WHO IS GENERAL EUSTAQUIO BACLIG?

EUSTAQUIO S, BACLIG was born on September 16, 1893 by a poor family. He was grown up with his mother, Leoncia Baclig, a teacher. He finished his elementary education in Escuela de Gabaldon (now, North Central School), Due to hardship, his mother cannot sustain his studies. Presidente Municipal, Don Crispin Serrano, encouraged and supported him financially. With the help and kindness of Don Crispin Serrano, popularly known as “Criser”, Eustaquio Baclig studied and worked as janitor in Vigan High School. 

He used to come home running and walking from Vigan to Cabugao (about 20 kms.). This was also served as his training for the varsity track and field. He pursued his college in Silliman University. On that same year, he passed the entrance examination and eventually transferred to the US Military Academy at West Point where he graduated with an Engineering degree in 1917 receiving the rank of Lt. Col. under SN 012186. He married Juana Farinas when he came home. He organized his fellow constituents in order to establish a secondary school knowing how hard to send children in Vigan to study High School. He was one of the nucleus proponents to establish Cabugao Institute and eventually one of the founders in 1927. 

He was assigned to Camp Eldrich in Laguna, later transferred to Ft. Statsinbergh, (former Clark Air Field) in Pampanga. He was also served as UP Commandant of the Reserve Officer Training Course in Manila and Cebu Campus. He was the Head of Reserve Officer School in Baguio. When World War II began and Japanese Aerial Fleet bombarded almost every key cities in South East Asia, USAFFE was created in July 26, 1941 in defense against the Japanese Landing Forces, He was designated as General Staff of the Philippine Division under Maj. Gen. Jonathan M. Weinwright (SN 02131). In November 17, 1941, he was promoted and designated as Division Chief of Staff of 101st Division under Col. Josyn Vachon stationed in Mindanao. He was one of the supporters of the Women’s Auxiliary Service (WAS) that was established in Cael-layan, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur on August 19, 1944. He secretly extended his support to the group with the help of his wife, Juana Farinas-Baclig. He learned the torture and death by bayonet of Patrocinio Somera, a distant relative for refusing to give sexual pleasure to the Japanese Commander and disclosure of the guerilla movement operating in Cabugao-Sinait-Badoc area. Eustaquio Baclig was still assigned in Mindanao at that time. When Japanese forces spread over the archipelago, The 101st Division Camp was overrun by the enemies and Gen. Eustaquio Baclig was captured and become Prisoners of War (POW). He was then released and picked-up by Americans, later was imprisoned in Ft. Santiago wherein all prisoners were massacred in November 30, 1944. Names of the lost soldiers including General Eustaquio Baclig were acknowledged in the American Cemetery in Ft. Bonifacio. President Manuel L. Quezon ordered and awarded Gen. Eustaquio Baclig a purple cross, the highest award given to soldier, and posthomous promotion to Full Star General for his gallantry and heroism. 

President Carlos P, Garcia signed Republic Act 3590 creating and subdividing Towns (Poblacion) into several barangays in 1959, In compliance, Cabugao has been subdivided into four (4) barangays, the western part of Poblacion has been proposed to name it Luna (Antonio Luna) but residents objected, rather named it Baclig in memory of the great contribution of Gen. Eustaquio Baclig to the whole nation, Barangay Baclig is the biggest Barangay in terms of land area within the Poblacion. It has a total land area of 227.5 hectares. Farming and fresh water-fish propagation is the main source of income and known to be food abundant. Barangay Baclig has two sitios namely: Lusong and Callaguip. # Source - Richard Jesus T. Savellano