Film on Filipino student guerrillas in WWII premieres in Washington

DC community attends the gala premiere of “Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerillas” at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on October 4, 2018. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, D.C.– A documentary film on disbanded ROTC Filipino college students who independently organized one of the earliest guerrilla resistance groups in the Philippines during World War II, premiered on Oct. 4 at the Philippine Chancery Annex Building.

The Philippine Embassy, together with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office-Washington, D.C. (PVAO-DC) and Spyron AV Manila, hosted the gala premiere of “Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerillas.”

The event marks Filipino American History Month and the first anniversary of the awarding of the US Congressional Gold Medal on Filipino World War II veterans.

“The impact of the Second World War continues to reverberate in the hearts and minds of those who endured it and in the unfolding of the shared history between the Philippines and the United States. As we mark Filipino American History Month, let us also remember the sacrifices and triumphs of Filipino soldiers and civilian resistance fighters whose extraordinary valor during those dark days ensured that freedom and justice would ultimately prevail,” said the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Chuasoto in his opening remarks.

Miguel Guillermo with Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Chuasoto and Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (ret.) at the gala premiere of “Unsurrendered 2” held at the Philippine Embassy. CONTRIBUTED

He added, “It is our hope that this film inspires the youth of today to have the courage to stand up for their beliefs no matter the cost. Let the example of the Hunters ROTC give all of us the strength to overcome the challenges of the present world, as did the veterans in their time.”

“Unsurrendered 2” is directed by Bani Logroño who brings out the legendary exploits of the Hunters through riveting interviews with veterans, historians, and descendants of the guerrillas: Dr. Rico Jose, Dr. Augusto De Viana, Professors Bernard Karganilla and Xiao Chua, Col. Frisco San Juan, Col. Emmanuel De Ocampo, Proculo Mojica, Jerry Adevoso, Rhett Daza, Neneng de Ocampo and Dave Ingles, among many others. Voice narration was provided by Roberto F. De Ocampo, OBE, Chairman of Philippine Veterans Bank.

The documentary film comes with a coffee table book bearing same title and has since been on a roadshow around different schools and universities around the Philippines and abroad.

Miguel “Lucky” Guillermo, executive producer of “Unsurrendered 2” introduces the film to the audience prior to the documentary screening. CONTRIBUTED

Among those present at the premiere are Commodore Elson Aguilar (ret.), Head of PVAO-DC; Mr. Miguel “Lucky” Guillermo, Managing Director of Spyron AV Manila and executive producer of “Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerillas”; Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (ret.), Chairman of The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP); and Filipino WWII and US Navy veteran Senior Chief Petty Officer Rey Cabacar.

Spyron AV Manila film historian and marketing director Dennis Guevara and Spyron AV Manila researcher, writer and documentarist Kahlil Raval were also present at the DC screening.

A Peter Parsons-Lucky Guillermo presentation, “Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerillas” was produced by Mai Guillermo through the sponsorship of Philippine Veterans Bank, PAGCOR, Norcal, Philippine Airlines, with the support of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and the Sons and Daughters of Hunters ROTC.

Those who are interested in obtaining copies of the book and DVD may leave a message on Spyron AV Manila’s Facebook fan page, or send an e-mail to [email protected].