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Post by EXO on May 14, 2020 7:32:02 GMT 8
Welcome to New Member Jmortiz, who writes "My grandfather is Virgilio Lobregat who was a member of the Elizalde Espionage Ring and died with the other members of that group on 8/30/1944. I wish to learn more about the activities of the group and circumstances surrounding their capture and death."
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Post by chadhill on May 14, 2020 8:50:14 GMT 8
Jmortiz, welcome. Your grandfather was quite a man. If I may quote Wikipedia for a very short summary:
"Lobregat fought the Japanese during World War II as a guerrilla under Juan Miguel Elizalde. Lobregat also served as a spy. He was detained at Fort Santiago by the Japanese as a prisoner of war and was beheaded in August 1944, along with Elizalde and 70 other prisoners at the Manila North Cemetery. According to his grave also at the same cemetery, Lobregat died on August 30, 1944.
"Lobregat, along with basketball player Jacinto Cruz and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso was named Outstanding Athletes of Half-A-Century by the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation. He was also named as the "Football Player of the Half Century" in the 1970s by the Philippine Football Association. A football field in Makati where a statue of Benigno Aquino Jr. is situated, and the Lobregat Cup, a football tournament held from the late 1940s to 1970s, was named in honor of him".
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Post by jmortiz on May 18, 2020 4:29:31 GMT 8
Thank you. Indeed he was. My grandfather was a dominant athlete, a great family man and a patriot.
I am looking for more information on his activities with the Manila Intelligence Group/Elizalde Espionage Ring. I just asked the folks on the "Heroes and Villains" board for the Cabarrus, Manuel Elizalde and Oclassen affidavits mentioned therein. If anyone has here can help with that, I would appreciate it.
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Post by James Dissette on Nov 12, 2021 3:27:22 GMT 8
I came across this and was reminded of stories my father, Captain of submarine USS Cero, told me when I was a child. He often spoke the name Elizalde with profound respect. Often my father was involved in special missions, dropping of Filipino fighters and recon personnel. The name "Michael Elizalde" was always attached to the stories. I think I recall that there were two Elizalde brothers, perhaps in Manilla, and that one was killed by the Japanese in front of schoolhouse. That detail always stood out for me.
They must must have been remarkable men. Their names were were repeated with the utmost respect and pride for being friends with them.
Perhaps this little note will make it to someone in the family.
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James, I have passed this along to Peter Parsons, whose father ("Chick") you would have heard of. Peter is an old Elizalde friend.- EXO
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