THERE are at least two Pugad-Lawin moments in Philippine history. Better known is the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” (August 23, 1896), which Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines, in August of 1963, through Proclamation No. 149, defined as “a historic event in our struggle for freedom.” This was repeated by Alejandro Melchor, Executive Secretary, by order of Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines, on August 20, 1971 via Proclamation No. 887. According to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines: On 23 August 1896, the Supremo and his troops formally launched an armed revolution against Spain. They tore their resident certificates or cedulas which symbolized their defiance against the colonizers. This became known in history as “The Cry of Pugadlawin.” [https://nhcp.gov.ph/andres-bonifacio-and-the-katipunan/]
The second event is the Ambush at Pugad Lawin: “The main objective was to avenge the death of Mike Ver on July 4th. Besides he (Adevoso) needed to take drastic action to boost the dwindling morale of the Hunters… Terry decided to look for a strategic place where we could ambush Japanese convoys. After studying reports on Japanese military movements, he picked the zigzag road between Pililla, Rizal, and Mabitac, Laguna, called Pugad Lawin…The Mabitac-Pililla road was the only road system between Rizal and Laguna. We made an ocular inspection of the zigzag road and we selected the portion at Kilometer 70.” [Col. Gustavo C. Ingles, “Retaliation At Pugad Lawin,” Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerrillas. Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2021]
“On August 30, 1942, while the Hunters were waiting at a certain spot on Kilometer 70 of the highway between Pililla and Jala-Jala, a civilian known as Vicenteng Putol went up to Terry and reported that a force of Japs consisting of about 200 officers and men were marching up from the direction of Pililla…Terry, with a number of men (including the informer), took positions on the right ridge of the highway while Sisoy Pia with another group took positions on the opposite ridge on the west…Under a pre-arranged signal, firing commenced all along the ridges…It was a perfect trap…Masses of cowering Japs seeking cover were blasted by hand grenades; others were picked in easy fashion by the Hunter riflemen…” [Proculo L. Mojica. Terry’s Hunters: the true story of the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas. Manila: Benipayo Press, 1965, pp. 61-64]
‘The 70th anniversary of this triumphant August 30, 1942 Hunters-ROTC Guerrillas’ Ambush of invasive Japanese imperialists at Pugad-Lawin was commemorated as part of the official National Heroes Month celebration of the University of the Philippines Manila…’
“Despite their (Japanese) show of alertness, the result was carnage. They entered our trap and after 26 rifles, four automatic rifles, and two machineguns of the guerrillas, the ambushers were able to say their piece…Those enemy infantrymen who fled towards Pililla were ambushed a second time and again for a third time before they finally reached the safety of their garrisons in Tanay and Pasig.” [Eleuterio Lavengco Adevoso. A personal story years. Metro Manila: Carmen F. Adevoso, 1989] It was this Hunters’ ambush of the fascists at Pugad-Lawin that drew the attention of more fighting Filipinos. [Interview with Ruben Osero Adrikula, May 12, 2002]
The 70th anniversary of this triumphant August 30, 1942 Hunters-ROTC Guerrillas’ Ambush of invasive Japanese imperialists at Pugad-Lawin was commemorated as part of the official National Heroes Month celebration of the University of the Philippines Manila, and this year the 81st anniversary of the First Major Victory Of The Hunters ROTC Guerillas Against The Japanese Imperial Army was observed in the town of Pililla, province of Rizal, featuring Dave Ingles (President, Descendants of Hunters ROTC), Jesus “Jerry” Adevoso (Secretary, Descendants of Hunters ROTC), Mayor Dan Masinsin of Pililla, Rizal and MMDA Deputy Chairman Usec. Frisco San Juan Jr.
They were not the Naive Inter-Dimensional Commando Koalas, but the teenaged Hunters ROTC Guerillas prevailed in combat in 1942, while in that same year, a different group of young adults on the opposite side of the globe was degraded by Hirohito’s Occidental cohorts. It was also in 1942 when the University of Munich medical student Hans Scholl chaired the “White Rose” movement that offered passive resistance to the “irresponsible clique” ruling Deutschland. The anti-Hitler fellowship of students managed to expand to Hamburg, Freiburg, Berlin, even Vienna before they were betrayed by a Nazi janitor. “Our present State is a dictatorship of Evil (thus)…The first concern of every German should not be a military victory over Bolshevism, but rather the defeat of the National Socialists…Undoubtedly through passive resistance…Seek out all your acquaintances…tell them of the intellectual and economic enslavement by National Socialism, of the destruction of all moral and religious values.” [https://www.white-rose-studies.org/pages/leaflet-3]
A year after the vengeance imperative of August 1942 (Pugad Lawin), a regime of Japanese puppets was emerging from the fog of war, while the miasma of collaborationist politics renewed the malevolence of the Mikado’s militarist minions to concoct another counter-guerrilla campaign. As one prisoner-of-war noted: “It looks like we are going to see worse times. Food is getting short again. The Japs have moved thousands of troops into Luzon and are setting up defenses. They have artillery air corps units at Clark Field with a complement of 300 planes. Also, air units at Nichols Field, Artillery and Infantry units have been maneuvering in the area of Nueva Ecija, from the mainland, over to Baler Bay. From all appearances, the Americans will be moving in here soon and the Japs are getting prepared. This will, in all probability, be the largest battlefield of the entire Pacific Area.” [Diary of Philip H. Meier, September 1, 1943]
Fortunately: “The Hunters unit survived the Japanese anti-guerrilla zoning campaign of August 1943 and recommenced negotiations for new unification of command of south Luzon guerrillas…The Hunters in August 1943 had members in Rizal, Laguna, Tayabas, Batangas, Zambales, Bataan and Pangasinan under the name of Hunters Home Guard.” [General Headquarters, United States Army Forces-Pacific, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff. The Guerrilla Resistance Movement in the Philippines. Volume I, Intelligence Series. Tokyo: 01 March 1948]
In contrast to the cowardice of Filipino bureaucrats and politicos, the Danish government refused to meet the Nazi ultimatum to prohibit strikes and public meetings of five or more persons, impose a night curfew, collect all weapons, turn censorship over to the Hitlerites, and impose the death penalty for defiance of the German military. On August 28, 1943, the Germans took over the administration of Denmark and German troops occupied key facilities and arrested influential figures of the resistance (such as professors and newspaper editors). The Hitlerites attempted to implement the “Final Solution” (arresting and deporting Jews), but the Danes responded with a nationwide rescue operation. [https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/rescue-in-denmark; https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/danish-citizens-resist-nazis-1940-1945]
Catch the excitement. Catch the adventure. Hunters at the Hawk’s Nest.
