Another Dulag tragedy: In memory of Cathleen and James

Another Dulag tragedy:

In memory of Cathleen and James

By J. Colima Bajado

History tells us that Dulag is one of the first mission stations established in our region, together with Carigara on July 16, 1595, by the Vice Provincial of the Jesuits Fr. Antonio Sedeňo.

History tells us also how Dulag was devastated in return of liberation from the Japanese colonizers in 1944. Dulag is actually where Gen. Douglas McArthur shored first in Leyte, not in Palo. However, when MacArthur saw the sheer devastation- “like a funeral dirge that saw thousands of dead, dying or wounded… from the terrible firepower of the guns and artillery of American gunships and war planes” (noted by the historian Emil Justimbaste)- he preferred to land somewhere else, whence the shores of Palo.

The reason why many were killed in Dulag during the Liberation is due to miscommunication. McArthur tapped Lt. Col. Frank Rawolle and Lt. Cmdr. Charles Parsons to tell the people to evacuate due to impending attacks. Rawolle and Parson relayed it to Ruperto Kangleon, the leader of the guerillas in Leyte, but the latter failed to relay the message of evacuation because he was not in good terms with the guerilla leader of Dulag, Bonifacio Kempis. This, history tells us.

Before August of 2011 ended, a dreadful news blow the press and media, and the EV as a whole. Teen lovers Cayetano James F. Baoy and Cathleen Gamba were robbed and killed in Brgy. San Rafael, Dulag, Leyte. Baoy is a 3rd year high school student in Leyte Colleges. The latter, who is only 13 years old, was raped before murdered.

The three suspects (actually offenders because they admitted the crime), with age bracket from 19 to 22, are now in jail. They were under the spirit of liquor, whom admittedly drank tuba before the incident. Their intention primarily is to rob the young lovers, but turned out to more than robbery.

Discounting these murderers, who is/are to be blame? The lovers? The parents of the lovers? The parents of the murderers? The tuba gatherer? The tuba seller? Or is it the community as a whole?

The people of Dulag already knew the personality of the suspects who are noted scalawags. Incidents of robbery-hold up are attributed to these three, but nobody reported this to the authorities. In effect, this three developed a big head, full of air, with the belief that they are the rapscallions of Dulag, worthy to be feared. From simple looting activities to claiming life.

This effort of course is communal. Collective action is necessary in order to circumvent these instances. It was a miscommunication. Should have the community had identified this three as hooligans, the people, including the lovers would have been vigilant. Who is to blame? That is beside the point. We can easily point and pick the murderers. Since they are criminals, they must face the dealing of our justice system. But the germane question is, what did we learn?

I cannot blame the lovers, whose age, their juices of entanglement is outpouring. Out of confidence, they thought they can have their romantic appointment or date just elsewhere. I cannot completely comprehend, or maybe I just don’t want to, how these two innocent people suffer from malevolent arms of the society they thought was friendly.

Theirs are just two lives compare to the thousands during the Liberation days, but is nevertheless as essential. Should we have only had learned the lesson of our history, James and Kathleen are still walking hand in hand in the streets of Dulag, and eventually have their own family. But these are all gone, for they paid the consequence of the community that still ensnared in a box of ignorance. The people failed to tap the shoulders of their fellow citizen for warning, as Kangleon failed to relay the message of evacuation that claimed thousands of lives of his countrymen. We must upkeep the welfare not only of our personal, but the communal. The rest is history.

The real treasure of a place, are the people. History cannot refute this.

James and Cathleen, requiescat in pace.

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Published in Gahum Weekly

Vol. 2. # 21