Honor for an American hero

Sometimes, one can be jolted from somnolence and the acceptance of what has already become an institutional ritual.

Thus the yearly tribute to PFC Theodore C. Vinther of the United States Army has been institutionalized for years. Later, however, there was hardly a few who remembered him. It seems that only the veterans of the Second World War had understood what Vinther had done for Bacolodnons.

He was credited with having saved hundreds of Bacolodnons who were placed inside the San Sebastian Cathedral which was ringed by the Japanese remaining units with explosives.

In short, according to the write-up of Vinther, his sacrifice prevented the Japanese from pushing through with their intention.

For Bacolodnons of yesteryears, Vinther was a hero. In short, he saved their lives.

But there was something more to it. When I was serving as executive assistant to the late Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Jr. I heard a different version of Vinther's death.

It was an unnecessary waste of life,” said the late Col. Salvador Abcede.

Emilio Borromeo, Abcede's aide, confirmed the old man's version of his troops having already crossed the Bago River along the area and could have raced through the downtown area to the Cathedral.

I did not have the heart to tarnish the heroism of Vinther whose family had travelled all the way from the United Sates to attend the Bacolodnon's tribute the their son.

Now, that was also the thing that bothered me. Until now, I still have a monument of AB, as we called Abcede.

In the language of historian Carlos Quirino, citing the South West Pacific Command – Abcede was young (About 31), well-trained and competent.

“He organized his force early after surrender. Then he slowly led his men in the attack. That was how it described the soldier.

And, although he scrupulously diverted himself from politics, he reportedly earned the respect of his men with his sense of discipline as having earned him the loyalty of the civilians in the military district.

It was fortunate that he had under him as divisional commander, Col. Mata, a Philippine Military Academy graduate of 1937.

Mata did not interpose objections when later former Defense Secretary Macario Peralta appointed Abcede head of the 7 th Military District.

Abcede was fortunate in having with him officers like Placido Ausrejo. Roberto S. Benedicto, Lorenzo Teves, (later senator), Ceferino Galvez, B.B. Villaria, governor and ROTC instructor of Silliman University. Fidel Solliven, Romeo Intengan, Emilio Borromeo and later Col. Udarico Baclagon, a military historian.

Shortly after the declaration of Martial Law, Abcede returned to the provincial government and returned home to Laguna. There he lived in his humble but impressive house near the highway leading to Los Banos.

There it was when I paid him a visit to see how his health was faring. He was almost immobilized. But he maintained his posture. After a half day of conversation, he stood up and escorted me to the door of his house, still ramrod. And saluted me when I bade him farewell.

That was my last glimpsed of AB. Later, I rushed back to Manila to inform Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. about the state of AB. Then, the defense secretary immediately arranged for him and Peding to visit AB.

The tragedy is that, despite their sacrifices for the people of Negros Island, neither Abcede nor Mata have statues made in their honor.

Well, in the hearts of those who know what they did, there will always be remembrances of Abcede and Mata. They deserve statues as much as Vinther.*

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