My Father A Hero in Our Family
by Laurence Gayao MD
My father, Staff Sergeant Anastacio Berial Gayao, served with the United States Army in the Far East (Philippine Commonwealth Army) during World War II. Before his military service, he was an elementary public school teacher in Maramag, Bukidnon. He enlisted on December 15, 1941, and was honorably discharged on June 30, 1946.
Upon enlisting, my father reported for training in Manila, marking his first time outside his home province of Bukidnon. At the training camp, he approached his training officer to explain that he was a Seventh-day Adventist. As such, he observed the Sabbath on Saturdays and refrained from doing any secular work on that day. He assured the officer that he would gladly work on Sundays. The officer granted his request but assigned him to latrine duty.
Latrine duty was considered a punishment, involving the cleaning of open-pit human waste disposal areas, which exposed those assigned to the task to the foul smell of feces and swarms of flies. After a few days on this unpleasant job, my father’s cousin, Captain Melendrez, saw him and asked why he was working at the latrine shed. My father explained the situation, and his cousin assured him, “Don’t worry, I’ll tell them to give you a new assignment.” The next day, my father was informed that he would assist in his cousin’s office.
Sgt. Anastacio B. Gayao, USAFE
Sgt. Anastacio B. Gayao, USAFE
During a break from military training, my father, Sgt. Anastacio B. Gayao of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFE), went home to visit his family. It was during this time that the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the Philippines, preventing him from returning to his unit in Manila. On May 11, 1942, he was captured by the invading Japanese forces and held as a prisoner of war until February 21, 1943.
A few weeks into his captivity, my father was ordered to dig a hole in the ground. Halfway through the task, his cousin, who was a Japanese collaborator, saw him and inquired about what he was doing. My father explained that he had been instructed to dig the hole. His cousin, looking concerned, informed him that the Japanese often forced prisoners to dig their own graves before executing them. Taking action, his cousin spoke to the Japanese officers, convincing them that he needed my father to assist him with his work. Subsequently, my father was ordered to stop digging and to report to his cousin’s supervision.
During his months of imprisonment, my father learned to speak some Japanese and was put in charge of the other prisoners. He was required to lead daily marching drills using only Japanese commands, and this position granted him a bit more freedom. This increased freedom eventually provided him with an opportunity to escape.
Seizing his chance, my father evaded the guards and navigated through the forest for over a day. He developed diarrhea from drinking unfiltered water from streams, and he claimed that eating pomelos (an Asian citrus fruit closely related to grapefruit) saved him from dehydration.
After his escape, my father joined the guerrilla US military forces of the 109th Division, which operated in the Davao and Cotabato areas. While serving as a dispatcher for the guerrilla group, he contracted malaria, a mosquito-borne disease prevalent in the tropics and often deadly if untreated. He suffered from severe symptoms, including daily chills and high fever. His condition improved after a month of taking powder made from the bark of the cinchona tree, which contains quinine, a treatment for malaria.
Sgt. Anastacio B. Gayao served honorably in the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFE) during World War II. For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), a United States Armed Forces decoration recognizing either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
After his honorable discharge on June 30, 1946, he utilized the GI Bill to pursue further education. The GI Bill provides educational assistance to service members, veterans, and their dependents. He advanced his career to become a teacher, a minister of the gospel, and a school administrator. Eventually, he retired as the president of Mountain View College in Bukidnon, Philippines. Demonstrating his commitment to education, he ensured that all four of his children received a good education: two became physicians, one a registered nurse, and the youngest a teacher and radiology technologist who also earned a PhD in education.
At home, my father exemplified the qualities of a loving and devout Christian. He led our family in worship and Bible study twice daily. These sessions were interactive, encouraging us as children to express our opinions and support them with facts. He maintained a well-stocked library, and every week, he would choose a book for us to read and discuss. Additionally, he subscribed to Reader’s Digest, which I would read from cover to cover, greatly broadening my perspective on life and the world.
The greatest legacy my father left me was his exemplary life, marked by unwavering love for God, profound concern for others, and a deep respect for oneself. He demonstrated how to live a life of integrity, compassion, and dedication.
Before his passing on April 9, 2002, he donated his military decorations, along with the American flag that draped his coffin, to Mountain View College. He was laid to rest with full military honors, embodying the Army’s slogan, “Be All You Can Be.” His life and legacy continue to inspire our family and those who knew him.
“If there is any immortality to be had among us human beings, it is certainly only in the love that we leave behind. Fathers like mine don’t ever die.” Leo Buscaglia
