Ozz! What's up, Hivers! I think you’d like to hear something from me. Our company decided to have a tree planting activity a week ago. At the beginning, I was not very certain about the location where we would plant trees. I also felt happy when I got the notice because I believe that planting trees is one of the best things one can do for the environment. Then, on the day of the activity, it ended up somewhere I didn’t even think I would go.
Well, I had just heard and read about this place when I was still studying because it is part of Philippine history. But I didn't expect that I might go here at some point. What happened was, we went to the site of the crash of President Ramon Magsaysay's plane in Cebu on March 17, 1957, at Mount Manunggal. For those who can't remember, Ramon Magsaysay was a Philippine president and the seventh president of the country at the time. What a coincidence that this place where we planted some trees is the same place where the unfortunate incident happened.
For those who are not familiar with our late president’s death, he is on the list of the most beloved presidents of the Philippines, and he died in a plane crash at the age of forty-nine. What actually occurred was that he was on his flight back to Manila after attending events in Cebu on the Mt. Pinatubo plane, which crashed at Mt. Manunggal. The mishap that befell Magsaysay and several other passengers was a big blow to the entire nation. To this day, he is called a man who had a strong love for the Filipino people, a man who supported the poor and strove to raise the quality of life for the lower-class population.
Let me just extract the information cultivated in this stone for your additional information. This states the complete details of the history and people behind this tragedy.
Brief History of the C-47 Gooney Bird
The C-47, also known as the Gooney Bird, is one of the most reliable aircraft ever acquired by the Philippine Air Force. It started service with the 1st Troop Carrier Squadron in 1946 and was assigned to the 206th Air Transport Squadron under the newly designated 205th Composite Wing on 22 September 1952. The C-47 remained the main air asset of the 206th Air Transport Squadron, performing its primary function of conducting tactical airlift operations in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ground forces. One notable C-47 aircraft, named "Mt. Pinatubo," was assigned as a presidential aircraft.
On 17 March 1957, while on a flight mission, the "Mt. Pinatubo" crashed in the vicinity of Mt. Manunggal, Balamban, Central Cebu, killing President Ramon Magsaysay and 26 other passengers on board. Nestor Mata, a journalist from the Philippine Herald, was the lone survivor of that tragic crash. The passengers on board the ill-fated aircraft included:
- Hon. Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines
- Hon. Tomas Cabili, Senator
- Hon. Pedro Lopez, Congressman
- Hon. Gregorio Hernandez, Secretary of Education
- Brig. Gen. Benito Ebuen, Commanding General, PAF
- Lt. Col. Alfredo Bustamante, Philippine Veterans Legion
- Maj. Ramon Gammus, President's Secretary
- Capt. Jesus Paredes, Pilot
- Capt. Florencio Fadre, Pilot
- Capt. Samuel Navel, Co-Pilot
- Capt. Felipe Nunag, Chief of Security
- Lt. Leopoldo Regis, President’s Aide
- T/Sgt. Alfonso Ibe, Chief of Crew
- Sgt. Isidro Hernandez, Assistant Chief of Crew
- Sgt. Regino Manuel, Movie Cameraman
- Sgt. Reymundo Ruiz, Radio Operator
- Paterno Magsaysay, President’s Cousin
- Patricio Osmeña, Assistant Protocol Officer
- Antonio Tiangco, Security Agent
- Eduardo Reyes, Security Agent
- Celestino Teves, Valet
- Felix Manuel, Malacañang Photographer
- Fabling Bautista, Liwayway Publication
- Cezar Rama, Philippine News Service
- Nestor Mata, Philippine Herald (Lone Survivor)
- Jesus Rama
- Jose Arcilla
So the experience of standing on the mountain and understanding that such a big event happened right here was profound. To me, it wasn’t just a tree planting activity. I was able to join the youth of today to honor a president who laid down his life serving his country. Planting a tree in the area where history was made triggered me, as investing in a tree planting venture was a way to honor the memory of the president and all the passengers.
After planting trees, lunch, and all, we all decided to go to the viewing deck. This mountain has been a good spot for camping and sightseeing.
I will just show you these photos that I got from the viewing spot. For me, the view is like the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines. It's just that the difference is there are no hills that look exactly the same as the popular Chocolate Hills. But the view here is very nice.
Once we were done with the activity, I have to say that I did feel proud, because in this small way, we were remembering the legacy of Magsaysay and reflecting on the past while sowing for the future. It was a moment to honor history and make a meaningful contribution. Thanks for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts. It’s me @dexxx and let's keep the conversation going!
