Please
note: I have not read Mr. Nestor Famatgian Sr.'s "The
Battle of Sibuyan Sea." If these accounts somehow duplicate those
in his book, it is purely unintentional. This article also commemorates
the 59th anniversary of the Sibuyan Naval Battle on October 25, 2003.
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I. Doroteo
Fesalbon's hand written account: (Mr. Fesalbon is a retired public
school teacher in Banton and now President of the Municipal Citizens
Federation of the same municipality.)
The 68 Japanese
survivors of the ill-fated transport that dropped anchor in Toctocon
during the naval battle in Sibuyan Sea - some of them wounded - sought
asylum in the municipal building of Banton on October 25, 1944. The
people of Banton were alarmed of their presence. Mayor Eugenio Saluba
called an emergency meeting of all able-bodied males called the home
guards, to go to town. They already decided to assault the Japanese
holed in the municipal building with stones, bolos, and clubs, after
the church bells rang. The Japanese, seeing the angry mob coming from
different directions, ran. Some swam to the sea but were pursued by
the angry mob. Those who waded back to shore were clubbed to death.
The surviving escapees were herded and hogtied in the tablado
(public theatre).
A decision was
made: the Japanese should be "liquidated" for fear of reprisals
once the incident reached the Japanese high command. So, the Japanese
soldiers were divided into groups - each group "assigned"
to a home guard and his subordinates.
I belonged to
one group with seven Japanese soldiers. We brought them to Toctoc
and liquidated them but one Japanese had a gaping wound so we left
him at Rumpilan where a volunteer home guard finished him off and
buried him (the Japanese).
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II. Electo
Faigao Sr. "The Unforgettable 25th of November 1944." Source:
Balik Balogo Souvenir Program, 1993:
On the early morning
of November 24 1944, a Japanese supply ship steamed into Mainit cove
and dropped anchor. It was heavily camouflaged. Some armed Japanese
soldiers took the time to steal chickens from the barangay
folks who were out hiding somewhere.
At about 3:00
pm, the ship slipped northward but American planes caught the steaming
ship with bombs. Loud explosions and smoke filled the air. However,
the ship continued to sail despite the damage. Nightfall, rumblings
of engines could be heard but the barrio folks went on their ways
nonchalant of what happened that afternoon.
Dawn of the 25th,
early risers from the barrio of Balogo were aghast to discover Japanese
ships anchored in their midst: two in Say-ot cove, one at Tambac and
another one at Pasilagon - all camouflaged. On that same morning in
sitio Cogon, the barrio chapel and a makeshift community hall were
beehives of activity since it was the end of the novena in honor of
their Patroness, Santa Catalina. A "pakaon" (community
feast) was in progress.
Then hell broke
loose. A squadron of American bombers and fighter planes south of
Balogo dive-bombed the Japanese launches and the deadening drone of
engines and bombs enveloped the scene. The barrio folks scampered
to the nearest cover; some, anxiety written on their faces, remarked
MacArthur had finally returned; some unable to finish their rosary,
covered their heads with banana leaves to protect themselves from
stray bombs!
The air strike
did not bode well for the Japanese. Those Japanese launches at Tambac
and Pasilagon suffered direct hits and the Balogo seascape became
a caldron of smoke and fire as the American planes flew away. The
following day, the 26th, one launch that got lucky found its way to
Bagaruyon, Simara island where it was destroyed by the pursuit of
an F-40.
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Footnote: Forty- nine years later (1993), Mrs. Tita Faigao Sapallo
mused: "Life has its joy and sadness. On the eve of Santa Catalina's
feast, barrio Balogo postponed the coronation night. The event would
have been treasured. I was the barrio queen! "
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Gustan Kunista:
By Lolo Renal & Lola Encay, Momo Famarin as told to Gay-Maya F.
Fesariton. (Balik Balogo Souvenir program 1993):
On the eve of
February 2,1944, "Jimmy" a small sailboat from Corcuera,
with five crew members sailed for Mindoro. Near the islet of Bantoncillo
(Gakot) the crew members was confronted with a heavily armed - Japanese
soldier who probably hid in the hold of the sailboat when it weighed
anchor in Simara. The Japanese ordered them to sail to the nearest
port that was Balogo.
A group of Baloguenos
in the shore picking seashells and men headed by Lolo Tario Fadriquela
welcomed the crew and the Japanese who politely introduced his name
as Gustan Kunista, soldier of the Imperial Army stationed at Tanro-aw,
an Olympic wrestler, judo-karate expert, a doctor and a Christian.
He asked if the welcome committee were guerillas. Gunista claimed
he was tired of the war and went AWOL because he wanted to find a
school and a teacher in Banton.
One of Lolo Tario's
men reciprocated the gesture and offered Gunista a free haircut. The
Japanese refused the offer. The news of the Japanese straggler looking
for a school reached Lolo Momo who was a teacher and a guerilla. Meanwhile,
Lolo Tasio Famadico and Lolo Beloy Fababeir had instructed other men
in the barrio to congregate but the Japanese soldier was already on
his way to Pogot. Lolo Momo decided to wait for Gunista at Banice
beach apparently with a plan.
Lola Api and Lola
Conching Ferriol were baby sitting my other Lolas Encay and Elming
who were three months old at that time. Lolo Renal and my four-year
old Papa were in the nearby camote farm weeding. When my Lolas saw
Gustan they panicked and ran. Gustan implored: "Run…..Pong,
no run….Friend…." But my Lola Conching kept on running!
Lolo Renal and
my Papa were hiding behind the tall bushes but they chose to keep
quiet fearful that the Japanese would suspect that they were guerillas.
They proceeded to the house of Lolo Maso Ferrera to find the distraught
Lola Conching and Lola Encay already there. Lolo Eto Fababeir had
cooked "bo-alaw" ( boiled corn) and when Gusatan
arrived, he (Lolo Eto) bowed and offered the Japanese four plates
of "bo-alaw." Gustan was very pleased after eating
and gave thanks to the group for their hospitality. With Lolo Eto
as guide, Gustan hiked to Suyayan. While there, Lolo Bico Fababeir
had him drank three jelly jars of tuba and a few grilled fish for
sumsuman (pulutan).
From Suyawan,
Kunista proceeded to Tambac where he met Tang Roman Faderogao whom
he asked to find him a small boat (baroto) to go to Banice. There,
Lolo Momo and his cahoots were waiting. Lolo Momo invited Gustan to
to the house of Lolo Tasio Famadico, the chosen venue for the plan.
Gustan was getting tired and perhaps tipsy because of the tuba. He
was offered a room to sleep but he declined. However he agreed to
have a haircut downstairs. That's when the conspiracy to stab him
at his back during his haircut would have materialized if not for
Lolo Beloy who yelled that the guerillas were coming!
Gustan panicked
and ran as fast as he could until he reached Malabiga in Togong. There
is a cliff there called Yuksuhan. Gustan Kunista jumped and died.
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