Ludovico Arroyo Bañas

Ludovico Arroyo Bañas

Ludovico Arroyo Bañas, c. 1919, a pensionado at the US Naval Radio School in Cavite, Philippines.
Regional Telecommunications Superintendent, Region IV (Panay, Negros, Romblon, Palawan)
In office
after World War II until 16 February 1966
Telecommunications Bureau in Manila, United States of America, Insular Government (Philippines)
In office
1919–1942
Civilian Employee Warning Service of the United States of America (Iloilo City Station)
In office
10 October 1941 – 2 January 1942
61st Signal Company of the 6th Military District of the USAFFE's Philippine Army
In office
2 January 1942 – 16 April 1942
61st Signal Company of the 6th Military District of the USAFFE's Philippine Army
In office
5 November 1942 – ---------
64thSignal Company of the 6th Military District of the USAFFE's Philippine Army
In office
--------- – end of World War II
Personal details
Born (1901-02-16)16 February 1901
Died 27 June 1979(1979-06-27)
Iloilo City, Philippines
Nationality
Spouse(s) Carmen Jalandoni Jover
Profession Telecommunications Superintendent, Soldier
Religion
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
United States of America
Commonwealth of the Philippines

Ludovico Arroyo Bañas (16 February 1901 – 27 June 1979) - a high official of the Philippine Bureau of Telecommunications (National Telecommunications Commission, from 23 July 1979), who was one of the local American-trained pioneers in Telecommunications service in the Philippines during the American Regime in the Country[1] and who, through his professional specialization and expertise, made some significant contribution in the liberation of the Philippines during the World War II, in the field of communications.

Service in the Bureau of Telecommunications in the Philippines

The skyline of the old Port City of Cavite in 1899 (shortly after the American takeover of the port) taken from a ship docked in the navy yard, with the churches visible at maximum resolution.

During the American Regime, Ludovico Arroyo Bañas was chosen as one of the ten personnel of the American government telegraph service in the Philippines to compose the first and only group of Filipino pensionados who, in 1919, underwent advanced training in wireless telegraphy (radio), at the US Naval Radio School in Cavite. The training of the ten Filipinos was made possible through a special arrangement between the US Naval authorities in the Philippines and the Insular Government. To select the trainees, a special examination was conducted among the 398 students of the Post-Telegraph School.[2]

After the training, Bañas was appointed to the office of Assistant Radio Inspector and Radio Superintendent in Manila, until the World War II broke out in 1942.[3]

After serving the U.S. Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) during the war, Bañas left the military service with the rank of Second Lieutenant, and went back to Telecommunications Bureau (this time under the Philippine Republic). Later, he became the Regional Superintendent of the Bureau of Telecommunications (BUTEL) in Region IV (Panay, Negros, Romblon, and Palawan)[4] until the time of his retirement at the age of sixty-five years, on 16 February 1966,[5] after forty-seven years of continuous service since 1 January 1919.[6] He died in 1979.

Military Service during the World War II

At the beginning of the War (on 10 October 1941 ), Ludovico Arroyo Bañas was drafted in the Civilian Employee Warning Service of the United States of America (Iloilo City Station), under the command of Major Campbell. This task was short-lived for on 2 January 1942, he was inducted to the USAFFE, in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo by Lt. Col Crispen Gorriceta. From 4 January to 16 April 1942, he was assigned to the 61st Signal Company of the 61st Division, Philippine Army, stationed in Sta. Barbara. Lt. Col Amos Francia, who was in command of the unit, disbanded his men on 17 April of that same year. That forced Bañas to go home to Banate, Iloilo, where he farmed his land.[7]

Ludovico Arroyo Bañas with the family of his wife Carmen Jalandoni Jover during a clan gathering sometime in 1950s. Ludovico is behind his wife Carmen (standing, fourth from the left), while Iloilo City Mayor Dominador Jalandoni Jover (also standing) could be found fourth from the right.

Lack of equipment, difficult terrain and undeveloped infrastructure made coordination of the groups of disbanded USAFFE forces nearly impossible, and for several months in 1942 all contact with Philippine resistance forces was lost. Communications were restored in November 1942 when the reformed 6th Military District in Panay island, led by Colonel Macario Peralta, was reorganized.

Upon the reorganization of the 6th Military District in Panay, Ludovico Arroyo Bañas again joined the defense of his Country, and worked with Capt. Eliseo Espia in the 61st Signal Company of this Military District (stationed in Passi, Iloilo), on the 5th of that month. Later, he was sent to the 64th Signal Company of the same Military District, under the Command of Lt. Col. Cesar Hechanova, where he served until the end of the war.[8]

2Lt Ludovico Arroyo Bañas made an important contribution to the US and Filipino forces during the war, in the field of communication. He was responsible in successfully making the first radio contact with the US War Department through the USAFFE command in Australia, months after the United States Armed Forces was disbanded in the Philippines. This first radio contact affirmed the continuous existence of Filipino resistance forces against the Japanese, thereby providing the joint and combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth military forces important data for the liberation of the Philippines.[9] This enabled the forwarding of intelligence regarding Japanese forces in the Philippines to SWPA command, as well as the consolidating the once sporadic guerrilla activities, thereby allowing the guerrillas to help in the war effort.[10]

Family and Marriage

Ludovico was one of the three sons of Celestino Barboza Bañas and Francisca Arroyo, both were native and residents of Banate, Iloilo, Philippines. His siblings were Martin and Maximo. He was married to Carmen Jalandoni Jover - sister of Dominador Jalandoni Jover, who was Mayor of Iloilo City. The couple had seven daughters (Thelma, Alsina, Maja, Emma, Manajama, Nancy, and Francily) and a son (Richard).

Service Medals and Ribbons

Suggested Further Readings

References

  1. ↑ Federico A. Oquindo and Rafael R. Oquindo, History of the Philippine Telecommunications Industry (cf. (cf. http://raflor.tripod.com/). N. B. Federico A. Oquindo was a senior executive assistant and head of the Public Information Office of the National Telecommunications Commission, prior to his retirement from Philippine Gevernment Service in 1988. At the time of his retirement from the government service in 1988, FEDERICO A. OQUINDO was a senior executive assistant and head of the Public Information Office of the National Telecommunications Commission...Prior to joining the NTC in 1980, he served with the Bureau of Telecommunications (which he joined in 1947 as messenger) as that agency’s public relations officer and editor of the bureau’s official publication... In writing this short history of Philippine Telecommunications, he consulted records and interviewed old timers and even retirees of the government telegraph service some of whom claimed that their earliest years in the service date back to the defunct telegraph division of the Constabulary during the early years of the American occupation... A free lance writer, the author has written numerous articles, short stories and other works some of which appeared in such national publications like the pre-Martial Law Philippines Free Press, Graphic Magazine, Manila Daily Bulletin, Liwayway Magazine, Nation Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine, Saturday Mirror Magazine, Taliba, Orient Magazine and certain trade journals. He also edited trade and technical magazines and publications of professional organizations and a national labor federation...He has attended numerous seminars and workshops in public relations and communications as well as in trade unionism both here and abroad...Rafael Oquendo, on the other hand, was also a former employee of NTC, once a technical staff of the Rajah Broadcasting Network better known as DZRJ, has attended numerous trainings and seminars both locally and abroad. Presently, he is a full time faculty member of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines under the College of Engineering.... As regards the reliability of the information, it is good to consider Rafael R. Oquendo's note, which says: This is a first attempt to chronicle the growth development of the Philippines’ telecommunications Industry... Being an Initial effort some quarters may find this volume wanting in certain respects. However, the author- believes that a start has to he made if the Philippine telecommunications story will ever be written... As will be noted a good portion of this work focuses on the role of the government In the industry’s development. It was only during the post-World War II years that private capital ventured into this field particularly In the domestic record carrier sector. The international services sector has, of course, always been dominated by multinationals since way back...The idea of writing the history of the country’s Telecommunications sector was first conceived in 1965.The plan then was to prepare a volume to commemorate the first centennial of Philippine telecommunications, which was to have been marked in 1967.However, various factors came in the way so that nothing concrete came out of that plan... Nevertheless the author continued working on his manuscript over the years adding more details and information to what were already contained in his original draft. Valuable information were provided by various parties which included telecom companies, radio amateurs, old timers and even retirees from the government telegraph service some of whom, he learned were among those whose services date back to the defunct telegraph division of the Constabulary during the early 1900a. Most of them, sad to say, have since crossed the Great Divide... Also consulted were records both government and private. The information provided by the authors who know the actual persons and documents related to the History of Telecommunications in the Philippines (which, unfortunately, a subject about which scarcely anyone wrote something) cannot just be easily dismissed as unreliable unless someone, with a more plausible and reliable evidences, can demonstrate the contrary. The authors' website provide details of their current status, at least for Rafael Oquendo who is currently serving as full-time teacher at the College of Engineering of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Their contact details are also provided, for purposes of verification. Nonetheless, it is true that the documents mentioned in the write up needs to be specified.
  2. ↑ Federico A. Oquindo and Rafael R. Oquindo, History of the Philippine Telecommunications Industry (cf. http://raflor.tripod.com/).
  3. ↑ Officer's and Warrant Officer's Qualification Card of 2Lt. Ludovico Arroyo Bañas O-26746 PA, dated 27 March 1946, signed by 1Lt Quirico Mijares INF. The Document can be found in the Non-current Records of the Office of the Adjutant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
  4. ↑ Federico A. Oquindo and Rafael R. Oquindo, History of the Philippine Telecommunications Industry (cf. http://raflor.tripod.com/).
  5. ↑ F. Oquendo and R. Oquendo placed the approximate date of retirement of Bañas in the late 1950s (cf. http://raflor.tripod.com/). However, an autographed picture of Bañas (dated 20 February 1966), given by the subject to his daughter Maja (cf. photograph at the talk page of this article), indicates the exact date (16 February 1966)
  6. ↑ Cf. Autographed dedication, on the rear side of his photograph (dated 20 February 1966 - to commemorate retirement from government service), addressed to his daughter Maja.
  7. ↑ Affidavit H18179, 6th Military District, Unit Number T-8, Province of Iloilo (for USAFFE Guerilla), dated 9 January 1946, signed at OTC, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, Philippines by 2Lt Samuel L. Bell O-1329677, Summary Court Officer, US Processing Team No. 8. The Document can be found in the Non-current Records of the Office of the Adjutant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
  8. ↑ Affidavit H18179, 6th Military District, Unit Number T-8, Province of Iloilo (for USAFFE Guerilla), dated 9 January 1946, signed at OTC, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, Philippines by 2Lt Samuel L. Bell O-1329677, Summary Court Officer, US Processing Team No. 8. The Document can be found in the Non-current Records of the Office of the Adjutant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
  9. ↑ This was the testimony of retired Col. Eliseo S. Espia PA (the Capt. Eliseo S. Espia, with whom 2Lt Bañas worked during the war) in an interview made by Capt John Bañas Brillantes, at Col. Espia's home near Gate 6, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Q.C., on 4 March 2007. That time, the World War II Veteran was already 87 years old, but was still lucid in his judgment and memory, and could still walk.
  10. ↑ Dolan 1991-21
  11. ↑ Officer's and Warrant Officer's Qualification Card of 2Lt. Ludovico Arroyo Bañas O-26746 PA, dated 27 March 1946, signed by 1Lt Quirico Mijares INF. The Document can be found in the Non-current Records of the Office of the Adjutant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

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