Five Guiguinto WW2 heroes remembered
THE local government of Guiguinto in Bulacan commemorated the 80th death anniversary OF five Guiguinteño heroes who were killed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War 2 with a simple ceremony held in front of the municipal hall on Tuesday, February 20.
With the theme “Kabayanihan ng Limang Anak ng Guiguinto,” Mayor Agatha Paula Cruz led the wreath-laying activity also attended by members of the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Banjo Estrella and the descendants of the guerrilla heroes.
Killed by Japanese forces during an encounter in Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan, on Feb. 20, 1944 were Pvt. Rosendo Principe, Cpl. Emiliano Gutierrez, Cpl. Protacio Pingol, Sgt. Mariano Ventura and Pvt. Mariano Centeno.
Mayor Cruz narrated that on the morning of Feb. 20, 1944, the Japanese soldiers came to Guiguinto town from Angat Garrison, wherein these wounded fallen heroes were captured and tortured for refusing to divulge where their fellow guerrillas were hiding.
Because of their refusal, the five wounded Filipinos were hung upside down from a mango tree and stabbed to death with bayonets in front of their families.
According to Cruz, a monument of the fallen heroes was erected in 2006 in front of the municipal building by her father, 5th District Rep. Ambrosio Cruz Jr., to serve as a tribute to their patriotism and heroism. It was sculpted by Carlito de Jesus.
It was learned that in this place also where their remains were transferred and buried between 1948 and 1951 by then-Mayor David San Pedro, who was also a guerrilla and personally witnessed their heroic act.
“It is important for me to rethe member these Guiguinteño heroes,” the mayor said. “And we will do this activity bigger next year for us to remember their heroism and their patriotism to our town and to our fellow Guiguinteños,” added Mayor Cruz.
According to Billy Joe Marciano, history researcher and coordinator of History and Heritage Division of the Bulacan Provincial History, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office, commemoration is important, especially for the youth and students for them to know the heroic history of the five fallen heroes.
It is for this reason, he said, why he pushed and told the local government of Guiguinto to have an annual commemoration that started in the term of Mayor Cruz.
Marciano said these Guiguinteño heroes were only at the age of 20 to 25 who were all farmers when they joined the United States Army Forces in the Far East under the Anderson’s Command 2nd Battalion, Combat Forces “A” Company of Bulacan Military Area based in Bustos, Bulacan.
“Dalangin ko na ang diwa at aral ng limang anak ng Guiguinto na nagbuwis ng buhay para sa bayan ay maging mitsa ng pagmamahal sa bayan lalo na ng mga kabataan, katapatan sa kapwa at maging inspirasyon sa pagtatanggol sa tinatamasa nating kalayaan, tungo sa ating pagsulong bilang isang maunlad at nagkakaisang bayan sa kasalukuyang panahon (It is my prayer that the spirit and lesson from the five Guiguinteños who sacrificed their lives for the country rubs off to our countrymen, particularly the youth, and inspire loyalty to our fellows and serve as inspiration to safeguard the freedom we are enjoying, toward our prosperity and a unified nation in our times),” Marciano said.
Coinciding with the commemoration was the launching of 4th “Kislap Photo Exhibit” spearheaded by Renato Villanueva, municipal tourism officer, wherein the participants are municipal employees.
According to Villanueva, this year’s photo exhibit program showcased the talent of the municipal employees who have skills in photography.