The Filipino Soldier

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Throughout known history, the Filipino soldier earned
an honored place on the battlefield.  The annals
of history are full of praise for the Filipino warrior
and soldier.

If we venture back to the writings of the Chinese
and Muslims,  it may be that the ancient Filipinos
were mentioned in the notices of Sanfotsi, Zabag
and related kingdoms.   This author explores this
possibility on a linked webpage
discussing the medieval Philippines.

Whether the Philippines constituted the kingdoms
mentioned,  the latter certainly belonged to the
vast archipelago inhabited by Filipinos and our
Malay relatives.  Thus, much of the characteristics
ascribed to the Sanfotsi or other warriors would
also apply, for the most part, to Filipinos.


 The Chinese Testimony


Regarding Sanfotsi, the geographical encyclopedia
written by Ma Tuan-lin states:


        "They are all very brave; in fighting on land or water
         they are superior to other nations.  They have a sea port
         at the point where commerce passes and they compel the
         merchants to stop there.  If some should attempt to pass
         without recognizing them, they would immediately launch
         a naval assault against them.  All would be ready to
         take them without fail, no matter how energetic the
         resistance.  The result of this is that the port
         of Sanfotsi is the entrepot of the merchants of all
         countries."  (Author's translation of D'Harvey St. Denis's
         French translation)


Another medieval Chinese writer, Chau Ju-kua's wrote
concerning Sanfotsi:

        "They are skilled at fighting on land or water. When
        they are about to make war on another state they assemble
        and send for the such a force as the occasion demands.
        They appoint chiefs and leaders, and all provide their
        own military equipment and the necessary provisions.
        In facing the enemy and braving death they have not
        their equal among other nations."
        (Chu-fan-chi translated by Hirth and Rockhill)


The medieval geography of Chou Ku-fei says something very
similar regarding the warriors of Sanfotsi:

        "...the people are skilled in fighting. When they are
        about to fight, they cover their bodies with a medicine
        which prevents swords wounding them. In fighting on land
        or on water none surpass them in impetousity of attack;
        even the Kulin people come after them. If some foreign
        ship, passing this place, should not enter here, an
        armed party would certainly come out kill them to the
        last."



The Muslim Testimony


 The Muslim writers had pretty much the same impression of
 the Malay people.

 Ibn al-Fakih says of the Sanfotsi (Zabag): "...they are of a
 great character resembling a nation of ferocious beasts." In a
 way, this resembles, Draper's descriptions of the Pampangos
 as a "fierce and barbarous people."

 In describing the island of Niyan which was located somewhere
 between Sanfotsi and Toupo, a Muslim writer states: "The
 inhabitants are remarkable for their great energy and great
 courage."

 Another Muslim writer describes the same people as "of indomitable
 character and hostile to strangers."


The Coming of the Europeans


 When Pigafetta visited the island of Mindanao during the
 expedition of Magellan he was impressed by an exceptionally
 brave tribe of long-haired warriors living on that island.

 Magellan was eventually killed himself in a battle with
 the local raha, Lapu-lapu.

 However, Magellan had started the process by which
 the islands were eventually subjugated.  He managed
 to convert a local king and his subjects to Christianity.
 And for awhile, he pitted the zealous new convert
 against other local kings.  When Legazpi came to conquer
 the Philippines he did the same thing, but more
 successfully.  The main contingent during Legazpi's
 invasion of Luzon was a force of Cebuano mercenaries
 who provided their own native warships.


The Spanish Testimony

Even under foreign rule, the Filipino established
a reputation as an excellent soldier.  One
Spanish writer declared that the Filipino soldier
was the bravest of all the subjects of the king
of Spain, at a time when the Spanish empire was
at its height.

Father Delgado, responding to criticism leveled
against the Indio stated:


        "On the contrary, it must be said that
        the Indians are those who defend us from
        our enemies; for, in the presidios, who are
        the soldiers, who sail in the war fleets, who
        are in the vanguard in war?  Could the
        Spaniards, perchance, maintain themselves
        alone in the country, if the Indians did not
        aid in everything?"

        (Blair & Robertson, The Philippine Islands,
        1493-1898, Vol. VI, pp. 270-271)


The records of the Spaniards were full of the daring
exploits of Filipino soldiers. In a letter by Juan
Grau y Monfalcon he wrote of the Filipinos:


        "Those Indians, mingled with Spaniards,
        serve as soldiers in war, and have proved
        excellent therein.  Especially are the
        Pampangos valiant soldiers, who have performed
        and are daily performing valiant exploits at
        the side of the Spanish.  They were at the taking
        of Terrenate; and, whenever occasion offers, they
        with other companies come to guard the city of
        Manila."

        (Conrado Benitez, History of the Philippines,
        Boston, 1929, p. 258)


When the British invaded Manila they encountered stirring
resistance from the Filipino defenders.  Here is what
Draper says in his journal:


        "Had their skill and weapons been equal to their
        strength and ferocity, it might have cost us dear.
        Although armed chiefly with bows, arrows, and lances,
        they advanced up to the very muzzles of our pieces,
        repeated their assaults, and died like wild beasts,
        gnawing the bayonets."



 Because of their dependence on Filipino soldiers, so Spaniards
 worried about the possibility of revolt.  Bernardino Maldanado
 in his report to the king warns of this danger:


         "They are a people of great boldness only needing a
         leader whom they would recognize, and the are so many
         in number that it is a matter that must be feared
         considerably, and one of which your Majesty orders
         us to be fearful and watchful."

        (Conrado Benitez, History of the Philippines,
        Boston, 1929, p. 248)



One of the finest compliments to the Filipino as a soldier
might be the following Spanish saying regarding the
people of Pampanga province:


         "One Spaniard and nine Pampanguenos are more than
         a match for ten men from any nation."

          (Sturtevant, Popular Uprisings in the Philippines:
          1840-1940, p. 90))



The Coming of the Americans


When the Americans engaged in a war of conquest against
the Philippines they met stiff resistance.  Although
the ill-equipped Philppine Army was defeated after
two years,  armed rebellion continued from 1902 to
1917.   In particular, the Moros of Mindanao and the
Pulanjanis offered "fanatical" resistance.

However, even at the start of the conflict, the Americans,
like the Spaniards, had already recruited native allies in
the Macabebe, Igorot, Cagayan and Ilokano Scouts.

Later on, these initial scout units became the core of
the renowned Philippine Scouts of the U.S. Army.  Like
the Spanish, the Americans quickly realized the value
of the Filipino soldier.  In an article in the April
1905 issue of Infantry Journal, Major William
H. Johnson states:


        "The Philippine Scouts fill an important role
        and in that role are without an equal.  For
        service in the islands they can frequently be
        of more service than American troops."


Americans serving with the Scouts often developed
a liking for the dedicated Filipino soldiers.
Colonel Edmund J. Lilly, CO of the 57th Infantry,
wrote:


        "When I think of them (Philippine Scouts),
        Kipling's words run through my head. "I
        have eaten your bread and salt.  I have drunk
        your water and wine, and the deaths you died
        I have watched beside and the lives you lived
        were mine."

        (The Philippine Scout Heritage Foundation,
        The Philippine Scouts,,  1996, p. 107)


Many illustrious American military figures served
with the Scouts and they all had high praise.  The
following comments from a an Army publication of
1949 illustrates this fact:


        "You must be very proud to belong to an
        organization that is famous among military
        men throughout the world.  Such distinguished
        leaders as the late General of the Armies
        John J Pershing, Major General Leonard Wood,
        Lt. General Jonathan Wainwright, and General
        Douglas MacArthur have given the highest
        praise of the Scouts."*


        (The Philippine Scout Heritage Foundation,
        The Philippine Scouts,,  1996, p. 457)


The acts of bravery displayed by the Scouts during
World War II captured the imagination of the world.
General MacArthur was particularly moved by incident
he observed among the Igorot units:



        "Many desperate acts of courage and heroism have fallen
        under my observation on many fields of batlle in many
        parts of the world. I have seen last-ditch stands and
        innumerable acts of personal heroism that defy description,
        but for sheer breathtaking and heart-stopping desperation,
        I have never known the equal of those Igorots. Gentlemen,
        when you tell that story, stand in tribute to these
        gallant Igorots."
        

The following poem was written by 1st Lieutenant Henry
Lee, an American officer with the 12th Military Police
Company during the Battle of Bataan:


        The desperate fight is lost; the battle is done.
        The brown lean ranks are scattered to the breeze.
        Their cherished weapons resting in the sun.
        Their moldering guidons hidden by the leaves.
        No more the men who did not fear to die
        Will plug the broken line while through the din
        Their beaten comrades raise the welcome cry,
        Make way, make way, the Scouts are moving in!"

        The jungle takes the long defended lines
        The trenches erode; the wires rust away,
        The lush dank grasses and the trailing vines
        Soon hide the human remains of the fray.
        The Battle ended and the story told
        To open to the Scouts as they unfold
        The tired little soldiers enter in.

        The men who were besieged on every side
        Who knew the dissolution of retreat
        And still retained thir fierce exultant pride
        And still were soldiers - even in defeat,
        Now meet the vetrans of ten thousand years
        Now find a welcome worthy of their trade
        From men who fought with crossbows and with spears
        With bullet and with arrow and with spade.

        The grizzled veterans of Rome built upon
        The Death-head horde of Attila the Hun
        The Yellow Horror of the greatest Khan
        The guardmen of the First Napoleon
        All the men in every nameless fight
        Since first Man strove against Man to prove his worth
        Shall grett the tired Scouts as is their right
        No finer soldiers ever walked the Earth.

        And then the Scouts will be formed to be reviewed
        Each scattered unit now once more complete
        Each weapon and bright crisp flag renewed
        And high above their cadence their feet
        Will come the loud clear virile welcoming shout
        From many throats, before the feats begin,
        Their badge of Honor mid their comrades shout
        "Make way, make way, the Scouts are moving in!"


        (The Philippine Scout Heritage Foundation,
        The Philippine Scouts,,  1996, p. 463)


 After Independence

 Filipino soldiers continued to distinguish themselves
 in the Philippine military and as units serving with
 the United Nations.  Thus, the long, glorious traditon
 of the Filipino soldier continues.  In this respect,
 we have not even covered the exploits of the Filipino
 sailor.

 At the present time (1997),  Filipino veterans of World
 War II are protesting the treatment they received after
 such valiant service.  Some veterans began a hunger
 strike in Los Angeles demanding restitution for Filipino
 veterans.   Let's give them our support.
Finis
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Thanks to Manong Ken Ilio for the ethnic background. Check out his site at http://www.mcs.net/~asia/website.html (Tribung Pinoy)