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Source: Frank Lopez for Philippine Marine Association, Southern California Chapter
E-mail: pmcmssr@yahoo.com
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Intersting movie:
"Encuentro, Pagsikat ng
Araw" (Encounter, When the Sun Rises)
Jess Lapid Jr. plays Marine Private Nestor T. Acero in Encuentro, Pagsikat ng Araw.
The movie is loosely based on the assault on Sibalo Hill, Jolo Island, Sulu Province on 26 November 1972.
The Marines suffered its largest number of casualties in its history on that day, with 15 KIA and 22 WIA.
His unit forced to withdraw, Pfc. Acero stayed with his budy from Basic Training Pfc. Buaya, who was mortally wounded. By providing covering fire for his unit and drawing the enemy's attention to himself, allowed his unit to disengage.
When the Marines returned they found the lifeless body of Acero still holding Buaya. Surrounding them were more than 43 enemy dead. For his actions Acero was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Star.
A decade later the award was elevated to the Medal of Valor the highest award of the Republic of the Philippines, for acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.
Pfc. Acero was the first recepient of the award in the Marines and Philippine Navy.
On 30 December 1973 Sibalo Hill was finaly taken in a joint operation with the 2nd Marine Battalion and an Army Ranger Company. The commanding officer of the Marine Company to reach the summit of Sibalo is now the Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Brigadier General Edgardo V.Espinosa.
(Source: "Gallant Warriors From the Sea", The Philippine Marine Corps Today. By Franz Tinio Lopez)
Listed in the acknowledgements of "Encuentro,..." are Brigadier General Balbas, who has retired to Southern California. And Brigadier General Cabanlig, presently serving as President of the National Defense College at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The movie is the Philippines version of Hollywood embelishment, as Acero lives a day longer and dies with someone other than Buaya. The night before the assault the Marines visit a disco/bar/cocktail lounge and later engage in "gratitous violence" on the way home.
You normally don't get to go out before an operation and if there was such a disco in Jolo, business must have been very good. Because there isn't anything close to it there today. Maybe if it was in Zamboanga City...?
Well thats movies for you.
END