History of My Life - Part G: 3 - Lawyer

3. Father told me that the only way we can restore the boundaries or fences of our property on the West and North sides and to prevent our neighbor's rainwater from falling off its roof into our property on the East side is for me to become a LAWYER. But he could not send me to college after my graduation from H.S. in 1935. That year I worked as a laborer in the Bureau of public Works of Mountain Province earning P0.45 or less than $0.25 (a quarter) a day because I was below 18 years old. When I became 18 in May 1936, I enrolled as a Private in the 39th P.C. Company in Kiangan, Ifugao.

That same year I was transferred to the Headquarters, P.C. in Manila as the orderly of Gen. Paulino Santos. I went to a night school taking up stenography, typewriting and bookkeeping the next day after my arrival in Manila. Then I enrolled in the Far Eastern University in 1937, taking a course of Pre-Law.

That same year an incident that led to my uninterrupted night studies without being detailed on guard duty happened in a most unusual way. Major Dwight D. Eisenhower, Staff Officer of Gen. Douglas MacArthur came to Hq. Phil. Army for copies of a staff meeting from my boss, Major Elias Dioquino, Sec. Gen. Staff, P.A. I was the only enlisted man in the S.G.S. office charged with filing all TOP SECRET, SECRET, CONFIDENTIAL & RESTRICTED files of the Phil. Army. I was the only one holding the keys to the filing cabinets.

That day I went to sleep in my Boarding House immediately after I was relieved from Guard Duty at 6 AM. I did not wake up until noon time to take my meal, put on my uniform and walked to the APA near the Manila City Hall. Right away I was placed under arrest and brought to Major Dioquino, who gave me a bawling out for being AWOL. He said that Major Eisenhower was there to get copies of the General Staff Meeting for Gen. MacArthur and I was not there to open our classified files cabinet. I told him that I went to sleep after my night guard duty.

He called for my C.O. and told him, "From now on remove the name of Sibayan from your duty rosters, including your guard roster. He is my only enlisted man in this office and I need him every day."

My C.O. said, "Yes sir!", saluted then left.

From 1937 to 1941 when the war broke out, I was free to go to school after office hours. I got a free scholarship in the Arellano Law College for having an average over 85% in my report card. Hence, I finished my law course on scholarship because after the War I got a Veteran's Educational Benefit, including my Review Course for the Bar Examination in 1949. The results of the Exams were released in 1950.

And so, my father's wish, like that of my mother's, was fulfilled in that year when I became a full-fledged LAWYER and a CAPTAIN at the same time. Thanks be to God!

Jose Bravo Sibayan - 5/8/1918 - 1/25/2011

My grandfather died today at 11:45 am. My mother and father, Jocelyn & Luis Lontok, were with him along with my brother and his family: Manny Lontok, Maricris Lontok, and their two children Maia (7) and Marcus (5). The kids had just sung him a song: Marcus sang "A Child is Born in Bethlehem" and Maia sang "Do-Re-Mi" (Doe a deer, a female deer) and he passed with my brother's hands on him.

His eyes were open at the end, he knew they were there, he knew he was loved, and then he was gone.

Jose Sibayan - Feeding Tube Removed

After my grandfather was placed in the nursing home, they determined that he isn't digesting food anymore.  His living will states that he doesn't want to be revived in such circumstances, so he has been put on pain meds and his feeding tube has been removed.  They say that he has 3-10 days left on this Earth, but it depends on him and when he's ready to go.

Please pray for his peaceful and comfortable passing.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4

Jose Sibayan Moved to Royal Oaks Manor

My grandfather was moved into Royal Oaks Manor from my mother's house on January 20, 2011.  The address is 1833 Seminole Boulevard, Largo, FL 33778, his room number is 15.

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.