Metro Infanta Foundation

By Rudy Arizala
Santiago, Chile

Posted Sept. 20, 2004

Half a century and a decade ago, Gen. Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his pledge to the Filipino people when he, with American "liberation forces," accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. and Carlos P. Romulo, landed on the beach of Leyte. on 20 October 1944.

Shortly after "beachhead" or landing Gen. MacArthur, amidst the whirring of Japanese snipers bullets overhead, announced over a handheld megaphone:

"People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil &endash; soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. . At my side is your President, Sergio Osmeña, a worthy successor of that great patriot, Manuel Quezon.... The seat of your government is now, therefore, firmly reestablished on Philippine soil. The hour of your redemption is here. . . Rally to me. Let the indomitable spirit of Bataan and Corregidor lead on. . . . The guidance of Divine God points the way. Follow in His name to the Holy Grail of righteous victory."

The landing of U.S. troops supported by Filipino guerrillas on land was a success. It was the "golden hour" of Fil-American cooperation and friendly relations.

Aside from the successful landing in Leyte was the famous "Battle of Leyte Gulf" between the U.S. and Japanese Naval Forces which caught the attention of the world. The Japanese, in order to retake Leyte where Gen MacArthur landed his troops, thought of a plan called "Sho Operation." Under said ´plan Admiral Soemu Toyoda, to destroy the American fleet under Admiral Halsey, sent three naval forces to converge on Leyte Gulf: the Northern Force under Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa coming from Japan down to the eastern coast of Luzon, and on to Leyte Gulf; the Central Force under Admiral Takeo Kurita; to steam through San Bernardino Strait and on to Leyte Gulf; and the Southern Force, divided into two groups, one under Vice Admiral Nishima and the other under Admiral Shima, coming from Singapore to reach Leyte Gulf through the Surigao Strait.

Admiral Ozawa´s fleet steaming from Japan was used as a "decoy" to lure away Admiral William F. Halsey´s Fleet , (Task Force 34), from San Bernardino Strait. And Admiral Halsey took the bait by pursuing Ozawa´s fleet up North not knowing that the remaining U.S. ships were left practically exposed to the coming superior Japanese Southern and Central Naval Forces.

Luckily, the Japanese Southern Force was spotted by U.S. submarines which sunk two destroyers of the Japanese Southern Force and alerted the U.S. naval force. Admiral Olendorf engaged the Japanese Southern Force into battle at Surigao Strait and the Japanese fleet was almost all wiped out. Meanwhile, the Central Force under Admiral Kurita was steaming through San Bernardino Strait toward Leyte Gulf. The frantic calls of U.S. Admiral Kinkaid for Admiral Halsey´s fleet to return immediately to Leyte Gulf reached Halsey and he sent posthaste his eight fastest battleships to San Bernardino Strait. Admiral Kurita could have proceeded to Leyte Gulf without difficulty and attack the almost defenseless U.S. Naval forces off Leyte Gulf. But Kurita decided to steam away thinking that the main bulk of Halsey´s fleet have arrived in the area. That saved the day for the American naval forces in Leyte Gulf.

The cunning and deceptions used in the Naval Battle of Leyte Gulf was reminiscent of a "Lord High Admiral" in the Mediterranean named "Barbarossa", a former ruthless pirate appointed by Sultan Suleiman, "The Magnificent", as Chief of the Royal Navy during the Ottoman Empire. Barbarossa through cunning and deception raided the coasts of Africa and Europe &endash; Italy, Spain, Sardinia and even the Adriatic coast. He practically ruled the Mediterranean Sea.

The landing of the U.S. forces on Leyte beach in October 1944, was the "Golden Era" of Philippine-American Relations, while the "Battle of Leyte Gulf" was considered the "last great battleship engagement in history" wherein a total of 285 warships participated. In said battle the U.S. lost 1 light cruiser, 2 escort carriers, 3 destroyers, and around 2,000 sailors. The Japanese lost 4 carriers, 3 battleships, 6 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 8 destroyers, and several thousands soldiers more than what the Americans lost.

I was then a young lad of fifteen years old when I first heard those stirring and inspiring words of Gen. Douglas MacArthur upon landing at Leyte Beach which steeled and inspired the hearts of the Filipino people to rally behind the flag of democracy and liberty in pursuit of "the Holy Grail of righteous victory".

I am now in the twilight of my years. And I wonder if in the twilight years of my contemporaries and at the dawn of the new generation of Filipinos, those stirring words of MacArthur uttered sixty years ago today amidst the thunder of bombs and gunfires, have now lost in time of peace, after victory has been achieved, their validity and meaning and faded away with the passing of years.

Today, we even hear disturbing voices saying that the once "right arm" of America in Southeast Asia is now the "weakest link" in the chain of liberty in this part of the world.

As we commemorate today the "Landing at Leyte" of the forces of liberty, let us pose and ponder over those words which have guided us to victory and achieved our peace and redemption.

Posted by Mila Glodava at 07:24 PM | Permalink

By Rudy Arizala
Santiago, Chile

Posted: Sept. 10, 2004

Introduction
The Philippines provides about 35% of the world´s requirement for the skill-hungry economies. The Filipino workers are, therefore, worth billions of American dollars in foreign aid to developed countries which availed of Philippine skilled workers. Filipinos, aside from being hardworking, are committed "to God and to democracy."

Since the "diaspora" (dispersal) of Filipino workers to various parts of the world, the little town of Infanta nestled at the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains at the Eastern part of Luzon along the Pacifica Coast, has contributed and still contributing workers abroad. According to latest statistics the total number of Filipino workers abroad now number between 7 and 8 million.

Infanta Today
The Infanta of today is different from the Infanta of yesterday. The changing panorama and lifestyle from rural tropical sleepy town of mostly bamboo and nipa huts; dusty brown pathways during hot summer months and muddy clay-dark pathways during the wet season; groups of idle, jobless men hanging around at street corners and barbershops are now replaced by busy humdrum of economic and social activities.

Infanta today is now an urbanized busy town with asphalt and concrete streets; bright electric lights from street lamp posts; a two-story concrete public market; roofed open-air basketball court cum meeting hall; two radio stations; modern plaza, municipal building cathedral; a college, as well as high school and elementary education buildings. They are indications of social, economic and cultural progress.

Factors of Change
The factors of change are the "diaspora" of Filipino workers abroad; the electrification of the town and its barangays; the construction of barangay roads connecting even far-flung areas to the town proper; the widening and asphalting of the Infanta-Famy road across the Sierra Madre mountains and the construction of a concrete bridge across the Agus River which connects Infanta to a nearby town of Gen. Nakar. Together with these improvements of the means of communications and transport is the modernization of farming and fishing methods as well as awareness of ecological balance and protection of the environment.

With respect to the "diaspora" of many inhabitants from Infanta, it played and is still playing a great role in the right kind of development for the town and its people.

Many "Infantahins" (natives or people from Infanta), as early as the 1970´s have joined the millions of other Filipinos who left their homes in the Philippines in search of "greener pastures" abroad armed simply with faith, courage and determination to use whatever skills they possess. And because of strong family ties, love and care for their families and friends, they send religiously money or funds (remittances) from their earnings abroad to their families and relatives left behind in Infanta.

Their priority is the education of their children. They firmly believe in "investment in education." Thus, many children or youth of Infanta were able to go to school from elementary grades to high school and even up to college or university level.

Next to education, they invest their hard-earned money in small business; improvements of their farming and fishing methods; in local industries; and improvement of their homes. Now, almost every home in Infanta has running water, sanitary toilets and other amenities in life leading to improved diet and health care.

Due to the remittances of Infanta´s OFW´s living or working abroad, aside from the above improvement in lifestyles and education, banking institutions flourished in Infanta. And because of the banking system, credit facilities improved and so also business grow and thrive beyond the expectation of the people.

Through the experiences and contacts with the outside world of the OFW´s, they imbibed new culture and practices which are essential in the maintenance and protection of natural resources and environment of their hometown. And because of the material wealth and cultural development learned from abroad and applied to their hometown, Infanta continues to progress in the right direction.

Of course aside from remittances and new improved ideas of living, OFW´s from Infanta decided in 1996, to organize the Metro Infanta Foundation (MIF, for short) the main objective of which is "to promote unity and solidarity through educating its members and providing forum of discussions, and identifying and addressing issues and concerns in their native homeland, especially in the Metro Infanta area." Through the MIF, they give generous donations to charities to help improve the life of their less fortunate "kababayans" left behind. For example by giving assistance in the reconstruction of chapels, churches, schools; and providing supply of potable water to school children and health facilities. Those in the medical / nursing professions abroad, send to Infanta periodic "Medical Missions"

Since its establishment, the Metro Infanta Foundation has collected more than US $161,000 in donations and has distributed more that US $125,000 in grants. In addition, the Foundation has facilitated another US $125,000 in grants from various funding sources. In 2003 alone, the MIF distributed US $14,932.50 in grants to education, humanitarian and religious causes.

And last but not the least, being aware that good governance need funds for the implementation of economic and social progress, they are aware that paying taxes willingly and promptly is part of improving the lot and general welfare of the people.

Conclusion
These material progress are accompanied by the religiosity of the people including the OFW´s wherever they may be. They keep and maintain their religious faith and practices as a way of life. Thus, their progress is deeply rooted in moral values. And most important of all, in Love of God and of their fellow-beings, a commitment "to God and to democracy". That despite their being away or having abandoned their hometown in search of "greener pastures", they still keep their ties with their place of birth.

According to Mr. Thomas L. Friedman, a Pulitzer Prize awardee and foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times, in his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree: "The challenge in the era of globalization. . . is to find a healthy balance between preserving a sense of identity, home and community and doing what it takes to survive within the globalization system."

Globalization, due to the speed of modern means of communications and transport, tend to eliminate all cultural and natural barriers including territorial boundaries. And, therefore, the self-identity of a people. But the expatriates from Infanta are able to preserve their sense of identity with their country of origin or hometown and at the same time find a "healthy balance" with globalization, because wherever they may be, they take along with them although not necessarily Mr. Friedman´s "Olive Tree" but their "Bamboo Tree," the tree of life of Filipinos.

Posted by Mila Glodava at 07:23 PM | Permalink

By Rudy Arizala

This morning, 03 September 2004, through the media &endash;radio and television, we witnessed the human drama which unfolded in a school building in Beslan, Southern Russia (Northern Ossetia). More than 500 (some say around 1,200) school children, parents and teachers were held hostage by a group of "terrorists" demanding a separate and independent Chechnya Republic from Russia. The Russian security forces reportedly stormed the place to rescue the hostages. The terrorists exploded bombs inside the school gym and 150 mosly school children were reported dead and 400 children and adults were wounded or injured.

The question which come to mind of those around the world who saw the tragic scene via television is what could be a better alternative solution to such problem of violence or terrorism.

From a Biblical and historical point of view Jesus Christ showed us love and peace instead of hatred and violence.. His message has always been "PEACE". It may be recalled that when He was arrested by armed men of the Scribes and Parishes one of his disciples unsheathed his sword and struck one of the arresting armed men cutting off the ear, Jesus calmly admonished his disciple: "Put back thy sword into its place; for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:52).

Jesus, by submitting Himself to his Passion and Death, manifested a firm belief in non-violence.

Our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal in his writings advocated also non-violence. He even cautioned Bonifacio and other revolutionary leaders that he was against violence. Rizal in his Manifesto to the Filipino people wrote: "From the very start, when I learned what was being planned, I opposed it, and I proved its absolute impossibility. . . I was convinced that the idea of a revolution was highly absurd, and what is worse perverse. . ."

In his second book El Filibusterismo, (The Reign of Greed), it may be recalled that one of its characters, (Isagani), placed a time bomb inside a kerosene lamp at the wedding party of his former sweetheart Paulita. Isagani had a change of mind the last minute. He dreaded the thought that the house was going to blow up and Paulita was there and going to die a horrible death. So, as the bomb was about to explode, Isagani rushed back to the house; grabbed the lamp containing the bomb; and thew it into the Pasig river. This show that Rizal was opposed to violent means in attaining one´s objective no matter how justified or valid it might be.

Another great man, Mahatma Gandhi of India, led the struggle for the independence of his country through non-violent means or what is called "Satyagraha". He and his followers allowed themselves to be struck or beaten by the charging British security forces during India´s struggle for independence. They did not resist arrests. The result of such non-violent means employed by the Mahatma and his followers is history.

These three personalities in the history of mankind come to mind as I watched this morning the unfolding drama of violence in a northern city in Russia. Terrorism or violence in whatever form is reprehensible. In a revolution or war, the ones who suffered most and common victims are mostly innocent children, women and non-combatants. Peace and non-violence must reign supreme in the hearts and minds of mankind.

Sept. 4, 2004

Posted by Mila Glodava at 07:22 PM | Permalink