BY TERENCE TORIANO
KALIBO, Aklan – National Historical Institute (NHI) Deputy Executive Director Emelita Almosara honored two Aklanon national heroes -- Col. Pastor C. Martelino and Capt. Gil. M. Meñez who gave their life in the service of their country during World War II.
The unveiling of historical markers in honor of the two heroes took place in the edifices named in their honor -- one at the Camp Pastor C. Martelino in Brgy. New Buswang, the headquarters of the Aklan Provincial Police Office, and the other at the Capt. Gil M. Mijares Building beside Pastrana Park at the center of the town that houses the Municipal Library, Social Hall and the Kalibo Police Station.
Mayor Raymar Rebaldo said Almosara told him that “this is probably the first of its kind in the whole country -- two historical markers were simultaneously unveiled” during the celebration of the town’s 435th foundation day at that.
Col. Pastor C. Martelino hailed from Kalibo, Aklan and a true-blue Military Academy graduate in West Point, New York. He is the first Filipino superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy.
When war in the Philippines broke out, he was the Chief of Staff of the 31st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and was caught with other USAFFE defenders.
He was offered the rank of a general by the Japanese Imperial Army to defend Corregidor from a coming US-led invasion to take back the Philippines. His refusal made him subject to 14 days of torture. He died at Fort Santiago in 1945.
Capt. Gil M. Mijares was a line officer and was in his third year of Law School when he was called to active duty at Camp Delgado in present day Iloilo City.
Mijares became the Regimental Adjutant of the 65th Infantry Combat Team of the Panay Guerilla Forces after the fall of the USAFFE in Panay in 1942. He was captured with seven other enlisted men in 1944 at the hills of Binangbang, Barbaza, Antique.
Capt. Gil M. Mijares was a line officer and was in his third year of Law School when he was called to active duty at Camp Delgado in present day Iloilo City.
Mijares became the Regimental Adjutant of the 65th Infantry Combat Team of the Panay Guerilla Forces after the fall of the USAFFE in Panay in 1942. He was captured with seven other enlisted men in 1944 at the hills of Binangbang, Barbaza, Antique.
They were tortured by their Japanese captors trying to extract information regarding the arrival of American submarines from Australia but none talked following his orders until the third day when one of his men broke after continuous floggings.
He went to the soldier and slapped his mouth and said, “Do not talk!” He was then seized and subjected to slow death along with his men.
He went to the soldier and slapped his mouth and said, “Do not talk!” He was then seized and subjected to slow death along with his men.
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