THE PALINAR PACULAN

Legend has it that our grandmother Victoria Palinar Cabiles Paculan was originally from Pangasinan. The Palinars are natives of Lingayen and insofar as my recollection of history is concerned, it was Dr. Palinar, the father of Mely (if my recollection from my mother, serves me right) married to Pastor, was the one who saved Elizalde "Dandi" Rodrigazo to near death in a prison camp in Lingayen. "Dandi", who was imprisoned in a Japanese Camp after marching from Bataan to Lingayen, later known in our history as "The Death March", was so sick.

I was told by Tiyo'y Dandi whenever I'm in Murcia that many of his compatriots escaped during the march either by rolling down the hills whenever the situation permits as they passes by on thickly forested areas. He, however, cannot leave behind his cousin who was also captured by the Japanese with a group of Americn soldiers, the "Irwin", the son of Lola Andit Paculan Irwin, whose sister is Rosie and Mary Irwin - Knott, who, as we were informed by Ed Knott, Mary's husband, are in this picture together with their cousins the Palinar. Lola Andit is the sister of Lola Victoria "Toyang" Palinar, Cabilles Paculan Rodrigazo.

Tiyo'y Dandi told me that they were forced to eat the meat of dead carabaos along the road due to hunger. When they reached the prison camp in Lingayen, then Lt. Ferdinand Marcos was their mess officer, who rations their meals. Their prison beds are made of decks of bamboos and because of the unsanitary condition in the camp, he suffered diarrhea. He was then confined in the infirmary of the camp, became too thin and sick. The Japanese already placed a tape with his prisoner's number in his forehead. Whenever the patient is about to die, Japanese soldier will remove the tape in their forehead and dump them into a pit along with the others. Thereafter, the tape will be placed in the masterlist corresponding their names, which means that they are already dead.

It was providential, however, that Dr. Palinar saw Tiyo'y Dandi in the infirmary while on his round to check the patients. He was also looking for the Irwins, but found Tiyo'y Dandi instead. He was so sick that the camp commander allowed Dr. Palinar to take Dandi home. He never saw his cousins again. Thereafter, he went home to Negros, joined the guerilla movement and fought the Japanese when General Douglas Mac Arthur and the Americans returned to liberate our country.

(The picture is a complement of Ed Knott, WW II American hero married to Mary Irwin, sister of Rosie Lucasan. They have 11 children, 7 are still living. He's now 86.)

From Artemio "Labing" Arrieta's blog.