Tabuk City, Kalinga – A new monument of Captain Juan M. Duyan was unveiled at the Kalinga Police Provincial Office this February 14, 2022 as means to recognize his contributions to Kalinga Province and the country.
Captain Juan M. Duyan is one of the key historical figures of Kalinga Province being the first Congressman and first elected Governor of then Kalinga-Apayao, 1967 and 1968 respectively.
Duyan is also a multi-awarded veteran during the Second World War.
The inauguration of the statue was participated by officials of the province, uniformed men and women of Police Regional Office Cordillera and Region II, and the wife of Captain Juan Duyan, Mrs. Iluminada Anniban Duyan together with their children.
Captain Duyan as a veteran
One of the most memorable battles Duyan fought was the Toul Pocket Encounter at trail 7 near the Pillar Bagac Road in Bataan.
On February 7 – 9 in 1942, Duyan led Company F and K of the 11th Infantry Division of the United States Army trapped in a closed encounter with no food, ammunition shortage, and no entrenching tools.
Duyan with the troops employed guerilla tactics, digging foxholes with their bayonets and using sharpened bamboos in their series of counter-attacks of enemy Japanese soldiers. With his wit, his troops defeated the enemy in two days.
Among his awards as a soldier include a silver star, Purple heart, and a Military Merit Medal which were given by the United States of America. He was also given a gold cross by the Philippine Army.
Duyan also survived the Bataan Death March. After his escape from the Capas Concentration Camp, he organized the Luzon Guerillas where he affiliated it with US Armed Forces in the Philippines Northern Luzon Unit. He was then assigned as the Commanding Officer of the K and 3rd Battalion 11th Infantry Division which was then against the Hukbalahap insurgents.
On October 19, 2019, Duyan was accorded the congressional Gold Medal for Filipino World War II veterans in the USA.
Captain Duyan serving the country after the war
In 1949 – 1952, Duyan was the Commanding Officer of the 12th PC Coy which was serving the old Mountain Province and in 1957, he became the captain at the Philippine Constabulary in Bontoc.
Apart from being in the uniformed service, Duyan also became an elected official. In 1957 – 1966, he served as the 1st District Congressman of Mountain Province. After serving the said province, he became the first congressman of Kalinga-Apayao from 1966 to 1967.
In 1968, Duyan became the 1st elected Governor of Kalinga-Apayao.
With his program as the governor of Kalinga-Apayao which initiated the subdivision of 1,363,618 square meters owned by the Kalinga-Apayao government and the donation of the lot to the different agencies, the Kalinga Police Provincial Office headquarters was then named after him.
The re-building of the monument was initiated by Former Kalinga Police Provincial Director, Police Colonel Davy Vicente Limmong who upon assumption of office in 2020, looked for the bust of Captain Duyan at their camp.
“I was looking for the monument of Juan Duyan … sabi nila tinanggal. So, pano ma-identify itong kampo na Juan Duyan [kung wala],” he recalled.
Limmong added that the erection of the monument was fast tracked when he was able to talk with Police Brigadier General Steve Ludan, Region II Police Director, “siya ang nagsabi, ipagawa mo na, ako na bahala.”
From then, the bust was made and the monument, with help of Engineer Kenneth Manalay, was constructed by the Kalinga police.
Limmong further recalled that they had to do research as well for the background of Captain Juan M Duyan which was to be inscribed on the statue. He said this was made possible through the help of the Kalinga Tourism Office and the Duyan family.
“Nung hinahanap ko yung plaka, ang nakalagay lang doon ay date of birth and date of death … [sabi ko] hindi pwedeng ilagay… At least meron tayong background na mabasa sa monument, hindi ‘yung date of birth at date of death niya ang nakalagay lang sa harap,” he said.
In response to the building of the bust, Juan Victor Duyan Jr., one of the children of Captain Duyan, conveyed their family is pleased and elated by the honor given to their father with the monument.
He acknowledged and expressed their gratitude to the people behind the statue, saying, “my family is forever indebted.”
Duyan Jr. also recognized the effort of the uniformed personnel of KPPO who worked for the construction of the monument.
“Naimpuswan nga pasalamat mi kadakayo iti realization daytoy napintas nga monumento iti ama tayo especially kadagiay SPO nga nagbilbilag, nagsemsemento ditoy napintas nga monument … agsubsubalit kami nga annak ni Juan M Duyan daytoy napintas nga napan yu inpakita kadakami a legacy, a remembrance to the people of Kalinga,” he conveyed.
.png)
Commentaires