Who’s Who in Bataan – Major Pedro Mercado Quezon

“…It is not how long, but how well a life is lived that matters.”

Major Pedro Mercado Quezon
By Dr. Prospero “Popet” Bascara Quezon, M.D.
(edited by Irah Quezon)

Pedro Mercado Quezon, the only child of Dominga Mercado and Ramon Quezon both from Mabatang, was born on August 26, 1920 in Mabatang, Abucay, Bataan. His mother Dominga, was a direct descendant of General Mercado of the Katipunan fame in Mabatang. His father Ramon worked in Manila as a cook for a big restaurant. They were very popular in Mabatang and were known as Apo Inga and Tata Ramon. Pedro was fondly called Totoy by family, friends and Mabatang folks. Nobody referred to him as Pedro because it was just too formal but later on he would be known as Tiniente/Lieutenant and then Major Pedro Quezon.

Some people said they lived in Dulmig. Others claimed they were from Atbandalan and still some stated that they settled in San Antonio and even in Cabatuan. These were probably all true because the Quezon couple was too poor to own a house of their own so they stayed with different relatives every time they came home from Manila where his father worked.

Throughout Totoy’s growing up years, he was showered with all the love, care, concern and protection that any parent would bestow upon an only child but he was far from being spoiled. On the contrary, he grew up to be a respectful, obedient, disciplined son and was very close to his parents.

There were many stories about Totoy’s childhood but what resonated the most was his intelligence, maturity and desire to protect and care for people, especially his family. He had lots of friends but never gang mates. He would prefer to keep an eye on his mother who was enjoying a nap on her siesta instead of going out with his friends during his summer vacations.

“Go out and play with your friends and cousins” urged his uncle. He responded, “No, when Inay wakes up, she wants me to be the first person she sees when she opens her eyes.” Such was Totoy’s typical and affectionate deep concern for his mother. Apo Inga and Totoy were often engaged in deep conversations. He would always express his views and opinions like an old man. He would share his insights, his views about life and his plans for the future.

Totoy and his mother would often discuss their observations about the people of Mabatang, their customs and traditions. Totoy, at a very young age, observed that when a person from a poor family dies, the family would have hardly enough resources to give their loved one a proper funeral. Oftentimes, the family would have to rely on friends, relatives and neighbors to give a bit more abuloy. Charitable Mabatang folks understandably do most of the time even without being asked because they all value and honor this religious tradition.

Although Totoy was never against accepting assistance, his dignity coupled with his deep love and concern for his parents would not allow them to suffer the same fate. He feared for what would happen to them once he is gone. He wanted to find a way to provide security for his parents and his future family. He made a vow to himself and took action.
When he was of age, out of love for family and his people, he decided to join the Philippine Military Academy. Totoy’s parents did not want their only son to be separated from them after high school. It was only through his persuasion and logical explanations that made them agree to let him join the military. He envisioned this as the great escape from poverty for his family. In the event that he dies before his parents, all their needs will be provided for by the Philippine government; from their livelihood up to their burial. This eventually would all come to fruition. He served and died protecting his family, the Filipino people and his country.

He was academically well prepared. Entering the PMA suited him well. He excelled in maths and took up engineering as a cadet at the PMA. While in the academy, he was awarded the titles Bayonet Expert, Rifle Expert, Pistol Marksman, MG‐1st Class Gunner, Ring Committee‐1/C and was skilled in boxing and wrestling. He was a natural leader and a true hero. He was awarded numerous Distinguished Conduct Star; Presidential Unit Citation Badge, Distinguished Unit badge with 2 OKL (USA), Philippine Defense Medal with 1 BS, American Defense Service Medal (USA), Asiatic‐Pacific Theatre Medal (USA).

He was in his senior year at the Academy when the Second World War broke out. All the cadets of the Academy were automatically inducted and commissioned in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In his particular case, he was a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Service. His battlefront assignment was in the Western Section of Bataan, covered by the I Corps manned jointly by the 31st Division of the Philippine Army led by Brig. Gen. Clifford Bluemel of the U.S. Army and the First Regular Division of the Philippine Army headed by Brig. Gen. Fidel V. Segundo. Lt. Quezon and his men were assigned at Agglaloma, between Mariveles and Bagac. He saw action in this very site, Agglaloma Point.

When the enemy had a difficult time capturing Mabatang, they attempted to outflank the I Corps. They landed crack units on the west coast of Southern Bataan. They wanted to isolate the front line units from their headquarters and supplies. While fighting raged in the Abucay‐Mabatang front lines, the Quinauan‐Agglaloma area was engaged in a ferocious battle from January 23 to 29, 1942. This was part of the Battle of the Points in historical parlance. Lt. Quezon contributed tremendously to these brilliant triumphs of the USAFFE that necessitated the enemy to regroup their remaining forces and wait for reinforcements. The rest that followed was the beginnings of the Battle of Mount Samat, which was referred to as the most vicious encounter of the Second Battle of Bataan, Mabatang‐Abucay line being the first. The battle went on and carried through Mariveles until Major General Edward P. King Jr. surrendered the Bataan Forces at high noon of April 9, 1942.

The surrender saw Lt. Pedro M. Quezon in the long line of captured soldiers in the infamous Death March. He was with those who started from the second starting point at the Bagac‐Morong junction. He suffered the ire of the victorious Japanese soldiers while on the long march. Heat, thirst, hunger, sickness and open wounds multiplied the sufferings of even the strong‐willed able soldiers. With head bowed in sadness for the defeat, Lt. Quezon never felt ashamed. From within him was a flicker of faint hope for whatever tomorrow may bring.
Clinging on hope against hope, he braved the long tedious march with the enemy cruelty taken in stride despite the bare truth that the cruel reality flashes before his very eyes. With his every step, he maintained his composure, heart, body and soul intact and untainted. He survived the sixty five mile long treacherous march interspaced with gun fires for those unable to go on, rifle butt hits for those getting wayward in the line and pushing and leaving behind those who were too weak to make another step and left to die along the roadside. Camp O’Donnel and the prison camp in Capas, Tarlac was just another extension of the long suffering. He was, however, released with the other Filipino soldiers, leaving behind all the American Prisoners of War.

After his release from the prison camp, he wooed and won the heart of the beautiful and only daughter of the most respected, prominent and illustrious family in Mabatang. Buenaventurada or Ading to her friends and kin is the only rose of the Bascara‐Lazarte clan. There were three boys before and three boys after this only daughter of Daniel Bascara and Epifania Lazarte. Totoy and Ading were married on July 27, 1943 in a manner reminiscent of those very difficult times.

The flicker of hope in Lt. Quezon’s heart ignited into flames when the then Col. John P. Boone, the Commanding officer of the Bataan Military District (ECCGA) inducted him into the guerilla service on November 1, 1943 as Regional Commander, 2nd Regiment, Bataan (ECCGA) with the rank of Major.

The following day, he started recruiting and training his men on guerilla tactics, patrolling and sniping. He sent intelligence operatives into different towns to gather vital information about enemy movements. He sent men to gather used firearms and ammunitions.

The Japanese authorities heard of his activities throughout the province. They sent puppet constabulary men and Japanese Kempeis to go after him. They captured him while on official mission at the corner of San Antonino and the National Road in Mabatang, on February 1, 1944 at high noon. He was sent to the Japanese garrison at the Balanga Elementary School.

The guerillas in Mabatang, whom Major Quezon organized, devised a plan to rescue their leader. They knew that the major has been granted permission from his Japanese captors to attend the wake of his oldest brother‐in‐law and at the same time visit his pregnant wife. That was where they planned to stage the rescue mission. Most of the men in the wake were guerillas ready to carry out the rescue plan. Those in the know, kept on whispering related information and eventually the Major caught on to the plan.

Tension prevailed. It was like waiting for a bomb to explode any moment without any given warning. However, the brave Major kept his composure, cool and was careful with every word he uttered. He had to choose between his freedom or exposing his family to the risk of retaliation from the Japanese if he decides to escape. He told his soldiers to back down and abandon the mission because of his deep sense of love for his wife, the safety of his unborn child together with the respect he had for all his in‐laws. He did not want any of them harmed, much less their safety jeopardized. He went back with his captors and returned to the garrison without incident.

Major Quezon’s wife, Buenaventurada, gave birth to a healthy baby boy on May 10, 1944. They
christened him Prospero, with the hope that the child would have a prosperous life. Major Quezon was again granted permission to visit his wife and see his new born son. His soldiers seized on this opportunity to make a second attempt at rescuing him.

This time the plan was more daring and very well planned. At a given signal, all facets of the plan were to be carried out in a lighting strike. The lone Japanese escort will be liquidated by the group. The whole Bascara clan will be escorted to the guerilla hideout in Tala for their safety. His wife and child will be separately carried in a hammock and will also be transported to the same guerilla hideout.

Usually, a birth does not command massive visitors of relatives and friends. Customarily, only women pay their visit and they mostly talk about who the baby looks like or who among the relatives the baby took after. Only a handful of men were visible in the vicinity to not arouse suspicion. The guerillas kept their distance from the Bascara residence at the corner of San Antonino and Lipit streets. Communications reached the escorted prisoner. The return message was similarly relayed. Again, the answer was a big “No!”. Such a bold attempt would only fetch a bigger Japanese contingent and God knows how many Mabatang folks will be in danger. Again, after the brief visit, the Major returned to the garrison in Balanga.

From that point on, nothing was ever heard of the brave leader again. From time to time, rumors that he was still alive would spread but it was nothing more than a speculation. His parents, never lost hope that he was still alive. They continued to wait days, weeks, months and years for his eventual return.

The only son that the Major had and whom he only saw and held once during that very brief visit, grew up to become a doctor. He in a way, followed his father’s footsteps, and have also devoted his life to serving people and his community. Because of his ultimate sacrifice, his son has prospered and was spared from a life of poverty. As envisioned by the young cadet, every plan took its natural turn in every event. He was able to secure a bright future and took care of his parents, wife and son even after his death.

In a sworn statement dated March 27, 1947 in Manila, Philippines by Col. John P. Boone executed before Congressman Bonifacio Camacho who was a notary public and the representative of the lone District of Bataan and witnessed by Sgt. Florencio R. Guevarra, it was said that Major Pedro M. Quezon was bayonetted to death in Pantingan, Pilar, Bataan on August 8, 1944. He was only 23 years old.

Pedro Mercado Quezon, a young man in the prime of his youth, full of life, dreams, and aspirations, made the greatest sacrifice that any human being can ever give out of his love for country, his people and his family. His life, the only one he had, was so freely offered up so those he loved would continue to prosper and live a life free from hardship and oppression. His boyhood dreams, his teenage aspirations, his academic achievements, his war exploits, and his wise and loving disposition altogether painted for him a picture, in fact a mural that hardly anyone can duplicate or even aspire to. Even though his son only got to know him through stories and pictures, he grew up idolizing his father. He is not only a Filipino hero but also his son’s hero. It is not how long, but how well a life is lived that matters.

A street in Mabatang is named after Major Pedro M. Quezon in honor of his selfless contributions and service to the folks of Mabatang and our country, the Philippines.