Jose Abad Santos: Outstanding Martyr of the Japanese Occupation

Jose Abad Santos was born in San Fernando, Pampanga on February 19, 1886. He was sent as a government scholar to study at Sta. Clara in California.He continued his studies at the University of Illinois, where he finished law. He also studied at the North Western University. He finished his Master's Degree in Law,at George Washington University.He passed the bar exam in 1911.He became Secretary of Justice and became Magistrate of the Supreme Court in 1932.He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1941, and Consultant on National Problems.

During the Second World War, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. President Quezon wanted to take Abad Santos with him to the U S via Australia, but the latter preferred to remain to help his people in their darkest period of need.He was captured by the Japanese in Barili, Carcar, Cebu on April 11,1942.Gen. Kiyotoki Kawaguchi , Commander of the Japanese Forces in Cebu,asked him to take the Oath of Allegiance to Japan and collaborate with the Japanese military authorities, but he refused because he said that he would prefer to die rather than be a traitor to his country and live in shame. He refused all offers of positions in the Japanese government. He was asked by the Japanese to convince Manuel Roxas to surrender in exchange for his freedom.For his refusal to betray his country and serve the enemy, he was condemned to die.He was taken to Mindanao. He told his son:"Do not cry It is a rare opportunity for me to die for our country;not everyone is given that chance." Then he faced with serene courage the firing squad and died in the finest tradition of heroic martyrdom.in Malabang , Lanao, Mindanao on May 7,1942.

Quezon said that Abad Santos was one of the most honorable, clean and able to serve the Philippine government.William Alexander Sutherland,who had been Superintendent of Filipino Pensioners in the US said that if America had two greatest heroes like Washington and Lincoln, the Philippines also had two ,like Jose Rizal and Jose Abad Santos.

References:

a Brief History of the Philippines _Leandro H. Fernandez

The Philippines: A Unique Nation_Dr.Sonia M. Zaide 

Bulwagan ng mga Bayani _Domingo M.Panganiban

The Philippine Journal of Education

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The Patron Saint of Lovers

February is known as the Philippine Heart Month. On the other hand,throughout the Christian world, it is in which the feast of St. Valentine is being celebrated .With his ingenuity in solving lovers' problem,St. Valentine became the symbol of love.

Although St. Valentine has been neglected in the devotions of men,it is nevertheless one of the oldest names in the calendar of the Church.He was a bishop and martyr of the Church who was put to death in Rome for his faith during the persecution under Claudius II on February 14,270 A.D. It has the sanction of antiquity dating back to the call of the Apostles.

St. Valentine was canonized following his death as a martyr in 270 A.D. His relics are still very much around too at the St. Praxedes Church in Italy.He is honored and venerated by Catholics all over the world, not just as a "Patron Saint of  Lovers", but as a ceaseless worker of the Catholic Church who has been credited among others,of having converted thousands of heathens into the Christian fold.

St. Valentine was born in Lupercalia , Italy  and later became a Roman Catholic priest at a time when Rome was governed by a rabid enemy of the Christians _no less than the notorious Emperor Claudius   

II    (260-270) known as the self-styled high priest of pagan rituals and ceremonies,during which thousands of hapless Christians were offered as sacrifices. But even with such nemesis around that time,St. Valentine worked ceaselessly in behalf of the Church and was successful in converting thousands of Romans into Christianity.He had also a great "power to heal",in fact he was a gifted doctor of medicine and not just a faith healer besides being a priest. 

There was no problem so perplexing for which St. Valentine cannot find a solution, thereby bringing joy and gladness to the heart.He was also the originator of the "secret marriage" because he performed weddings of Roman soldiers secretly, since Emperor Claudius prohibited his soldiers to marry ,else they will not fight savagely to death in battles if they are thinking of their family, and would consequently lose the war.When the emperor learned about his activity of converting the Romans,he was arrested along with his relatives and thousands of his followers, thrown into prison, and were tortured.He was beheaded on February 14,2070 A.D..His remains still lie at St. Praxedes Church today.More than 400 hundred  years

had passed before the Church recognized his efforts of saintly life.Pope Julius I canonized him in 700 A.D. His feast has been observed since the 17th century.

 

The Descendants of the First Catholic Chinese in Tigbauan

       The candle maker from Amoy China, Uy Hio Co  or Jose Gonzales, a.k.a. "Insik Jose" was the first Catholic Chinese in Tigbauan. He had nine children with his wife, Teresa Benedicto of  Jaro, Iloilo.

Their children were the following:

1. GENOVEVA_a.k.a. Tana Bebang, married to Vicente Tubungbanua who has served as :

    a.  1892, 1894-1895 and 1899 Appointed Capitan (Mun. mayor during Spanish time )

    b.  1902-1903_Second Appointed President ( Mun. mayor during American regime )

    c.  1908-1910 -Second Elected President

2. CONSTANTINO a.k.a Costan served as :

    a.  1901 _    First Appointed President

    b.  1906-1907_First Elected President

    c.  1913-1915_Elected again as President

    d.  1931-1934_Elected again as President

              Constantino's daughter, Gorgonia, married to Justo Teruel, had a son, Romeo Teruel,married to                Cornelia Torres, who served as :

     a.1998-2004_ SB Member of the Municipality of Tigbauan 

                Romeo's son, Virgilio ( Nene)Teruel  served as ::

     a.  2010-2016_SB Member of the Municipality of Tigbauan  

     b.  2016-2022_Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Tigbauan 

             Constantino's daughter Consuelo, married to Evaristo Tamonan, was the mother of Norberto                   Tamonan who served as:

     a.  1956-1959_Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Tigbauan 

3. ENCARNACION a.k.a. Eyay, married to Emilio Melliza had a son, Benjamin who served as:

     a.  1956-1959_Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Tigbauan

     b.  1959-1962_Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Tigbauan 

               Eyay's daughter, Nieves, married to  Adelino Celis had a daughter Suprema, married to

               Teodoro Tueres, is the mother of John Gershwin Tueres who served as :

     a. 2010-2016_SB Member of the Municipality of Tigbauan 

4. MARTINA  a.k.a. Mena, married to Ygnacio Torrefranca who served as :

     a. 1908-1910_Second Elected President

     b. 1911-1912_Re-elected President 

               Mena's son, Jesus was elected as:

     a. 1925-1927_Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Tigbauan; his wife, Fe Treñas Torrefranca,

                was elected as:

     a. 1938-1940_Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Tigbauan.

                 Mena's son, Jose Torrefranca Sr.,a.k.a. Jose Ukay-ukay served as:

     a. 1938-1940_Elected Municipal Mayor of the Municipality of Tigbauan ,and

     b. 1946-1947_Appointed Municipal Mayor upon recommendation of Hon. Jose C. Zulueta. His                       son, Jose  P. Torrefranca Jr. served as :

     a. 1964-1967_elected Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Tigbauan and

     b. 1972 _     Appointed O.I.C. of the Interim Government of the Martial Law regime

5. ESPERANZA  a.k.a. Pansay was married to Francisco Teruel, a.k.a., Inkoy who served as:

     a. 1913-1915_Elected Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of Tigbauan 

     b. 1916-1921_Elected again as Municipal Councilor

     c. 1922-1924_Elected President of the Municipality of Tigbauan 

                   Pansay's son, Aurelio a.k.a. Liling, had a son, Charlie a.k.a. Pikot Teruel who has served as

                   Barangay Chairman of Barangay 9 Poblacion of the Muicipality of Tigbauan.

6. ANGUSTIA  was a Nun who went to Spain and died in Canary Island

7. FLORENTINO a.k.a. Tinong joined the volunteers formed in Tigbauan during the uprising against

    the Spaniards.

8. JUAN married Espeleta and had a daughter, Consolacion, (Sor Ana) a Nun.

9. ELENA  a.k.a., Elen married to Salvador Tigulo.

     Tiempo Katsila pa may dynasty ron tana sa Tigbauan. Gani, mga kinabon ni Insik Jose, magreunion kamo rugya sa Tigbauan kag magtukod kang foundation nga naga-advocate kang  conservation kag preservation kang cultural heritage nga hala nanda kang distrongkal kag retoke , bilang legacy nga ibilin ninyo sa banwa kon diin nalubong ang inunlan kang inyo kamal-aman.