More pictures and commentaries from the April 9 weekend events. From Capas, Tarlac (Camp O'Donnell)

Thanks to Albert Labrador for the photos and commentaries.
---------------------

After the Capot Hill photo shoot, tired and sleepless, we made our way to Clark, where Guy Hilberio graciously offered the Mabalacat tourist office for us to rest. We grabbed some early dinner chow and a few beers at SM clark then proceeded to the night's billet.

The day wasn't over for me, though. My friend and fellow airsofter, UP vanguard member Joel sol Cruz called me saying he was at clark as well with his father in law, Col. Ishmael Rodrigo who was raring to share stories with us that evening.

Col. Rodrigo was with the Hunters ROTC unit together with my ninong Ross Paz. We spoke over beers about how they had liberated the Los Baños Camp even before the US airborne arrived and how they never received the proper credit for the mission from the history books.

read here for an account of the rescue as well as Col. Rodrigo's comments:

http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-liberating-los-banos-internment-camp.htm/...

We went on talking about the colonel's career, first with the PAAC co-piloting catalinas, and then with the PA, tasked to form the scout rangers and seeing action in Korea and then in the PC during the tumultous days of the 70's and 80's. As we wound down (everyone not having had any decent form of sleep since the night before) the colonel left, we said our thanks and we bedded down for the deepest sleep i'd known in years.

I was awakened by the welcome smell of coffee at 5am the next morning. As i got out of my makeshift bed preparations were in full swing, everyone donning their uniforms and packing their bags. We also got word that jojo, perry and vaz were on their way to capas from manila. We quickly loaded up but couldn't resist a quick visit to the clark museum on the way. The collection was quite impressive especially the japanese uniforms and memorabilia on display.

We arrived in Capas just at the nick of time catching Jojo and the other arrivals from manila as they put on the last details of their uniforms. Vaz brought his wife as did the artist from the Clark Museum (sorry sir, i'll add your name later, I PROMISE) and 2 nurses uniforms were quickly produced.





As usual, we found ourselves at a choice spot near the air force honor guard:







When we found we still had time, last minute drill reviews were carried out by philip and perry, our officers in attendance. Some of us were too young to have experienced ROTC training but they carried on splendidly despite the rushed preparations:





As we waited for the arrival of Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin, Major Sagala PA asked us to temporarily break formation and seek refuge from the already angry sun. Thank you sir!:



As the guests arrived, we finally took our position in the grassy area surrounded by the black marble of the monument:









Our makeshift honor guard looked splendid in the various arrayed uniforms. Many foreign guests elicited surprise as they saw that reenactors were present.

The ceremony began with wreath laying:



After which a lone bell was tolled in memory of those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice:





Many of the old soldiers had tears in their eyes as the solemn ceremony went on.

Finally some PAF hueys flew by and dropped rose petals over the assembled crowd:



The ceremony over, we retired to some welcome shade:

We had the usual souveneir photos:









But Perry, bulwark of our nati