Bicol Heroes Documentation

A KAIBA News and Features project

I.  Rationale

As young children, we were told that not one Bicol province is represented in the Filipino Flag—in the 8 rays of the flag. Have we not fought a single anti-Filipino during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, the Filipino-American war, World War II, or even during the martial law years? Was it not a Bicolano who last surrendered to the Americans during the Filipino-American war?   

There are even wrong signals that some Filipino historian have inculcated into our minds by stating that we were discovered by the Europeans. Can’t we not consider our Bicolano lolas and lolos to be discoverers of the beautiful Mayon Volcano? 

It is important that we look into our past to understand ourselves and give direction to our future.  We have to see it through our own eyes and perspective and not through the interpretation of another race.

There are many heroic stories of Bicolanos and Bicolanas that can make us proud of our race.  These stories help us find meaning in part in revitalizing this nation. Unfortunately, most of these stories are hidden in the dustbin of libraries and memories of our grandparents.

Some good stories of our Bicolano heroes in their valiant struggle for freedom have found its way in  the pages of the KAIBA News and Features.   Because of the generally positive reaction of   our readers (a KAIBAnews egroup member will even donate a painting), we are pursuing a Bicol Heroes Documentation project as our way of  saluting the Bicolano Heroes and the Bicolano race. We want to serialize these stories in our hardcopy and publish a book that may help us identify with and be proud of  our own race.

            It is being envisioned that this documentation becomes a series.

II.  Bicol Heroes  Project Objectives: 

1. Research and write articles on the Bicol Heroes from the Filipino Revolution against the Spaniards, Filipino-American war, Second World War, Martial Law years, and Contemporary times.

2. Serialize these stories in four issues of the Kaiba News and Features within the year.

3. Collate all the articles on Bicol Heroes, that were written for the past three years and will be publish this year in the Kaiba News and Features, in a book by mid 2003.

4. Give a painting donated by a KAIBAnews egroup member to Naga City.

5. Find sponsors and give copies of the book to Bicol schools

    

III.  Deliverables. 

1. Fifteen articles, written in Bicol, on the Bicol Heroes and their struggle.

2. Four issues of the Kaiba News and Features (hard copy).

3. A booklet entitled: Bicolnon (istorya kan samong talingkas)  with the fifteen feature articles and poems that were posted on the Kaiba News and Features webpage. Initial specifications: 5 x 6.5 inches, bookpaper, 500 copies.

4. Upload the articles to the KAIBAegroup (with about 1200 Bicolano members) and the KAIBA website.

5. Painting that will be donated by a KAIBAnews egroup member.

IV.    

Possible Articles:

1. Bicolanos during the Liberation of Naga City on May 3, 1942.  A liberation, years before the coming of the Americans in 1945.  About 30 American Prisoners were freed from the Japanese during that time.  The Kaiba News and Features have found a diary and a picture of that historical liberation.

2. Guerillas of the Tangcong Vaca Guerilla Unit —This is the unit that was responsible of “eradicating” 168 Japanese and traitors during the Second World War, including a Japanese General.  They were the ones who were responsible for the Taguilid pass ambush in Pasacao, Camarines Sur. This Unit was headed by Juan Miranda.  A street in front of the Naga City Hall was named after him. initial article - initial article

3. Bicolanos during the Daet-Talisay Uprising.  This is one of the first uprising during the Filipino Revolution against the Spanish colonial period.

4. Simeon Ola — Bicolanos consider him to be the last General to have surrendered to the Americans (Batangueños claimed that it was General Malvar).  Camp Simeon Ola (formerly Camp Ibalon) in Legaspi City  was named after this Bicolano General. initial story

5. Daughters of Tandang Sora (DOTS). An all women (Bicolana) unit during the Second World War.  Their unit proved that it was not only the men who struggled for us to be free from colonizers.  initial article

6. Bicolano Peasant’s through the years. As a feudal and semi-feudal society peasants comprise the majority of the Bicolanos.  Expectedly, they were part of the “freedom” movement in the Bicol peninsula through the years. The heroes who come from the elite class, almost always land in history books described as leaders of the movement.  But the movement can not be a movement without the peasants’ sweat and blood. It is just proper and fitting to give them   tribute and recognize their sacrifices.

7. Cresensia Anciano — She was a woman officer of the Tangkong Vaca Guerilla Unit. A Bicolana guerilla who was awarded “war medals”  and can make us be proud of our race.  She is still alive and can be interviewed in Naga City. initial article

8. “Tangkad” and Benjie Jallores — Anti-marial law martyrs of the Partido area in Camarines Sur.  Writings at the Tigaon Museum suggest that people from Tigaon/Partido are proud of the Jallores brothers who planted the seed of the anti-dictatorship movement in the rural areas of the Bicol Region. 

9. Dr. Juan Escandor — A Bicolano Doctor from Sorsogon who fought the Marcos Dictatorship.  He died a few months before Ninoy Aquino was Assassinated.  His portrait was included in the mural displayed in front of the Ninoy Aquino funeral march.  initial article

10. Elizabeth Balagot — A contemporary heroine who stood in the hall of the Senate as a witness against Joseph Estrada during the impeachment trial.  She stood high among the Giants of the Senate. Batch ’81 from the University of Santa Isabel.  She had proven that the masa is important in any movement.  Her small voice reverberated in the People Power two that toppled Joseph Estrada. initial article

11. Kumander Gulay — A Negrito that lead a group of indigenous Bicolanos in the Mt. Iriga area against the Japanese Imperial forces during the second world war.  He and his group were hunted by the Japanese after they killed a Japanese Colonel(?).

12.  Alexander Belone II — An intellectual from Gainza, Camarines Sur who studied at the Naga Parochial School, Philippine Science High School, University of the Philippines, and University of Nueva Caceres. An organizer of the Kabataang Makabayan who fought hard against the Marcos Dictatorship. initial article

13. And other articles from the Kaiba News and Features Research.

Timeline:

-- June 2002.  Start of continuing interviews and research.

-- June to December. Four Issues of the Bicol Heroes tribute series of the Kaiba News and Features (hard copy)

-- January toFebruary 2003. Collating of articles, press work, designing, and  editing

-- March 2003.  Final Printing

-- April 2003. Booklet launching  

For the Booklet:

For the Kaiba News and Features hard copy

Proponent:

For Sponsorships and Donations, please contact.

Kaiba News and Features

c/o Perry M. Calara

Editor

Tel: 054-4737741, 02-7525251, Mobile: 0917-8122107

Email: pmcalara@edsamail.com.ph

url:  http://www.kaiba.cjb.net/