Thanksgiving Day 11/24/1994 - Resist the Devil

Today is Thanksgiving Day.  I am on duty as County Officer (Security Guard) in The Landings Apartments at the corner of Sligh and Havana in Tampa.

The cold weather has set in, the breeze near the Egypt Lake is cold and has caused me to have sore throat when I came inside Room 301, my office, a store room of carpentry items.  I ordered the sore throat to go away from me, as God's property, and I asked God, in the name of Jesus, to heal me.  I claimed the promise of Jesus Christ  that whatsoever you ask in my name, I will do it as true and concluded the Bible's quotation: "by his strength you were healed."

When I came back at 1 AM from my tour around the property, my "sore throat" was gone!  Praise the Lord!  "Resist the devil and it will flee from you," says the Holy Word!  I just did that and it worked.  Praise the Lord.

I just read the story "Douglas MacArthur: An American Soldier" published in the National Geographic magazine of March, 1992.  Now I am recalling all those events that I have experienced related to him during WWII.

The first bill passed by Congress when the Philippines became a Commonwealth Government in 1935 with Manuel L. Quezon as the first President, was Act No. 1, "The National Defense Act" initiated by Gen. MacArthur.  It called for the calling of all able bodied male citizens 20 years of age to be trained for military service.

Cadres were erected throughout the Philippines for trainees.  At that time I was 17 years old and just graduated from H.S.

My uncle, Lt. Antonio Bravo, P.C., C.O., 39th P.C. Co., Kiangan, Ifugao, Mt. Province, wrote my father to let me go on vacation in Kiangan after receiving my letter containing our graduation program of the CSC, H.S., Bangued, Abra with me as an Honor Student.

This brought me to Kiangan.  When I became 18 years old in May 1936, Tata Anton convinced me to enlist as a Constabulary soldier saying that whether I liked it or not, I'll become a soldier anyway when I reach 20 years of age as required by law.  MacArthur authored this law, the National Defense Act No. 1 C. of the P.

Gen. M was then the Military Advisor of President Quezon.  I witnessed in Camp Murphy, now Camp Aguinaldo, the presence of Gen. M reviewing the troops as Field Marshal when I became a soldier and was assigned in the Office Secretary General Staff, Headquarters, Philippine Army in 1936 after my enlistment as a Private in May 18, 1936 as orderly of Major General Paulino Santos and of Col. James B. Ord, U.S. Advisory staff member under Gen. M.

When Col. Ord died in a helicopter accident in Baguio, Major Dwight D. Eisenhower took took his place and occupied an air-conditioned office back of Gen. Santos' office in the Oriente Bldg., Binondo, Manila.  That was in 1937 when I was promoted to the rank of Corporal.  I was then the youngest Corporal in the entire Philippine Constabulary and Philippine Army at age 18 years only!  Praise the Lord!

For this promotion, I am very thankful to God.  As a Private my salary was 14 pesos/month ($7).  For my being able to go to a night school to study Law with my salary of 22 pesos/month, as Corporal, I am very grateful to God.

For becoming a scholar with a grade above 85% in the Arellano Law School, I thank God.

For being a Cadet Captain in the National University ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps), I thank God.

For being a 3rd year law student in 1941 as a scholar, I thank God.

For marrying Pat on April 2, 1941, I thank God.

For surviving the Battle in Bataan, I thank God.

For surviving the Bataan Death March, I thank God.

For surviving as POW in Capras, I thank God.

For surviving near-death experiences in Bayombong, N.V. and during WWII, I thank God.

For returning to Manila in July 1945, I thank God.

For my promotion to Sergeant before the war, and to T. Sgt. during the war and to M. Sgt. after my return to military control in 1945, I thank God.

For my receipt of my late brother's back pay that enabled me to buy a house in Zamora St, Pandacan, Manila in 1946, I thank God.

For my promotion to 1st Lieutenant in 1949, I thank God.

For my promotion to Captain in 1950, I thank God.

For my becoming a Lawyer in 1950, I thank God.

For my survival in the fight against Huks (Communists) in Central Luzon in operations on Mt. Pinatubo from Sta. Cruz, Zambales, to Subic and Bataan as PRO and General Court Martial Officer, I thank God.

For my survival in fights vs. Huks in Central Luzon as S-2 (Intel. O.), 1st Bn. Combat Team, PA in 1951.

For my return to Manila as Instructor, P.C. Scool, Camp Crame in Quezon City in 1952.

For my wonderful assignments in Camp Crame from 1952 to 1957 living inside the Camp.

For my transfer as Instructor, PMA, Baguio.

For Tony's passing the PMA exam and becoming a Cadet in 1959 and graduation in 1963.

For Betty's passing the exam for accountants.

For my retirement in 1965 as Major, P.A.

For my job as Civic Action Liaison Officer, USOM (United States Operations Mission) in S. Vietnam and later on S___ Community Development O., 1965-67.

For returning to Manila in Nov. 1967 and missing the fearful Communist Tet Offensive in Vietnam in Jan. 1968.

For my job as Property O., USAID, U.S. Embassy in Manila giving away excess military property, 1968 - 70.

For my fulfillment of my last remaining ambition before I die and that is to see USA in Oct. 1971.

For relocating from Philadelphia to Tampa in 1973.

For my job with Chelsea Title & Gty. Co. in Tampa from 1973 - 1976.

For the approval of my U.S. citizenship in 1973.

For Pat and sons joining me in Tampa, Florida.  Bobby and Jun in 1973 and Pat in 1974.

For the organization of PAAT in Nov. 24, 1975 on Thanksgiving Day at Lowry Park with me as President.

For the successful First Inaugural Ball of PAAT in Sheraton Hotel in 1976.

For our Balik-Bayan with Pat in 1976 and her healing from Kolam in Manila.

For our meeting with Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos in Malacanang (me, Pat, & Joey) in 1976.

For our return to Tampa in 1976 with Pat.

For our stay with Betty in Arlington, N Virginia.

For our new VA financed property in Branch Ave, Tampa, Florida bought in 1975 with Pat.

For my job as Senior Paralegal O., Bay Area Legal Services in 1978-81.

For my retirement with SS pension in 1981.

For the sale of our property in March 1982.

For Pat going to rest on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1982 and 42 years of blissful, wonderful life together.

Praise the Lord! Thank you my God.  Amen

JBS

Spending Time With Lolo

I'm at my mother's house helping take care of my grandfather while my parents are out.  He arrived here on Monday and it's been pretty tough on her.  My uncles and cousins brought over a hospital bed earlier this week, so it's a little easier.  He can't walk anymore and spends most of his time sleeping.  It's hard to see him so frail.  At this point, we're just trying to make him as comfortable as possible.

I've been going through his journal today and it's reassuring to hear his voice from the pages.  It reminds me of how he used to be when I was young.  I found an entry in his journal that seems appropriate for these times.  I'll try to post it right after this.

Jose B Sibayan back in Tampa

My grandfather arrived back in Tampa today. Uncles, aunts and cousins drove him back from Las Vegas since he was not cleared to fly back. He's not in the best of health. Please pray for him.

Jose B Sibayan in the Hospital in Vegas

My grandfather is 92 now and in declining health.  Last weekend my grandfather went to our family reunion in Las Vegas with my mother.  He had a stroke during dinner Saturday night and has been in the hospital ever since.
He has stabilized, but they won't release him to fly home to Tampa until his condition improves.  Please join us in praying for his recovery and safe return home.

History of My Life - Part G: 2 - Mix Your Soup and Your Rice – Captains and Generals

2. Everyday during mealtime mother always said to me: "AGLABAYKA NAKKONG TAPNO AGCAPITAN KANO. (Mix your soup and your rice so that you'll become a Captain.) "Captain" at that time was the highest officer in town.

Mother's advice or wish for me was fulfilled in 1950 when I became a Captain, Quartermaster Service Group, Philippine Constabulary in Camp Crame. As a matter of fact I became a Captain 4 times. In 1950 I was promoted from 1st Lieutenant (Reserve) to Captain (Reserve) for being the Adm. O., Supply O., Disbursing O. and C.O. QMSG Company in Camp Crame, Hq., P.C.

Not long thereafter my Captaincy, which was a temporary promotion because I occupied a postion calling for a Captain's rank, I became a permanent Captain in another order when my time came to be promoted based on the Lineal Roster in the Reserve Force.

Then in 1951 I passed the qualifying exam to become a Regular Officer with a rank of qst Liet., P.C. after undergoing the Infantry Course. I was assigned in the field as Chief, Personnel O., FIRST MILITARY AREA, Camp Olivas, Pampanga. The Table of Organization called for a Captain's rank for my position and so I was given a temporary rank of Captain, Regular Army Force in 1951. Later on when my turn to become promoted according to the Lineal Roster of Regular Officers in 1952, orders were issued promoting me from 1st Lt. to Captain, Regular Force.

I doubt if anyone ever got promoted to Captain FOUR TIMES in a row! Maybe I got stuck at a Captain's rank because of my mother's wish. And so when our first son was born, Tony, I told him every time we eat: AGLABAYKA NAKKONG TAPNO AGGENERAL KANTO (Mix your soup and your rice so that you'll become a General.) God willing, Tony's rank will be Commodore or "General" as he is now a Cpt. P.N.

(This wish was fulfilled in 1993 when Tony got promoted. I met President Ramos who pinned Tony's star personally in Malacanan. When I showed him our picture in Vietnam he autographed it. PTL!)

History of My Life - Part G: 1 - Pensionados

Before I totally leave Bangued from the Story of My Life, I would like to share some personal experiences that I can't forget.

1. One of them is my conversation with my brother, Elix, while walking to buy "lomo-lomo" in Pagpartian. I was about seven and he was about five years of age more or less. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up. He also asked me what I wanted to be. We mentioned various professions as: teacher, doctor, priest, lawyer, engineer or officer. We didn't mention our father's profession.

Finally we decided that we will become PENSIONADOS! I guess we were impressed by our neighbor, Mr Gerson, a pensionado. Whenever he passed by our house to get his pension we heard our father saying, "NAIMBAGKA PAY GIEM TA AGAOAWATCA TI PENSIONADO BINOLAN." When we were eating, our father explained that a PENSIONADO gets money without working.

Elix became a "pensionado" but his pension was given to our stepmother as his survivor following his death as a Prisoner of War during World War II. I became a "pensionado" in 1965 after my 30 years of service in the Army. Then I also became a "pensionado" in 1981 when I retired at age 63 from the Social Security System of the U.S.A. I was then a Senior Paralegal of the Bay Area Legal Services. Now I am getting two pensions! Praise the Lord!