In the early 1940s, present-day Koronadal became one of the resettlement areas under the “Land for the Landless” program of President Manuel L. Quezon. Many people of Luzon and Visayas came to Mindanao in the hope of having a better life.
Indigenous people and Maguindanaoans, who at times fought each other, had been living in the land long before Christian settlers came.
During World War II, the settlers suffered persecution in the hands of the Japanese
Engr. Albert Morrow met with the captain of the invading soldiers and spoke for the people, but he was rebuffed. Morrow--and later his friend Santiago Odin--killed himself. Since the Japanese consider taking one's life an honorable act, the Japanese official belatedly granted Morrow’s plea.
Felipa Garingo, another hero, was executed for refusing to reveal the whereabouts of her brother, a guerilla leader. Her brother later killed the Japanese military leader and his troop in an ambush.
Students from Koronadal Comprehensive National High School made up most of the audience. The girls would shriek every time Meynard, playing the role of Morrow, came out the stage.
Daughter of Lt. Jesus Larrabaster accepting the honor the city government gave to her late father.
Lt. Larrabaster was the supervising overseer of Marbel (Koronadal's old name) resettlement area. Mayor Fernando Miguel's Proclamation No. 1 s. 2007 recognizes Larrabaster as one of the heroes of Koronadal.
Ms. Larrabaster said she "literally cried" when she received the letter in the US.
I gave my Coke-in-can, which was distributed for free in the front rows, to these rowdy kids. A minute later, half of the content was splashed on the floor and the can, crumpled.
I was with my classmate Jerazy. We wanted to go inside the museum but it was closed for renovation.
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