by Kilusang Dekada 70
Wednesday, Jul. 01, 2009 at 4:30 PM
epcc_la@hotmail.com 213-241-0906 337 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
The Kilusang Dekada 70 ( KD70) composed of First Quarter Storm and martial law activists based in the United States pays tribute to Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a martial law and anti-Marcos activist. He died June 25 in Orange County, Southern California.
Commodore Alcaraz is a World War II veteran and a survivor of Bataan. He belonged to PMA class 1940 and commanded the fleet of PT boats of the fledgling Philippine Commonwealth Navy that was placed under the command of USAFFE when the whole Commonwealth army as conscripted in 1941.
July 01, 2009 03:46AM PHT [general.addtranslation] Download Article (PDF)
Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, Anti- Martial Law Activist
Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, PN
By Kilusang Dekada 70 (KD70)
Kilusang Dekada 70 (KD70)
Contact Person. Prof. Guillermo Ponce De Leon
Phone: 818-749-0272
June 30, 2009
Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, Anti- Martial Law Activist
Los Angeles-- The Kilusang Dekada 70 ( KD70) composed of First Quarter Storm and martial law activists based in the United States pays tribute to Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, an anti- martial law and anti-Marcos activist. He died June 25 in Orange County, Southern California.
Commodore Alcaraz is a World War II veteran and a survivor of Bataan. He belonged to PMA class 1940 and commanded the fleet of PT boats of the fledgling Philippine Commonwealth Navy that was placed under the command of USAFFE when the whole Commonwealth army as conscripted in 1941.
He is an authentic bemedalled war hero against the Japanese invaders. He joined the guerillas. He rejoined the new Philippine Navy and became an officer of once the most powerful navy in Asia.
He fell out of favor of President Marcos because of his integrity and independence and was bypassed as the flag officer in command of the Philippine fleet. Instead a Marcos loyalist was named as the Philippine Navy commander, Dejected Alcaraz went to the United States.
During martial law, commanding the loyalty of Filipino world war veterans they formed the core of the Movement for Free Philippines in Los Angeles. He had many differences with many anti-Marcos activists like Manglapus and other Filipino politicians who were called “steak commandos”. They hibernate and only appear in some occasions while Alcaraz and his veterans were active and did their job.
Under his leadership, new veterans organizations like the United Filipino American Veterans (UFAV) were formed in 1984.
Even after Marcos was overthrown, Alcaraz continued with his advocacy and focused his efforts for fighting for veteran’s equity and justice. Well respected as one of the highest-ranking Filipino officer with a rank of Commodore, he corrected many distortions in history of World War II in the Philippines and on their struggle against martial law in the United States.
Until his sudden death, Alcaraz graced many veterans’ forum and commemorations and explained about the heroism of Filipino veterans during World War II.
We may call Commodore Alcaraz, a title he earned more than title of an admiral that was not given to him. As he himself calls himself, the admiral who never was, he served his country and people well. As a soldier, anti-martial law activist, as a fighter for veterans justice and rights, and as a Filipino.
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Original: COMMODORE RAMON ALCARAZ, THE ADMIRAL WHO NEVER WAS