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| LAUREANO C. MANLIGUEZ |
His youthful life is typical of a poor Filipino boy growing in a family battered by the inundating pressures of penury. His father, Pio Manliguez, is a native from Bacaug, a small town of the Province of Surigao del Norte, where doors of opportunities for career development are somewhat locked. Her mother, Felipa Comendador Manliguez was from Libuac, a small fishing island Barangay in Surigao City, which community is likewise characterized by poverty and destitution. While both were looking for employment opportunities in the City, they met and eventually married. They earned a living from their inherited coconut farms and fishing. They have eight children. They stayed at Navarro St., Surigao City, where SNNHS 69’er LAUREANO C. MANLIGUEZ, was eventually born and raised.
When Laureano finished his elementary from the Surigao West Central, which was formerly located in a place now part of the Surigao City Luneta park, he enrolled at the Surigao High School, which administration was later transferred to the National government and its name changed to Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS).
When Laureano finished his elementary from the Surigao West Central, which was formerly located in a place now part of the Surigao City Luneta park, he enrolled at the Surigao High School, which administration was later transferred to the National government and its name changed to Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS).
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| With wife and grandchildren |
He was one of those good looking boys in the first year Section 1, but in later years he transferred to section 2 until his graduation from high school. He is one of those diligent students who always carry with him his books. He was also observed always in the library reading books and found to have the zeal of following reports of national and international events in newspapers, especially the outcomes of sport matches, such as boxing and basketball. Like Epifanio Almeda and Rolando Biado, they were then fanatically in love with sports, whether it be basketball or boxing. He loved strolling in the City during weekends or sometimes spent the holidays either in Bacuag to help in their coconut farm or Barangay Libuac to go swimming and fishing.
While he looks to be a very healthy boy with muscular physical build, yet he admitted that he was suffering from asthma during his youth. But that did not bother him much in his desire to graduate from high school. He had always dreamed to be a teacher, which during those times was one of the highest paid profession in the government. He cherished the memory that despite his difficult life, he was able to eventually finish high school in preparation for his college education.
While he looks to be a very healthy boy with muscular physical build, yet he admitted that he was suffering from asthma during his youth. But that did not bother him much in his desire to graduate from high school. He had always dreamed to be a teacher, which during those times was one of the highest paid profession in the government. He cherished the memory that despite his difficult life, he was able to eventually finish high school in preparation for his college education.
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| With SNNHS 69'ers---Atty. Epifanio Almeda and Edilberto Laid |
When his parents found opportunities for good employment with the Atlas Mining Corporation in Toledo City, Cebu, he went with them and followed his dream to become a teacher. He immediately enrolled at the Cebu Institute of Technology with enthusiasm. However, the harsh realities of their family’s difficult life, with his parents supporting 8 children, he completed only one year of his college studies. He decided then to instead work at an early age if only to be able to help in the family finances. He spent two years working at the Atlas Consolidated Mining Corporation as contractual worker after which time he was laid off. While waiting for opportunities, he read of a mass military recruitment in Cebu. He tried to apply and was qualified and finally enlisted into the Marine Corps.
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| With Batchmates and their wives |
His military service then commenced on February 20, 1973. During such time Martial Law was only six months since its declaration by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos on September 21, 1972. Insurgency was then in its height and the Philippines was somewhat in chaos. He was so familiar with the hazards being well informed of the current events as an avid newspaper reader. However, it did not dissuade him to give up his desire to serve his country, ever willing to offer his life, if needs be, for the nation and the Filipino people.
Indeed, his military career, had placed him and his comrades several times in the brink of death as they fought with courage against insurgents, even facing the dangers of ambuscade by the rebels which was very common during that period in the Philippine history. The marines are always in the frontline in battles which added much risk to their lives. There were times in heavy close encounters when he would realize that it seems only an informal prayer to God could provide protection. When he saw his marine comrades lay dead all the more that he and his fellow marines became even particularly aggressive to fight their common battle and be willing to die for their country and fellowmen. In their exposure to the attendant risk of dying while in the battlefield, there echoed the message of the final lines of the Philippine National Anthem with its meaning becoming even clearer as it rings into the ear of their minds:
“Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati’t pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo;
Aming ligaya, na pag may mang-aapi
Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo.”
During those extremely hazardous tours of duty and military operations, when scanty food provisions are left to be the only means to survive the grueling tests of physical exertion in the jungles, the concluding lines of the Patriotic Pledge we recite in first year high school, before it was translated to the Filipino dialect, reverberated:
“I will perform the duties of a patriotic law abiding citizen
I will serve my country, unselfishly and faithfully
I will be a true Filipino, in thought, in words, and in deed”
While he did not waiver in his commitment to serve his country, he lamented and bemoaned the fact that in the frontlines of battle, he was facing his own Filipino brothers standing brave in support of some misunderstood ideology. He grieved to even imagine that those descendants of the victims of the foreign tyrannical rule, of which we Filipinos were, in our centuries of national history, were now becoming the tyrants, fighting against the government and the Filipino people. To him it brought to mind the words of Dr. Jose Rizal, many years ago, “Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow?” (José Rizal, El Filibusterismo.) It is to him very sorrowful and melancholic that in the same land where they stood; in the same battlefield they fought, the same Filipino fighters are exchanging bullets against each other and shedding the same precious Filipino blood.
Indeed, his military career, had placed him and his comrades several times in the brink of death as they fought with courage against insurgents, even facing the dangers of ambuscade by the rebels which was very common during that period in the Philippine history. The marines are always in the frontline in battles which added much risk to their lives. There were times in heavy close encounters when he would realize that it seems only an informal prayer to God could provide protection. When he saw his marine comrades lay dead all the more that he and his fellow marines became even particularly aggressive to fight their common battle and be willing to die for their country and fellowmen. In their exposure to the attendant risk of dying while in the battlefield, there echoed the message of the final lines of the Philippine National Anthem with its meaning becoming even clearer as it rings into the ear of their minds:
“Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati’t pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo;
Aming ligaya, na pag may mang-aapi
Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo.”
During those extremely hazardous tours of duty and military operations, when scanty food provisions are left to be the only means to survive the grueling tests of physical exertion in the jungles, the concluding lines of the Patriotic Pledge we recite in first year high school, before it was translated to the Filipino dialect, reverberated:
“I will perform the duties of a patriotic law abiding citizen
I will serve my country, unselfishly and faithfully
I will be a true Filipino, in thought, in words, and in deed”
While he did not waiver in his commitment to serve his country, he lamented and bemoaned the fact that in the frontlines of battle, he was facing his own Filipino brothers standing brave in support of some misunderstood ideology. He grieved to even imagine that those descendants of the victims of the foreign tyrannical rule, of which we Filipinos were, in our centuries of national history, were now becoming the tyrants, fighting against the government and the Filipino people. To him it brought to mind the words of Dr. Jose Rizal, many years ago, “Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow?” (José Rizal, El Filibusterismo.) It is to him very sorrowful and melancholic that in the same land where they stood; in the same battlefield they fought, the same Filipino fighters are exchanging bullets against each other and shedding the same precious Filipino blood.
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| With Atty. Epi and their wives |
It was during this dangerous military career that he married Fely Hetmoso Manliguez on Dec 5, 1981 and they were blessed with 3 children: Eloisa, Lionel and Manilyn.
Whenever he carried a flag covered coffin of his marine comrade, he would asked the question within himself, “would I be the next?” “Would my family be subsequently deprived also of the tender and loving embrace from a beloved husband and father, as many of my marine comrades do?” It is even to him very regrettable to see those on the enemy side of the battle die without even their family knowing that they died for a misunderstood cause. Consequently, he feels that no matter how long this battle will end, there will never be a winner, for all that had been and all that will be lost---resources or lives---during the long and lingering fights were all and are part of the Filipino nation and the precious blood of the Filipino people.
After 23 years of risking his life in the battlefront and serving faithfully, in pledge of utmost loyalty and patriotism to his beloved country, he hanged up his military uniform and filed an honorable retirement as Master Sergeant and officially ended his military career in February 1996. While he expressed his most sincere gratitude to God for having preserved his life during those 23 years of active service, yet he revered with highest veneration and honor those of his marine comrades who had offered their lives and were laid in their cold and silent graves while defending the nation. He remembers with compassion those parents and families who have lost the grasp of their son, husband or father; of whose loyalty to the country where they serve as citizens, mournfully left sonless parents, widowed wives and fatherless children.
After retirement, in October 1997, he ventured to work in a private company for twelve years, ending his private career in 2009. While still a private employee, he tried his way into local politics and filed his candidacy as Barangay chairman in the community where he resides and thus served from 2007 to 2013.
In 2009 he was elected as President of the Philippine Marine Veterans and Retirees Association of Bataan Province and still serving at present. He was also appointed as honorary member of the Board of Trustees of the Confederation of Philippine Marines Veterans Association in 2016 up to the present. He now optimistically considers himself as still an active participant of society and not just and spectator. He still serves with his fellow retired marine soldiers and enjoying his membership in their organizations and attending social functions with fellow retirees.
He might not have been blessed with material abundance which the wise King Solomon described as “Vanity of vanities…, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2.) However, he considered himself a success, rejoicing with gratitude and contentment for having offered to risk his life, even unto death, for 23 long years, in pledge of loyalty and patriotism to his country.
Now he lives by what his minimal military service pension provides. He said, “We just live within our means.” He is enjoying his life with his beloved wife and three children and three living grandchildren.
Whenever he carried a flag covered coffin of his marine comrade, he would asked the question within himself, “would I be the next?” “Would my family be subsequently deprived also of the tender and loving embrace from a beloved husband and father, as many of my marine comrades do?” It is even to him very regrettable to see those on the enemy side of the battle die without even their family knowing that they died for a misunderstood cause. Consequently, he feels that no matter how long this battle will end, there will never be a winner, for all that had been and all that will be lost---resources or lives---during the long and lingering fights were all and are part of the Filipino nation and the precious blood of the Filipino people.
After 23 years of risking his life in the battlefront and serving faithfully, in pledge of utmost loyalty and patriotism to his beloved country, he hanged up his military uniform and filed an honorable retirement as Master Sergeant and officially ended his military career in February 1996. While he expressed his most sincere gratitude to God for having preserved his life during those 23 years of active service, yet he revered with highest veneration and honor those of his marine comrades who had offered their lives and were laid in their cold and silent graves while defending the nation. He remembers with compassion those parents and families who have lost the grasp of their son, husband or father; of whose loyalty to the country where they serve as citizens, mournfully left sonless parents, widowed wives and fatherless children.
After retirement, in October 1997, he ventured to work in a private company for twelve years, ending his private career in 2009. While still a private employee, he tried his way into local politics and filed his candidacy as Barangay chairman in the community where he resides and thus served from 2007 to 2013.
In 2009 he was elected as President of the Philippine Marine Veterans and Retirees Association of Bataan Province and still serving at present. He was also appointed as honorary member of the Board of Trustees of the Confederation of Philippine Marines Veterans Association in 2016 up to the present. He now optimistically considers himself as still an active participant of society and not just and spectator. He still serves with his fellow retired marine soldiers and enjoying his membership in their organizations and attending social functions with fellow retirees.
He might not have been blessed with material abundance which the wise King Solomon described as “Vanity of vanities…, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2.) However, he considered himself a success, rejoicing with gratitude and contentment for having offered to risk his life, even unto death, for 23 long years, in pledge of loyalty and patriotism to his country.
Now he lives by what his minimal military service pension provides. He said, “We just live within our means.” He is enjoying his life with his beloved wife and three children and three living grandchildren.
Great write up about my best of high school friends. I enjoyed reading nor because I am part of the narrative but because I am informed more of what life had been for Laureano after we parted ways sometime after the summer of 1969.
ReplyDeleteThank you Norbing for your writing power.