Wartime heroes

The courage of American civilians living in Manila during the Second World was rewarded by the United States Embassy by naming rooms in the chancery in their honor. The remembered heroes – not as famous as Gen. Douglas McArthur but deserving of recognition – are Charles Parsons, Jr., Dr. Najeeb Saleeby, Claire Phillips, and Francis Murphy. In light-hearted banter, the charming Chargé d’Affaires, Joseph Mussomeli told invited guests at a small party titled A Century of Friendship and Alliance that the honorees were each unique, "might not even liked each other had they met," and "most certainly would not have agreed with each other on political matters." But they shared enduring and endearing qualities – of "being disagreeable and refusing to conform to the status quo," and they were "all great friends of the Philippines, and greatly committed to freedom and justice."

Charles or "Chick" Parsons first came to Manila at age 5. When the war broke out, Parsons and his family managed to return to the U.S., but Chick returned to the Philippines on numerous secret submarine missions. His network of local contacts enabled him to communicate with guerilla units. After the war, he resumed his business activities and remained in the Philippines for the rest of his life.

Dr. Saleeby was born in Syria and became a naturalized American. He came to Manila aboard the S.S. Thomas and worked in Sulu and Mindanao as the superintendent of schools. He wrote highly-respected books on Moro culture. He became the first medical director of St. Luke’s Hospital, then called University Hospital, in 1907. In naming the chancery courtyard in Najeeb’s honor, Mr. Mussomeli said "his spirit of adventure brought him here as a young man, but it was his deep affection for the Filipino people that inspired him to make this his home."

A fascinating story is that of Claire Phillips who opened a cabaret not far from the embassy, called "Club Tsubakai." Claire wanted to help the Allies, but it was probably to save the man she loved (Mr. Mussomeli did not identify the man) that made her take up a "double life" by passing intelligence to the Philippine guerillas. She carried the alias "high pockets," a euphemism for her hiding coded messages in her brassiere. The chancery conference room is named in her honor.

The fourth honoree, Francis Murphy, was appointed Governor-General of the Philippines in 1933, and justice of the Supreme Court in 1940. He was known for his scathing dissent in the case against General Yamashita who was sentenced to death for war crimes. Yamashita’s case was brought up to the Supreme Court, which upheld the conviction. But Justice Murphy dissented and chastised the majority. He said, "While peoples in other lands may not share our beliefs as to due process and the dignity of the individual, we are not free to give effect to our emotions in reckless disregard of the rights of others. An uncurbed spirit of retribution . . . masked in formal legal procedure, can do more lasting harm than all the atrocities giving rise to that spirit."

The city of Gingoog in Misamis Oriental celebrates its town fiesta this weekend with more than the usual pageantry as a new mayor has been elected – Ruth de Lara Guingona. Among the Gingoognons who will troop to their hometown for the celebration are officers and members of GUGMA, short for Gingoognon Union in Greater Manila Area. Interestingly, the word gugma means love.

And this bunch of people – about 25-30 – who live and work in Manila love their town. They meet nearly every month in a member’s home for socials and planning of fund-raising activities to sustain a scholarship program that has sent deserving students to the Bukidnon State College in Gingoog for education, commerce and bachelor of arts degrees. So far, 23 scholars have graduated, and 40 per cent of them have found jobs.

The idea for the scholarship was first brought up by the first GUGMA president, PNP Gen. Ronnie Bagsican who happens to be the first military general from Gingoog. The succeeding presidents made the idea a reality – Ben Elgincolin, Frank Cezar and Inday Lugod Guerrero (whose husband, Boy, is a Court of Appeals justice).

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