Ludovico Arroyo Bañas
Encyclopedia
Ludovico Arroyo Bañas was one of the pioneers in the history of Telecommunications in the Philippines
who, through his professional specialization and expertise, made an important contribution in the liberation of the Philippines during the World War II, in the field of communications.
After the training, Bañas was appointed to the office of Assistant Radio Inspector and Radio Superintendent in Manila
, until the World War II broke out in 1942.
After serving the United States of Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)
during the war, Bañas left the military service with the rank of Second Lieutenant, and went back to Telecommunications Bureau (this time under the Philippine Republic). Later, he became the Regional Superintendent of the Bureau of Telecommunications (BUTEL) in Region IV (Panay
, Negros
, Romblon
, and Palawan
), until the time of his retirement during the late 1950s. He died in 1979.
Station), under the command of Major Campbell. This task was short-lived for on 2 January 1942, he was inducted to the USAFFE, in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo by Lt. Col Crispen Gorriceta. From 4 January to 16 April 1942, he was assigned to the 61st Signal Company of the of the 6th Military District of the USAFFE's Philippine Army stationed in Sta. Barbara. Lt. Col Amos Francia, who was in command of the unit, disbanded his men on 17 April of that same year. That forced Bañas to go home to Banate, Iloilo
, where he farmed his land.
Lack of equipment, difficult terrain and undeveloped infrastructure made coordination of the groups of disbanded USAFFE forces nearly impossible, and for several months in 1942 all contact with Philippine resistance forces was lost. Communications were restored in November 1942 when the reformed Philippine 61st Infantry Division (Philippine Commonwealth)
in Panay
island, led by Colonel Macario Peralta, was reorganized.
Upon the reorganization of the 6th Military District in Panay, Ludovico Arroyo Bañas again joined the defense of his Country, and worked with Capt. Eliseo Espia in the 61st Signal Company of this Military Division (stationed in Passi, Iloilo
), on the 5th of that month. Later, he was sent to the 64th Signal Company of the same Military District, under the Command of Lt. Col. Cesar Hechanova, where he served until the end of the war.
2Lt Ludovico Arroyo Bañas made an important contribution to the US and Filipino forces during the war, in the field of communication. He was responsible in successfully making the first radio contact with the US War Department through the USAFFE command in Australia, months after the United States Armed Forces was disbanded in the Philippines. This first radio contact affirmed the continuous existence of Filipino resistance forces against the Japanese, thereby providing the joint and combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth military forces important data for the liberation of the Philippines. This enabled the forwarding of intelligence regarding Japanese forces in the Philippines to SWPA command as well as consolidating the once sporadic guerrilla activities and allowing the guerrillas to help in the war effort.
, Philippines. His siblings were Martin and Maximo. He was married to Carmen Jalandoni Jover - sister of Dominador Jalandoni Jover, who was Mayor of Iloilo City
. The couple had seven daughters (Thelma, Alsina, Maja, Emma, Manajama, Nancy, and Francily) and a son (Richard).
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
who, through his professional specialization and expertise, made an important contribution in the liberation of the Philippines during the World War II, in the field of communications.
Service in the Bureau of Telecommunications in the Philippines
During the American Regime, Ludovico Arroyo Bañas was chosen as one of the ten personnel of the American government telegraph service in the Philippines to compose the first and only group of Filipino pensionados who, in 1919, underwent advanced training in wireless telegraphy (radio), at the US Naval Radio School in Cavite. The training of the ten Filipinos was made possible through a special arrangement between the US Naval authorities in the Philippines and the Insular Government. To select the trainees, a special examination was conducted among the 398 students of the Post-Telegraph School.After the training, Bañas was appointed to the office of Assistant Radio Inspector and Radio Superintendent in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, until the World War II broke out in 1942.
After serving the United States of Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)
U.S. Army Forces Far East
USAFFE included the Philippine Department, Philippine Army , and the Far East Air Force. USAFFE Headquarters was created on July 26, 1941, at No.1, Calle Victoria, Manila, Luzon, the Philippines, with Major General MacArthur as commander. The Chief of Staff was Lieutenant General Richard K...
during the war, Bañas left the military service with the rank of Second Lieutenant, and went back to Telecommunications Bureau (this time under the Philippine Republic). Later, he became the Regional Superintendent of the Bureau of Telecommunications (BUTEL) in Region IV (Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
, Negros
Negros
Negros is an island of the Philippines located in the Visayas, at . It is the third largest island in the country, with a land area of 13,328 km²...
, Romblon
Romblon
Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon....
, and Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
), until the time of his retirement during the late 1950s. He died in 1979.
Military Service during the World War II
At the beginning of the War (on 10 October 1941 ), Ludovico Arroyo Bañas was drafted in the Civilian Employee Warning Service of the United States of America (Iloilo CityIloilo City
The City of Iloilo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area...
Station), under the command of Major Campbell. This task was short-lived for on 2 January 1942, he was inducted to the USAFFE, in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo by Lt. Col Crispen Gorriceta. From 4 January to 16 April 1942, he was assigned to the 61st Signal Company of the of the 6th Military District of the USAFFE's Philippine Army stationed in Sta. Barbara. Lt. Col Amos Francia, who was in command of the unit, disbanded his men on 17 April of that same year. That forced Bañas to go home to Banate, Iloilo
Banate, Iloilo
Banate is a coastal town in the northern part of the Province of Iloilo, Region VI Western Visayas, Philippines. It is primarily a fishing and agricultural municipality, which has a population of 27,263 inhabitants in 5,279 households...
, where he farmed his land.
Lack of equipment, difficult terrain and undeveloped infrastructure made coordination of the groups of disbanded USAFFE forces nearly impossible, and for several months in 1942 all contact with Philippine resistance forces was lost. Communications were restored in November 1942 when the reformed Philippine 61st Infantry Division (Philippine Commonwealth)
61st Division
61st Division can refer to several military units:Infantry divisions :*British 61st Division - *British 61st Infantry Division *61st Infantry Division...
in Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
island, led by Colonel Macario Peralta, was reorganized.
Upon the reorganization of the 6th Military District in Panay, Ludovico Arroyo Bañas again joined the defense of his Country, and worked with Capt. Eliseo Espia in the 61st Signal Company of this Military Division (stationed in Passi, Iloilo
Passi City
Passi City is a 3rd class city in the province of Iloilo in the Philippines...
), on the 5th of that month. Later, he was sent to the 64th Signal Company of the same Military District, under the Command of Lt. Col. Cesar Hechanova, where he served until the end of the war.
2Lt Ludovico Arroyo Bañas made an important contribution to the US and Filipino forces during the war, in the field of communication. He was responsible in successfully making the first radio contact with the US War Department through the USAFFE command in Australia, months after the United States Armed Forces was disbanded in the Philippines. This first radio contact affirmed the continuous existence of Filipino resistance forces against the Japanese, thereby providing the joint and combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth military forces important data for the liberation of the Philippines. This enabled the forwarding of intelligence regarding Japanese forces in the Philippines to SWPA command as well as consolidating the once sporadic guerrilla activities and allowing the guerrillas to help in the war effort.
Family and Marriage
Ludovico was one of the three sons of Celestino Barboza Bañas and Francisca Arroyo, both were native and residents of Banate, IloiloBanate, Iloilo
Banate is a coastal town in the northern part of the Province of Iloilo, Region VI Western Visayas, Philippines. It is primarily a fishing and agricultural municipality, which has a population of 27,263 inhabitants in 5,279 households...
, Philippines. His siblings were Martin and Maximo. He was married to Carmen Jalandoni Jover - sister of Dominador Jalandoni Jover, who was Mayor of Iloilo City
Iloilo City
The City of Iloilo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area...
. The couple had seven daughters (Thelma, Alsina, Maja, Emma, Manajama, Nancy, and Francily) and a son (Richard).