Here is a more elegant and refined version of your write-up, with a tone befitting Araw ng Kagitingan:
A Legacy of Courage: Honoring the Heroism of Mayor Leopoldo Frias Aquino, Sr.
In commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan, it is only fitting to remember and preserve the extraordinary wartime courage of former Bayambang Mayor Leopoldo Frias Aquino, Sr.—a leader whose bravery and moral resolve stand as enduring testaments to the Filipino spirit.
Born in November 1904 in Bayambang, Pangasinan, Mayor Aquino was the son of Pedro Kabola Aquino of Lungog, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and Raymunda Frias of Bayambang. He was married to Ma. Esperanza Najera Bañez of Nagpalangan, Binmaley, with whom he raised a large and accomplished family.
Elected mayor under the Nacionalista Party before the outbreak of the Second World War, Aquino remained at the helm during one of the most perilous chapters in Philippine history. He accepted the burdens of leadership under Japanese occupation not for personal gain, but to shield his people from cruelty and suffering. Navigating a perilous path, he outwardly cooperated with occupying forces while secretly serving the resistance as a guerrilla under Major Edwin Ramsey of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
Among the many accounts of his heroism, one stands out with particular clarity. At a time when the Japanese military had rounded up the town’s male population in the plaza, surrounding them with machine guns and threatening mass execution unless guerrillas were identified, fear gripped the community. In that moment of terror, Mayor Aquino stepped forward—bringing with him his wife and two young children. Mounting the kiosk, he boldly declared through an interpreter: “There is no guerrilla in our midst. If you can find even one, you may kill me first—along with my family.” His defiance and courage prevailed; the Japanese general relented, and the townspeople were spared.
In another daring act, as the tide of war began to turn, Aquino undertook a perilous mission to secure the release of detained guerrillas. Commandeering a cargo truck, he traveled to Capas, Tarlac, and successfully negotiated with Japanese authorities for the release of prisoners from Bayambang on humanitarian grounds. Not only were his townsmen freed, but he also secured the liberty of others from neighboring areas—an act that restored hope in a time of despair.
In recognition of his service, the United States government later honored him as a USAFFE veteran with the rank of lieutenant, granting him back pay and benefits under the GI Bill of Rights.
After the war, Aquino continued his public service, this time under the Liberal Party of President Manuel Roxas. Re-elected as mayor, he governed with firm discipline during a period marked by lawlessness. Personally patrolling the streets armed with his “karborata,” he enforced order without fear or favor—even ensuring that his own relatives faced justice when warranted.
Beyond maintaining peace and order, his administration ushered in significant educational and cultural advancements. He championed the establishment of Bayambang High School, sparing local students from traveling to Lingayen for their studies. He also played a vital role in the reopening of the Pangasinan Normal School—now the Pangasinan State University, Bayambang Campus—thereby expanding access to higher education, especially for the underprivileged.
Under his leadership, the Dr. Jose Rizal Monument was erected, and the Bayambang Municipal Library was inaugurated in 1950, further enriching the town’s cultural and intellectual life.
Mayor Leopoldo F. Aquino, Sr. passed away on January 26, 1965, at the age of 60. Though his life was cut short, his legacy endures—etched in the history of Bayambang and in the hearts of those who continue to draw inspiration from his courage, integrity, and unwavering service.
Sources: Down Memory Lane coffee table book monograph by Dr. Clarita Jimenez et al. (2014); Bayambang Quadricentennial Book (2014).
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