THE VIEW FROM RIZAL

By DR. JUN YNARES

Former Rizal province Congressman Frisco R. San Juan Sr. passed away Monday, February 18, 2019, just a day after the birthday of his son Reginaldo.

Since then, tributes have been pouring in. Many words have been said about him and many more will be said. After listening to the words that have been said, I realized that the tribute can be summed up in two: True Rizaleño.

Rizaleños called him “Lolo Frisco.” He was a “lolo” in the real sense of the word – not so much because he was old, but because he was grand in the way he shared the wisdom and the presence of a father. We called him “lolo” as a recognition of the fact that he belonged to that generation of Filipinos where love of country and countrymen was expressed in concrete terms and came at a high price.

Lolo Frisco exuded an aura which reflected the simplicity and contentment of his hometown of Cardona, Rizal.

However, people knew one thing: behind the kindness of Lolo Frisco’s face was a heart that burned fiercely for his people and country. Yes, the way it did for the hero after whom our province was named.

Lolo Frisco fought for this country. He was a soldier in the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). He was a much-feared warrior who was “supremo” of one of the most famous guerrilla units during World War II in the Philippines: the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas – a group organized by PMA and ROTC cadets who were disallowed to serve in the army because of their young age (below 21). As “supremo,” he was the chief of staff of that legendary group led by the famous Colonel Terry Adevoso.

Many stories have been told about the Hunters ROTC. The heroism of its members was epic. I remember best the story behind the formation of this unit composed of some of the country’s finest young men. These young men – mostly in their late teens and early twenties – had previously fought with their respective military units. Following the fall of Bataan, their units were disbanded.

The story says they refused to simply surrender to the invader. So, they formed this famous unit. Its members provide much of the vital intelligence needed by the late General Douglas MacArthur in planning his return to the Philippines.

These young men who refused to surrender became the nightmare of the invading forces. The Hunters ROTC were fierce, even merciless. They infiltrated enemy strongholds in the dead of the night, conducted surprise raids, and executed those who betrayed our country.

Lolo Frisco was among those young men. Yes, he was a combination of a kind face and a heart that burned fiercely with Filipino courage.

After the war, Lolo Frisco was sent by the government to Fort Benning for further studies and eventually pursued a career in public service. He served under President Ramon Magsaysay in various capacities. He first served the Rizal provincial government as head of the Rizal Economic Development Council before becoming a member of Congress representing what was then the Second District of Rizal. Rizaleños chose Lolo Frisco to represent them in the Lower House for two terms: from 1965 to 1969, and from 1969 to the abolition of Congress following the declaration of Martial Law in 1972. He became an assemblyman and minister of public works and subsequently chairman of the Public Estates Authority.

In congress, Lolo Frisco once again displayed the contrasting features of a kind face and a fierce, warrior’s heart. He fought for legislation that would advance people’s aspirations and preserve the natural wealth of our nation.

He is best remembered for his authorship and sponsorship of the bill which eventually became Republic Act 4850 – the law which created the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

The story is that it was not an easy piece of legislation to pass. There were many major interests involved. There were many conflicting aspirations for that body of water. It needed the fierce determination of a feared guerrilla soldier to deal with the opposition to the bill. It needed the kind face of a gentleman from the lakeshore town of Cardona to win a consensus and have the bill passed into law.

In many ways, Lolo Frisco’s legislative legacy continues to help preserve and protect the precious Laguna Lake.

That lake will now start providing clean and reliable water to several towns of Rizal starting March of this year under the Rizal Province Water Supply Improvement Project of Manila Water.

Lolo Frisco knew the lasting value of that lake whose waves kiss the shores of his beloved Cardona.

He fought to preserve and protect that value with the very same tenacity and passion with which he fought to preserve and protect the freedom of the country he loves.

Thank you, Lolo Frisco. Thank you for the memories and the legacy.

We shall make sure that this generation and those yet to come will remember and honor them, too.

*For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to #4 Horse Shoe Drive, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Bgy. Beverly Hills, Antipolo City, Rizal.