achild.” HISTORY By ARCADIO A MOLON, JR. “Not to know what happened Before one was born is to Femain Cicero long this strip of fertile coast, our forefathers founded this community which assumed the role of a cabeceria of all the municipalities in the northwestern side of Leyte, ‘The pueblo was originally named Hinablayan. There were yet no streets in those days, only trails and mountain paths, big trees and wild game. Fish, sea shells and other ma- ‘ine products abounded, People fished along the shores with arrows tied to vines, They just threw them to schools of fish along the coast, and pulled them with fish already hooked. That was life in the early days of our town, However, such endowed by nature attracted not only hardworking migrants but also fierece Moro raiders from the south Legend tells that local defenders used to ~ hhang on tree branches the dead bodies a settlement sc wel of the Moros, so that the place came to be known as Hinablayan, Another | legend has it that the name was derived from the principal home industry then, loom-weaving (babol). ‘The legend continues that when the Spaniards came they saw floating at the bay a cluster (pongpong) of mangcove flowers locally known as tungki, and they decided to change the name of Hinablayan to Paungpung which gradually evolved into Palom pon, after that beautiful cluster to erase the bloody memory of the Moro: raiders. It is said that that cluster later got stuck to the shoal until they grew up as trees, forming an islet which is Tabuk today ‘One your short of 2 century sfter the Phil- ippines was discovered by Magellan, Hinab layan was founded with » handful of natives. ITS NAME AND CHURCH. In 1737, Jesuit missionaries arrived and built the first chapel which was later bumed during a Moro raid, It was re- built and as a refuge from attack the chapel was enclosed with piled stones. with a cotta along the frontage, When the people saw Moro vintas coming, the big chuech bell would ring the alarm and people rushed inside the church, fighting back with bows and and spears, Molo, our first known leader, was a veteran of these periodic battles. His young daughter Tomasa was eaptired by the Moros and (Duta gathered by Jesus M. Canson from a book in Spanish handwritten by the late Don Jorgeo Marilio and through interviews with him by Arcadio A. Moton, J. in 1949, with Venancio Viscnicis, municipal trasirer from, 1904 to 1947, District Supervisor Saturaino Mari, Municipal President Crispin Pastor, and from old teacherss of the Palompon Central School)' wee was never heard of again. At that sme Palompon was un der the parish of Hilongos. ‘The parish priest visited the place occasionally for rmarsiages, baptisms and masses the Jesuits, later succeeded by the Agustinians, built the present church with 300 natives led by Aljo, Bugto Pasan, Balirasay, and Tumbalasay. It ‘was forced labor without pay. If one or some of the laborers were unable to work, they were substicuted by others just to maintain the quota every day for the next thirty years, The structure soon became 2 great landmark towering over the settlement of Palompon, re puted to be the oldest church in Leyte. On November 12, 1784 Palompon ob- tained its parochial independence from Lilongos. The first parish priest was Father Martine During World War I the church was so devastated by American bombing that the Americans condemned it as a hazard and actually tried to pull down the battered facade with a big bull- dozer, but the massive edifice refused to budge. Through the initiative of the parish pricst, Rey. Pablo S. Lola asisted by engineer Guillermo Viaerueis, with the all-out cooperation of the towns- people the Catholic Church was rebuilt and now again towers as the most awe- some, magnificent and venerable edi- fice hereabouts PROBLEMS OF EARLY PALOM. PONGANONS. Aside from frequent Moto depredations which involved kid- napping of children and women to be 1900 o12 Town Halt sold in slave markets, the natives also suffered from their Spanish rulers. They were forced to work fifteen days a ‘month under harsh conditions, Ignorance was another problem, ‘The common mass believed in super stitions and diwaza, believing that big trees were inhabited by evil spirit, RESOURCES WHICH ATTRACT: ED SETTLERS. The wide plain at Ca- iguhan and the town proper atracted the first settlers. especially during she famine of Cebu and Bohol. The Bohola- nos found Palompon a good fishing ground, Cebuanes also discovered the soil good for pottery. In 1903 a rich Spaniard named Martinez established a saw mill in the town, Abaca was also | growing well. It was developed widely when Mr, Muertigue of Aboitir and | Company established a tomaban for | abaca fiber. CALAMITIES, WARS. A cholera epidemic broke out in 1885 which caused no less than twenty deaths a day, followed by small pox in 1892. Dysentery, then cholera in 1912 decimated the populstion. Inoculation of vaccination was rare at that time In 1918 after the first World War another catasprophe, dengue fever, oc curred. ‘The last great epidemic was male fia in 1945, due to unburied corpses curing the liberation, TYPHOONS. The greatest earth- quake felt in the locality was after the ‘yphoon “Orakan” in 1890, caus extensive damage to life and property. In 1912 another fearsome typhoonrer pabaentoat art ting!” Marquez struck, In 1938 a strong typhoon de- vastared the town, Ships that sought refuge behind the Tabuk Islet cap- sized, including M/S Camotes. ‘Typhoon “Wilma” struck on Oc: tober 27, 1952, causing tremendous destruction due to an unprecedented flood drowning four persons and big cattle, Ripening rice stalks were covered with mud, most of the municipality was under water about three feet decp, | 90% of the banana palms blown down. | ___ On September 3, 1984 2 great fire occured that devoured four com mercial blocks in the poblacion and killed eight maids and tinderss in a Chinese store. |A great sca tragedy happened on April 24, 1986. The M/V Dona Jose- {fina on its way to Palompon from Isa bel overloaded with copper cathodes suddenly sank in clean weather in ‘early morning. Eighty-one Palomponga- nos were among those who lost their lives. WORLD WAR II. With the Ja- panese occupation in 1942 the towns: people evacuated. and the Palompon became a ghost town. Life in the bar rios was hard. Sometimes three square meals could not be had. People had to settle for balanghoy, camote, and other rooterops for food. Clothing was searce that people resorted to course abaea fiber, 4928 TOMA POSICION: 1928 inmigiral parade of Municipal Presdont Cresente PUERICULTURE CENTER directors: Judge Jose Pastor, Mun, President Cresente “Marquez, Mun, Treasurer Venancio Via- crucis, Saturnino Mari, Jacoba Esporlas, ‘Antonia Exporias, Mercedes Osme ‘Domingo Pastor. inane erent | Se seinen ee ae ae eee WF People wee decd to catiae Miewt bw © cl the food shore ascend ed bley tmioemed bat the: produce wee ner be contol ofthe japanese who pease eee aemienn= | Pa eed ed by Japanese soldiers with fixed bayonets. Some ¢x-USAPFE soldiers who were in hiding formed a guerrilla unit which was later on recognized by the Wester Leyte Guerilla Warfare Forces to maintain peace and order and quash oudlawry. The farmers returned to ill the soil Rufin, Eleuterio Malinao, Luis Losorata, Gervacio Demelletes, Francisco Visencs, Ertanistao Ruffin, Porferio Campos, Crispin ‘Osmena, Sgt. PorterioLicardo and Police Chief Alfonso Surigno.Not long afterwards, to foster | morale, 4 General Service School for the training of military officers for the Westem Leyte Guerrilla Warfare Forces vwas established in the poblacion using the Central school premises as head- quarters, This was under the charge of Colonel Marcos Soliman with the help of other veterans of the Bataan death march like Lt. Guillermo D. Via- | crucis, Lt Carlos Pastor, Lt. Olimpio Patino, ‘The people supported this school by soliciting contributions. Guer villa officers of Palompon, Ormoc, Isabel, Merida, and Albuers were among the graduates of this school. Lt, Cedar V. Pastor and Captain Sabas P, Ramirez were some of the men behind the school, as well as Academic Supervisor Vicente J. Villegas who was the con- sultant of the General Headquarters, ‘One time the Japanese stationed at Ommoc had a surprise mopping up operation in the mountains of Palom pon, capturing two Palompon guetil- las; Santiago Martinez, Sr., ex-teacher of the elementary school and a mes- senger from the 3rd Battalion sta tioned in San Pedro. On the second day of their capture, when the Japanese forces moved out their dead bodies were found floating on the seashore with bayonet wounds. They were bur ried with military honors On September 12 and 24, 1944 ‘American war planes attacked Jax Panese vessels in the coast of Palom pon. A first-class enemy vessel was 19.36 Everarste Contes 1941 INAUGURAL PARADE for Mun, President Alfred Pas At Background are the Domestic Selence build ‘Hands, existing Esmiguel building and young ecacia sunk and one could see hundreds of head bobbing at the sea like coconuts. Dogfights between American and Ja. panese planes were a very thrilling | spectacle. When news was received that the American forces had landed in Leyte on October 20, 1944 the people rejoiced and began to setde down again, But on November 2 very carly in the moming a number of retreating Ja | building were badly damaged, Shelling panese barges were soon stranded near | followed directed at the entire town and the Tabuk Islet and hundreds of Ja | rocket bombs were pu into action all inese soldiers were observed stumbling | through the night undl the twon was fon the thomy shoals of chat islet. The | taken on December 26. The Americans inhabitants of the poblacion scampered | came in barges and amphibian tanks for safety. It was low tide and the Ja- | After the town was liberated, an air | strip for cub planes was constructed Jon Lincoin Street, tetchery to the seashores. Japanese corpses littcred in | different pars of the town Two weeks after the town was liberated the public schools opened | in January 1945. Supervisor Vicente J Villegas was greatly responsible for the restoration and opening of the classes both in the central and bartio schools. To give the civilians opportunities to eam a living, they were employed by the Americans to clear the streets of debris and paid P1.25 a day every af: temnoon. Besides, the people were given rations in the form of eamed foods as salmon, pork and beans. It was peace panese were swimming across the chan- nel until the town was swarming with enemy soldiers, On December 3 giant American planes dropped incendiary bombs at the Japanese who were stationed in some of the big buildings in the town. Many of the houses were bumed and school ‘buildings, the church, the municipal“Cry ‘Havoc’ and let slip the dogs of war." - Shakespeare - Our Battles in Palompon [AS TOLD BY 2ND Li. PACIENTE CUBILLAS (ret) was born in Agusan. In January 1942 I was called to active duty un der Col, Ruperto Kangleon of the 101st Infantry Regiment as 3rd lieutenant, World War II had began, sucking the United States into the vortex with the sneak bombing «by" the Japanese of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 Bataan Tell in April 1942. While guarding a landing field in Agusan in January 1943 we received orders from four superirors to surrender. I instead fled to Leyte, landing at Anahawan then proceeded to Hinunangan where organized a bolo regiment with Pedro Daantos as my executive officer. We forthwith attacked the Japanese garri- son, wiping out the 12man detachment but suffering four casualties In March Col. Kangleon summoned me back to Agusan to secure arms at Veruela from Col. Hendell Fertig, the having already received war ‘material from Australia. Being familiar with the place I encountered no diffi- culty in transporting, by carabao sledge and barotos the arms down to the Su- igo shore and across Mindanao Strait t0 Leyte, Others were not lucky. Capt. Jabacon, about to sail back to Bohol also with a load of arms from Fertig, was trapped by the enemy and latter got killed wich all his men. They were buried’ right on the beach, the hapless captain’s knees protruding from the sand. ‘At my suggestion, Kangleon asked McArthur to send aid direct to Leyte At 5:00 P.M. of July 14, 1944, as pre- arranged, the submarine Nawtilus sur faced off Abuyog and disgorged unto my waiting rafts and bancas 85 tons of war material, including the shipment for Bohol whose agents could not decide on the unloading point, Bohol being then under heavy assault, And that was how our intrepid Company “@" was bor, under the 96th Re- ment ~ JAG. So we crossed the mountains of Abuyog, hugging the shorelines on board frail bancas at night, landing at Merida whence we sneaked to Palom- pon as ordered, arriving in this oldtown on August 15, 1944, 1immediate- ly summoned local resistance fighters tp a huddle, attended by Lt. Olimpio Patino, Lt, Carlos Pastor, Sgt. Jose ostelo and many others. About noon two Japanese launches docked and Major Jose Navareno who arrived later ordered me to attack. At dawn the fol- lowing day we opened fire but the enemy scurried away, one launch sinking off Buenavista, They retumed ‘on November 1 on board two gun boats and engagements followed at Cantubo where seven Japanese and our Jose Beretoa fell, In the days following we engaged the enemy at Sta, Rosa, on November 2 at Km. 18 where in three hours of intense combat and favored with good terrain we inflicted 285 car sualties on thé enemy. Our Gervacio Sacay died here, Undaunted, the enemy pursued us all the way to Matag-ob where 1 came into direct contact with their left flank guard forces, killing five of them, My volunteer guard at the time ‘was Ananias Claris I then took command of the Vil- CUBILLAS in his prime “People of the Philippines, [ have re- turned,” the general began, his voice quavering with emotion. “By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again con Philippine soil. .. The hour of your redemption is here, Your patriots have demonstrated an unswerving and re- solute devotion to the principles of freedom, . . Rally to me: Let the in- domitable spirit of Bataan and Cor regidor lead on. As the lines of battle roll forward to bring you within the zone of operations, rise and strike. All told our "G" Company made 172 engagements with the enemy. Of my 110 men 18 lost their lives. aba resistance. In a series of encoun- ters platoon leader Sgt. Mesias Paloma ‘was wounded in Maanyag, my executive officer Lt, Bleuterio Navos hit in Ca- Dbungean and Lt. Eusebio Aguilar in Libagong, while Sgt. Aquilo and Cpl. ‘Tampos fell in the Villaba poblacion I cannot forget March 5, 1944 Ambushed at Tagbubunga, we lost Opt. Antolin Servande and Pat. Soco on the first volley, my guard and 1 wounded. I was rushed to the 73rd American field hospital in Tacloban, where 1 exchanged pleasantries with my superior Major Nazareno who was himself wounded. ‘On October 20 General Mac\r ‘thur's liberation forces landed at Palo. His twominute speech which was broadcast. by radio is unforgettable For future generation of your sons and daughters, stike! In the name of your sacred dead, strike! Let no heart be faint, Let every arm be stecled.” But all told, our Company “G’ had already made 172 engagements ia Palompon, Villaba, Matagob, Kananga and Ormoe before MacArthur’ stirring broadcast. Most of our casulaties were suffered when we attempted to break the enemy line of retreat from Ormoc ‘to Bugabuga mountains in Villabs. Of my 110 men 18 lost their lives. ‘The American forces of the 77th Division finally strived in Palompon on Christmas eve of 1944, but there was 0 be no Yuletide respite. Kangleon or- dered me to attack Camp Langit in Or ‘moc. My complaint that there were other guerilla units in Ormoc to do the mission and chat my men were fighting in Palomp on, Villaba and Kanange was bushed aside, Resentful, 1 sent only half of my “G” company under Lt. Elevterio Navok. After three days, with no news on the fate of my men, Took 2 cab plane w Can-adging, Ormoc and there told Major General Andrew Bruce that | would fumish the Japanese hold-outs, numbering about 200, that same day so d could take back my men, In the ensuing assault oa Camp Langit which was speatheaded by a tank, we killed 160 Japanese, As prize wwe were granted our fond request for complete sets of sniforms from boot to helmet with new arms: carbines, garands, thompsons. We requested for 2 barge to tke ws to Palompon, the bet- ter fo alert the waiting townspeople of our arrival. And as our barge landed near the publie market great pride surged in our hearts as slomponganons in great numbers applauded and cheer- 4, seeing their boys forthe first time in complete GI uniform with stel helmets. Our pride as shorelived, Major Winthrop Rockefeller, $4 of the 7th Division, met and took us to his head- quarters near the cemetery and told us ic was not covered by instructions for Filipino guerillas to be issued stel hel mets, The boys made a howl of protest ‘but I cold them ie was all for the better since the helmets were vncomfortable and heay anyway. My sour graping succeeded, the boys dispersed and strutted proudly around the town in GGtuniform less the helmet (On New Yeas Day of 1945 when the 305th regiment of the 77th Division lefe for Tanauan bound for Okinawa and Iwo Jima where fearsome battles were 0 occur, I was ordered with an American company t0 occupy Villaba, were some 3,000 retreating Japanese under the fabled General Yamashita were holding out in wellentrenched mountains caves of Bugabug. We could not make eny headway and withdrew with four of our trusted man Killed, The main body of the enemy troops slipped through, but weeks later even four volunteer guards had the oppor tunity to finish off remnanss of the conce mighty Imperial Army who emerged from the caves weak and famished. i”THE BATTLE FOR PALOMPON ‘THE 77th DIVISION GOES WEST OVERWATER TO PALOMPON (Excerpts from U.S. Army in World War I, Office of the Chief of Milicary History, Dept. of the Army, Wash D.C, 1954) he coordinated pressure exerted by Americans on the Japanese in the Or moc area compelled the 350 Army of General Suruki to abandon his assault against the Burauen airfields and mansfer the field base of 35th Army from Ormoc to Palompon. the 35th Army from Ormoe to Palom pon, ‘The northwestern mountains of Leyte west of Ormoc Bay provided a difficult barrier to. any movement toward the northwest coast. The ares was the last one available to the Japan- I can still reeall many young Pa lomponganons who gallandy contribut- ‘ed to the resistance. Roberto Costelo vwas injured, Antonio “Toting” Abayon and Guillermo Tampos who served as my intelligence guides, Capistrano Gra- naderos, Hermogenes Valores, the Guillemers, Benedicto Malait, Felipe Delgado, Lt. Guillermo Viaerucis, and my volunteer medical aide Monserrat ese either for escaping from Leyte or for staging defensive actions. In general, the terrain was rough, increasing in al situde from broken ground and low hills in the north w steep rocky ridges and ‘igh ills in the south, Palompon had been extensively used by the Japanese as an auxiliary port of entry to Leyte. The town was the western terminus of the road that zan north and eastward across the north- westem hills to join Highway 2 near Libongeo, The Falompon road, a5 it was called, followed the lower slopes of, the hills until the flat interior valley floor was reached, The confining hills stecpsided with many knife. edged crests. Such was the area into which the forces of the Sixth Amy hhad_ driven remnants of the Japanese 35th Army, Guersilas had informed General Bruce that the bridges on the road that wound through the mountains from the vicinity of Libongao to Px Jompon either were intact or could be Soquez, Esper Marilao, Conching Chiong, Salud and Asuncion Pastor, Onding and Neneng Velez, Rose Nayra Caridad Arevalo, Resting Sevilla and ‘many others of the Women Auxillary Service who sew ugpak clothes for our soldiers, fed them and dressed their wounds, I have 2 deep admiration for Pa- lomponganons, for their noble traits 1 observed not only at wartime but in the peaceful years that followed, having keen elected vice mayor in 1955, These enviable qualities were exempli- fied by Palompon's more notable leaders whom I had the opportunity to know, including Mayors Alfredo Par- rilla (Sr, and Jr.), Nestorio Omega, Ramon Eamiguel, Salvador Marquez, and civic leaders Sarumino Mari, Eu- genio Viacrucis, Francisco Asayas, Sr. I wish to but cannot mention them all Memory falters and the shadows of my quickly sepaired, On 19 December | General Bruce directed that a fast moring force be omanized to operate | along the road wo Palompon, On 22 | December General Krueger informed Admiral Kinkaid that i¢ might be pos- sible to expedite the capure of Palom pon by having an infantry bacalion, tsclizing amphibian vehicles and LOM, make an amphibious movement from Onmoe to the vicinity of Plompon In support of the proposed land: ing, airrafe from the Fifth Air Force trombed.Palompon. on. 23 December, “The results were "hot sui,” an over enthusiastic obserer reported, clam ing that “only half of two houses were left standing in the whole town” “The yess took postion off the landing beaches on the morning of 25 December. After the 155mm. guns of the $34st Field Arillery Bartalion had fired from positions near San Jose, twelve and a half miles east of Palom. pon, the morear boss. of the 2 En- ineer Special Brigade softened up the life deepen, soon to fade into the night, I cast a lingering look at the vacant ground where once stood the old, war- scarred municipio and the new Town Hall which was built with an initial | amount from my late superior who be- came Senator Ruperto Kangleon, and as I behold the old monuments and | the new, beautiful park, I muse: how much Palompon has changed, yet how unchanging her age-old values: peace- ful, civieminded, self-reliant, Mabubay and Palompon! Editor's note: Cubilles, sil bale and bearty at 71, now resides at Thri- Cut, Matag-ob where be s still active in the farm. He was Matag-ob's first mayor ‘when it twas weaned from Palompon in 1957 to become a separate munici- pality. He is married t0 Encamacion Esmas of Villabe, with wbom be has 12 children. 12beaches. The landing waves then start ed for the shore. They received no hostile fire, | ‘The troops quickly organized on | the beach. A light fast armored column moved north to clear the road and to forestall any Japanese counterattack | from that direction as the rest of the task force went rapidly south dirough | the barrio of Lo-ok to Palompon, which | fell at 1206. This closed the last main port of entrance on the island to the Japanese. It was doubtless with great satisfaction that General Bruce sent the following message to the Commanding General, XXIV Corps: “The 77th In- | fantry Division's Christmas contribution to the Leyte Campaign is the capture of Palompon, the last main port of the enemy. We are all grateful to the Al mighty on this birthday of the Son and con the Season of the Feast of Lights.” | 1938 Municipal officials sitting: Cresonte Ma ‘quez, Arcadio Molon, St, President Nestor Omegs, Silverio Arevalo, Standing: Bor Merin, Alfredo Esporlas, Sr, Dr. His, ge Brito, Bottom right: 1998 Rizal Day flost with Muse Clementine Brogaudit and pol PALOMPON a few days after the bombing: 1 bomb crater; 2 Lincoln stret converted into an airstrip; 3 Cental schoolbullding:4ricafield, now Oval Athletic Field; 5 bomb craters; 6 talisay tre; 7 old public market; 8 Delgado building (burned in 1084); 9 Eamiguel building (existing); 10 young acceia twee; 11 church with eavecin roof. ‘The book US. Army in World War Il which contained the above photographs wasmade available by Mr. & Mrs. Michael George of Pinamopoan, Capoocan, Leyte, with the help of Bey. Captain lemael Rubio, VIEW OF ORMOG after the bimbardment. In the middle nme Walley ithe dis aekeronaMUNICIPAL OFFI Marquez, Mayor AM® Sr., Francisco Asaya Borja Merin, Mun. Secretary Eugenio Evangolista, (unidentified), Police Chiat Porfrio Licardo. MUNICIPAL COUNCILORS taking oath before Judge Agripino Ensoy. MUNICIPAL COUNCIL (front row): Macario Urbot ‘Ambrocio Marlao, Manuel Pastor, Esperanza Taca |EARTS at Social Center. Note you vd battered chureh at background, PUERICULTURE CENTER inauguration.