TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The newest member of Tabuk City’s centenarian community fondly recalled his experience serving as one of the “bolomen” during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World War 2.
Pasong Mayuga Angyoda, originally from Sadangga and now residing in Maledda, Barangay Ipil, here in the city, celebrated his one hundredth year last January this year. The eldest of five siblings, Apo Pasong was born on January 10, 1924. He has three sons, 11 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Apo Pasong, who remains physically strong and has a sharp memory, related that when he was in grade three, he was forced to stop his education to join the “bolomen,” a Filipino infantry regiment who trained in Arnis martial art using bolo to give support to American and Filipino soldiers against the Japanese during the Second World War.
He shared that the Japanese relentlessly bombed Bontoc in Mountain Province at the time so that he and his other classmates decided to volunteer for service.
Apo Pasong recalled carrying and running food, grenades, and other armaments to resupply American troops who were fighting at the forefront. He also remembers carrying back five bodies of American soldiers killed in an ambush during one of his missions.
“The Japanese were wise. We were trailing them as they retreated to the forest. Little did we know some of them waylaid in the mountain trail and killed in an ambush at least five American soldiers whom we carried back to the community,” Apo Pasong recounted.
He said he had been a “bolomen” for a couple of years fighting using blades until they made the Japanese surrender when they were in Loo, Buguias. He said General Tomoyuki Yamashita also surrendered in Kiangan, Ifugao.
Asked about his occupation after the war, Apo Pasong said he could have been a teacher because, he said, an elementary graduate can already be a teacher during that time. But after the war, he went on to work as a laborer to restore the rubble caused by bombings in Baguio.
Even at his age, Apo Pasong can write and speak English quite fluently, suggestive of his education in an American-operated school.
Benefits
On Thursday, May 2, the city government of Tabuk, through Mayor Darwin Estrañero, handed Apo Pasong P50, 000 as a cash incentive to support his well-being.
Senior Citizen Coordinator Mary-Dhel Lattot of the City Special Concerns and Coordinating Office (CSCCO) said Apo Pasong will also be receiving his centenarian incentive from the national government worth P100, 000 on May 8.
Apo Pasong has been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and is on maintenance medication, his family said. Apo Pasong wishes to live 10 more years.
Asked about his secret to longevity, Apo Pasong said he eats more vegetables, native chicken, and his favorite food — Kini-ing. By Rod Asurin
