Metro CDOTIMES (December 13-19, 2021)

Metro

CAGAYANLifestyle TIMES Weekly DE ORO

Volume 9 | No. 19 | Cagayan de Oro City | December 13-19, 2021

Artisanal Lifestyle Store by Oro Creative opens at Centrio Mall

A

By TITO MIKE | Photo credits to Cocoy Bajuyo and Jesse Abear

FTER a long wait, the premier showcase of Northern Mindanao’s artists and designers was formally opened on December 8, 2021, the Feast of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Three years ago we envisioned to have a “preview” store in Cagayan de Oro, where designers, artists, and manufacturers could showcase their crafts to viewers and buyers,” said Chris Gomez of Chris Gomez Creative Design, one of four partners who put their talents and efforts together to come up with the landmark store located at the ground floor of Centrio Ayala Mall (near BPI).”

Conceptualized 3 years ago, Gomez presented his brainchild Ayala Centrio Mall and got an enthusiastic response the mall management and marketing staff.

“One of Ayala Mall’s and Ayala

Land’s core values is to take care of its community. Finding a home for one of Cagayan de Oro’s pride is our base foundation for extending our utmost support to Oro Creative,” said Hammer B. Roa, Ayala Centrio Mall Manager.

“Their group has brought pride to this city and has made its mark already on a bigger scale. Allocating a space for these creative geniuses is the least Ayala Centrio Mall can do. It gives us both joy and pride to foster a home for their arts and crafts, products of the passion and love in each member of Oro Creative,” he noted.

To realize the project, Gomez

next approached Cocoy Bajuyo and Patrick Gabutina with the concept.

The group decided it was high time to promote and market Northern Mindanao products with a high vision of premium and curated items, eventually organizing Oro Creative with Michael Bacol as a partner organization to Ayala Centrio Mall for the undertaking.

“Lunâ (meaning a parcel of land or space in Bisaya) is a curated retail store, creative space, for artists and designers, who want to be part of the growing creative community in Cagayan de Oro,” Gomez explained back in an episode of the Higalaay Festival online series aired during Cagayan de Oro’s August Fiesta Month.

“Lunâ is a creative space, and that is why we provided a space for other artists to showcase their creative output and products with a global appeal in a unique shopping experience.

Gomez is a multi-disciplinary creative and advocate of Sustainable Design. Among his many laurels: Finalist, 2011 National Philippine Art Awards; Grand Prize winner (waterbased category) 2012 Metrobank Art & Design Excellence Awards, and Finalist, 2014 Look of Style Awards (British Council/Look Magazine).

He is also a Product Development Mentor accredited by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, and a Product Design Specialist of Design Center Philippines (DCP).

Cocoy Bajuyo of Sea Glass Treasures, is another local artist and designer behind the landmark store.

“Sea Glass Treasures is our brand. We are the only ones in the country who was LUNA/PAGE 5

Chris Gomez’s Creative Works

Michael Bacol Painting Works

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

Tinabuan Arts & Crafts

2

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

J2J Street Café and Restaurant creates Filipino-Italian Pasta Fusion Menu December 13-19, 2021

T

By T2 MIKE

Pancit Chicken Rice

HERE’S a new eatery at the corner of Velez and Hayes streets in Cagayan de Oro that’s serving an interesting concept of a FilipinoItalian Pasta Fusion menu.

“J2J started with a concept of creating a store that will cater lunch meal boxes serving both Filipino and Italian dishes,” said Jeigs Pakino, one of the dynamic J2J duo. the other J being his partner Edgardo Quiampano Jr. The Filipino side of the J2J trademark was inspired by the home-made Pancit Canton made from the same recipe Jeigs mom

used to serve during social occasions at home, thus his personal sentimental favorite.

On the other hand, their Pomodoro is a tomatobased spaghetti inspired by a recipe from an Italian restaurant where the other J used to work in.

“We started a very small store along corner HayesVelez streets at the ground floor of the historic Casa

Super Plated Meals Mixed Pizza

Spaghetti Chicken Meal

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

DANTE SUDARIA Publisher

del Chino Ygua building about 6 years ago,” Jeigs recalls.

When the original store prospered, they renamed it EduardoDiego due to the pressing need to brand their Italian menu’s increasing popularity.

However, like many restaurants in the city and around the world, the blossoming enterprise was hit hard by the lockdowns called for by the coronavirus pandemic and

remained in limbo, until a chance encounter Jeigs had with Amadeo V. Neri, the building owner of their new venue.

“I was visioning that Sir Neri's place is a good venue to house J2J, and fortuitously about in the middle of November, Sir Neri happened to be standing in front of his building and I asked him about his place. We discussed casually and I expressed to him that I’ve

been eyeing his place for years since the last tenant moved out.

A deal was struck and the new J2J Street Café and Restaurant opened at an auspicious date last December 8th, it being the Feast of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“We had our soft opening last Dec.8, creating a classic vintage look of the interiors, reflecting our Filipino-Italian Pasta Fusion concept menu,”

Jeigs related.

J2J aims to cater to exclusive parties in its mezzanine area, and serve its signature plated meals with their tagline #TasteofCulture., redefining FilipinoEuropean-American Food evolution.

“We serve our signature Pancit Chicken Rice Meals, Spaghetti Chicken Meal Italiana, New Yorker Sausage Pizza, Ham & Cheese, along with regular

MIKE BAÑOS Editor-in-Chief SUSAN P. DENNIS GEAN T. CESAR RANDY FAMACION MAI MAI SISON ANNIE GORRA RAGO WENDY RAMOS-GARCIA Contributing Editors CLIFFORD SANTILLAN Layout Artist PINKY DOMINGO Marketing KHRISTHA RIVA FELICILDA Advertising

The Mezzanine Floor with the Venice themed mural

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Legal Counsel

The Metro CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES newspaper is published weekly at Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa Street, Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City.

It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 with Certificate No. 01801884, and with Business Registration Plane No. 17211 with Business License Certificate 2014-00691. TIN No. 311-982-549-000 Tele/Fax #: (088) 856-3344 Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CagayandeOroTIMES email us at thecagayandeorotimes@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber)

facebook.com/CagayandeOroTIMES

The J2J Partners with Mr & Mrs Tatoy Neri

The Mezzanine Floor is perfect for intimate parties.

servings of our Pancit and Classic Spaghetti, pan grilled pork chops and our signature Chicken Italiana.”

The newest item on their menu is their #pizzamixed for only P399, a 9-inch pizza with side dishes of chicken wings cuts, potato wedges, and Italian Flakes that’s good for 2-3 persons.

J2J Street Café and Restaurant is located at the Mezzanine floor of the Milagros Bldg., Archbishop Santiago Hayes SJ corner Apolinar Velez Sts., Cagayan de Oro City.

For more details visit their socmed page J2J Fastfood and Café or call tel. nos.

0936-437-9131 or 0935151-4868.

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

3

The True Meaning of the X in Xmas December 13-19, 2021

T

By T2 MIKE

HE use of the symbol X in Xmas continues to draw criticism centuries after it was first used in the contact of the word Christmas.

Apparently, the “X’mas” abbreviation has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing and variants such as Xtemass, originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation /ˈkrɪsməs/.

Besides the Greek letter X representing Christ, the word mas in Xmas is from the Old English word derived from Latin for Mass.

The word "Christ" and its compounds, including "Christmas", have been abbreviated in English for at least the past 1,000 years, long before the modern "Xmas" was commonly used, with some texts citing its first known use as early as 1551.

"Christ" (which comes from a Greek word meaning “anointed”) was often written as "Xρ" or "Xt"; there are references in the AngloSaxon Chronicle as far back as 1021.

This X and P arose as the uppercase forms of the Greek letters χ (Ch) and ρ (R) used in ancient abbreviations for Χριστος (Greek for "Christ"), and are still widely seen in many Eastern Orthodox icons depicting Jesus Christ.

The labarum, also known as the Chi-Ro, an amalgamation of the two Greek letters rendered as ☧, is a symbol often used to represent Christ in Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches.

Similarly, this same Greek letter is also used in other words like “Xtian” and “Xpian” as an abbreviation for Christian for the same duration.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and the OED Supplement have cited usages of "X-" or "Xp-" for "Christ-" as early as 1485. The terms "Xtian" and less commonly "Xpian" have also been used for "Christian".

The OED further cites usage of "Xtianity" for "Christianity" from 1634.

In ancient Christian art, χ and χρ are abbreviations for Christ's name. In many manuscripts of the New Testament and icons, Χ is an abbreviation for Χριστος, as is XC (the first and last letters in Greek, using the lunate sigma; compare IC for Jesus in Greek.

Unfortunately, most probably because of its widespread use in commercials and other Christmas season advertising and marketing, many people have inadvertently interpreted the term Xmas as an informal abbreviation of the word “Christmas” and even pronounce it as /ˈɛksməs/.

There is a prevalent and persistent misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the "Christ" out of

Calvin Luther Genotiva (left) and his late father UCCP Bishop Emeritus Lorenzo Genotiva.

"Christmas".

In the United Kingdom, the former Church of England Bishop of Blackburn, Alan Chesters, recommended to his clergy that they avoid the spelling. In the United States, in 1977 New Hampshire Governor Meldrim Thomson sent out a press release saying that he wanted journalists to keep the "Christ" in Christmas, and not call it Xmas—which he asserted was a "pagan" spelling of Christmas.

Dennis Bratcher, writing for a website for Christians, states "there are always those who loudly decry the use of the abbreviation 'Xmas' as some kind of blasphemy against Christ and Christianity".

Among them are evangelist Franklin Graham and CNN

journalist Roland S. Martin.

Graham stated in an interview: “for us as Christians, this is one of the most holy of the holidays, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

And for people to take Christ out of Christmas. They're happy to say merry Xmas. Let's just take Jesus out. And really, I think, a war against the name of Jesus Christ.”

Martin likewise relates the use of "Xmas" to his growing concerns of increasing commercialization and secularization of one of Christianity's highest holy days.

Bratcher posits that those who dislike abbreviating the word are unfamiliar with a long history of Christians using X in place of "Christ" for various purposes.

In an effort to dispel this

notion, the late UCCP Bishop Emeritus Lorenzo Genotiva and his son Calvin Luther once held a dialogue during a Yuletide Service at the UCCP Cagayan de Oro Church to illustrate how the X in Xmas actually originated from early Christians.

According to MerriamWebster's Dictionary of English Usage, most of the evidence for these words comes from "educated Englishmen who knew their Greek". It further states that its modern use in advertisements, headlines and banners is extensive because its conciseness is valued. The association with commerce "has done nothing for its reputation", according to the dictionary.

Besides the ancient writings, Xmas has also been extensively used in many countries and cultures in the centuries predating its extensive use in media.

Following are just a number of instances once can easily access from its URL in Wikipedia http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas: Early use of "Xmas" includes Bernard Ward's History of St. Edmund's college, Old Hall (originally published circa 1755). An earlier version, "X'temmas", dates to 1551.

Around 1100 the term was written as "Xp̄es mæsse" in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle.

"Xmas" is found in a letter from George Woodward in 1753. Lord Byron used the term in 1811, as did Samuel

Coleridge (1801) and Lewis Carroll (1864).

In the United States, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. used the term in a letter dated 1923. Since at least the late 19th century, "Xmas" has been in use in various other English-language nations.

Quotations with the word can be found in texts written in Canada, and the word has been used in Australia, and in the Caribbean.

Citations of the aforementioned uses may be referred to at the end of this same cited entry in Wikipedia.

Besides its extensive use in the abbreviations for Christ and Christmas, Wikipedia also cites how other proper names

The labarum, often called the Chi-Rho, is a Christian symbol representing Christ.

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

containing the name "Christ" are abbreviated similarly, either as "X" or "Xt", both of which have been used historically, e.g., "Xtopher" or "Xopher" for "Christopher", or "Xtina" or "Xina" for the name "Christina".

In the 17th and 18th centuries, "Xene" and "Exene" were common spellings for the given name Christine. The American singer Christina Aguilera has sometimes gone by the name "Xtina".

(This article has been sourced from Wikipedia and other online sources. The reader is encouraged to surf the internet to verify for himself the abovementioned citations)

4

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

December 13-19, 2021

Marmar Basha Lebanese Grill opens at its new location No. 32 Tomas Saco St, Nazarth beside the Korean church.

Y

OUR favorite Mediterranean Cuisine restaurant has just moved to a new and better location at #32 Tomas Saco St., Brgy.

Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City.

Marmar Basha is a Lebanese-owned Halal restaurant that serves Middle Eastern favorites like Hummus, Kebabs, Shawarma, Fatayer, Beryani, and Kabsa.

Basha means “boss” while Marmar means ‘ocean’, so Marmar Basha means “Boss of the Ocean’.

But its flier invites the casual gourmand to experience more than that with Turkish, Greek, Italian, French, Spanish and Lebanese cuisines all in one setting.

“We serve healthy and delicious dishes which use olive oil, fresh meat and vegetables with no artificial ingredients or preservatives,” says Soheil Dandan, the Lebanese born owner who has now

made Cagayan de Oro City his home.

The place had its humble beginnings in 2017 when Soheil took over the ownership of the former Istanbul Grill along Corrales Avenue across the Xavier Gymnasium.

With the experience he gained from their familyowned restaurant in Beirut, Marmar Basha soon gained a loyal clientele which patronized the unique establishment.

However, Soheil realized his first location was too small to accommodate his flourishing business, and began looking for a better place. Fortunately, he found a good one at the new location which not only allowed a bigger sitdown capacity, but had a parking space for patrons as well.

“Our customers like our food because all our ingredients are imported so we maintain our quality.

We cannot replace them

Marmar Basha Lebanese Grill opens at new location in Nazareth

By T2 MIKE

with local substitutes because for instance, the chicken curry and turmeric here are quite different from what we have in Lebanon, so will not taste the same.”

“Our best sellers are our Basha Special Grill: Wow Tawook (Juicy chicken breast marinated in Turkish spices); Wow Tenderloin (Tender beef cubes marinated in Spanish spices); Wow Helly Chix (Spicy chicken breast cubes marinated in Mexican spices); Basha Mini Grill (Combination of 2 BBQ choices in one set: shish tawook & beef kebab); Basha Mix Grill (Combination of 3 BBQ choices in one set: shish tawook, beef kebab & beef tenderloin), and King Kebab (Combination of 2 choices of chicken kebab and beef kebab, marinated the Lebanese way).

They also serve four kinds of shawarma: local, Lebanese, French and Mexican.

“They have the same beef and chicken but differ in their toppings and gravy. For instance, the local shawarma only has cucumber and green tomatoes with watery garlic sauce. But our garlic sauce is creamy and we don’t use mayonnaise, we make our own garlic sauce. So the Lebanese Shawarma has the taheni (sesame paste) sauce which is imported,” Soheil explained.

Like many traditional Middle Eastern restaurants, the new Marmar Basha also has a mini-mart displaying favorite middle eastern products like halal gelatin, chicken and beef luncheon loaf, halawa (pistachio spread) and a lot more!

“And for those who like to relax after their meal, we invite them to experience Arabic tobacco with Shisha smoking, with hot drinks like Arab Coffee and Middle Eastern Tea,” Soheil said.

Also known as narghile,

water pipe, hookah or hubble bubble smoking, Shisha originated in the Middle East and certain parts of Asia. It is a way of smoking tobacco through a bowl with a hose or tube with a mouthpiece that the smoker uses to breath in the smoke.

Shisha usually contains tobacco which is sometimes mixed with fruit or molasses sugar. Popular flavors include apple, strawberry, mint and cola.

Baklawa

Beryani

Basha King BBQ

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

Wood, coal or charcoal is burned in the shisha pipe to heat the tobacco and create the smoke.

Marmar Basha is open daily from 11AM to 11PM for dine-in, take-out and delivery via foodpanda, Grabfood, maxim, or streetby at #32 Tomas Saco St., Nazareth beside the Korean Church. You can also visit their social media page on Facebook, or call 0917-717-7747 for more inquiries.

Feature

Literary Section

Home The following excerpt is from the book "The Mystery on 17th Street" written by Annie Gorra, a Kagay-anon. The story is set on 17th Street of Cagayan de Oro. A boy looks back on his life on the street. It was ordinary yet so full of beauty, play, wonder, and love.

The book was a finalist in the "Gintong Aklat" Awards in 2018 and is now part of the digital library of the New Westminster Public Library in New Westminster, BC.

The Dance of the Fireflies (Tripoto)

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

December 13-19, 2021

5

By Annie Gorra

"The Mystery on 17th Street" is available online on Lazada, Shopee, and on Amazon.

Gasa made the rounds of 17th and 18th Streets, canvassing the families to wash their clothes or clean their house for pay. She even approached Iya Vellit, and surprisingly the surly woman provided her with laundry work. She did not have much money, but she still had Gasa do her laundry.

The four-year-old Andres followed us around, especially when we played in the park, catching grasshoppers, or on the street, playing bulan-bulan at night. He was still thin but starting to gain weight. He seemed like a happy kid and was happiest when he was playing with us. He could climb a tree better than anyone in our neighborhood.

“Where did you learn to climb a tree?” asked Noli.

“Home,” answered Andres.

“Home” was his frequent response to our questions about his family. I remember the night when we played bulan-bulan on the street. I remember it because of Andres’s saying “home” and because of the fireflies.

The moon was out, the air was cool, and a few fireflies were flying around, like dots of light in the darkness. It was the kind of night that invited people to go outside and talk.

Our parents did just that, each one bringing their own chair to sit on. They recounted events of the day, what they had done, whom they had met; they spoke of the rebels and the military, told stories they had told before, and shared plans for the future.

Andres joined us, and Gasa came along because her son was there. She stood at the edge of the circle. Nanay moved her chair to invite her in, but she refused.

The moon hid behind the clouds, and the whole street became dark. We stopped playing.

“Time to go home,” Tatay said. “It is too dark to be outside.” He was facing our house, and his back was turned towards Iya Vellit’s mango tree.

The others did not move. They looked beyond him, not hearing what he said. My father turned around to check what they were staring at.

The fireflies had gathered around the mango tree in Iya Vellit’s yard and lit it up in white light. It looked like a brilliant Christmas tree with shades of green peeping out from the mango leaves.

We were startled into silence by its beauty. No words were exchanged because only silence could pay tribute to the miracle in front of us. We felt like we were standing on holy ground.

The silence was broken by Andres. “Nanay,” he said, pointing at the tree, “it is just like home.”

Gasa picked him up and softly cried, “Yes, my child.”

If it had been any other moment, we would have thought, wondered long, and been nosey about what Andres meant by “just like home.” But it was not any other moment.

Luna...

head dress in Visayan), inspired by from page 1 the head dresses of the able to make an industry indigenous peoples from sea glass, which are of Bukidnon and broken shards found in Davao, and made of the beaches of Northern indigenous materials Mindanao. We focus like hinabul (woven mainly on costume jewelry abaca fiber) with tikog like necklaces, rings and (reed grass) fringes, earrings, though we also leather straps and carved do other art works which wood. incorporate sea glass,” The fourth prime Bajuyo explained. mover is visual artist and “It’s about time that aspiring designer Michael Cagayan de Oro with its Bacol. abundance of designers “I am a visual artist and and artists, should have a aspiring designer, more on proper showroom where paintings, sculpture from they can showcase their junk and trash, clay, also products like crafts and design chairs, lamps, bags.” their artworks,” he added.

The group has also Another of Luna’s invited Angela Soriano prime movers is Patrick who does contemporary Gabutina of Tinabuan slow fashion wearables; Arts and Crafts, a social Dirkie Roa-Dabay for enterprise based in apparel focusing on resort Lagonglong, Misamis wear; Pink Flood by Oriental, which partners Ivan Macarambon for with artisanal communities art and artsy objects and in Lagonglong and Salay, furnishings; Neil Rafisura Misamis Oriental; Butuan of Salayhandmade and Bukidnon, to showcase Products Industries, Inc.’ their products mostly bags and THOMPSON'S and Christmas decors.

Natural for oils and Gabutina won the beauty essentials Made in grand prize for the Cagayan de Oro. Fashion Accessories “Our objective was Professional Category to create a collective in the Habi Kadayawan voice and representation 2019 held in Davao City to further promote and with his entry “Purong strengthen the value of Bag” (Purong means Northern Mindanao

Higalaay Festival Episode-Luna by Oro Creatives

craftsmanship in the new level,” Gomez stressed.

At the core of this collaboration was the group’s desire to promote and showcase Northern Mindanao Craftsmanship, an extension of its art, history, heritage and ongoing evolution as a culture.

But more importantly, they felt they needed to come together to support local artisans and communities with their livelihood in these trying

times.

"Buying local is not just a statement, but more so a testament to commitment for promoting enterprises with a purpose,” Gomez noted.

Lunâ was originally conceived to be a showcase for local designers who underwent trainings in design competency in 2018 and 2019 under the mentorship of Gomez, in tandem with the Misamis Oriental DTI provincial office and Capitol

University under the Business Incubation and Support Center.

“Mao to na born ang certificate program for design competency to equip aspiring designers, and to sustain there must be program for them to practice,” Gomez disclosed.

“We wanted to have a more focused program for creatives with our partners to sustain their livelihood and professionalized their practice. And the only way

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

to achieve this is to work together not only focusing on the SMEs products (food or non-food) but include our creatives in the journey,” he added.

Thank you to our partners, friends and fellow brand ambassadors for your commitment and promoting the same vision with Oro Creative, Gomez said.

“Special thanks to Centrio Ayala Mall management for making our concept come to life.”

6

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

December 13-19, 2021

Rear Aerial View of Trio of B-17 Bombers Heading To Target (worldwarphotos.info)

Capt. Hewitt T. Wheless of the US Army saluting the flag.

80th Anniversary of the B-17 crash at Patag Airfield

When the War came crashing down in Cagayan de Misamis, Dec. 14, 1941

By MIKE BAÑOS

C

AGAYAN de Misamis (as Cagayan de Oro in the island of Mindanao, the Philippines, was then known) got its first whiff of World War II when a B-17D bomber crash landed at the Cagayan Airfield (site of the present Patag Golf Course) on 14 December 1941.

Raul Ilogon, whose father Jesus ran away from their home to join the guerrillas at the tender age of 17, tells how the latter used to tell them how he saw the wounded airmen from that B-17 near their house.

“My father's family lived in Licoan where the provincial hospital was located nearby. My father said he saw the wounded American airmen on that plane. During daytime they were taken out of the hospital for fear of Japanese bombings and hidden beneath the canopy of century old acacia trees near their house. They were in stretchers and wheelchairs.

He saw the look in their eyes that in his young mind was telling him they were going to lose the war.”

What many people didn’t and couldn’t have known then, was that the pilot of that B-17 was going to be feted as a war hero back home in the US, star as himself in a movie that won an Oscar, make a significant contribution to the eventual defeat of Japan, and become a future general of the US Air Force.

‘Shorty’ Wheless

Wheless B-17 was attacked on both sides by no less than two squadrons of Japanese Zeros. (courtesy of Beautiful Warbirds)

Dec 14, 1941 a B-17D Flying Fortress with tail #40-2073 crash landed on Cagayan Airfield, Misamis with over 1,200 bullet holes (ianbob.com) us to the left, which our side gunner Wheless’ B-17 was one of the six Reserve Base), California. picked off. Another came up under assigned to the mission.

Wheless trained on multi-engine the stabilizer, and our bottom gunner The Legaspi Mission bombers and was eventually assigned got his second for the day.’

Although the Legaspi attack to the 19th Bomb Group equipped

Losing altitude while still battling would be the biggest single raid with the B-17-C Flying Fortress. In the last enemy fighter, Adams decided against the Japanese to date in October 1941 he was assigned to the to try for a beach landing on the 19th Bombardment Group of General the week-old war, bad luck and nearby island of Masbate, just south mechanical difficulties, which had Douglas MacArthur’s Far East Air of Luzon. plagued the 19th Bombardment Force (FEAF).

Unfortunately, there was no real Group from the beginning,

Initially the FEAF also beach — ‘only jagged rocks with white continued. surf wrapped around them,’ Schrieber

When the lead B-17, piloted by recalled.

Lieutenant Jim Connally, began its

Desperately looking for a place takeoff run, a tire blew out, forcing to land, Adams spotted a rice paddy. the big ship off the runway. As the ‘Cutting the remaining two motors Fortress slid off the field, its right so we wouldn’t have to climb out of wingtip dipped to the ground and her in flames, he made as nice a belly crumpled. landing as you could hope for,’ said

The five remaining planes, Schrieber. After a couple of passes piloted by Wheless and Lieutenants over the downed bomber, the lone Lee Coats, Jack Adams, Elliot Zero turned for home.

Vandevanter and Walter Ford, got

Vandevanter, in the other B-17, off safely, the last plane leaving the arrived over the target three minutes runway at 12:14 p.m. behind Adams. Fortunately for him,

About 200 miles out, the group Adams had attracted the attention of ran into a spot of bad weather. When all the Zero pilots, so Vandevanter they broke out of the storm a few was able to make three uncontested minutes later, Wheless was nowhere runs over the target before more to be seen. His No. 3 engine had quit, fighters appeared and chased him forcing him to drop out. into a cloud bank. Vandevanter’s

From that point on, things went plane escaped without a scratch and from bad to worse. A half-hour out returned safely to Del Monte. from the target, Ford radioed Coats,

Meanwhile, the engine trouble who had taken over from Connally, that he was having engine trouble and that had caused Wheless to drop B-17D Flying Fortress of the 19th Bomb Group being loaded out of formation had been fixed. was returning to Del Monte. At the with 100 and 500lb bombs 1942 (worldwarphotos.info) Although he was far behind the other scheduled rendezvous point, about four B-17s, he chose to continue on

Lieutenant General Hewitt Terrell included aircraft and personnel of 35 miles from where the flight was the Philippine Army Air Corps. to the target, knowing that he would Wheless was born on 31 October to make its final turn for the target, likely be attacking an alerted enemy 1913 in Menard Country, Texas, USA. Outnumbered operationally more Coats radioed that his engines were than three-to-one by aircraft of the whose defense might well include Growing up as a kid in Menard, Texas performing so badly that he was Japanese Navy and Army, FEAF fighter planes. his classmates nicknamed him ‘Nun’ unable to make altitude, and was was largely destroyed during the

That decision would soon vault because “There was scarcely none of turning back.

Philippines Campaign of 1941–42. him at all”.

That left Vandevanter and Adams his name into virtually every major

When the war broke out, American newspaper and magazine.

Wheless wanted to become a to go it alone. Forced to drop down 28-year-old 1st Lt. Shorty Wheless

In fact — although Wheless pilot, but his friends told him he was to 18,000 feet because of cloud cover, was a Boeing B-17D Flying Fortress didn’t find it out until two days after too short. They bet him a new pair of Adams was the first over the target. pilot with the 19th Bombardment the mission — only two B-17s had cowboy boots that he couldn’t make

After releasing his eight Group, stationed at Clark Field in the made it to the target ahead of him. it. Wheless proved them wrong and 600-pounders at the line of enemy Philippines.

Although the number of enemy won the boots. transports sitting off the Legaspi

After the Japanese attacked planes that jumped him was estimated

He began pilot training as an beach, he was jumped by five at 18, in reality it was probably closer aviation cadet at Randolph Field (now the Philippines on the afternoon of Mitsubishi A6M Zeros.

December 8, Wheless and others to 12. While the running battle with Randolph Air Force Base, a part of

Adams had two of his engines — along with what was left of the the enemy fighters was in progress, Joint Base San Antonio), Texas, in were knocked out and two of his original 17 B-17s at Clark — flew Wheless headed straight for the six June 1938, and graduated at Kelly crew were wounded. Adams’ crew south to Del Monte Field at Tankulan, managed to shoot down two of the enemy transports neatly lined up off Field (now Kelly Air Reserve Base, a Legaspi. part of Joint Base San Antonio), Texas Bukidnon on the island of Mindanao enemy fighters during the race for the two days later.

The plane was committed to the with his pilot wings. clouds, but the remaining three Zeros

There, they were some 500 miles bomb run; they were flying straight

He was commissioned a 2nd were waiting for them when they out of range of Japanese bombers. and level unable to take evasive lieutenant in the US Army Air Corps came out.

On the afternoon of December 14 action. A gunner called out eighteen Reserve in May 1939 and was first

At that point, Adams ‘pulled enemy fighters, two squadrons, assigned as assistant operations officer six of the Fortresses were ordered a cute one,’ according to Harry to attack an enemy invasion force at one on the left and one on the right of the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron Schrieber, his navigator. ‘He throttled Legaspi, on the southern tip of Luzon. back suddenly and one Zero overshot bearing into them. at March Field (now March Air

The bombardier had control of the ship as he lined up the target in the bomb-sight, all Wheless could do was sit still and hope he didn’t get shot down. The bombardier shouted “Bombs away, bomb bay doors closed, kick her in the behind!”

After bombardier released his eight 600-pounders, Wheless’ attention was focused on taking evasive action and giving his gunners a crack at the Japanese fighter pilots.

Wheless went into a sharp turn and desperately looked for cloud cover. He only saw scattered cumulus clouds, not enough to hide a B-17 for very long.

The Essence of Valor

Gunners Russell Brown and William “Pat” Williams each claimed a Zero before being wounded.

As Young noted in his Aviation History story, the early B-17s didn’t have tail guns. Williams battle station was in the “bathtub,” a bulge in the plane’s belly that was equipped with twin .50-cal. machine guns.

“I was busy firing those guns,” he said. “They were coming from the left

and right.”

Williams was one of the four gunners in the plane’s mid-section.

The others were two waist gunners firing from each side and the radio operator who shot twin machine guns from the top of the plane.

Williams gun jammed, but being a mechanic, he managed to clear them with a screwdriver.

Then W.G. Killin, the radio operator’s guns jammed and he asked Williams to change places with him and unjam the guns.

“He got into the bathtub,” Williams said, “and instantly his head was blown off.”

Williams, who was hit by a 20mm shell from one of the enemy planes, had his leg ripped open, knocking him out of the fight.

Brown, whose right hand had been nearly shot off, was unable to operate his gun. The job of firing both waist guns went to Sergeant John Gootee, who though himself wounded in the right wrist, kept firing both guns until helped by the

WAR/PAGE 7

19th Bombardment Group Unit Dispositions December 1941

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

Metro

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

December 13-19, 2021

War...

from page 6

Lacson: Presidency a Responsibility, Not an Obsession The presidency is a calling and a responsibility to the Filipino people, and should not be an obsession.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Sunday as he noted those who make the presidency an obsession resort to lying, destroying others - or making fools of themselves.

“If you make the presidency an obsession, you will lie, deceive, destroy others, even make a fool of yourself to win it. Best to treat is as a calling, a responsibility and an obligation to the people,” he said in a post on his Twitter account Sunday morning, before heading for Catarman in Northern Samar for his

and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s Online Kumustahan.

Lacson is running for President under Partido Reporma, with Sotto as his Vice President under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Earlier, Lacson pointed out that going for the presidency is a sacred duty - thus the need to prepare for the job by consulting experts in various fields while helping the electorate become more mature.

He added this is why he and Sotto present their platform of government to the public instead of resorting to “entertainment politics,” as well as refrain from speaking ill of other aspirants.

bombardier, Schlotte.

The seven enemy planes claimed by Wheless and the four claimed by Adams in his brief fight may seem hard to believe in light of later WWII statistics.

Remember, however, that this was the first time the Japanese had tangled with a B-17. The Zero pilots were unfamiliar with the Fortress’ firepower and the location of its guns.

On the other hand, the system of authenticating a kill by a witness had not yet been put in place by the U.S. Army Air Forces. Had it been, the count might have been reduced to five or less.

Also, it was apparently not possible for a large number of planes to literally swarm all over a B-17.

Saburo Sakai, the Japanese ace who shot down Colin Kelly, said: ‘It was impossible for (a large number of Zeros) to make a concerted attack against the bomber, for in the rarified air we could easily over control and collide with each other. Instead, we swung out in a long file, and made our firing passes one after another, each plane making its run alone.’

This was particularly easy against the D-model B-17, since it had no tail gun, relying instead on the gun in the bathtub position to help cover the tail.

As far as it went, this assessment of the damage was correct. The 5-foot-6, 138-pound Wheless was struggling for all he was worth to keep the big plane in the air while it was being shot to pieces by machine-gun and cannon fire from the Zeros.

The running battle with the Japanese fighters, which had begun the minute the plane appeared over the target, would last for 75 miles.

The B-17 had dropped from 9,000 feet to 3,500. First the No. 1 engine was shot up, its throttle cable shot in two and had to be feathered as he could see gasoline spraying out. The gas tank for the number 4 engine was also leaking.

Then, in rapid succession, bullets shot out the radio and the oxygen system and his number 3 engine was smoking.

Then a 6-inch hole appeared in the right wing fuel tank, the result of 20mm cannon fire. After that came a sudden loss of control, when a hail of 20mm fire severed seven of the control cables of the big plane, leaving cables intact for only right rudder, one elevator and both ailerons.

Concentrating on flying, Wheless

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10TH Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF

SHERIFFS NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE EJF File Number 2021-1015 UPON EXTRA-JUDICIAL PETITION FOR SALE under Act 3135 as amended, filed by PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK with principal office and place of business at PS BANK Center, 777 Paseo de Roxas cor. Sedeño Street, Makati City (mortgagee), against SPS. REY G. GANTUANGCO and GERALDINE A. GANTUANGCO (mortgagors), with address at Blk. 27, Lot 11, Morning Mist Village, Pueblo de Oro Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 6, 2021, amounted to ONE MILLION TWELVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHT PESOS & 19/100 (Php 1,012,208.19), Philippine Currency, Plus accruing interest, penalty and other charges of extra-judicial foreclosure and sale, the undersigned Sheriff or his deputies will sell at public auction on January 6, 2022 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter, at RTC Branch 19, Hall of Justice, Goldridge Bldg., Mastersons Avenue corner P.N. Roa Avenue, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder, for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the real property described herein-below, with all its improvements found thereon, viz: “CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 137-2015000242” (Registered in the name of Sps. Rey G. Gantuangco & Geraldin A. Gantuangco)

CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 137-2019009328

Lot : Lot No. 6, Block 29

Plan No. : PCS-10-004587

Portion of : Block 27, PSD-10-040101; Block 26, PSD-10-042128; Lot 7-A-1, PSD-10-062039

Location : Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, Island of Mindanao

Area : One Hundred Twenty (120) Square Meter More or Less Prospective buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the title herein-above described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated date, time and place.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date for whatever reason, the same will proceed on February 18, 2022, without further notice, posting and publication.

Cagayan de Oro City, December 9, 2021

FOR THE EX-OFFCIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF BY:

(SGD) ALAN M. BANAAG

Sheriff IV

7

shot at landing.

As he gingerly banked the plane toward the field and started in, he was aghast to see it had been barricaded in anticipation of its being used by the Japanese. Past the point of no return, Wheless lowered his landing gear, possibly unaware that the tires had both been shot flat.

He could not belly land as there was no way to strap down the wounded. As the plane flew over the barricaded field, one of the two remaining engines ran out of gas.

The plane landed, hitting a palm tree on the way in, ripped through several barricades, then some 200 yards down the runway the big bomber’s brakes suddenly locked, and after it rolled 500 feet, the 39,000 lbs. aircraft stopped suddenly and went up on its nose for a second before crashing down on its tail.

They were down at last, even though it was far from the routine landing the president had implied. After getting the wounded crewmen to the small hospital at Cagayan, the ground crew counted at least 1,200 bullet holes in the plane. Each propeller blade had been hit five or six times.

For his gallant efforts in bringing the shot-up Fortress and her wounded crewmen back to base, Lieutenant Hewitt T. Wheless was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Postscript

After the war, Wheless became the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Director of Plans in September 1960, and in July 1962 he was named its Chief of Staff. In June 1963 he was assigned to Headquarters US Air Force, Washington DC as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Requirements and became its Deputy Chief of Staff the following February and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

In February 1965 he became the Assistant US Air Force Vice Chief of Staff at Washington DC and in 1967 was appointed Senior Air Force Member of the Military Staff Committee, United Nations in concurrent capacity.

He retired at these positions in June 1968 with the rank of Lieutenant General after 33 years of continuous military service.

He died on 07 September 1985 at the age of 72 in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA and is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington Country, Virginia, USA at Section 30 Site 384-1.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10TH Judicial Region BRANCH 19 Cagayan de Oro City

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE File No. EJF-2021-1030 Upon Extra Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135 as amended by Act No. 4118. Filed

by PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK, a thrift bank, with principal office and place of business at PSBankCenter, 777 Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeño Street, Makati City, against ANDREA AURORA B. ENTERIA, of legal age, with given address at Unit 1 Anthurium Townhouse Loyola Heights, Varsity Hills Subdivision, Quezon City, and collateral address at Blk. 29, Lot 6, Westwood Village, Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of November 5, 2021 amounts to ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN PESOS and 13/100 ( P 1,485,657.13) Philippine Currency, plus accruing interest, penalty and other charges thereon from the said date up to date of foreclosure sale, publication, other foreclosure expenses, attorney’s fees and such other additional sums as are due from the Borrowers/Mortgagors under the Mortgage Deed, the undersigned Sheriff will SELL at Public Auction on February 14, 2022 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at RTC Branch 40, 2nd Flr., Goldridge Bldg., Masterson Ave. cor. P.N. Roa Ave., Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, to the Highest Bidder, For CASH and in Philippine Currency, the real property mortgaged together with all improvements thereon. To wit:

did not know what was happening in the rest of the airplane.

The radio operator had been killed, his upper gunner had his thigh split from hip to knee by an explosive shell, he lay on the floor crippled, reaching for his gun to fight back with. One waist gunner was wounded and the other manned both guns, ignoring the pain from a cracked wrist. The flight engineer fought on too, steadying his gun with one hand because his other hand was shot away.

By that time, both wheels had been shot flat and the tail wheel had been blown completely out of its mount. Then there were the three wounded crewmen and one killed in action — with three machine guns jammed or otherwise out of commission. Fuel was spewing freely out of the right wing tank, which meant that a second engine would quit just miles from the Mindanao coast.

It ain’t over till it’s over

Looking for protection from the Zeros on his tail, Wheless ducked into a cloud bank as he left the Luzon coast.

When he broke out minutes later, not a Japanese plane was to be seen.

The enemy pilots — either low on ammunition or fuel, or sure the battered B-17, trailing smoke and gasoline and limping along on three engines, was finished — had given up the chase.

Wheless was afraid to pick up his microphone since he thought everyone in the ship must be dead. He was relieved to see the navigator alive when he came up to offer a hand and patch up the wounded.

The plane was running on two engines, lost its oxygen system, seven out of eleven control cables, the tail wheel was gone and both of its landing wheels were shot flat. Without much control surface left, there was little Wheless could do but fly straight and level.

As Wheless neared the Mindanao coast, it was getting dark and had started to rain.

After fighting to keep the plane in the air for more than 300 miles, he knew his chances were slim of reaching Del Monte. When the second engine ran out of gas, with nothing but jungle between the Mindanao coast and Del Monte, Wheless decided to head for an auxiliary strip at Cagayan, on the northern coast of the island.

Crash Landing in Cagayan

Afraid to fly other than in a straight line because of his damaged control cables, Wheless would not be able to check out the field first before coming in. He knew that he would have just one

FIFTH FLOOR, UNIT 507, PRIMAVERA TOWER 1 UNIT AREA: 30.00 BUILDING USE: RESIDENTIAL UNIT TYPE: 1-BEDROOM

Located at PRIMAVERA RESIDENCES TOWER 1, BLOCK 1 LOT 3 PUEBLO BUSINESS PARK UPPER CARMEN, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY Prospective Buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the Title of the property above-mentioned and all encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

In the event that said auction sale on January 6, 2022 will declared holiday or nonworking day, the same will continue on the next working day without need for further notice, publication and posting.

Cagayan de Oro City, November 24, 2021.

FOR THE EX-OFFCIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF

(SGD) RAUL L. SALCEDA

Sheriff IV

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424

8

The

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly DE ORO

December 13-19, 2021

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES Editorial and Advertising: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | 09177121424