Bugallon, the hero of La Loma honored in Bugallon
BUGALLON— Unknown to many, this town was named after the late Lt. Colonel Jose Torres Bugallon and accounts of his life were retold as the town celebrated his 21st death anniversary on January 12, 2016 which has been declared as Bugallon Day.
“Bugallon Day, which coincides with the birthday of our local hero, Lt. Col. Jose Torres Bugallon, is an occasion very appropriate for a man whose passion was to serve, who stood up for others, who fought for us and laid his life to keep us free,” said town mayor Jumel Espino.
Bugallon town was previously known as Salasa but was then renamed in 1921 to perpetuate their native son and hero’s gallantry.
History remembers him as Major Bugallon under the command of General Antonio Luna, who was hit by a bullet on the thigh while fighting American soldiers under Gen. Arthur MacArthur Jr. in La Loma on February 5, 1899.
When Gen. Luna learned that the 25-year-old major was wounded, he barked the order: “ Bugallon is wounded. Order forward. He must be saved at all costs. Bugallon is worth 500 Filipino soldiers. He is one of my hopes for future victory.”
Despite the attempts to save him, Bugallon died. Still, Luna promoted him to the rank ‘lieutenant colonel’ before he died.
Bugallon, since then, has been regarded as the “hero of La Loma.”
The mayor said the event should remind the constituency, particularly the young generation, of the town’s history and never to forget to honor the heroism of Lt. Col. Bugallon.
The great grandson of Bugallon, Julius Castro, an overseas Filipino worker, expressed his family’s gratitude to the local government for the honor bestowed on his grandfather.
“Despite other things that are more pressing today, the town is still giving importance to the celebration of Bugallon Day and the remembrance of my great grandfather’s life,” he said.
Castro is the great grandson of Doña Manuela Torres Castro, the sister of Bugallon.
After the mass, parade, and wreath-laying ceremonies, townsfolk participated in other activities of the celebration as the carabao parade, palarong Pinoy, and sarzuela. (Johanne Macob)
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