WWII guerrilla leader immortalized in school

LUCBAN, Quezon ,Philippines – A World War II guerrilla leader and public official who founded his own high school and college is now immortalized in a life-size monument constructed inside the Paaralang Elementarya ng Lucban 5 in Barangay Ayuti.

The unveiling of the monument of Hobart Dator Sr. coincided with his birth anniversary on Feb. 11, and was attended by most of his children and grandchildren.

Dator Sr., known as a local hero here and who once became a mayor, then board member, vice governor and acting governor of Quezon province, was given a posthumous recognition, the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan award, on Aug. 19, 2008, in recognition of his outstanding public service.

Hobart Dator Jr., sixth of the elder Dator’s eight children, said he is truly humbled by his father’s utmost loyalty to his country and his undaunted public service.

He related that at 17, his father joined then President Manuel Quezon’s own set of guerrillas and also became a member of the Sector 43 Anderson Guerrillas based in Mt. Banahaw.

Dator Sr. was also responsible for the establishment of the Lucban Municipal High School, the forerunner of the Southern Luzon Polytechnic College which was converted into a university by the late Quezon governor Raffy Nantes.