Discovery of Sunken US spyship highlights

Monday, April 26, 2004

Discovery of sunken US spy ship highlights Pinoy heroism in WW II (10:30 a.m.)


SUBIC BAY -- A 90-year-old wooden schooner has been dug from its watery grave near this former US naval base, bringing to light the heroism of its Filipino and American crew in World War II. “It brings a lot of memories about my father,” says Jaime Velarmino, 65, as he inspects the barnacle-encrusted wheel of the 76-foot (23-meter) Lanikai, which was sunk by a storm in 1947 shortly after the war.


Velarmino’s father, Hilario Velarmino, was among the 12 Filipinos in the 18-man crew of the vessel, which US and Filipino naval historians say played a crucial role in the allied effort against Japan. Built in 1914, the Lanikai once fished Alaskan salmon in Seattle and was chartered out as a yacht from Hawaii, briefly sailing in Hollywood when it was used for the pre-war movie "Hurricane" before it was commissioned into the US Navy at the start of the war in 1941.


According to Filipino historians, US President Franklin Roosevelt ordered it to be fitted with guns and sent it on secret missions. The Lanikai gathered intelligence for the US Navy and had patrolled the shores of Indonesia and Australia to monitor the southward push of the Japanese Imperial Army. But the auxiliary schooner skippered by Lieutenant Kemp Tolley during the war, may have had an even bigger mission. "There were some accounts that Roosevelt may have used it to bait the Japanese to start World War II," says Felicito Payumo, who heads the port authority that runs Subic, which was the Americans' premier naval base in Asia until 1992. Payumo says the Americans have not confirmed such accounts and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor drew the US into the war, before the Lanikai was able to play a pivotal role.


In his book "Cruise of the Lanikai: Incitement to War," Tolley says it was clear to him that his mission was to create an incident that would incite war with Japan but events overtook his mission. The crew survived the war but the Filipinos' contributions, along with those of the ship, were all but forgotten before an Australian diver found the wreck and sought permission from the Philippine government to salvage it. The schooner's remains, which now sit at a restaurant by the wharf here, have also come to symbolize the Filipino crew's quest for recognition, pensions and other benefits. "Very little has been previously known about Lanikai," until recently, concedes Payumo.


Velarmino said his mother recounted his father would often slip out of their home to board the Lanikai, but had kept its mission a secret even after he retired after the war. "He only told us he was a fisherman," he said, but said the family would often wonder why the family received payments from the US Navy entitling them to war rations and provisions. The family learned about Lanikai's importance when its American skipper, Tolley, resumed correspondence with his father in the 1970s. Velarmino said, his father named one of his brothers after Tolley -- the US captain who rose to become an admiral at the time of his retirement. Both the elder Velarmino and Tooley are now dead.


In his book, Tolley paid tribute to the Filipino crew's unflagging dedication to the war and recalled many "funny and heroic things" about Lanikai. Payumo said the Lanikai artifacts would become the centerpiece of a planned naval museum in Subic, now a freeport and major tourist destination in the region. The US Navy had also been in touch and was working on a documentary about Lanikai, officials in Subic said. "The boat itself is not very big, but this is a significant historical find, considering the mission given to Lanikai and that majority of its crew were Filipinos," Payumo said. It also underscores the importance of Subic in US naval history, and by extension the former US colony the Philippines, which remains a staunch American military ally in the region, Payumo said.


The Filipino sailor's granddaughter, Noraida Jen Velarmino, a journalist, said Lanikai was "an amazing discovery." "Suddenly, we found ourselves retracing our rich family history," she said. "There are a lot of questions that are now just beginning to be answered." She recalled that her grandfather, whom Tolley fondly called Cookie, used to tell her war stories, including how they would outsmart Japanese forces by pretending to be fishermen while American crew members hid under heavy fishing nets. "What we are asking now is at least for the US government to give recognition to these 12 brave Filipinos," her father Jaime Velarmino said. "These people were heroes," he said. "At least now, we can let the world know about their mission."


Master Divers, a private consortium based in Subic, headed by Australian Brian Homan discovered Lanikai's remains lying at a depth of 130 feet (40 meters) in Subic's Nabasan bay. Homan has an extensive track record in recovering underwater treasures. The National Museum authorized its refloating in an operation that used robotic machinery and underwater video cameras last year. AFP

A Month Of Sorrow

Batch 80,

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Pareng Butch and Monico- Thanks for coming over to my mom's wake.

Abdon- Thanks for your call.

Sherman and Vic- Thank you for calling although I never got a chance to return your call, naging busy kasi, I hope you understand.

Jen, Francis, Rowena and all batchmates,

maraming salamat sa inyong pakikiramay. Joel
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks was the only difference from several emails that we have recieved from our batchmates. These emails conveyed information regarding the demise of several loves ones that were dear to our batch and family to some members. Like a family, we felt your sadness and to Fidel, Joel, and to the family of Mrs Salome Interino we convey our deepest sympathies.

Alex

In your hour of grief, may you all be blessed with courage and strength and know that they were with our redeemer. Eternal light shine upon them and their souls rest in peace amen.

Rowena

November 15, 2008

Viewing for Joel's Mom, is going to be at Greer Family Mortuary located at
2694 Blanding Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, on the 15th and 16th of November.

Our thoughts and prayers to Joel Malinis and family, his mother passed away the other night. We pray for your strength and we share the sorrow of your loss.

Pareng Joel, even though "Mamang" has left us physically, her love, joy, and good memories will remain with us, until we're ready to once again join her in the Kingdom of God. Butch

May the soul of your mother rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept our deepest sympathy from batch 80, Olongapo Group

November 4, 2008

Dear batchmates,

I am sad to inform you of the demise of our dear math teacher, MRS SALOME INTERINO at 230am today. Her remains lies at their residence... Blk 14 Gordon Heights... no interment has been announced yet at the moment.. Pls include her in your prayers!! Beth Belleza-Nazareno

Please extend to her family our sympathies. I can still remember her face clearly. She really touched our lives. Tell her family that we are so grateful to her. Vic

October 25, 2008

To all batch mates,

I am sad to announce that Fidel Medina's father died wednesday. It was just texted to me by Beng Cortez.

To Fidel, accept our deepest sympathy. Francis rivero

Dear Fidel & family,

Please accept my sincerest condolences on the passing away of your father, Tatay Romy. As a journalist, I've always held Tatay Romy in high esteem as he was unselfish in sharing his experiences, the veteran that he was. He was the epitome of an unsinkable servant of what is right and what is true in our profession. Most weekends, at the popular watering hole for journalists in Subic called "Magellan's Landing," Tatay Romy would regale us with his stories of the old Olongapo and of the legendary journey that he shared with those who were fighting against the local political dictatorship. He would buy us rounds of drinks and if you knew him upclose you were familiar with his famous hikhikhik giggle in concert with the jolly countenance of a man who enjoyed a prolific lifetime and had done good things for Olongapo's freedom. He will surely be missed but his mark in Olongapo history shall never be forgotten.

Fidel, Raquel, & kids- May God hold your hand in your hour of grief. Jen Velarmino & children

Nothing is permanent in this world. The fact remains that we will leave this world, it is only a matter of time. So while we are here, do the best we can to make the world a beter place. Tell our love ones and each other how important they were to us for touching our lives and how we love them.