FOR years, 77-year-old Ed Montalvan has been knocking doors of top military officials for recognition for his father, the late Major Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan, a local war hero.
Montalvan, a journalist and former president of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club wanted Camp Evangelista or any facility of the military installation renamed in honor of his father, the first commander of Camp Edilberto Evangelista, presently the headquarters of the Army 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro.
“For 17 years this was my dream and pursued it, talking to every Army general I’ve met,” Montalvan said.
Ed’s father, Jose Manuel, served as commander of Camp Bulua, the former name of Camp Evangelista on January 1, 1940. The name of the camp was then Camp Bulua, headquarters of the Philippine Auxillary Tactical Air Group or PATAG, where the barangay where was located got its name.
The elder Montalvan, born on March 17, 1903, was a native of Cagayan de Oro known before as Cagayan de Misamis, then the capital town of Misamis Segundo Distrito province.
After spending his childhood in Cagayan de Oro, Montalvan studied at the Philippine Dental College in Manila and graduated with honors with a degree of Doctor in Dental Surgery.
Later, Montalvan pursued a military career and joined the U.S. Army Reserve and was commissioned as a first Lieutenant. He later joined the newly formed Philippine Army and was again commissioned as First Lieutenant.
“My father succumbed to the lure of a full-time military career. He joined the newly formed Philippine Army,” the son, Ed, said.
Ed said his father was stationed in Camp Evangelista and later on became its camp commander on January 1, 1940, until World War II broke out in the Philippines.
The elder Montalvan was taken prisoner and detained at the campus of Xavier University, which was converted into a prison camp by the Japanese.
According to a narrative provided by Lt. Col. Arthur Eamiguel, commander of the 4th Infantry Division Installation Management Battalion, the elder Montalvan escaped from the prison camp and joined the guerillas under US Army Colonel Wendel Fertig.
Eamiguel said for his wartime services, Montalvan was awarded the Philippine Defense Medal, American Defense Medal, Asiatic-Paciic Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Republic Unit Citation Badge, and the US Distinguished Unit Badge.
Ed said his father died on September 11, 1978, forgotten by the new generation of military officers and residents.
“I plead to every general about my father’s case but all I got was an empty promise,” Ed said.
Ed said until he met and talked to Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the Army 4th Infantry Division, in a hotel in downtown Cagayan de Oro.
He said Cuerpo agreed to rename the new Division Multi-Purpose Building in Camp Evangelista as Montalvan Hall in honor of his father, the first commander of Camp Evangelista.
“In less than 30 minutes of talking, Cuerpo agreed to my request. In 30 minutes all that I have worked for in many years was granted by the good general,” Ed said.
On June 19, Cuerpo and a small family of the Montalvans unveiled the marker renaming the building into Montalvan Hall.
“He was a hero and a veteran who served with the USAFFE in Mindanao against the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II,” read the marker posted at the entrance of the building.
Ed said he held back his emotions as he saw Army soldiers also pull the drape to reveal a wood frame “Montalvan Hall” posted at the door entrance of the building.
“I have goosebumps. I did it all for my papa and now the dreams become a reality,” he said.
Cuerpo said he knew about Ed’s predicament while he served as an aide to Lt. General Cardozo Luna, then commander of the Army Joint Task Force Mindanao in 2005.
“I saw that Ed’s crusade for his father was deserving. Renaming the building for his father gives honor to a World War II hero and most all as the first camp commander who started it all in Camp Evangelista,” Cuerpo said.
