Chapter Titles From the 1994-1998 Memoir

A lot of people have expressed an interest in my grandfather's longer 300+ page memoir. Here are the chapter titles, I just need to go about getting them all transcribed. This is where he goes into detail on his days during WWII, the Bataan Death March, Philippine Military Academy, and his time in Vietnam. There's also more detail on his early life. I've transcribed a handful of entries from here, but most of it is still left to go. This memoir goes up to 1970. There is probably more covering his later life, but I have to locate it.

Also, I came across a milk crate of slides, video tapes, film, and audio recordings that he made that I saved after he moved from the house on Wilsky Blvd. I just need to get all that digitized for posterity. Any help on that would be really appreciated!

Chapter	Page
Introduction	1
Story of My Life	5
Our Sleeping Time	7
My Grandfather Gavino Bravo	9
My Grandfather Eleuterio Sibayan (Terio)	11
My Father Florencio Sibayan (Inciong)	12
My Mother Victoriana (Toyang & Idot)	15
Raft Riding Down Abra River	18
Mother’s Misfortune	20
Orphan’s Song	23
Pre School Life	25
Early Primitive Life	26
Early School Experiences	28
The School Teachers	30
Unforgettable School Experiences	35
Big Scar on My Shin	36
Industrial Work	37
My High School Days	39
Second Year H.S.	40
Third Year H.S.	41
Chess With Tata Anton	44
Fourth Year H.S.	47
Balik-Bayan in 1993	49
Dead-End Situation	50
Bangued Memories	51
Ping-Pong	52
Pool	53
Fighting Cocks & Chickens	54
Page	57
Ambition	58
Garden & Plants	59
Nita	60
Mysterious Fire	62
Moro Moro	63
Sarsuela	66
Cine Hawaii	67
Cine Tuazon	68
Piped Water	69
Electricity	70
Radio	71
Road Asphalting	72
Passenger Buses	72
Kite Flying	74
Marbles	75
Gambling	75
A New Hotel Restaurant	77
Manang Conchang	78
Casamata Hill	79
Calaba River Bank	80
Lagangilang	81
Town Fiesta	83
Women of Bangued; Men of Bangued	91
Social Activities	105
Religious Activities	107
Tennis	114
Jojo of Abra	116
Story About How Jojo Became Miss Red Feather ’70	120
The Miracle About Jojo’s Money	127
Rehabilitation of a Policeman	130
Life in Kiangan	140
As a Soldier in Kiangan	143
Manila Here I Come!	147
Transformation to a New Life	148
As a Working Student	152
Birthday in Antipolo	153
As a Student in FEU	155
How Pat & I Fell in Love	156
Life as a Corporal	159
Unusual Incident With Maj. D. D. Eisenhower	161
My Schooling in FEU	162
My Enrollment as Engr. Student	164
My Enrollment as Law Student; My Sacrifices in Life With Pat	168
Life as a Newly Married Couple	171
WWII Broke Out	173
Our Retreat to Bataan	176
A Big Lizard & Guns	177
Memorial Day May 29, 1995	178
A Miracle	181
MOSI Post	181
Bataan Peninsula	183
Thru a Burning Forest	191
Jap Looters	192
Herded Into the Rice Fields	193
Drinking Muddy Water	194
Turnip & Sugar Canes	195
Inside Hot Warehouse	196
The Good & The Bad People	197
Guards Killing P.O.W.s	198
Marching Under the Rain	199
Arrival in San Fernando	200
A P.O.W. Dies by My Side	201
Life in the P.O.W. Camp	202
Search for Elix	203
Chess Set	204
Body & Beauty Contest	204
Death of Winners	205
Camp Entertainment	205
Shaved Heads	206
Lining Up For Food	207
Unusual Food for P.O.W.s	208
The Miracle of the Grass Detail	208
The Miracle of San Antonio	210
Another Miracle of the Grass Detail	211
P.O.W. From Abra in the CC	212
Saved by Sulphatizol	212
Released Sick P.O.W.	213
Back to Manila as Ex-P.O.W.	214
Tony’s First Steps	214
Life in a War Torn City	215
Days of Recuperation	216
Recuperation, Ruth-Ann Sick, as Gardener, as Cochero	216
Job as Janitor	217
Job as Civil Service Clerk	218
Evacuation to Bayombong	219
Life in the Province	220
Pat’s Mother & Her Cancer	221
Lined Up to be Executed	222
U.S. Planes on Rizal Day	224
Sad New Year	224
Town Bombed	225
Evacuation	225
Our Return to Town	226
Japs in Town	227
Rounding Up Men in Town	228
Execution of Travelers	229
Evacuation to Apad	230
Pat & I Built Our Hut	231
I Got Lost at Night	231
Life of Evacuees	232
Manna From Heaven	233
My Close Encounter With Death	234
Air Raid Scare & Exodus From Bo. Apad	235
The Jap Death March	236
Six Months in Apad as Evacuees	237
Japs in Touch With Us	238
Liberation of Bayombong	239
My Liberation Job as Chief, Philippine Civilian Aid Unit	240
Mopping Up Operation in Town	241
Return to Manila	242
Back to the Army	243
Memories of Legarda Elementary School Building	244
Reunion With My Father and His Family	245
Tommy Tagudar , The Mystery Man	246
Our Life in Kamuning, Quezon City	247
Our Life in Pandacan, Manila	248
Our Life in Guipit	249
Bar Review & Bar Exam	250
Priestly Intervention	251
A Good Dream	252
Asian Flu	253
Rain During Review	255
A “Tip” on Political Law	256
Round of Blowouts & Parties	257
My Return Party in Pandacan	258
The Raagas-Bravo Party	259
Short Lived Glory as Captain-Attorney	260
Job as a Fighting Lawyer	261
Operations on Mount Pinatubo Against the Huks	262
Assigned as S-2, First Battalion Combat Team	263
Return to Camp Crame	265
Life in Camp Crame	265
Tony’s Activities in Crame	266
Betty’s Activities in Crame	267
Bing in Pandacan	268
Jojo in Pandacan and Crame	269
Toots in Crame & Pandacan	270
Bobby in Action	271
Jun-Bun	272
Betty’s Stay in Lucena	273
Tony in Baguio H.S.	274
Tony Back to Crame	275
Duties as Constabulary Officer	276
Constabulary Officers Course	277
Constabulary NCO’s Course	278
Military Affairs Branch, Judge Advocate Service, P.C.	279
Civil & Criminal Cases With Mrs. Flor	280
Termination of Defamation Case	281
Prosecution Case in Lucena, Quezon	282
Transfer From Crame to Baguio	283
Life in Baguio	284
Tony Passed the PMA Exam	285
Transfer to Fort McKinley (Now Fort Bonifacio)	286
Action O, SND	287
My Three Years Stay in Camp Murphy, Quezon City (Now Camp Aguinaldo)	288
Christian Science Involvement	289
Return to Baguio	290
Life in Camp Henry T. Allen	291
Mr. Terte, The Faith Healer	292
Miraculous Healing By Mr. Terte	293
Graduation of Tony in PMA	294
Last Assignment in GHQ, AFP & Last Days in the PMA	295
Retirement Back to Manila	296
Job in Vietnam as ECOI Employee	297
Life in Vietnam	298
Hamlet Community Project	299
Vietnamese Refugees	300
Pat With Me in Vietnam	301
US AID Property Officer	302
Jojo as Miss Red Feather Philippines	303
Victory Parades in Abra	304

History of My Life - Part L: The Final Chapter - Baptism, Pat, Maria

As a child, I understood Heaven to be where God and his saints and angels are found, up in the sky beyond the clouds, “beyond the blue yonder.” But when I rode the plane up beyond the clouds, I did not meet St. Peter or any angel up there. Where could Heaven really be? The Bible in Colossians 3:3 says: “Your real life is in Heaven with Christ and God.” This was written by St. Paul when he was in jail. And we know that God is everywhere. Therefore, Heaven is everywhere the moment we are born again in the Spirit of God with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, when we no longer live carnally, but spiritually. That is why I used to say, “One does not have to die to be in Heaven,” because I’ve already been there myself when I was baptized of the Holy Spirit in August 4, 1973 during a Full Business Man’s Gospel Meeting in the S&S Cafeteria of Tampa, FL at Florida Street and I started talking in tongues! PTL.

After my baptism, I was asked to speak before the congregation by the President of the FGBM, Atty. D’Angelo, who said, “Before we call on our Guest Speaker, the Lord is telling me to call someone out there,” pointing at my direction. He described me by my Pilipino dress and beckoned me to come forward. I told them how I got baptized in the Holy Spirit a week ago and found myself telling them about my being punished with my younger brother for being naughty by our father and then told to kneel before a crucifix inside our room. I said that although we were crying and started praying that our father should die and that we were laughing together. Then I started crying unashamedly. Somebody stood up and started talking in tongues as the congregation became very silent. Another one stood up and interpreted saying, “Go forth my child and witness for me. I will sustain thee.” That was the sign I’ve been asking for to start witnessing for the Lord.

Since then, I had many opportunities to witness for the Lord before members of the former P.O.W.’s in their anniversary meeting in St. Petersburg, in a Baptist Church, in prayer meetings, in a class of senior citizens, and groups of elderly in Hillsborough County and Pasco County as Senior Paralegal of the Bay Area Legal Services of Florida, going around with a big van converted into a legal clinic from one city to another bringing along Pat, my wife, with me as Volunteer Asst. Paralegal Officer, until I retired in 1981 to take care of her until she died of cancer in 1982 on Easter Sunday.

As founder of PAAT and its first President, I said in my inaugural speech, “Someone during one prayer meeting predicted that we were being prepared by the Lord to lead a group of people during the coming perilous days, to show them the right way, and to follow Jesus Christ – the light, the life and the truth. This is the fulfillment of that prophecy.”

And as President of the newly organized Church of Jesus of Nazareth, I had several opportunities to lead the congregation in prayers. I also was a Bible instructor and delivered sermons aside from reading the Bible during church services. When Pat, my first wife, died, her wish not to be left alone inside a funeral parlor was fulfilled. We kept her body inside our chapel and was with her until the following day when she was buried in the Garden of Love, Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Hillsborough County, Florida. I was then the President of PAAT. The chapel was filled with people who attended her necrological services which were performed on the same day she died, April 11, 1982. I was ordained sub-deacon by Bishop Loreto.

During her necrological service, a very unusual incident happened that very few will believe. Our family picture shows us smiling beside Pat’s body. Our taped songs and conversations reveal our willing and joyful acceptance of God’s will with music and songs. But before that, just as we knelt to receive communion, Maria heard a voice saying: “This will be your husband.” She let go of my hand she was holding, turned around, but only saw the statue of the Black Nazarene behind us. She told this story to Father George when we went to his house several weeks after our marriage.

That accounts for the fact that I failed to realize my plan to go to the Philippines via Japan three times. First, when I can’t find my passport and Tony had to leave me behind. Second, when I was asked by Dr. Lourdes Loreto to cancel my flight to attend the ordination of her husband, Rev. Eugenio Loreto, as bishop. Third, when the Braniff Air Lines I’ve booked myself to go to Texas to board the Korean Air Lines for Japan, became bankrupt.

Then I called up the Korean Air Lines in Houston to mail me my airline ticket so that I won’t have to look for their office when I get to that airport. I called up on a Friday and expected to get it next Monday. I called up again and was informed that it was mailed by registered mail. I said, “Lord, if the ticket won’t arrive by Friday, I know you don’t want me to go.” When the ticket failed to arrive, I said, “Maybe I’ll have to first have a tombstone made for Pat’s grave, then I’ll plan to leave later on.” I called up Tony who bought the ticket that I’ll mail it back to him after I got it the following Monday, saying that I’ll first put a tombstone on Pat’s grave after which I’ll plan later on my trip to Japan and to the Philippines.

All my children contributed for the tombstone which I ordered with the help of Maria. On our return trip from the stone marker manufacturer, Maria told me that there are lots of fish in the lake behind her house and suggested that I could fish there if I am feeling lonely. I went to fish there one day and I caught her! Can you beat that? I guess that’s the biggest fish story ever told. And we got married on Sept 3, 1982, and lived happily ever after. Praise the Lord!

Now I really believe that: “God has a plan for everyone.” “Man proposes but God disposes,” is true indeed. Since then, I’ve learned to live in complete submission to God’s will. It is the best assurance of a blessed, peaceful and happy life, ever praising and thanking God for everything everytime.

Amen! JBS

History of My Life - Part K: Back in Bangued (1934-1935)

In order to continue my studies in H.S., I had to work and earn my money for matriculation and tuition fees. Father’s slipper making business slowed down following my mother’s death. I joined the Public Works Road Gang earning P0.45 or less than $0.25, a quarter of a dollar a day. I was the only one riding a bike to work from Bangued to Palau.

We worked from six to six with an hour’s break for lunch between 12 PM – 1 PM. There was no 8 hour labor law then. It was a back-breaking job with pick and shovel and steel-wheeled wheel barrow. We were widening the road at a mountain or hillside opposite the property belonging to Don Juan Valera. I worked all throughout summer vacation. With my earnings, I was able to save money for my H.S. enrollment with extra money to buy an alarm clock and a leather belt. Father helped me with the rental of my books in 4th year H.S. To save time in going to school, I enrolled in the nearby CSC, Catholic High School for Boys. There I used my new name, Jose, for the first time in Bangued, although everybody called me Siniong.

When I needed money to buy my shoes, clothes, and a suit, I sold my bike. I had extra money to buy a second-hand tennis racket and a pair of old balding tennis balls from Judge Rivas. It was a Spalding racket with a slot in its handle.

It was in Bayombong that I learned tennis. My uncle, who played it, used me as his sparring partner. There we used rackets of steel frame and steel strings. Our net was also made of steel wires. Hence, our tennis balls lasted very fast, also, considering the fact that at that time the “slice” stroke was in vogue, every backhand and forehand was a chop. We call this way of playing, “araw ni Bonifacio.” My beautiful cousin, Manang Susing Bravo, also used me as her sparring tennis player in Bayombong. She played well.

In Bangued, I continued playing tennis with my friend, David Barza, during summer vacation at noon time when nobody was using the tennis courts at the east side of the Provincial Building. Our tennis balls were bald without felt coating and were so light, like racket balls! It is because we could not afford to buy our own balls, first or second-hand from anybody.

When I played tennis, nobody told me how to hold the racket properly, how to look at the ball until it hits the racket, how to first go into position before hitting the ball, and how to hold the top of the racket above the level of the elbow when hitting the ball by going down on bent knees. It was the late General Alfonso Arellano who gave me these basics when he taught me “better tennis” in Camp Olivas in 1951.

And so my tennis ability remained mediocre even though how much I played or practiced tennis. I made up with my running ability what I lacked in skill. But I continued to enjoy playing tennis until now. Those who played power tennis, like my idols, Felicisimo Ampor and Cesar Carmona, who are about my age, quit playing ahead of me. Carmona developed arthritis, while Ampor had a triple heart bypass, according to his son, Mel Ampor. They brought tennis to its highest point in Philippines history!

My last school year and residence in Bangues as 4th year H.S. student in 1934-1935 is replete of many nice memories that I can vividly recall. It was the first time in my school life that we were all boys in our class and all our teachers were male, including a priest, Fr. Lawrence Leisring, our Principal Teacher. Having female classmates seemed to be more thrilling than a class devoid of “inspiration,” especially at age 16. One can argue that it is also devoid of “distractions.”

We always prayed as a part of our school ritual, at the start of our school hours. There was a state of holiness in our school demeanor to the extent that I even considered becoming a priest, only that I did not know how to go about it. I presumed that only exceptionally intelligent and rich students are acceptable to enter the Seminary. But on second thought, I guess that God’s plan for me was to raise seven beautiful, wonderful children for His glory. No regrets!

I used to go to the Valera Pharmacy at night to read the Manila Times, especially the Comics Section. It had Jack Swift (like Buck Rogers), Hairbreath Harry, Tarzan, and Mutt & Jeff. Nita (Juanita Valera) was then 2nd year H.S. and had difficulties solving her Geometry homework. She asked me to help her, which I did every day. I inserted little love notes in her Geometry book, but she never responded. I had no chance to ask her response because we had an understanding that I just pick up her book in the Farmacia and then return it with solutions to her homework. In 1949 we took the Bar Exams to become lawyers. When the results were published in 1950 I failed to see her name. She never took it again I guess. After the exams she expressed much hope of passing compared to my doubt about passing. She failed, I passed!

Two events happened when I returned to Bangued. My stepmother gave birth to a baby boy who was baptized Vicente (Inty). I loved carrying him in my arms. He was a very cute kid who looked more like his mother than his father. The other event was the marriage of Manang Conchang Valera to Manong Pacoy and later on the birth of their first child baptized Josefina (Fina). I used to carry her in my arms too. She is now my daughter-in-law, Josefina V. Sibayan.

After my graduation, I was at the dead-end of my progress in life, because there was no way I could continue my studies in college like my rich friends and classmates. My uncle, Remigio Bravo, asked me to join him to a trip to Manila, which revived my spirit, because I could realize the dream of my late mother which never came true. She used to say, “No laketoi nakitc ti Manila uray mataya con.” “If I could only see Manila, I am ready to die.”

We rode a passenger truck that traveled day and night on dusty roads. I climbed to the roof of the truck, which served as baggage container and spent the night wedged with the luggage, watching the moon and the stars. We stayed in a house which had its ground floor rented by a Chinese grocery owner selling sari-sari items. Our food morning, noon and evening consisted of rice and eggs.

One day I walked all the way from Plaza Goiti up to the Philippine General Hospital where Mg. Trining was enrolled as “pensionado” in the Nursing School. Fortunately, she was permitted to see me and she was so excited and surprised to see me, asking me how I got there.

It was then that I saw a radio set consisting of just a piece of quartz stone, a needle and a headphone. It was there in Manila where I saw for the first time a TRAMVIA or streetcar. It was there too where I rode for the first time an elevator in the Post Office building. Tata Equio and I stayed for around a week in Manila before we returned. I was so excited and impressed by what I saw, especially the tall buildings and crowded streets. How I wished my mother to be able to see what I saw before she died. Then I considered myself more fortunate than her! And I also more fortunate than my father, who has only heard about Manila, but has never seen it at all. I was so grateful to my uncle, who was so kind enough to take me along with him to the Capital of the Philippines – Manila. I recall my childhood ambition of seeing Manila, America, then Heaven. Those were my dreams. Now I’ve realized the first two and I am ready to see the third and last ambition of my life, Heaven! Praise the lord.

Text for Memorial Handout for Jose B. Sibayan, Sr.

I just wrote up the text for my grandfather's memorial handout. It was hard to sum up that life of his for a little card. Here it is.

Jose Bravo Sibayan, Sr., 92, of Tampa was born Patrocinio Sibayan in Bangued, Abra, Philippines on May 18, 1918 and was baptized Jose in 1920. He passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 25, 2011. He is survived by his children: Antonio, Liberty, Aurora, Jocelyn, Ernesto, Roberto, Jose Jr, 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was a soldier, entering the Philippine Army in 1936, a P.O.W. during WWII, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, and retired as a Major from the Philippine Army in 1965. He was a lawyer, passing the bar in 1950. He was an instructor at the Philippine Military Academy from 1957-1965. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1971 and became an American citizen in 1973. He founded the Pilipino-American Association of Tampa Bay in 1975. He loved God his entire life. His ambitions as a child were: to have a pension, to be a Captain, to be a lawyer, to be a teacher, to see Manila, to see America, and to see Heaven. He has achieved all his ambitions. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m., February 5, 2011 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 12708 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618.