Park eyed for Aeta heroes in Mabalacat

MABALACAT, Pampanga – As some people are again likely to regale themselves with ghost stories as they spruce up tombs of their relatives for All Saints’ Day, Aetas are focusing on the heroism of their kinfolk as they clear 10 hectares in Sitio Hadwan here for a “memorial and people’s park” for their tribal heroes.

“The relatives of Aeta heroes are slated to clear the park site starting Nov. 1 as a fitting tribute to them. It is the site where we plan to move the remains of Aeta heroes for a memorial park that could foster further unity among the tribal folk,” said Guy Hilbero, tourism officer of the municipality of Mabalacat and one of the founders of the Mabalacat Aeta Tribal Association.

Hilbero said the local government is now raising funds for the development of a 10-hectare area in Sitio Hadwan in Barangay Marcos where, in 1970, Aeta hero Kudiaro Laxamana was slain near his home.

“We hope on All Saints’ Day next year, the park will be ready for inauguration. Saints, after all, are heroes,” he said, noting that the park would be the first such project to be established within Aeta ancestral lands.

The other day, Hilbero lighted a candle and incense at the tomb of Laxamana, probably the only Aeta buried at the American cemetery at the former US Air Force base at the Clark Freeport. The remains of other Aeta heroes are scattered in various cemeteries.

The American cemetery, maintained by the Veterans of Foreign Wars 2485, contains the remains of 2,168 American soldiers and at least 639 Philippine Scouts from the pre-World War II era, and the remains of those who died later. 

The Clark cemetery was established in 1947 when the US military moved headstones, markers and remains from at least four other US military cemeteries, namely, Fort Stotsenberg 1 and 2, Fort McKinley and the Sangley Point naval cemetery to the 20.365-acre area near Clark’s main gate.

Aeta Robert Serrano, grandson of Laxamana, has agreed to the allocation of the 10-hectare land of his grandfather for the memorial park that would also honor other Aeta heroes.

Serrano is now the vice president of the Mabalacat Aeta Association.

Hilbero identified the other Aeta heroes as Garangan, Chief Lucas, Pam Melicia, and Pedro Margarito.

Historian Mariano Henson, in his book The Province of Pampanga and Its Towns, identified Garangan as the first mayor of this town in 1712.

Like Laxamana, Hilbero said Chief Lucas, Melicia and Margarito were World War II heroes who saved the lives of many American soldiers in the Mt. Pinatubo area.

Melicia was made an honorary captain by Gen. Douglas MacArthur because of his heroism during the war.

Laxamana was awarded the highest rank of honorary lieutenant colonel under the 13th US Air Force, Hilbero said.

Historical records showed that during the last war, Laxamana saved the lives of Col. Gyle Merrill, overall commander of a US military contingent, and Maj. Henry Conner of the 27th bomb group.

“Even after the war, Laxamana continued to fight, this time for the rights of his cultural kinfolk who were being displaced from their ancestral lands. In 1970, he was killed amid his fight for the rights of Aetas,” Hilbero said.

He said the American military gave Laxamana full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, when he was buried at the Clark cemetery.