Angeles Labrador Limena was born October 2, 1899 in Sorsogon, Sorsogon. He was christened Angeles by his parents since his birth date fell on the Feast of the Catholic festival of the Guardian Angels.
He went to study in Sorsogon to be a priest, but before he was ordained he left to join the armed forces in Manila where he was accepted into the Philippine Constabulary.
Limena was assigned to the School for Reserve Commission in Camp Keithley, Lanao (now the Philippine Army Officer Candidate School at Camp O’Donnel, Capas, Tarlac) where the American camp commander noticed his all around abilities and sent him for formal military training to the Philippine Constabulary Academy at Camp Henry T. Allen, which eventually became the Philippine Military Academy in 1936.
(photo by-Armando-Bolislis)
However, before he was assigned to Baguio, Limena met and married Mary Figuro Kelley while he was at Camp Keithley.
Mary was the daughter of Marion Lee Kelley from Grand Rapids, Michigan, a US Army veteran who fought in Cuba during Spanish-American War, and came to the Philippines to help educate the Filipinos.
courtesy of Alice Limena-Lacson)
Nene Limena-Chacon, Alice Limena-Lacson’s elder sister, recalls there were three or more American missionaries who would joined them every Thanksgiving Day, including Woodward in her father’s 25-hectare farm house in Momongan, Lanao (present day Balo-I, Lanao del Norte).
In an entry in the 1915 diary of American Missionary Frank Laubach entitled, “Scouting in the Philippines”, he specifically mentioned Momongan as the best place to establish a church where there were already Americans residing at that time, including the Kelleys, Morrisons, Ghents, Blocks, Waters, Browns, and others. During that time, Laubach wrote that the Meranaws were quite affectionate towards the Americans and would prefer that Americans marry one of them.
When World War II broke out, Limena was assigned as the Provincial Commander based in Camp 1Lt Vicente Garcia Alagar, Cagayan de Misamis, Misamis Oriental.
On May 9, 1942, Major General William F. Sharp, commander of the USAFFE Mindanao Force, on orders of Major General Jonathan M. Wainwright from Corregidor, ordered all American and Filipino soldiers under his command to surrender to the Japanese.
Limena surrendered Camp Alagar to the Kawamura Detachment on May 10, 1942, and he and all his men were forced to walk from Cagayan to Camp Casisang, in Malaybalay Bukidnon, previously a training ground for the Philippine Constabulary.
Another Death March?
Although Google maps says it usually takes a one hour and 54 minute ride to negotiate its 93 kilometers, the old Sayre Highway which the marchers took was a much longer route, and definitely as long as, if not more brutal than the Bataan Death March.
It has an all uphill stretch at Carmen Hill in Upper Puerto and a particularly difficult stretch through the Mangima Canyon where it dips down gorges and up cliffs as deep and high as 420 meters. Older folks from Malayabalay used to say it took them around 5-6 hours to travel to Cagayan by motor vehicle over the old route!
However, even before the Japanese evacuated all POWs from Camp Casisang on August and October 1942, Limena managed to escape, walking towards Misamis Oriental, avoiding Japanese soldiers, crossing rivers, forests and mountains. He reached Alubijid where he meet few of his trusted soldiers guarding his family.
Guerrillas Organized
On September 22, 1942, Limena organized the Western Misamis Oriental Sector Guerrilla at Manticao, Misamis Oriental, around the core group of Ramon Legazpi, Sr. They covered the province from Lugait, Misamis Oriental to Ugyaban river, Cagayan.
Unsurrendered soldiers from the USAFFE, Philippine Constabulary, Philippine Army and Philippine Scouts comprised the fighting core, while fishermen, farmers, students from surrounding barrios also volunteered to serve as civilian volunteers.
Among the ranking officers who reported to Major Limena upon the creation of his guerrilla were Major Juan Taduran, Capt. Laureto Talaroc, Capt. Carlos Subang, Capt. Porferio Pakingan, Capt. Ricardo Abellanosa, Capt. Magno, Capt. Vicente Austria, and Capt. Antonio Ognir.
Major Juan Taduran, a Bicolano, inducted the new officers-Lt. Ramon Legaspi Sr., Lt. Salvador Legaspi, Lt. Paterno Padua, Lt. Elson Lagrosas, Lt. Paterno Lagrosas, Lt. Elegio Pacana, Lt. Jose Carlos, Lt. Alfonso Dadole, Lt. Ben Johnson Ratunil, Lt. Gang Wilkomm, Lt. George Wilkomm, Lt. Jose Gabe, Lt. Eutiquio Madriaga, Lt. Amado Ravidas, Lt. Monico Chaves, Lt. Herculano Babatido, Lt. Edipalo Lagrosas, Lt. Jesus Juario, Lt. Romeo Villaraza, and Lt. Elpedio Lagrosas.
On November 28, 1942, Limena was designated Regimental Commander of the 109th Infantry Regiment. 109th Division by Col. Wendell W. Fertig.
His assigned officers and their designated area of responsibility included Lt. (later Maj.) Fidencio Laplap’s 1st Battalion, covering Lumbia District to El Salvador, Cagayan; Capt. Carlos Subang’s 2nd Battalion, covering Alubijid to Initao, Misamis Oriental; and Capt. Vicente Austria’s 3rd Battalion, covering Naawan, Initao to Lugait, Misamis Oriental.
The Mutiny
Limena also has a prominent place in the guerrilla annals of Misamis Oriental because of the so-called “Limena Mutiny”. Following is a brief account of the incident from the files of the 10th Military District.
“The Limena case was different in that it involved a prolonged mutiny in an area just across Panguil Bay from Col. Fertig’s Headquarters, and directly concerned the organization which he himself had built up. This case furnished the first crucial test of Col. Fertig’s power and its developments therefore will be dealt with in full detail.
On November 28th, 1942, Major Limena was given command of the 109th Regiment and fourteen days later, Major (Manuel) Jaldon was given command of the same regiment. Presumably, this change was made because of unfavorable reports received concerning Limena’s operations in that area when he was heading his own guerrilla band.
Jaldon arrived to take over just at the time when a party in Limena’s honor was in progress, and this party he was invited to attend. He had in his pocket the orders relieving Limena of his command, but did not wish to present them on such an occasion, and allowed a few days to pass before forwarding them to him.
Limena refused to yield his command, and this left the regiment with two C.O. ‘s between whom friction naturally developed. Col. Fertig ordered Limena to report to Headquarters which he did, and designated him as commander of the 107th Regiment, which was operating far away from the 109th,
Limena promptly entered a request for 30 days sick leave which was granted under written orders barring his from returning to his former regimental area. On Feb. 14th, Limena violated these orders, and went back to the 109th where he gathered a group of some of the men who had formerly served under him.
On Feb. 17th this group attacked Maj. Jaldon’s headquarters, and in the ensuing encounter Lt. Zosimo Roa, who was Jaldon’s S-2 was killed. Some soldiers from both sides deserted and came over to Misamis since they did not wish to become embroiled in a fight between their officers.
The civilians in the disputed area were frightened and lodged repeated requests that prompt steps be taken to settle the trouble. Liaena announced that if Col. Fertig could finance his operations with “paper money”, he could do the same thing, he set up an independent regimes of his own and stated that he was going to kill Jaldon and the members of his staff. The men who had deserted from Limena’a camp reported that he could muster not more than 50 rifles.
When these reports had been verified, it was sufficiently evident that Limena was leading an open mutiny. The necessary data was forwarded to Col. Fertig and, since this was the first public teat of the strength of his regime, the written recommendation was made by his G-2 that he deal with this matter promptly and decisively. He at once issued a proclamation branding Lisena and his followers as mutineers, and dispatched a radio to Pindatun instructing his to send runners to Major Bowler requesting him to lend all possible assistance in crushing this mutiny. Maj. Bowler immediately made the necessary preparations. Col. Mortera went across from Col. Fertig’s area with eighty armed men, and everyone presumed that the Liman affair would soon be a matter of the past. Nothing happened.
Some days later, it developed that Col. Fertig had, at the last minute, changed his mind, and that the final orders issued to Mortera instructed him to ‘investigate the ‘mutiny. The investigation was carried out actually under the rifles of (Arena’s followers and lasted almost exactly a month. More time was consumed in the preparation of a voluminous report which carefully evaded the issue that the matter being dealt with was a mutiny in time of war, and called particular attention to the fact that it would be a great pity for Filipinos to kill Filipinos.
The recommendations made were that Limena be ordered to report to Head-quarters so that the necessary disciplinary action could be taken, and that the junior officers associated with him (who had participated in a successful mutiny) be punished by being scattered among other regiments.
Limena refused to report as directed, which left matters in exactly the same statue as they had been before Col. Mortera’s investigation began. Having failed to use his decisive power, Col. Fertig resorted to a weaker weapon, and cut off the payment of any and all funds to Liana and his followers.
Liman countered by forcing contributions requisitioned by Bowler, intercepted couriers, and established teach guards who disarmed officers and men from other unite attempting to pass through his territory.
In June, almost exactly four months utter the mutiny started, Liana landed in the small town of Jimenez with about fifty armed man. Col. Fertig, who was in Jimenez at the time sent word to the Lieutenant stationed there that Limena and his men were to be disarmed, and then left by car.
The Lieutenant had only about twenty rifles, but he proved to be a good talker. Liana finally surrendered his gums stating that he “had come as a friend”, and that had that not been the case, he would have killed Col. Fertig before he got away. In accordance with Col. Fertig’s, instructions, Limena was ordered to report to Lt. Col. Mortera. What nee happened to him since that time is not known.
The long continuance of the Limena mutiny, the details of which were known throughout Col. Fertig’s organization and to a great many civilians in three provinces as well, furnished the most damaging blow to his personal prestige and to his military establishment which was received prior to the Japanese attack on Misamis.
The only conclusion which can be reached is that Col. Fertig’s efforts to direct his organization by remote control have not, in the past, been very successful, and that he has failed to use to its full extent his ample power in the matter of enforcing discipline in the 10th District.
In recent months Col. Fertig has been on the Agusan River, which is even farther from his active units than was his headquarters at Misamis, and makes a continuation of remote control necessary. Also it appears probable that he has delegated some of his powers to Lt. Col. Bowler. In any event his present position cannot be classed as very strong, and proper advice and assistance in the matter of reinforcing his position would serve to strengthen the guerrilla organization in the 10th District.”
The Mutiny
Limena also has a prominent place in the guerrilla annals of Misamis Oriental because of the so-called “Limena Mutiny”. Following is a brief account of the incident from the files of the 10th Military District.
“The Limena case was different in that it involved a prolonged mutiny in an area just across Panguil Bay from Col. Fertig’s Headquarters, and directly concerned the organization which he himself had built up. This case furnished the first crucial test of Col. Fertig’s power and its developments therefore will be dealt with in full detail.
On November 28th, 1942, Major Limena was given command of the 109th Regiment and fourteen days later, Major (Manuel) Jaldon was given command of the same regiment. Presumably, this change was made because of unfavorable reports received concerning Limena’s operations in that area when he was heading his own guerrilla band.
Jaldon arrived to take over just at the time when a party in Limena’s honor was in progress, and this party he was invited to attend. He had in his pocket the orders relieving Limena of his command, but did not wish to present them on such an occasion, and allowed a few days to pass before forwarding them to him.
Limena refused to yield his command, and this left the regiment with two C.O. ‘s between whom friction naturally developed. Col. Fertig ordered Limena to report to Headquarters which he did, and designated him as commander of the 107th Regiment, which was operating far away from the 109th,
Limena promptly entered a request for 30 days sick leave which was granted under written orders barring his from returning to his former regimental area. On Feb. 14th, Limena violated these orders, and went back to the 109th where he gathered a group of some of the men who had formerly served under him.
On Feb. 17th this group attacked Maj. Jaldon’s headquarters, and in the ensuing encounter Lt. Zosimo Roa, who was Jaldon’s S-2 was killed. Some soldiers from both sides deserted and came over to Misamis since they did not wish to become embroiled in a fight between their officers.
The civilians in the disputed area were frightened and lodged repeated requests that prompt steps be taken to settle the trouble. Liaena announced that if Col. Fertig could finance his operations with “paper money”, he could do the same thing, he set up an independent regimes of his own and stated that he was going to kill Jaldon and the members of his staff. The men who had deserted from Limena’a camp reported that he could muster not more than 50 rifles.
When these reports had been verified, it was sufficiently evident that Limena was leading an open mutiny. The necessary data was forwarded to Col. Fertig and, since this was the first public teat of the strength of his regime, the written recommendation was made by his G-2 that he deal with this matter promptly and decisively. He at once issued a proclamation branding Lisena and his followers as mutineers, and dispatched a radio to Pindatun instructing his to send runners to Major Bowler requesting him to lend all possible assistance in crushing this mutiny. Maj. Bowler immediately made the necessary preparations. Col. Mortera went across from Col. Fertig’s area with eighty armed men, and everyone presumed that the Liman affair would soon be a matter of the past. Nothing happened.
Some days later, it developed that Col. Fertig had, at the last minute, changed his mind, and that the final orders issued to Mortera instructed him to ‘investigate the ‘mutiny. The investigation was carried out actually under the rifles of (Arena’s followers and lasted almost exactly a month. More time was consumed in the preparation of a voluminous report which carefully evaded the issue that the matter being dealt with was a mutiny in time of war, and called particular attention to the fact that it would be a great pity for Filipinos to kill Filipinos.
The recommendations made were that Limena be ordered to report to Head-quarters so that the necessary disciplinary action could be taken, and that the junior officers associated with him (who had participated in a successful mutiny) be punished by being scattered among other regiments.
Limena refused to report as directed, which left matters in exactly the same statue as they had been before Col. Mortera’s investigation began. Having failed to use his decisive power, Col. Fertig resorted to a weaker weapon, and cut off the payment of any and all funds to Liana and his followers.
Liman countered by forcing contributions requisitioned by Bowler, intercepted couriers, and established teach guards who disarmed officers and men from other unite attempting to pass through his territory.
In June, almost exactly four months utter the mutiny started, Liana landed in the small town of Jimenez with about fifty armed man. Col. Fertig, who was in Jimenez at the time sent word to the Lieutenant stationed there that Limena and his men were to be disarmed, and then left by car.
The Lieutenant had only about twenty rifles, but he proved to be a good talker. Liana finally surrendered his gums stating that he “had come as a friend”, and that had that not been the case, he would have killed Col. Fertig before he got away. In accordance with Col. Fertig’s, instructions, Limena was ordered to report to Lt. Col. Mortera. What nee happened to him since that time is not known.
The long continuance of the Limena mutiny, the details of which were known throughout Col. Fertig’s organization and to a great many civilians in three provinces as well, furnished the most damaging blow to his personal prestige and to his military establishment which was received prior to the Japanese attack on Misamis.
The only conclusion which can be reached is that Col. Fertig’s efforts to direct his organization by remote control have not, in the past, been very successful, and that he has failed to use to its full extent his ample power in the matter of enforcing discipline in the 10th District.
In recent months Col. Fertig has been on the Agusan River, which is even farther from his active units than was his headquarters at Misamis, and makes a continuation of remote control necessary. Also it appears probable that he has delegated some of his powers to Lt. Col. Bowler. In any event his present position cannot be classed as very strong, and proper advice and assistance in the matter of reinforcing his position would serve to strengthen the guerrilla organization in the 10th District.”
Eyewitness Account
However, Raul Ilogon, the son of Pvt. Jesus “Jake” Ilogon, one of the guerrillas who escorted Limena to Jimenez to surrender to Fertig, was an eyewitness to the incident and related some interesting details about it from his father’s unpublished memoirs, “Memoirs of a Guerrilla, The Barefoot Army”:
One of the highlights of his guerrilla life was the time they went to Jimenez, Misamis Occidental.
He was chosen as one of the 12 escorts of Maj. Limena when the latter was ordered to report to 10th Military District headquarters by Col. Wendell W. Fertig, overall commander of guerrilla forces in Mindanao under the United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) which was the recognized guerrilla organization of the South West Pacific (SOWESPAC) Theatre of Operations under Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then operating from Australia.
Limena came to Jimenez to submit to the summons of guerrilla headquarters. For the past 4 months, Limena was an open challenge to the authority of Col. Fertig. The “revolt” started when Fertig unilaterally relieved Limena as commanding officer of 109th Regiment. His men and officers resented the order. They felt slighted that their respected leader and founder of Western Misamis Oriental guerrillas was unceremoniously relieved of his command.
For 4 months Col. Fertig did not know what to do with Limena’s rebellion. He tried withholding supplies from Limena. Limena retaliated by confiscating logistics intended for other areas and disarming men and officers that passed through his territory.
Fertig also considered sending Maj. Bowler to settle the issue by force. He later rescinded the order realizing he would rather spill more Japanese blood than have Americans and Filipinos killing each other.
Limena bravely went to Jimenez to submit to military inquiry. He would face a court martial if need be, just to settle the issue once and for all.
The other escorts were Pvts. Abres, Enad, Abella, Ebonia, Sgt George Carvajal, Sgt Delfin Reyes, PFC Boboy Austria, Pvt Quinton Joaquin, Pvt Mariano Francisco, and Sgt Domingo Baldomino.
The officers with Maj. Limena were Capt. Ricardo Abellanosa, Capt. Vicente Austria, Capt. Ronaldo Tiano, and Lt. Ramon Legazpi.
The trip itself was dangerous. They had to cross the Japanese infested Panguil Bay to the headquarters of Col. Fertig in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental sailing in three commandeered sailboats .
Although Japanese patrols in armored barges were known to intercept traders from the Visayas who usually sailed at night, they made it across without any incident.
In the morning, they docked by the Jimenez River and climbed the embankment below the bridge. They took the road leading to the headquarters building near the huge old stone church. The people lined the street, three-deep, and watched as the officers marched ahead with 12 escorts to the rear, six on both sides of the street.
They were a sight to behold for the people of Jimenez who had not yet experienced the war. Unlike Misamis Oriental, the sister province of Misamis Occidental was untouched by war at that time.
In contrast, the people of Jimenez lived as if there was no war. The civil government, telephone, transportation and commerce functioned like they did during peacetime. The women wore fine clothes and had coiffed hair. The soldiers wore proper uniforms which were clean and pressed with overseas caps.
Suddenly the new arrivals became conscious of their bare feet because the soldiers in Jimenez wore shoes.
“It was as if we were transported into another world,” my father said.
Shouts of “Naa si Limena!” (Limena is coming!) resounded as they approached. Everybody was excited to see the fearless and famous guerrilla leader and his band from Tabok – the residents term to mean from across the bay. In like manner, people from Lanao likewise referred to Misamis Occidental as Tabok.
They felt like celebrities but their new found fame did not last long. They were disarmed and were scheduled to be court-martialed the following day for participating in Limena’s “rebellion” which resulted in the death of a guerrilla officer. But fate intervened.
Early the next morning before the court could martial start, the Japanese attacked in full force with bombardment from a Japanese cruiser and two destroyers in the bay and airplanes. A large force of Japanese troops landed and attacked Fertig’s headquarters in a massive pincer movement.
Col. Fertig hurried to Mt. Malindang to evade the 3,000 Japanese troops who attacked from opposite directions like a giant vice grip, from Misamis (present day Ozamiz City) and Aloran.
The court martial was instantly forgotten and their weapons hastily returned to Limena and his men.
Mass confusion followed. Limena’s party found themselves trapped between the sea and a long line of Japanese troops marching up the road some 50 meters from their hiding place. They could have been dead in the field of nipa palm trees beside the road had my father not first asked permission to open fire.
“Fire na, Sir?” he eagerly asked.
“ Hold your fire,” Lt. Ramon Legazpi calmly ordered.
Imagine my excitement when I witnessed the meeting of these two warriors decades after the war.
“O Jake, had you proceeded with your youthful bravado, we could have been dead long ago. Wala unta ka karon, Dong,” Lt Legazpi said looking at me.
“Yes, Sir. I realized there was no place to fall back with the sea at our backs,” my father respectfully answered his former officer. Maj. Limena, with his officers and men, slipped back quietly to Lugait, Misamis Oriental, in a commandeered Dos Velas , a fast two-masted sailboat from Sibonga, Cebu.
Perhaps it was only fitting that Limena returned to his Creator on April 9, 1976, appropriately enough, the 34th Anniversary of the Araw ng Kagitingan.
108th Division Unit History, Philippine Archives Collection, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
Lacson, Alice Limena, Angeles L. Limena personal records
Laubach, Frank, Scouting in the Philippines, 1915 Diary
Ilogon, Jesus B., Memoirs of a Guerrilla: The Barefoot Army (Unpublished manuscript)
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