WENCESLAO Q. VINZONS
(1910 - 1942)
Wenceslao Vinzons was born on September 28, 1910, in Indan, Camarines Norte, to Gabino V. Vinzons and Engracia Quinito. He took his elementary education in his hometown and finished his secondary education at the Camarines Norte High School as valedictorian. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines.
He was awardee of the Manuel L. Quezon gold medal for excellence for his oration entitled "Malaysia Irredenta" and the Abad Santos medal for excellence in debate. He was editor-in-chief of the UP’s Philippine Collegian, president of the student council, and member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.
He seldom used his cars, preferring to take the Meralco bus to the university and back to his residence. This endeared him to his fellow students. Arturo M Tolentino, Ambrosio Padilla, Arturo B. Rotor, Amado G. Dayrit, Salvador P. Lopez, ad other eminent campus writers and leaders looked up to him.
In 1932, he led the youth movement in protest against the salary increase of the members of the Manila Municipal Council.
In 1933, he placed third in the bar examination. He won on a seat in the Constitutional Convention in 1934 at the age of 23. He was voted most outstanding young man in politics before the war. He founded the Young Philippines Party.
He was one of those responsible for making Tagalog the national language of the Filipinos. In the 1935 elections, he supported General Emilio Aguinaldo for presidency against President Manuel L. Quezon. He went from province to province explaining the necessity of having a balanced two-party system to prevent abuses, corruption and inefficiency in governmental affairs.
His scathing attack led to his prosecution for the crime of libel and sedition. He was judged guilty by the Court of First Instance of Cavite but was aquited by the Court of Appeals.
In 1940, he became Governor of Camarines Norte. He was noted for his adult education among the masses. In 1941, he was elected Congressman of his province.
At the outbreak of the World War II, he organized the first guerilla unit, the Citizen’s Army and the Vinzon’s Guerilla in the Bicol Region. He fought he enemy at Laniton and Tigbinan on December 17, 1941.On July 8, 1942, the Japanese, guided by an informer, a former guerilla named Villaluz, discovered his hideout. He was captured together with his father. He and his companions were paraded around the town of Labo. At the plaza, the Japanese prodded him to persuade the people to cooperate with the Japanese administration. "I have only three things to tell you," he said, "Plant! Plant! Plant!" This speech infuriated his captors. The prisoners were brought to the Daet garrison.
On July 15, 1942, Major Tsuneoke Noburo, the garrison commander, confronted him in a last attempt to enlist his services for the interests of Japan’s co-prosperity sphere. He had a piece of paper in hand. "This paper," he roared ominously, handing it to him, "Fifty Hiripin petitiong. You read."
He did not budge from his seat. "I know", he answered. "I have read it twice. They are asking you to execute me." "Fifty peopoor say you dorobo (bandit). I kirr dorobo." "I have not had a trial", he said. "The Geneva Convention says enemy soldiers captured are not to be killed." "You terr where your men go. Where Americans go." "Your captain, Azano, captured me in the mountains. I do not know where my men or where their guns are now." The Japanese commander shrieked "You rie! You rie!" and slapped him across the face. "You know. Your wife, she rie! She die! I kirr you too!"
He answered quietly. "Nothing can make me happier than to die for my country, major. You will die too…" Tsuneoka thrust his bayonet into Vinzon’s stomach. A Japanese corporal, Kuzumi Taiku, hit the helpness resistance leader with a rifle butt at the back of the head.
He was killed together with his wife, Liwayway Gonzales, his father, a sister, and two children. Their remains have never been recovered.
His hometown Indan, was renamed after him. In Manila, near Blumentritt, a school is named Wenceslao Elementary School. The students center of UP bears his name.

An Iriganian who became a superstar before Nora Aunor

Did you guys know that Nora Aunor was not the first Irigania that became a superstar? Check this article I found about a beautiful girl who studied in Iriga who became an actress.



Gilda Gales, 88, a Philippine movie star in the 1930s, died in Monrovia, California, June 16, from complications resulting in a stroke. Because she was, according to the newspaper of the day, gifted with that languorous look and peculiar drooping of eyebrows, Gilda was dubbed the Greta Garbo of the Philippines. It was noted that one had only to look at her picture to note the striking resemblance to the Swedish star. As a young girl studying at St. Anthony' Institute in Iriga, Camarines Sur, Gilda was called upon, from time to time, to participate in stage presentations during school programs and fiesta celebrations. She was so obsessed with acting that she vowed to go to Manila, at the earliest opportunity, and apply for work in the movie studios there. When her father, who was a traveling agent for Smith, Bell & Co., was transferred to Manila from the provinces, Gilda immediately approached Jose Nepomuceno for a job in the movies. She was given a screen test, successfully passed it, eliciting from Nepomuceno this tribute: I knew right away that I was looking at a girl destined to be a great actress. Gilda's first assignment was as supporting player in Malayan movies' Makata at Paraluman. This was followed by Liberty Cadet's Love and six other pictures. The crowning point of Gilda's brief career as a movie star came in 1937 when she starred opposite Eduardo de Castro in Brides of Sulu, a picture produced in the Philippines (actually filmed in Jolo, Sulu) with an all-Filipino cast, but which was directed by Hollywood's Jack Nelson. Released by Universal Pictures, Brides of Sulu featured, for the first time in local movie history, difficult underwater scenes. Gilda's performance in the picture was so remarkably impressive she was offered an important role in MGM's Mutiny on the Bounty. Unfortunately, she was ill at the time and could not stand the rigors of travel. Gilda's next big picture was Manila Talkatone's Andres Bonifacio, with de Castro again. Not long after, Gilda made her last picture, Susing Kalangitan. Then she retired from the movies for good. Gilda married Miguel Blanco, bar and restaurant proprietor in Manila (deceased in 1995), and they are survived by four children: Miguel and Jose in Australia and Marie Cruz and Tina in the United States. The family believes that all of Gales' movies were destroyed during World War II.

September 18, 2006

Dear Batch mates:

Another year, another fiesta. But do you guys ever try to make this year's fiesta different from previous fiestas? Besides breaking your last year’s record of drinking two cases of beer, did you do something to make this year’s celebration a little bit special so that it does not become "just another fiesta celebration?"

This year’s fiesta was interesting and also memorable because I got to meet or see people that I have not seen for many years.

Days before the fiesta, I made plans to drive to San Diego because Jerry Borja invited me to come. The San Diego has been known to present a better fiesta celebration because of its scenic location. It is located inside Camp Pendleton, which is a very large U.S. marine base about 60 miles north of San Diego. The fiesta site is 10 miles off the freeway and so there is barely any traffic around. The parking lot is large enough to accommodate many cars. Two days before the fiesta, I asked my sister if she will be attending the L.A. fiesta and she indicated that there is a chance that she might. She lives in Simi Valley, California, which is about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

The day before fiesta, I got a call from my sister confirming her attendance at the LA fiesta. I had to leave a message for Jerry apologizing for canceling my trip to San Diego because I wanted to be with my sister.

I called Jo Azcarraga, Toton Roque and Mike Moll and asked them which fiesta location they will be going to. Jo told me that he has to be in LA because Junie Ablay is arriving in L.A. from Colorado to participate in the fiesta as a "boyadero". Magka-klasemate si Jo and Junie kaya medyo may connection daa sinda with each other. Selos ako ka yan ah!

Toton Roque was not too sure of attending either the LA or San Diego fiesta because of some work that he has to do at their home. Mike Moll assured me that he would be attending the L.A. fiesta.

On the day of the fiesta, I arrived at the Echo park at around 9:30am and had to search for a parking spot. I drove around for a while because almost all the streets were lined with parked cars. I finally found one but it was in a trashy and tough looking neighborhood. The parking space was so small that I had to squeeze my car into it with only inches to spare on both ends of my car. I became worried because the car behind me, who was uglier than my car, had a parking ticket. I figured that it was worth the risk to park there and besides, the numerous rusty spots in my car made it blend on the wall covered with graffiti next to it, making it hard for any police officer riding a squad car to spot.

The Echo park is a one of the largest park in Los Angeles and in the middle of it is a large lake with a huge fountain shooting water 50 to 60 feet up in the air. As I approached the fiesta area, I heard the priest doing a sermon in English but would mix Bicol and Tagalog words once in a while. Nearby, I noticed the "float" used for the mini-traslacion parked along the shore of the lake. There was a large stage in the middle of the fiesta area and surrounding this stage were small booths covered by white colored tents. The booths were occupied by different Bicolano organizations like Naga, Calabanga, Partido and there were also two noticeable school organizations that were present—Ateneo and Colegio.

Instinctively, I was drawn towards the Ateneo tent because of the familiar faces in it. My sister and her daughter were very glad to see me. The Fulgentes families were also there in force, all wearing identical polo shirts and hats embroidered with the name of their business. The famous Angel "Anggi" Marterez, who is well known for his exploits at the Ateneo avenue during the mid-1970’s, was also there. Anggi is a 5-foot, 4 inches bundle of fun, if you know him well. Back in 1998 when I went to Naga for a quick visit, I saw "Mer" of the Ateneo avenue store and when I asked her if she still remembers Anggi, she said, "Ay bistadohon ko yan si Anggi ta kaditong high school pa yan, pirming nilalamag kang mga pulis digdiyo sa avenue to pasaway na maray yan".

Each booth prepared trays of free food for the attendees. Risahon mo ang mga paslo at mga masisiba kang crowd ta habang nagmi-misa, ining mga paslong ini, nagro-ronda na sa mga ibat-ibang booth para ilingon ninda ang mga putahing hinanda para ma-strategize na ninda kung sain sinda mapila.

Junie Ablay called my cell phone and told me that he is at the Partido booth with Jo Azcarraga. The last time I saw Junie was back in July or August of 2005 at San Diego. When I finally found Ablay, he was wearing his signature wide smile and he immediately gave me a firm handshake. Kaya man palan ning sina Junie at si Jo yaon duman sa Partido booth ta kadakulong magagayon na chicks duman na naka tambay. Junie said that he is staying at his brother’s house in Pasadena (15-20 miles north of downtown LA). Inintroduce kami ni Junie sa mga tugang niya, who also were buyadores during the fluvial procession.

When the mass ended, we saw Toton Roque and he immediately joined our group. Since Junnie rarely visits the LA area, we decided to schedule a little reunion luncheon. It was also about that time when we all started to wonder why Mike Moll has not arrived yet. I decided to call Mike and he said that he had things he had to do that day that is why he was not able to come. I told Mike that as a consequence for breaking his promise to attend the LA fiesta, we will now have the little reunion luncheon at his house. Mike is a very accommodating person but at that moment, suyaduhon siya sakuya na he wanted to reach through the cell phone lines and strangle my neck from where he was. Napasubo ko daa siya.

The following day, Toton, Junie, Jo and I showed up at Mike’s "hacienda" at the foothills of Moreno valley. Our little group brought authentic Philippine brewed San Miguel beer bottles plus some Mexican Tekate beer. Mike introduced Junie and I to an alcoholic drink called "Tequila Sunrise", which is a mixture of fruit juice and Tequila. When I asked Mike how strong the drink was, he said that it was mostly fruit juice and a "splash" of Tequila. Splash of Teguila my foot!! That drink was a bit strong!!! They should change its name to "Tequila Satan" because it doesn’t take much of that brew to knock you down. Junnie demonstrated his "Tinago elementary school toughness" by downing his tequila sunrise as if it was like water. Maurag na tumador ining si Junnie. Since Mike prepared our drinks, I am wondering if he doubled or even tripled the amount of Tequila in the glass that he handed to me para makabalos ta napasubo ko siya sa tiripon mi. Tinamaan tulos kaya ako maski kabanga pa lang idtong glass na naiinum ko kaidtong "Tequila Satan".

As usual, Mike’s culinary expertise was very evident on the types of food that he prepared like grilled tilapia, shrimp palabok, caldereta and lechon kawali. For dessert, we had gelatin mixed with sweet macapuno and my favorite—leche flan, which is sometimes called by Mike as "Electric Fan". Don’t ask me how Mike came up with that name. Probably the "Tequila Satan" has something to do with it. Sabi ko na saindo na maisugon idtong drink na idto ta it could cause your mind to sometimes mispronounce the names of common food items. Tibaad next time na irinuman mi, ang pangaran na "Salsa" dip maging "OPSA" dip.

These reunions makes each Pena Francia celebration different and special to the previous ones and our batch mates that attend the celebration adds a little spice to the flavor of the festivities.

Intoxicated-ly yours,

Ivan

Adenu newsletter October 9, 2006

Dear Batch mates:

Lately, I have been concerned about our batch's official website at yahoo. It's memory is almost used up and I am unable to download new pictures and updates. Because of this, I decided to open up a blog for our batch so that you guys can view previous and current communications within our batch mates.

I will also be posting pictures of our reunions here in California and also other reunions by our other batch members from other parts of the world.

Please encourage our other members to visit this site and leave messages because communication is the only way that will keep our batch alive.

Ivan