http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/July-2006/History-Hawaiaias-Sakada-Soldiers

History: Hawai’i’s Sakada Soldiers

Not all of Hawai’i’s earliest Filipino immigrants came to work on plantations.

Ronna Bolante

Anastacio Daguio can’t even count how many times he’s been asked what plantation he grew up on. As a 72-year-old Wahiawa-born Filipino, he can understand why locals usually make that assumption.

“I say, ‘No plantation. My father was a soldier,’” Daguio says. “They say, ‘Nah, can’t be,’ because everybody who came to Hawai‘i back then worked in the field.”

This year, Hawai‘i celebrates the 100th anniversary of Filipino immigration to the Islands, marked by the arrivals of the first sakadas, or Filipino plantation workers, in 1906. In the first half of the 20th century, these laborers and their families made up nearly all of the thousands of Filipinos who immigrated to Hawai‘i. But lesser known is the story of about 100 Filipino soldiers who came to the Islands in the mid-1920s for a different purpose.

These soldiers were Philippine Scouts, a military unit created in 1901 to bolster U.S. forces in the Philippines. After World War I, Congress approved the induction of 6,000 of these soldiers into the U.S. Army. In the mid-1920s, around 100 Scouts, including Daguio’s father, Eugenio, were assigned to Hawai‘i and, in most cases, stationed at Schofield Barracks as part of the Army’s Hawaiian Division.

The Army didn’t bring these soldiers to Hawai‘i strictly for their military experience, Daguio says. “They were soldiers first, but they were recruited especially because they were good musicians and cooks,” he says. At Schofield Barracks, each of these soldiers was assigned to one of eight regimental bands, performing at military ceremonies and athletic events. Many of these musicians did double-duty in the kitchen, cooking meals for the troops.

Single Filipino soldiers lived in the barracks with the general population, while most soldiers with families lived in Castner Village—a cluster of wooden houses near Wheeler Army Air Field—located at least a mile away from other families on base.

“Castner Village actually was a Filipino barrio,” says former Castner resident Phil Soriano, whose father, the late Cpl. Galo Soriano, was a Philippine Scout. “Were we segregated? I think so, because there was not a single puti (white person) within a mile of us. To me, though, it was a blessing in disguise, because I learned about my Filipino culture.”

Daguio agrees, noting that Ilocano was the primary language spoken in the village. “It didn’t really occur to us that we were segregated, because we felt comfortable being among our ethnic group,” he says. “We had Filipino parties, where men wore barong Tagalog (formal dress for men in the Philippines), women wore Filipino dresses. Of course, our fathers were all musicians, so they played in a combined band and just jived together. They also made time to teach us kids music.”

Today, there are few tangible reminders of this little-known piece of Filipino history in the Islands. In the early 1940s, the regimental bands were disbanded when the Hawaiian Division was reorganized into the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions and, by the late 1950s, nearly all of these soldiers had retired—most of them with at least 30 years of service.

At the onset of World War II, residents of Castner Village were relocated to other quarters or chose to live outside of Schofield. The village’s wooden houses were eventually torn down, replaced by a public park.

There are no known surviving soldiers today, Daguio says, but their story should be preserved. The achievements of these men continued long after they retired from the U.S. Army. About a dozen of them became members of the Royal Hawaiian Band; another dozen joined the Honolulu Symphony, including Soriano’s father, who played the French horn. Many of their children and grandchildren also contributed to Hawai‘i’s music scene. Daguio, for instance, also played with the Royal Hawaiian Band. Renowned pianist Rene Paulo is the grandson of one of these soldiers.

In additional to musical talent, patriotism also ran in these soldiers’ families.

“I’d say about 90 percent of the male offspring of these soldiers served in the U.S. military, some of them in their tenure becoming the highest ranking soldiers of Filipino ancestry in the U.S. Army, including Tony Ventura—the first American of Filipino ancestry to command an entire battalion,” says Soriano, a retired colonel himself.

This month, these soldiers will be honored with all Filipino-American veterans at the Filipino-American Friendship Day Dinner. The July 5 celebration will also feature a photo exhibit coordinated by Daguio and Ben Acohido, chairman of the Wahiawa Neighborhood Board, who has known Daguio and Soriano since childhood.

“The story of these soldiers and families is unique—their military, social and cultural contributions to Hawai‘i,” says Acohido, who has come to call this obscure group of Filipino arrivals “sakada soldiers.” “We just want to make sure that this story is told.

Hawaii's Symphony

Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,882063,00.html

Time Magazine Monday, Feb. 29, 1932

Sirs:

Surprised you may be to know that the Paradise of the Pacific, "restless purgatory of murder and race hatred" (TIME, Jan. 18), supports a symphony orchestra of 62 pieces directed by Australian Fritz Hart, F.R.C.M., and with a personnel made up of

7 Filipinos  2 Japanese  1 Hawaiian  2 Chinese  2 Portuguese  1 Purto Rican  2 Italians    45  Anglo Saxons

Today the first concert of the 1932 season was smoothly rendered, enthusiastically received in Honolulu's big Princess Theatre (capacity 1,554). Even more cosmopolitan than the personnel of the orchestra was the make-up of the audience. Prices for the concert ranged from $1 to $2.50, and every seat was occupied.

Mainlanders, saturated with grossly exaggerated press reports of racial animosity in Hawaii, will be surprised to learn that no racial riots were in evidence in the theatre during the rendering of the program! Nor was this due to the presence, as a violinist in the orchestra, of able Charles F. Weeber, newly appointed Chief of Police for Honolulu. Enclosed please find concert program.

TED TRENT  Honolulu, Hawaii

Certainly no music on the Honolulu symphony's opening program would inspire riot. Mendelssohn's pleasant, pictorial Fingal's Cave began the concert, Beethoven's great Fifth gave it significance.—ED.

Musicians before 1970

Donald “Don” Gilbert Baduria born 12/15/1937; died in Wahiawa Hawaii 1/14/1986 of cancer; buried National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; served late 1950s as an Airman 1^st Class US Air Force; left after 4 yrs for music business; a ukulele virtuoso player

Gabriel Baltazar Sr born Pasig Rizal; Royal Hawaiian Band played clarinet w/ the Royal Hawaiian Band; came in 1910 to Hawaii w/ a group of entertainers & decided to stay; father of: Norman, a trumpet player & played w/ the Stan Kenton band; Ronald member of Royal Hawaiian Band & “Gabe”

More on:Gabriel “Gabe” Baltazar, Jr born in Hilo Hawaii; Deputy Director Royal Hawaiian Band for 18 yrs; during late 1970s; artist in residence @ Stanford University; one of the world’s great alto saxophone player; soloist for the Honolulu Symphony; recording artist, music lecturer & mentor

Source: http://www.jazzsociety.ph/html/spotlightarchive4.html

e-mail sent to M.E.Embry by a friend from Hawaii Re: Royal Hawaiian Band:

Christmas 2008

Mele Kalikimaka Ms Pinay:

We celebrated the Pasko - Panunuluyan at the FilCom Center.  The Royal Hawaiian Band played Filipino favorites e.g. Dahil sa Iyo, Planting Rice, Sitchiritchit, etc. besides Christmas melodies

Daniel P “Danny” Barcelona born 7/23/1929 Waipahu Hawaii; died 4/1/2007 Monterey Park Los Angeles California an international jazz-band drummer for Louis Armstrong's All-Stars band (1958-1971) touring w/ him in Europe, Africa, etc. Danny went to perform in Hawaii Hilton Hotel after Armstrong death in 1971 & later moved to Monterey Park California

Source: Wikipedia

Glicerio “David” Reyes Catingub born 12/21/1903 Philippines; died 3/19/1992 Los Angeles California; singer & bass player in Los Angeles nightclubs in Hawaiian bands mid 1950s, married Mavis Chloe Rivers on 10/4/1955 (Mavis was born 5/19/1929 in Apia, Western Samoa; died 5/29/1992, a jazz vocalist, known as “Polynesiaa’s First Lady of Song”) They became the parents of Matt Catingub, the full time conductor of the Honolulu Symphony Pops since 1998 who rec. 2005 Grammy Award for writing the music of “Good Night & Good Luck” also a performer, vocalist, director & arranger

Maria (Batis) Ceballos, soprano & Clemente Ceballos guitarist; parents of Les Ceballos, baritone soloist & a finalist in Luciano Pavarotti 1986 Vocal Competition

Francisco de los Santos notes under Lazaro Salamanca

Anselmo F. Fontillas born 4/11/1911 Philippines; died 3/6/1999 Queen’s Hospital Hawaii; buried Diamond Head Memorial Park; retired musician with the Royal Hawaiian Band

Source: http://archives.starbulletin.com

Geronimo Inocinio notes under Lazaro Salamanca

Jose Leborino notes under Lazaro Salamanca

Pedro Ragzag born 1867 Philippines; left Honolulu 5/8/1895; arrived San Francisco 5/13/1895 with Faustino Rivamonte & a group of touring Hawaiian musicians via SS Australia; occupation: musician; passenger #12; marital status: single; never been to U.S. before this trip

Source: http://immigrantships.net

Faustino Rivamonte born 1867 Philippines; left Honolulu 5/8/1895; arrived San Francisco 5/13/1895 with Pedro Ragzag & a group of touring Hawaiian musicians via SS Australia; occupation: musician; passenger #44; marital status: single; never been to U.S. before this trip

Source: http://immigrantships.net

Lazaro Salamanca; born 1866 Philippines; immigrated 1889; occupation musician band

Sources: 1910 Honolulu Hawaii Census divorced; living w/ daughter Matilda (born 1897 Hawaii; mother born Portugal)

1920 Honolulu Hawaii Census living w/ daughter Matilda & Rosalia (born 1889 Hawaii)

http://library.thinkquest.org/J003466/filipino/entertainers.htm “w/a band of 12 adventurous musicians & acrobats who arr in 1888 on a clipper ship from Peking; elected to stay w/ Jose Leborino, Francisco de los Santos & Geronimo Inocinio; joined the Royal Hawaiian Band & played for King Kalakaua & queen Liliuokalani. They remained w/ the band even after the overthrow of the monarchy”

http://www.familysearch.org died 7/7/1936; son of Tranquilino & Clotilde (Corcuera); married 10/31/1917 Honolulu Hawaii; wife-Rosalia (died 5/25/1936 daughter of Samuel Kaaumoana & Kamoelani Aki)

another source (unable to locate this-notes by M.E. Embry) Honolulu Star Bulletin 5/15/1935 page 3 by Cariaga (Okamura 1983:85) “from Manila decided to stay in Honolulu following a salary dispute w/ their manager”

Modesto Ceriales Salve born 8/23/1900 Philippines; died 11/14/1992 Aiea Honolulu; played @ Mckinley High School & University of Hawaii school band in the 1920s; later conducted a senior citizens’ string band in Honolulu; the 1^st Filipino to graduate from a public school in Honolulu (24 yrs old @ graduation); immigrated to Hawaii in 1920; supporter of the 1924 Filipino Sugar Strike; father of Alita Guieb Salve (Arkin), professional singer & entertainer in Hawaii

Source http://www.musicianshawaii.com/alita_salve.htm

website for Musicians’ Association of Hawaii Local 677

Source: www.efilarchives.org/publications/filipinosinhawaii75.htm

Ginny Tiu born 1948 Binondo Manila appeared as a child pianist prodigy @ Sullivan show; with siblings-Elizabeth & Alexander acted in Elvis Presley's movie "Girls,Girls";later performed @ Sheraton Moana, Hawaii; sister of Vicky Cayetano, former 1st lady of Hawaii