MikeLigalig.com

Captain Vicente T. Cubero alias “Francisco Salazar”

Commanding Officer, “Behind the Clouds” Force
Hero of Moalong, Loon, Bohol
Died in Action at Ubujan, Tagbilaran, October 22, 1942

Vicente T. Cubero was born on September 28, 1911, in Carmen, Lanuza, Surigao, now Surigao del Sur, to Isidro Cubero y Suan from Loon, and Antonia Tejol y Tocmo, who migrated to Surigao. Vicente’s mother, Antonia, was a native of Corella, Bohol.

Vicente T. Cubero was a short (he stood only five feet three inches tall), stocky, fair-complexioned, curly-haired, agile man. He was a father of one, miner, foreman, soldier, and an expert horse-rider. He had high cheekbones, thick lips, pockmarks on his long face, and wrinkles on his forehead. He was a good talker, a religious man who believed that one’s life must be sacrificed for God and country.

The story of how Francisco Salazar stepped on Bohol soil, is told by Lt. Juan “Aning” Relampagos (father of Vice Gov. Rene L. Relampagos) of Loon. Lt. Relampagos, himself a United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) officer who never surrendered to the enemies was the head of a trading vessel (a banca) which reached Macrohon, Leyte, sometime in the later part of May 1942. There he accidentally met a man who was about 30 years of age, very friendly, and greeted Relampagos as “Sano.” Francisco Salazar the stranger, inquired where the banca was bound for. Relampagos replied that the boat was bound for Bohol. The stranger said he was also going to Bohol and requested that he be allowed to take passage. Relampagos accepted. Forthwith, he told the stranger that the boat would go to Dinagat, Surigao first before heading to Bohol. Instantly, the stranger was not averse to proceeding to Dinagat.

Thereafter, Franciso Salazar while navigating for Dinagat, he moved close to Relampagos and introduced himself as “Captain Francisco Salazar.” He further told Relampagos that he was a “Captain of the USAFFE” in hiding. Subsequently, he requested Relampagos to allow him to join even as the last member of the crew. Relampagos was at first hesitant and reluctant of the stranger who had called him “Sano.” But after much insistence and pleading, he allowed the stranger to join as a crew member, and later from Dinagat, returned to Bohol after they caught plenty of fish to bring home.

Meanwhile, Salazar befriended Relampagos and the crew. Most of the time Salazar served as a cook and sometimes as a hewer of wood and drawer of water. Salazar revealed to Relampagos his true identity. He said the name “Captain Francisco Salazar” is only an assumed name or alias; his true name is Vicente T. Cubero, born in Lanuza, Surigao, of parents from Loon and Corella, Bohol.

In a more confidential tone and friendly manner, he further told Relampagos that as a USAFFE officer he had engaged in several encounters with the Japanese in Davao and other places in Mindanao. After several days at sea, Relampagos was finally certain of the stranger and took him in completely confidence. With friendliness and air of military comradeship, Relampagos revealed that he too, is a lieutenant of the USAFFE and had assumed the name of “Lt. Rogers” as his alias.

Finally, Captain Salazar set foot on Sitio Lawis, Catagbacan, Loon. Salazar and Relampagos became very close to each other. Immediately, Captain Salazar started his work in Bohol and an agent of the USAFFE against the invading Japanese Imperial.

Sources:
1. Pio B. Ferandos, “The Bohol Guerillas in Action”, 1981, pp. 28-30
2. Exuperio Omila Barrera and Eddie Sarmiento Israel, “The War Exploits of Captain Vicente T. Cubero alias Capt. Francisco Salazar”, 1999, pp. 18-20
3. Bohol Provincial Library Archives


*Work from HOME and launch your own Wordpress blog, business or personal website, or online store at www.dreamhost.com Yes, FREE Wordpress migration from your existing web host.

START your OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at www.fastcomet.com - FREE service to transfer your website from your current webhosting provider.

Latest RSS Feeds



Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=116389.0