April 9th commemorates the Bataan Death March. As some who read the Sunday Punch Forum may know I was born in San Fernando, La Union, of a Filipina mother and an American Father. I came to the U.S. with my father and mother after WWII.

After the Japanese landed in the Philippines my father, being American, was sent to Santo Tomas, Manila, as a POW where he remained until liberated by the U.S. forces.

As the Japanese marched through the Philippines, remnants of what was left of the U.S. Forces and Filipino Scouts were rounded up and sent to Mariveles Bataan. My grandfather, Felix Tulfo, was one of those who died during the Death March. He did not die in vain.

Felix Tulfo left several children who in one way or another avenged his death, my mother and two of her brothers. Ramon, Sr. and Sabas, Felix Tulfo’s sons joined the guerilla forces. My mother worked in the Japanese officer’s mess. From there she could gather information which she passed on to her brothers. On one occasion, my mother suspected of passing information to her brothers that she overheard was beaten after a “secret” base was bombed.

After the war Ramon and Sabas Tulfo were given the choice of joining the U.S. Army or remain in the Philippine Army. Sabas chose to join the U.S. Army, after which he was awarded high honors for his actions during the war. Ramon chose to stay in the Philippines. Uncle Ramon attained the rank Colonel in the Philippine Constabulary. Ramon’s sons, Ramon “Mon” Jr., Erwin, Raffy and Ben continue to carry the fight to make the Philippines the country that Felix Tulfo and others died for. Let their deaths be not in vain.

GOD BLESS THEIR SOULS AND MAY GOD LET THEM REST IN PEACE.

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