Dating senador, na naging guerrilla, Defense secretary at Olympian

Kilala ba ninyo kung sino ang dating senador na naging guerrilla upang lumaban sa mga mananakop na Hapones, naging kalihim ng Defense department, at kabilang sa mga kauna-unang Pinoy Olympian?

Siya ay si Ruperto Kangleon na naging miyembro ng Senado noong 1953 hanggang sa kaniyang pagpanaw noong 1958.

Pero bago naging senador, naging lider ng guerrilla movement si Kangleon sa Leyte upang labanan ang puwersa ng mga Hapon. Inalalayan niya ang matagumpay na pagbabalik sa bansa ni US Gen. Douglas MacArthur na naitala sa kasaysayan bilang "Leyte Landing."

Makaraan ang digmaan, itinalaga ni President Sergio Osmeña si Kangleon bilang civil governor ng Leyte. Nang maging pangulo naman si Manuel Roxas, hinirang si Kangleon na ika-anim na kalihim ng Defense department noong May 1946.

Pero nang pumalit si Elpidio Quirino sa Malacanang, kumalas si Kangleon sa Gabinete at tumakbong senador at nanalo.

Isang buwan bago sana ang kaniyang ika-68 kaarawan, pumanaw si Kangleon noong Feb. 27,1958 at hindi na natapos ang kaniyang termino bilang senador.

Sa sulat pakikiramay ng presidente noon na si Carlos Garcia, sinabi nito na: " Kangleon was a forced to reckon with during his time.  Known to being an all-around athlete by becoming the first Filipino athlete to be sent to represent the Philippines in the Olympics.

"His heart belonged to the military service and though he was studying at the College of Liberal Arts at the University of the Philippines, he transferred and continued his studies at the Philippine Constabulary Academy in Baguio City.

"He was assigned to the Philippine Constabulary and during World War II, he was the Commanding Officer of the 81st Infantry Regiment of the US’ Armed Forces of the Far East.

"He was however captured and imprisoned by the Japanese forces.  But Kangleon escaped and put up its own resistance movement in Leyte.

"His group, the Kangleon Guerilla was able to unite all resistance movements in nearby provinces and was able to re-gain control over Leyte and Samar."

Sa kaniyang kabataan, nag-aral ng high school si Kangleon sa Cebu at naging star athlete upang mapabilang sa unang Olympic team ng bansa na sumabak sa kompetisyon noong 1912-1913.

Taong 1911 nang itatag ang Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF), na kalaunan ay kinilala bilang National Olympic Committee ng Pilipinas. -- FRJ, GMA News