Life Story of Commander Ivory, Hukbalahap Guerilla Soldier

In the Memory of Commander Ivory, a Legend in our Hearts

When I was in grade school in Lourdes School, Mandaluyong, my History professor gave us an assignment to ask our parents the experiences they had during World War 2. That evening, when my father arrived from the hospital, I told him about my assignment and he told me to sit down in our sofa and take notes of what he will tell me. That was the moment I finally realized who my father was and he's historical background during the last world war and thought of writing this blog in his memory and to remind his children, grandchildren and the whole Romasanta clan about his achievements and how his achievements can make us all proud.

Education and Career Background

He studied elementary at Epifanio de los Santos Elementary School in 1941 and went back to school by 1949 in San Beda College and FEU. By 1952, he took Associate in Arts (Pre-Med) in University of Sto. Thomas and shifted to Doctor of Medicine up to 1959. He passed the Medical Board Examination by Sept 1959 and started service training in National Orthopedic Hospital by May, 1959 as an Adjunct Resident. His medical career was improving and noticed by Dr. Tamesis, Chief Surgeon of Orthopedic at that time until he was promoted as Medical Specialist-1 by July 1971 up to 1977. Until he became a Consultant for three hospitals in Manila namely: De Los Santos Medical Center, Capitol Medical Center and Sta. Teresita Hospital from 1977 to 1987. He became a FELLOW in the Philippine Orthopedic Association and the Western Pacific Orthopedic Association. Aside from this he was also a FELLOW in Orthopedic and Traumatology.

Since his medical career has been improving in the following years, his wide scope of expertise as an Orthopedic surgeon has been known in local and international medical institutions (UK, US, Swiss, Japan, etc.) and was been in the list of a magazine entitled: Top 100 Most Important Persons in the World. I think I don't have to put all the fields of his expertise here and it may take much space of this blog.

Scholarship Grants was awarded to him by the British government as follows:

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital (Orthopedic), London

Subject: Scoliosis Management 7 Advancement

Royal National Orthopedic Hospital, London
Subject: Scoliosis, Review (50 years follow-up) Conservative and Surgical

University of Berlin, Germany
Subject: Review of Surgical Instrumentation in Scoliosis and Other Spinal Conditions, Metal Metallurgy and Sylastical Implants

Sta. Monica Hospital - Piebra, Ligure, Italy
Subject: Conservative Management in Scoliosis

British Museum of Natural History, London
Subject: Physical Anthropolgy, Ancient Diseases of the Skeletal System, "Foramen Magnum Shift" in Evolution of Man from 45 Degrees - Homo Erectus (180 Degrees)

From 1978-1979, he was trained for the following:

Land, Air and Sea Rescue Missions in Clark Air Base and Subic
Advance Cardiac Resuscitation, West Virginia
Jungle Warfare, Clark Air Base
Germ and Gas Warfare, Clark Air Base
Quarantine: Disease Control Program, World Health Organization
Swiss Advancement on Total Hip Replacement (No Metal)

He was awarded HONORARIUM in the Royal College of Surgeon and in the British Association of Physical Anthropology in 1971-72. He received plaques on his Philippine Medical missions here in the Philippines such as the Southern Island, Majayjay, Laguna, Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Norte to name a few.

The Born of Commander Ivory as a Hukbalahap Soldier

During World War II, he joined the ROTC Hunters from 1942-43 as a Courier in the Manila-Bulacan zone and in 1943 to 1944, he has been am active member of the Hukbalahap's Liquidation Squad (a.k.a. Commander Ivory) that was based here in Manila. This was the time that they plotted the assassination of Colonel Tanaka, a notorious Japanese official who have raped many innocent Filipina women and killed civilians  without mercy. As a teenager at that time, he went behind the car door where Colonel Tanaka was seated and shot all the bullets of his .45 caliber pistols all in the face. While two of his comrades shot the two soldiers at the back of the car all at the same instance.

During this period, he was also a member of the Chinese 13th Squadron from 1943-45 delegated as the Coordinator in the Laguna region. From 1943 to 1945, he was assigned as a Runner-Courier here in Manila by the USAFFE and was classified as "Deserving".

Commander Ivory a.k.a. "Tony Boy" Romasanta

On instances that I was brought by my Dad in Malacañang, I remember how President Marcos calls him: "Tony Boy, how are you? Let us talk in the other room." This was the name that President Marcos used to call him for a meeting in Malacañang. At the same time he was the Neurosurgeon of the President and usually checked his health condition that has been part of dad's routine when they meet personally. 

After he resigned in National Orthopedic Hospital in the late 70's, regular meetings developed between the two and Dad started to focus on joint-venture projects with the President and these were kept highly confidential. There were two top military officials who were also present in their meetings and they formed a "Council" that has been the key team that are authorized to check on project updates or when reports are sent by Dad to the President and vice versa. Close door meetings were always held in secrecy and it lasted for a few years. This was the time I remembered that I always had bodyguards even in school and I was not in favor of that situation. Dad has been issued by the government a license to kill that can be use for self-defense or eradicate any outside force who tries to delay their business activities in any manner. During the Marcos administration, he was been assigned as an FBI Consultant since he provides confidential information and the FBI Director at that time visited him personally.

After the EDSA People Revolution

During the term of Pres. Corazon Aquino, my father went to private practice and continued to provide free medical missions and consultation sessions for the less privileged people. Most of the time, our visitors are usually foreigners and have high designations from their origins. They have been discussing important topics and issues and mostly consulted my father's advice.

To be able to serve more Filipino people, he tried to fill an open position of the Aquino administration as Secretary of Health but the Cory did not give any consideration to check on this and had been telling dad that he's papers are with Mr. Peping Cojuangco. The problem with a President that has no political experience or even to review a simple resume to analyze a person's achievements and appoint him or not in that instant. But she has to confide with too many of her advisers until my dad lost interest on his goal.

US President Ronald Reagan's Endorsement

This was the time that the White House reacted and US President Ronald Reagan sent Mrs Aquino a signed letter tagged as "High Priority" dated June 14, 1987 and was delivered to Malacañang on June 15, 1987, indicating that he was personally endorsing a list of people (5) to be in her presidential list and dad was number 1 position as Secretary of Health since he knew my father's achievements and the goal of improving the health issues of our country at that time. Further stated is that President Reagan knew that dad's papers are in the possession of Mr. Peping Cojuangco and was just waiting for her immediate perusal. It ended with a note that the US is in full support with the Aquino administration.

So, you cannot blame me if I cannot consider Cory Aquino to be a hero knowing this background experience of how she handles situations in a small scale and she never responded to it. It is evident that all decisions did not come from her but from her cabinet members.

Last Years Spent in Free Medical Mission and Family Bonding

In spite of what happened with former President Cory Aquino, my father continued his medical mission in his own little way by whatever resources he can just provide in handling patients who cannot afford expensive doctor's fees. He has been helping numerous patients during the last years of his life. He was disappointed at times because of the limited resources he had.

In the contrary, this was the time I got the chance to bond with my father intimately and for longer periods which never happened when I was still a child due to the busy schedules he had as a doctor. He was suppose to be the next Orthopedic Chief after Dr. Tamesis but he quit his job and endorsed Dr. Dueñas, who was his top student at that time. I tried to ask him why he decided to do that but his answer was "political reason" and that's it. During that time, even if we are in family outings, he had to leave soon if he got emergency calls from the hospital. I guess this was the reason why we siblings never had the interest to take up Medicine in the first place.

"We miss you Dad and Mom..."

Dr. Ernesto Villante Romasanta Sr.,

M.D., F.P.O.A., A.A., B.S.A., F.W.P.O.A., F.R.C.S.

Born: September 2, 1930

Mother: Doña Torribia Villante Romasanta

Father: Pedro Romasanta