Unsung hero of northern Mindanao, Caraga region remembered on Day of Valor
Published Apr 10, 2019 10:56 am
By Mike Crismundo
CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – The officers and men of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4thID) remembered the unsung heroes during the commemoration of “Araw ng Kagitingan” on Tuesday.
The Army’s 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, 4th ID, commemorates Day of Valor with the wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Colonel Osito Bahian in Malaybalay, Bukidnon on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (PHOTO COURTESY OF 403RD INFANTRY "PEACEMAKER" BRIGADE / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Army’s 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, 4th ID, commemorated the “Araw ng Kagitingan” with the wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Colonel Osito Bahian in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
On April 9, 2019 or exactly 34 years after his death, Colonel Bahian was remembered and honored through a 21-gun salute tendered by soldiers of 403rd Brigade in the presence of his daughters Mrs. Ann Lucille Bahian Adag and Mrs. Aileen Marie Bahian Cruzado.
Colonel Bahian who hails from Tuburan, El Salvador City, was born on October 7, 1929. He joined and completed the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) curriculum and was commissioned in the reserve force of the Philippine Army.
He became a teacher and later a principal of Xavier de Initao High School before becoming an Instructor at San Isidro College in Malaybalay City. He was then called to active duty and joined the Philippine Army on March 1, 1969.
He once served as Commandant of Central Mindanao University as Commanding Officer of 1107th Community Home Defense Center. A distinguished ROTC graduate, he excelled and served the Philippine Army well with his nationalism and patriotism nurtured by the ROTC program.
On April 9, 1985, while serving as Battalion Commander of 30th Infantry Battalion, he was killed in an ambush by NPA terrorists at Barangay Tungao, Butuan City along with eight other army soldiers. He was on his way to a supposed peace negotiation with the NPA when dissident NPA terrorists treacherously fired at their convoy in what appeared to be a trap set by the CPP-NPA. The soldiers, together with their commander, fought with the enemy. Colonel Bahian, who was riddled with bullets, did not survive.
As a tribute to the fallen hero, the Batasang Pambansa promulgated Batas Pambansa Bilang 6724 on 27 April 1986 renaming the military reservation in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon to Camp Osito Bahian. No less than the Philippine Congress at that time recognized the exemplary duty with courage, honor, and dedication of the late Colonel Osito Bahian.
Bahian's heroism inspired his sons to join the uniformed service. Robert Roy Bahian entered the Philippine National Police Academy and graduated in 1991. He is now the incumbent PD of Camiguin Province. His youngest son Neil Osito Bahian was admitted into the PMA and graduated in 1995. Unfortunately in 1999, Captain Neil Osito Bahian, then an Instructor Pilot in the Philippine Air Forced, died when his trainer aircraft crashed in Batangas.
Colonel Edgardo De Leon, commanding officer of the Army’s 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, in his tribute said: "As we commemorate the start of Bataan's Death March, let us not forget to remember that April 9 as the day when our very own modern day hero sacrificed his life in the name of peace. His dream of ending the local communist armed conflict through localized peace talks remained and will continue. Thirty-four years ago, Colonel Bahian made the supreme sacrifice to show sincerity in the peace negotiation. It is now up to the NPA to reciprocate. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, bukas ang pinto ng Philippjne Army na tanggapin ang pagbabalik loob ng mga rebelde para sa pagbabagong buhay."
Mrs. Ann Lucille Bahian Adag, Bahian’s eldest daughter, called on all Filipinos to unite for a peaceful and progressive nation. She expressed remorse that fellow Filipinos are fighting each other causing loss of lives and damage to properties. She praised the soldiers for their dedicated service as she called on them to continue to keep the legacies of truthful and dedicated service to the country and people left behind by her father Colonel Osito Bahian and her brother Captain Neil Osito Bahian.
The Army’s 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, 4th ID, commemorates Day of Valor with the wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Colonel Osito Bahian in Malaybalay, Bukidnon on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (PHOTO COURTESY OF 403RD INFANTRY "PEACEMAKER" BRIGADE / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Army’s 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, 4th ID, commemorated the “Araw ng Kagitingan” with the wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Colonel Osito Bahian in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
On April 9, 2019 or exactly 34 years after his death, Colonel Bahian was remembered and honored through a 21-gun salute tendered by soldiers of 403rd Brigade in the presence of his daughters Mrs. Ann Lucille Bahian Adag and Mrs. Aileen Marie Bahian Cruzado.
Colonel Bahian who hails from Tuburan, El Salvador City, was born on October 7, 1929. He joined and completed the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) curriculum and was commissioned in the reserve force of the Philippine Army.
He became a teacher and later a principal of Xavier de Initao High School before becoming an Instructor at San Isidro College in Malaybalay City. He was then called to active duty and joined the Philippine Army on March 1, 1969.
He once served as Commandant of Central Mindanao University as Commanding Officer of 1107th Community Home Defense Center. A distinguished ROTC graduate, he excelled and served the Philippine Army well with his nationalism and patriotism nurtured by the ROTC program.
On April 9, 1985, while serving as Battalion Commander of 30th Infantry Battalion, he was killed in an ambush by NPA terrorists at Barangay Tungao, Butuan City along with eight other army soldiers. He was on his way to a supposed peace negotiation with the NPA when dissident NPA terrorists treacherously fired at their convoy in what appeared to be a trap set by the CPP-NPA. The soldiers, together with their commander, fought with the enemy. Colonel Bahian, who was riddled with bullets, did not survive.
As a tribute to the fallen hero, the Batasang Pambansa promulgated Batas Pambansa Bilang 6724 on 27 April 1986 renaming the military reservation in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon to Camp Osito Bahian. No less than the Philippine Congress at that time recognized the exemplary duty with courage, honor, and dedication of the late Colonel Osito Bahian.
Bahian's heroism inspired his sons to join the uniformed service. Robert Roy Bahian entered the Philippine National Police Academy and graduated in 1991. He is now the incumbent PD of Camiguin Province. His youngest son Neil Osito Bahian was admitted into the PMA and graduated in 1995. Unfortunately in 1999, Captain Neil Osito Bahian, then an Instructor Pilot in the Philippine Air Forced, died when his trainer aircraft crashed in Batangas.
Colonel Edgardo De Leon, commanding officer of the Army’s 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, in his tribute said: "As we commemorate the start of Bataan's Death March, let us not forget to remember that April 9 as the day when our very own modern day hero sacrificed his life in the name of peace. His dream of ending the local communist armed conflict through localized peace talks remained and will continue. Thirty-four years ago, Colonel Bahian made the supreme sacrifice to show sincerity in the peace negotiation. It is now up to the NPA to reciprocate. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, bukas ang pinto ng Philippjne Army na tanggapin ang pagbabalik loob ng mga rebelde para sa pagbabagong buhay."
Mrs. Ann Lucille Bahian Adag, Bahian’s eldest daughter, called on all Filipinos to unite for a peaceful and progressive nation. She expressed remorse that fellow Filipinos are fighting each other causing loss of lives and damage to properties. She praised the soldiers for their dedicated service as she called on them to continue to keep the legacies of truthful and dedicated service to the country and people left behind by her father Colonel Osito Bahian and her brother Captain Neil Osito Bahian.