History of the Taal Women's Auxiliary Corps - Hunters-ROTC

Sometime in December 1944, Lt Pedro Lasala, a trusted townsmate and friend whom I knew was a member of the ROTC Guerrillas, introduced to me Capt Gregorio Recio (alias Genuino del Rosario), CO, 2^nd Bn, 49^th Reg’t, ROTC Guerrillas. Thereupon, Capt Recio told me that he had learned thru Lt Lasala and others of my activities as a civic leader, especially the hospital for released POW’s that I sponsored, and of my loyalty to the Cause. In a series of conferences, it was agreed that I organize a Women’s Auxiliary Corps unit in Taal, the duties of which were (1) the placement and care in private homes of guerrillas who were sick or wounded; (2) as a message center for guerrilla couriers; and (3) in the eventuality of [the] American landing and other operations in our town, the supervision of the conduct of civilians which among other things would include (a) the maintenance of a First Aid Station; (b) a supply and medical procurement and distributing agency; (c) a community kitchen (as circumstances warrant). For the creation of said unit and the fulfillment of its duties, I invited several trusted and responsible friends to join. It was extremely gratifying and reassuring that each and every woman I approached unhesitatingly consented to actively join in the underground work, although they were fully aware of the dangers and anxieties that it would inevitably involve. To this effect, then, and for a methodical performance of duties, I made the following tentative assignments:

Physician Nurses Pharmacists First Aiders

Dorotea Coronel (M.D.) Maria Agleham (Nurse) Luz L. Cabrera (Nurse) Pilar Banaag (BSPhar) Juliana Calanog (BSPhar) Engracia Noble (Teacher) Enriqueta Alvarez (BSPhar) Dolores Alvarez (Teacher) Arceli Maravilla (Med Student) Milagros Corea (Med Student) Mellie Mayuga (Teacher) Beatriz Ilagan (Teacher) Mercedes Noble (H.S. grad) Conchita Lualhati (BSE) Begonia Montenegro (H.S. grad) Nilda Diokno (Normal student) Zenaida Mayuga (H.S. grad)

Francisca Medina (H.S. Grad)
Virginia Patolot (H.S. Grad)
Natividad Cabrera (H.S.)
Natividad Ilagan (H.S.)
Jovita Banaag (Teacher)
Manuela Mayuga (H.S. Grad)
Elisa Alvarez (Teacher

Marieta Banaag (H.S.)
Maria Leonor (H.S. Grad)
Salud Montenegro (H.S. Grad)

Beatriz Mayuga (B.S.E.)
Marieta Badillo (LLB)
Nena Zagala (B.S. Music)
Rosy Garcia (B.S. Music)
Lourdes Patolot (H.S.)

Benita B. Diokno (Teacher)
Mercedes Lascano (Teacher)
Elena Patolot (Teacher)
Lily Patolot (Teacher)
Rosita Loya (H.S. Grad)

On 20 January 1945, Dra. Dorotea Cornel, Engracia Noble, Francisca Medina, and myself visited the ROTC headquarters at barrio Hipit, Taal, Batangas. I was given a special order dated 19 January 1945 signed by the Battalion Commander and the Adjutant designating me as 2^nd Lieutenant. In the meantime, Dr. Cornel was conducting a routinary medical examination of the members of the unit and the civilians supporting the guerrillas. Drugs and medicines were distributed free of charge.

On or about 25 January 1945, I was notified by Captain Rafael Zagala, CO, (Vice Capt. Recio) that 7 men in the headquarters were sick. I made arrangements with Dr. Antonio Lontok of the Malaria Control Hospital for the transfer of beddings, clothes and equipment of the hospital to the guerrilla headquarters and dispatched Mrs. Maria Agliham as nurse in-charge.

On 16-19 Feb. 1945, the Japs conducted reprisal and massacre raids in Taal, hence the people evacuated to the already liberated town of Nasugbu. In Nasugbu, the Women’s Auxiliary

Upon the liberation of Taal on 6 March 1945 and the return of our unit, the duties for which the unit was formed was abandoned due to the fact that the Army had agencies to cope with them. During the stay of the 11^th Airborne Division in Taal, [the] WAC (Women’s Auxiliary Corps) unit of the 2^nd Bn, 49^th Regt ROTC Hunters Guerrillas performed such duties as: assistant nurses, reading to and writing for patients in the hospital at school building No. 3 at Taal, sponsoring dances and other entertainment, and helping in the supervision of the health and welfare of the civilian population.

[Sgd.] EMILIANA N. NOBLE
CO, Women’s Auxiliary Corps Unit
2^nd Bn, 49^th Regt, ROTC Hunters
G U E R R I L L A S