in the November election.

Magsaysay refused initially, stunning the president, but relented when he was presented a petition signed by 11,000 of his men asking him to run for Congress. Despite his personal differences with Roxas, whose policies Magsaysay saw as favoring only the rich, his men convinced him that he could best help the country by joining the government. He resigned his commission and won a seat in the Philippine House of Representatives with the largest popular margin in Zambales history.  (Part 2 next week)

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Another Philippine Pony Found — True Life Living In The Philippines

June 24, 2009 By Philly Leave a Comment

Just recently I answered a comment on one of my articles on Bob’s Philippine Web Magazine in what many may feel is a pretty contrition manner.  A lady wrote to tell me that the reason she wasn’t moving to the Philippines to live was because there was no opportunity here … especially for young teen children who will, after all, becoming self-supporting adults in just a very few years.

My view could pretty much be summed up in one phrase “wrong as rain”.

You may also recall I put together a number of articles here in past months based on an old farmer’s joke made popular by President Harry Truman, about there being a “pony” (which I am using as a metaphor for an “Opportunity” under the a huge pile of manure and stable residue … which serve to represent the continual nay saying and the chorus of “it can’t be done” that grates on my nerves each and every day, living here in the Philippines.

Here’s a nice up to date example why I believe the Philippines is indeed a land of opportunity:

US couple retires in Corregidor

By Ross Harper-Alonso, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02:36:00 06/14/2009

MANILA, Philippines—While many dream of retiring into a private island in the Philippines with long stretches of deserted fine, white sand beaches or enjoying a luxury resort lifestyle still close to where the action is, an American couple has chosen to do the unusual.

Steve Kwiecinski, 57, a retired computer programmer and his wife, Marcia, 56, a retired physical therapist assistant, left Michigan in 2008 to start a new life on Corregidor, the island fortress that has become a national shrine as a symbol of the determined resistance of its Filipino and American defenders against the invading Japanese in World War II. You can read the rest of Steve and Marcia’s retiring in the Philippines story here.

OK, I can here you saying.  This is false adverting.  You started this article talking about opportunities for the young and then you give us the story of a couple, advanced in years, living a crazy lifestyle in an obscure place, and obviously living off a retirement pension.  You see opportunity there?

Valor Tours logo I surely do.  What the article didn’t point out is Steve’s “part time job” or more accurately, labor of love.  Steve guides and escorts tours for Valor Tours, Ltd., a company who specializes in conducting tours all over the world focusing on important World War II battle sites.  What?  You mean a US company can make a profitable business out of touring people to the Philippines and even more out of the way places like Tarawa and Guadalcanal?  And they have been making money at it for years?

Steve has been to the Philippines before, and decided he liked it here.  If he listened to all the ‘wise men’ we hear chorusing in the background, he would never pull up stakes and live in a one bedroom cottage on an isolated island in the Philippines. 

  • What if the people stop coming on tours?
  • What if the government says, “hey get out of our house”?
  • What if the money the Kwiecinski’s invested to get their SRRV doesn’t yield as much money as it did back in a US bank (oh, wait a minute, not much chance of that happening is there *sigh*, on to the next point, Dave)
  • What if either of them gets sick and has to be hospitalized
  • What if, what if, what if?

This is the biggest “what if” in Steve and Marcia’s life (and in mine as well) is, “What If” they had just sat around and waited until there was no risk.  Waited until Steve was 65 so he would have his Social Security for extra income, waited until they had more money for a better house, I’m sure many of you can think of other reasons why the move Steve and Marcia made might seem rash or risky. 


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But on the opposing side of the decision matrix you might also ask, what if Steve dies next year?  I certainly wish him a long and healthy life, but 58 or 59 year olds drop dead every day?  So do people in their 30’s and 40’s.  Steve and Marcia already own, I mean truly own … can’t be taken from them … memories and experiences that most of us will never have … all because Steve made an off the wall request to live his dream and the request was granted.

Opportunity?  It’s all around us … how long will you wait?

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Philippine Touring — The Republic Begins

March 31, 2009 By Philly Leave a Comment

Last week I wrote about the beginnings, to the Western mind at least, of the nation of the Philippines down in delightful Cebu. Philippine Touring From The Beginning.

In that article I mentioned how often people who live right next to important historic, tourist-worthy sites often ignore them for years … so last week Mita, the Unofficial Cook and I decided to stop procrastinating and visit the site of the founding of the very first Philippine republic in the city of Malolos, Bulacan, just a few kilometers up MacArthur Highway or (much quicker and easier) the NLEX, from our home in Marilao.


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imageFrom the south, take the NLEX to the spur marked Tabang, continue through the Tabang toll booths along MacArthur Highway.  From the north, there is no access to the Tabang Spur, so exit right at the Plaridel/Santa Rita exit and drive a short distance west to join MacArthur Highway, turning right, or back toward the north.  Watch for the ‘flyover’ in Malolos, keep to the ground level road and you’ll be able to turn left under the highway toward the Malolos proper downtown.  You’ll likely have to ask for specific turns to reach your final destination, though, because the historical sites in Malolos are virtually un-noticed by the locals … just some old churches that happen to be there … no signs or tourist attraction directions at all.

The first place you’ll want to stop is Barasoain Church.  This is a mid-sized church complex with plenty parking inside the grounds (no charge on the day we were there, YMMV) where, on the sunny morning of January 23, 1899, the First Philippine Republic, popularly known as the Malolos Republic, was inaugurated amidst colorful ceremonies at the Barasoain Church. This was also the first republic in Asia. General Emilio Aguinaldo was proclaimed first president of the new nation, and in something which seems unique to me, one of his first proclamations was the give the rights of residence and the conduct of business to Spaniards and other foreigners already in the Philippines.  Quite a change for the current government mindset to be sure.

image Another site worth visiting is only a few blocks form the Barasoain Church, the Malolos Cathedral,   It’s directly on the main city plaza or square, easily seen from a distance and has parking inside a gated area at the front, 20 PhP per car when we were there, YMMV. The Cathedral was the seat of power of the President of the First Philippine Republic, Emilio Aguinaldo. Essentially it served as both the nations “white house” and Capitol building during the early days of the revolution.  When the Philippine-American War erupted in 1899, President Aguinaldo moved the capital from Malolos to San Fernando in Pampanga.

One of the most interesting artifacts to me at this site is a landmark of the revolution was a huge century-old siar tree where Aguinaldo is said to have conducted many political discussions. The historical Siar Tree, now known as the Kalayaan Tree, or Freedom Tree, said to have been planted by Aguinaldo during a lull in Congress proceedings.  Beneath the shade of the tree is a monument that depicts the meeting of Filipino revolutionaries represented by Generals Gregorio del Pilar and Isidoro Torres, the legislator Don Pablo Tecson, a nationalist leader of the Church Padre Mariano Sevilla (one of my relations by marriage) and a woman freedom fighter Doña Basilia Tantoco.

Worth a visit?  Absolutely, for Filipino or foreigner alike.  Recommended.

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