Currently, there are still many Hukbalahap militia men who were part of the US troops and followed orders from them but have not been given the proper benefits as a World War 2 Veteran due to lack of papers and I pity them and their families. I just hope someday they can be blessed in return from the suffering and sacrifices they made during that dreadful war in mankind's history.
Recently, I have watched a World War 2 episode in History Channel about the History of War Battle in Manila. It was then that I had an eyewitness of the whole story in that historical disaster created by war between American and Japanese soldiers. Total casualties according to US Army statistics are as follows (estimated):
Japanese: 6,550+
Americans: 1,500+
Filipino civilians: 100,000 (mostly Filipino captives, women and children)
I realized that there were no real heroes from that war. Not even Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur. Even if he has returned here in the Philippines. Still, it was not that triumphant at all. The goal of saving the lives of many Filipinos was rather ironic in the end. Especially the US bombing incident in Intramuros that has too much damage and casualties as indicated in the statistics above. So, what more if we added the casualties in the area of Luzon or even the entire country of the Philippines?
Philippine Hukbalahap Soldiers
My father, Dr. Ernesto Villante Romasanta Sr is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Scientist-4 Researcher based in Oxford University that studied archeological findings based on Darwin's theory. He was sent by Malacañang to Europe and he was the world's first Orhopaedic Surgeon that successfully conducted the world's first successful Scoliosis operation in the 1970's era.
During World War II, he was assigned in the Intelligence unit and Hukbalahap member according to his stories to me when I was still a child. His codename was Commander Ivory and together with an elite team killed Colonel Tanaka, who was one of the most brutal Japanese officer who killed innocent Filipinos, even women and children in Manila during the Japanese occupation. At first, I had a little remorse of what he did but after watching that episode. I believe he was one of our heroes and several Hukbalahap guerrillas at that time who assassinated Japanese officers who had practiced brutality amongst the Filipinos.
Since he was still in his teen years during that time and after the war ended in March, 1945. He even had a chance to go to the hotel room of Gen. Yamashita in Manila Hotel and in the adjacent room was Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur.
Gen. Yamashita treated my father as a "son" to him and he even shined his boots and at the same time was also a close confidante with Gen. Mac Arthur.
After World War 2, he continued his studies and became a resident doctor in Philippine Orthopedic Hospital. This was the time that President Marcos was closely coordinating with my father and he was his Neuro surgeon at that time. That was during the 1970's era and was the highlight of treasure hunting in the Philippines. At that time, everybody was searching for the Yamashita treasure and hoping that they could find it someday. Discovery Channel even made an episode about it. If the treasure was really true or just a myth. Maybe, I will discuss this further in upcoming blog posts if ever. But one fact is for sure, the Japanese planned to make the Philippines as their Central Bank of all the loots (gold, silver and jewelries) that they have gathered during the war that came from other countries and never thought that in due time they will be defeated by the Americans. A plan that was the biggest mistake of their lives.
At that time, many heard that Marcos have dug up several Japanese gold sites and this was placed in the central bank. There was a time that when they were discussing with my father, he has plans to make the Philippines one of the richest country here in Asia. So, they made a plan on what to do. But after a while, the EDSA Revolution happened and Marcos was exiled.
During the Cory administration, US President Reagan wrote her a letter endorsing Dr. Romasanta to be the Secretary of Health at that time but this never happened since there were some lacking documents needed that was in the hands of one of her Cojuangco cousin. This had been a big disappointment on Dr. Romasanta's part which was supposed to lead for him to help the government as planned with former President Marcos.
In the last years of his life, he dedicated giving free services to poor people who cannot afford commercial doctors and those who seek second opinions for his consultation since he was a Fellow member of an elite group of famous doctors around the world. He lived in a simple home in Pasig until his death more than 6 years ago after his birthday in September, 2002.
For me, he is one of the hero not only within the Romasanta clan but in the Philippines. I just made this blog in his memory after watching that episode in History channel that revealed the brutality of war and why the Americans bombarded Intramuros without thinking about the safety of the civilians inside the fort. I saw how the US officers who were interviewed in that episode cried in despair and from guilt but the damage has been done.
