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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When Ramon Magsaysay was appointed Secretary of Defense of the Philippines. He had Ramon Alcaraz travel to the USA to study the organization of the United States Marine Corps. Alcaraz said he was assisted by the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot. San Diego, and visited the other training facilities such as the Amphibious Warfare School on Coronado, CA, Camp Pendleton and Quantico, VA. Upon return to the Philippines, Alcaraz took up his billet as Naval Personnel Officer (N-1). Based on his research and material on the USMC, he allocated billets and personnel for the Marine Company of the Philippine Navy. Alcaraz assigned his former Q-boat Executive Officer, Lt. Manuel Gomez as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Company that grew into the Philippine Marine Corps of today.

Cards and letters of Condolence may be mailed to:

Ramon A Alcaraz

3628 E Summitridge Ln, Orange, CA 92867-2036

Suggestion about sending flowers; pool together by organization or association rather than individual. Or make a donation in his name.

July 5, Sunday.

Fairhaven Memorial Park

1702 Fairhaven Avenue

Santa Ana, CA 92705

(714) 633-1442

2 - 5 pm Visitation/Closed Casket for family and friends.

July 6, Monday

9:30 am Funeral Services at the same location as above

Burial immediately following at

Holy Sepulcher Cemetery

7845 Santiago Canyon Road

Orange, CA 92869

(714) 532-6551

http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=3264.msg156644#msg156644

http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=17841.0

http://www.geocities.com/afpmuseum/alcaraz.html

http://pinoyhistory.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=veterans&action=display&thread=1167&page=1

http://pinoyhistory.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=veterans&action=display&thread=561

http://pinoyhistory.proboards.com/index.cg...

Commanding Officer Philippine Fleet.
Visiting with the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society.