Way back in 1939 I took a Civil Service test for Federal Clerk. I passed it and got an equivalent grade as second grade Civil Service employee. I could have been employed in the U.S. Naval Base in Olongapo or in the Air Base in Angeles as a Federal Clerk-Stenographer, like a co-soldier of mine who lives in Zambales who was then a Private First Class, but I wanted to continue my studies at night in Manila. And so my Civil Service eligibility remained unused until there was an opening in the Bureau of Constabulary Academy No. 1 in Walled City, Manila.
The position called for Clerk-Stenographer, which fit my qualifications and experience. I immediately applied for this job and got it right away. My boss, Lt. Col. Tomas Domeal, was from Bangued, Abra, like me and he was the Assistant Superintendent to a Japanese Officer who headed all the Academies 1 to 5 in Manila.
I was the only Civil Service employee there and my designation was CHIEF CLERK, ACADEMY NO. 1 for training cadets to become officers.
This Academy was in the former Araullo High School Building in Intramuros, Manila.
Another building within the Compound was Academy Building No. 3 to train non-commissioned officers. It had an Armory under M/Sgt. Helision de los Santos, who was then my Co-EM in the H.P.A. He had a ham radio which received news direct from the Headquarters Of Gen. MacArthur in Australia.
We became underground members of the guerillas in the City, relaying secret info from Gen. MacArthur’s office.
How I envied Rogelio Bobila, my former boardmate, who qualified as a Cadet Officer because he was SINGLE! I already had Tony and Pat then. But Rogelio was killed by the guerillas in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, during the war.
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