02/11/2025
November begins with a moment of remembrance for the faithful departed. In this feature, we honor 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 who lost their lives during the early occupation in 1942 and the months leading up to the liberation of the Philippines in 1945. The Second World War brought widespread displacement and disruption to community life.
Ateneo de Zamboanga was forced to close its doors, with teachers and students alike finding themselves in unimaginable hardships enduring through the Bataan Death March, others were merely teens on suspicion of being spies or guerrillas confined in concentration camps, and still others suffered from privation and exhaustion in the fields.
Here, Ateneo de Zamboanga’s official organ, The Beacon, Vol. 1, No. 2, published in November 1946, offers a tribute and shares some of their stories.
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𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐌
𝐌𝐑. 𝐉𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐕. 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐍
𝘌𝘋𝘜𝘊𝘈𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕
Mr. Jose V. Giron, a native of Zamboanga, known here and in Manila as an Educator, met his death. In Manila sometime between February 4 and 8, 1945, according to his sister, Mr. Alme. “Trapped within Intramuros,” related Mrs. Alme, ‘when the American liberation forces entered North Manila and accused by the Kempei-tai of espionage, he was taken with hundreds of other Filipinos to fort Santiago and died there when it was set on fire…[.]
Born in Zamboanga, Mr. Giron graduated from the Ateneo de Zamboanga Grade School. Having completed his high school as valedictorian at Cebu High School and Pre-Law course at San Carlos College, he returned to Zamboanga to become the principal of the Ateneo de Zamboanga Grade School in 1927. Later he [did] his Law course in the University of Santo Tomas. While working for his B.S.E., which was conferred upon in 1937, he was principal of the Ateneo de Manila grade school, acting at the same time as assistant director to Father Luis E. Pacquing, SJ. Former students remember Mr. Giron as a stern disciplinarian and a benevolent master.
May his soul rest in peace!
𝐌𝐑. 𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐒
𝘚𝘊𝘏𝘖𝘓𝘈𝘙
Ramon Catis, one of Zamboanga’s most promising scholars, died at his home in Talisayan on January 10, 1945, as a result of forced labor.
Born in Talisayan, Zamboanga City, in 1919, Ramon attended the City Normal Training Department and in 1937 graduated from Central School as valedictorian. Entering the Ateneo here, he continued to excel.
Outstanding scholar in his class, Ramon was also one whose cooperation in extra-curricular activities could be depended upon both faculty and fellow students. The Ateneo always bank on him–as class intramural manager, as editor-in-chief, as sodality prefect–to do his share willingly and well.
Graduating as valedictorian from the Ateneo de Zamboanga in 1941, he went on to higher studies in Ateneo de Cagayan. There, in the Pre-Medical Department, he did remarkably well. His studies stopped by the war, he returned home. Frequently, during the war years, Ramon was among the many who were forced to reap palay at San Ramon. Overtaxed by continuous labor, his strength waned. Physical prostration developed. He did not recover. Comforted by Last Sacraments, Ramon died an early, but a noble, Atenean’s death.
May his soul rest in peace!
𝐌𝐑. 𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎
𝘈𝘛𝘏𝘓𝘌𝘛𝘌
Fermin Fernando, Ateneo’s nationally famous basketball star, was a victim of the “Bataan Death March”.
“Weak, hungry, and stricken with beri-beri,” narrated his brother, Cesar, “Fermin was forced to join the death march from Bataan to Tarlac, where he succumbed.”
Born in Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City, Fermin completed his grade and half his high school studies in the Ateneo de Zamboanga. He completed his high school course in the Ateneo de Manila in 1938. The Ateneo de Manila Aegis of that year pays tribute to Fermin, “Best basketball forward of the year, “Min’s” meteoric rise to fame did not change his attitude toward his friends. He has helped the team many a time turn an almost sure defeat into a glorious victory in the last few minutes of play. Beyond a mask of silence, he screens a wealth of intelligence, with which few good athletes are gifted/ “Min” has an ambition, a grim determination, to write his name on the roster of athletes and leaders as well.”
Fermin indeed achieved that ambition. When the war broke out he was called to defend his country. Among the first he went with the Fil-American forces and as a leader to the end resisted the invader.
May his soul rest in peace!
𝐌𝐑. 𝐉𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐎
𝘛𝘌𝘕𝘖𝘙
Jose Suico, well-known Zamboangueño tenor, familiarly known as “Ping” and “Mario del Rio” to his numerous radiofans throughout the Philippines, perished in the Fort Santiago holocaust, according to Mr. Sancho Enriquez, a fellow Zamboangueño and one of the few prisoners who miraculously escaped from the Fort.
“Charged with being guerillas, all the males above fourteen years within Intramuros” declared Mr. Sancho Enriquez “were taken to Fort Santiago. Ping Suico was with me in the same cell. On the evening of the fourth day, about February 8, 1945, the Japanese guards sprinkled gasoline in the cells, which they set on fire. We were left inside behind the massive iron bars. The scene was a frightful one.
I could hear everybody screaming for mercy. Some were shouting “We are guerillas! Shoot us!” In our cell, I saw Filipino and Spanish priests making the sign of the cross over the people, kneeling down, praying to God and resignedly waiting for the fire to devour them. I saw them burning. I heard them groaning with pain. Among them was Ping Suico. I tried to save him but was too late; his whole body was already a human torch. I had to leave him behind to make good my escape with fifty others. How we finally managed to escape from that hell was indeed a miracle and we give thanks to Our Lord for saving us.”
Born here in 1909, Suico attended the Ateneo de Zamboanga. People living here still remember him as the “Angel” singing the Alleluia during the “Domingo Encuentro”. Years before the war, Suico left Zamboanga for Manila with his mother and the rest pf the family. There during the day he worked to support the family and during the night he sang his famous “Princesita” and other Spanish songsover the radio to the delight of his numerous admirers in the Philippines.
With a group of fellow Zamboangueños in Manila, Jose used to dedicate a radio program to La Virgen del Pilar on Her feast day. During the Japanese regime his fame did not die away. He acted on the stage and continued to sing over the radio.
His brother, Jesus, and two nephews met the same fate in Fort Santiago. His mother and a sister also died during the siege of Intramuros. His other sister survived the holocaust.
May his soul rest in peace!
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On this All Souls Day, we solemnly honor, through our remembrance, the past and recently departed community members in our prayers. This day gently calls us to extend our compassion beyond the familiar, not only to those we have loved dearly but also to those outside our immediate circles, and to those who may have been forgotten over time.
SOURCE(S):
"R.I.P., Dedication.” The Beacon, Vol. 1, No. 2, November, 1946. [The Zamboanga Press], p. 1 and 4.
̃erismo
