Vicente "Vic" Sumajit Santos, Jr. (May 17, 1944 – February 17, 2012) was a colonel of the Philippine Army – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He was the author of several military books [1] and other publications,[2][3] as well as the founding president of Kapatiran ng mga Kawal na Makawikang Pilipino (KAKAMPI).
Early life
Santos was born in Asingan in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines on May 17, 1944 to 3rd Lt. Vicente De Leon Santos and Catalina Dela Cruz Sumajit, he was the eldest among three children. His father was then a military officer who served under the USAFFE during World War II, and was later absorbed in the Armed Forces of the Philippines after the war, whereas his mother worked as a government school teacher.
He took his secondary education in Southern Christian College and graduated valedictorian in 1961.
Photo of Col. Vicente Santos Jr, with his then-future-wife, Erlinda during a Ring Hop Ball in the University of the Philippines ROTC, 1966
He held several positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines during his military career, one of them is the position of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, G-7 and Historical Officer of the HSC, General Headquarters, AFP.
The last position he occupied in the Armed Forces of the Philippines before his retirement was Chief of Value Information Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J-7, AFP.[4]
Defense of Camp Emilio Aguinaldo – August 1987
During the bloodiest coup attempt to overthrow the Corazon Aquino government in 1987. Col. Santos, together with his colleagues defended the General Headquarters Building located at the center of Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They exchanged fires with the rebel forces of then Col. Gregorio Honasan, one of the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement. Due to heavy fire and rocket barrages from rebel-commandeered vehicles, the GHQ building was burned to the ground, and Col. Santos was one of the casualties in the aftermath of the bloodiest 1987 coup attempt.
Providentially, he survived the attack but suffered irreversible damages to his lungs. He was confined at the AFP Medical Center. Col. Vic Santos never fully recovered from his partially burned lungs which forced him to take a Complete Disability Discharge (CDD), that led to his early retirement from the military service in 1991.
In the book of Col. Gaudencio "Ding" L. San Juan, entitled Demokrasya at Kudeta,[5] the heroic defense of the GHQ Building was cited and particularly, Santos' account was mentioned. Below is a published part [6] of what occurred during the defense of Camp Aguinaldo:
"The other unforgettable incident concerns Col. Vicente S. Santos, Jr. He was then the Chief of Value Information Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J-7, AFP.
At that time, Santos was attending to three very important duties: as a soldier, as a father and as a “mother” to his six young children (five boys and one girl) aged 3, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15. His wife was in the US working with her mother.
To take good care of his children, he brought them to stay at the OJ7 Annex building, a 100 meters away from the AFP General Headquarters building where he was posted.
Tension escalated at the GHQ. Sleeplessness, missing meals, tiredness from the day and night duties and looking after his children, Vic’s body and spirit succumbed to sickness. His children, however young they were, always reminded him to take his medicine regularly.
When a signal for rebel soldiers led by Col.Gregorio Honasan was announced to attack, the target of all heavy weapons of different make, including incendiary rounds, were directed at OJ7 troopers in the GHQ building. Its first floor was literally a burning inferno.
Smell of blood, stench of sickness, smog of gunpowder, fumes of explosive materials, unbearable smoke and heat of raging flames engulfing the entire first floor of the GHQ building and stress suffocated Vic at the height of gunshot exchange between government soldiers and rebel troops.
While Santos' spirit was still actively working for his sworn duties as a government soldier and as a father of six young children, he felt his body could not help it but slowly giving up everything at the moment. He could not see the point and understand the logic why Filipino soldiers should fight against each other.
“Useless,” he muttered as the word flashed in his mind. Then everything blanked out.
Santos didn't know how he was rushed by a whining ambulance with other victims like him to the AFP Medical Center. He did not even know what already happened to his children.
Santos might have been thinking during the remaining last lucid moments of his consciousness that Filipinos fighting among themselves could only mean a Pyrrhic Victory — no winner, so costly as to be equal to defeat.
The bloody end of the 1987 August 28 Coup Attempt left some 53 people dead and more than 200 wounded, many of them civilian bystanders. Twelve rebel forces and 524 enlisted men surrendered, and 268 assorted firearms were confiscated. At about 11:30 P.M., General Fidel Ramos announced that Camp Aguinaldo had already been cleared, hence, no more threat to the Republic."
Military courses and special training
Field Artillery Officer Advance Course – Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA (1978)
Field Artillery Officer Basic Course – Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA (1978)
Company Officer Course – Philippine Army School Center, Fort Bonifacio, Philippines (1972)
Civil Military Operations Training – CMO, OJ7, General Headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo (1983)
Home Defense Orientation Seminar – CMO, OJ7, General Headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo (1981)
TANGLAW Trainors Course for the AFP Ideology Program – UP Center for Advance Studies, Quezon City, Philippines (1978)
"Natatanging Pagsanay sa Wikang Pilipino" for selected AFP officers – Surian ng Wikang Pambansa, DECS (1978)
Santos was also a recipient of the "Gawad ng Pagkilala" from the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa (now Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino) for his exemplary efforts in the promotion and propagation of the Filipino language in the military, particularly in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Books and publications
Aside from fulfilling his military duties, Santos was also a prolific writer. He was a patriotic defender of the Filipino language, and was even influential in the usage and implementation of Filipino (Tagalog) military commands and terminologies in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Together with Col. Gaudencio "Ding" San Juan, he co-founded the Kapatiran ng mga Kawal na Makawikang Pilipino (KAKAMPI), a military organization which aimed to promote the use of Filipino language for the development of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and in nation building. He served as the founding President of the said organization.
He authored several military books and other publications during his lifetime, among them were:
The Veteran is Worth Caring For[7] (2010) (Revised 2011)
He was also the Editor of "Balita sa Kampo" (The official newsletter of AFP back then – 1990), and a member of the Philippine Army Ad Hoc Committee on the National Language Propagation (1974). He also became a columnist and Editor-in-chief of "Ang Bagong Kalayaan" newspaper (1996); and "Balita sa Barangay" (The first Barangay Newsletter in the Philippines, and the official newsletter of Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City – 1997)
Marriage and family
Santos married the former Erlinda Solis Tolete on June 22, 1969. Erlinda Santos was a public school teacher, and also a civil servant. They have six children, namely; Vicente III, Benhur, Singapor, Vicerly, Pilipino and Fabian.
Col. Vicente S. Santos Jr and his wife, Erlinda Tolete Santos on their "Military Wedding" day
Spiritual perspective
Santos was a Born-again Apostolic Christian, he believed in the apostolic doctrine / teaching found in the Bible at the Book of Acts, Chapter Two (New Testament Plan of Salvation: Acts 2:38) that states:
"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."[13]
He attended church at the Lighthouse Apostolic Ministry of Pentecost (LAMP) that is pastored by Rev. Isaias Z. Dela Cruz, Jr.
Before his conversion to being a born-again Christian, Santos has already been reading the Bible since his childhood years. His mother, who was a Methodist, taught him biblical principles which he eventually carried on throughout his life. At one instance, a few hours before the bloodiest coup attack in Camp Aguinaldo he was personally approached by then Col. Honasan to convince him to join the coup attempts and support the rebel forces against the Aquino administration.
With firm dedication, Santos took hold of his pocket bible and with meek voice gently declined his friend's invitation to join the coup. He uttered, '"I am neutral, my loyalty belongs to God and to my country..."'. After a few hours, the bloody siege of Camp Aguinaldo began.
Retirement years
After the bloodiest coup attempt of 1987, Santos' health slowly deteriorated as a result of his taking part in the defense of the AFP GHQ building, which the rebel soldiers razed to the ground.
Although, he was insistent to continue serving his nation in the Armed Forces of the Philippines; his body could no longer fully perform the physical rigors of a soldier. Upon the advice of his military doctors, Santos inevitably opted to file for a Complete Disability Discharge (CDD) paving way for his early retirement in September 30, 1991.
Having completed 25 years of service, starting from January 17, 1966 to September 29, 1991; Santos retired from the military service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the grade of colonel pursuant to Sections 7, 9 and 17 of Presidential Decree 1638, and AFP General Orders 932 dated December 7, 1992.
Santos went on to serve his nation through writing of several military books and publications. He also participated in the development of his community. In 1997, he was appointed as a Public Information Officer of Brgy. Putatan, Muntinlupa City by Col. Pablo E. Salamat, who was then the Barangay Chairman of Putatan, Muntinlupa City. He also became a columnist and Editor-in-chief of "Ang Bagong Kalayaan" newspaper (1996); and "Balita sa Barangay" (The first Barangay Newsletter in the Philippines, and the official newsletter of Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City – 1997).
His dedication for the military and concern for the welfare of the veterans and retired soldiers inspired him to write his last book entitled, "The Veteran is Worth Caring For". Together with his youngest son, Prof. Fabian T. Santos, and several military friends like Col. Robinson Lumontod and Col. Gaudencio San Juan, they extensively researched and compiled veteran issues and records which comprised the book.
After several months of praying and coordinating with government agencies, the book was finally launched in May 17, 2011 at the AFP Theatre, Camp Aguinaldo; coincidentally it was also his birthday. The latest volume of this book was co-published by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) through the support of Undersecretary of National Defense Ernesto G. Carolina.
Death
He died peacefully in February 17, 2012 due to lung complications caused by the disability he incurred while defending the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in one of the bloodiest coup d'état which happened in the 1986–90 Philippine coup attempts. The bloodiest coup attempt was led by then Col. Gringo Honasan, a friend and colleague of his.
Santos Hall
During the incumbency of then Gen. Hermogenes Esperon as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a hall inside the AFP General Headquarters was named in honor of Santos. Santos Hall was a recognition of his plight in the burning GHQ building during the defense of the Camp Aguinaldo against the bloodiest coup attempt of August 1987.
Place of interment
Several government officials and officers of the military attended his wake, including former Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos.
Republic of the Philippines
Colonel
Armed Forces of the Philippines
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