Kaban ni D_Bystander: JOSE BALITON NISPEROS, ANG NAKALIMTANG BAYANI

Jose Baliton Nisperos

The case of Jose Baliton Nisperos, a Pinoy hero reburied with military honors after 100 years caught my attention while reading a PhilStar news today - 04/02/12. 

A member of the Philippine Scouts who was attached to the US Army at that time, Nisperos was leading his group in Lapurap, Basilan on September 24, 1911 when a group of moro rebels brandishing their "kampilans," long bolos and spears ambushed him and his unit, the 34th Company Philippine Scouts. For his gallant action, bravery and valor, Nisperos was awarded the US Congressional Medal of Honor on November 25, 1912. 


He single-handedly repulsed the rebels using only his left hand in the middle of the fight because his right hand was badly wounded. He drove the rebels to the hills and prevented what could have been a total annihilation of their group in the hands of the rampaging marauders. He died in 1922 at the age of 34 after a long illness and was buried in an ordinary grave in Lingsat public cemetery. He was discharged from the US Army because of the severity of his wounds and was given a pension of $55 per month. 

He was the first Filipino and also the first Asean to receive that most coveted US Congressional Medal of Honor and Valor, said City Mayor Pablo Ortega of San Fernando City, in a program held last Friday, March 30, 2012 for the occasion. His remains was exhumed from ordinary grave and transferred at the same cemetery to a place where "the great sons and daughters" of La Union are buried. He was given full military honors with a 21-gun salute performed by the police force. It was attended by Commander Frank Hilliard who led the US Veterans multi-organization Honor Guard. In attendance was his great granddaughter Maria Delilah Viduya Turzar who claimed she is still looking for the medal of her "Lolo" for the last 32 years. It was allegedly "borrowed" by a relative who claimed to use it to follow-up benefits from US government. But it ended up being auctioned in Manila and sold for $1,110.00. She issued her appeal to the buyer, who is now reportedly living abroad, to surrender the medal to them because they need it to support their claims considering that the wife of Nisperos and children were not able to receive benefits as beneficiaries.

(Bug-os ang  pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa nagsulat niining  artikulo  nga si JOHNNY LOVE. Nagtakuban siya sa pangalan, "D_BystandeR".  Natawo siya sa Sugbo apan anaa na karon manimuyo sa Illinois sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika. Ang kusog nga koneksyon sa kasayuran pinaagi sa internet kanunayng naghaling sa iyang kadasig  pagtuki sa mga nagbukalbukal nga hisgutanan dinhi sa atong nataran. Usa siya ka magsusulat nga gradwado sa kursong komersiyo padulong sa pagka accountant sa University of San Carlos kaniadtong tuig 1961.  Nahimo siyang miyembro sa usa ka hugpong sa mga batan-ong magsusulat nga gitawag ug STUDENT PRESS.  Nahimo usab siyang   Associate Editor sa basahon  USC-JPIAN sa tuig 1962-63. Magtatampo usab siya isip magsusulat sa nasudnong magasin,  "Philippines Free Press" ug sa mga nag-unang peryodiko dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo sa lunhaw pa ang iyang pangedaron. Nahimo siyang mamumuo sa usa ka pribadong kompaniya sa dakbayan sa Sugbo, ESCAÑO LINES, sulod sa napulo ug duha (12) ka tuig  dayon niyang tapon  ngadto sa NAPOCOR  ug nahimong kawani sa kagamhanan  sulod sa bayente dos (22) ka tuig. Niadtong tunga-tungang bahin sa tuig 2000, nilalin siya ngadto sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika ug sulod sa napulo (10) ka tuig, nagtrabaho siya sa  buhatan sa kagamhanan sa nasod sama  sa  UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS).  Karon sa pangedaron nga 67,  gihuptan gihapon niya ang walay pagkutat nga kadasig ug walay busganan nga kaikag sa pagpaambit sa iyang nahuptang abilidad  ug kabatid sa panulat.  Dili niya mapugngan ang kaugalingon sa pagpaambit sa iyang mga hunahuna labi na kon molambigit kini ug hisgotanan nga makadani sa iyang mga mata.)