ESC program manager earns rank of Navy captain By Stefan Bocchino 21st Space Wing Public Affairs A retired naval chief and former Filipino guerrilla fighter looked on as his son, an Electronic Systems Center manager at Peterson AFB, Colo., made his way to center stage where he accepted his newly-achieved rank of naval captain.   The Philippine native maintained an air of solemnity as the promotional flag was folded. A speaker’s voice carried the meaning of each fold across the room. He watched his son enfold the flag in his arms. Captain Rodolfo Advincula, chief of technology management branch with the Combatant Commanders C2 Systems Group and commanding officer of the 619th Reserve Unit, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command felt the weight of the flag as he looked to the front row where his father, retired Chief Petty Officer Teofilo Advincula, was seated. The voice of the narrator told the audience that Captain Advincula wanted to show his father his love, and to honor him for his service to the United States and the Philippines. The younger Advincula walked across the floor to his father whereupon he placed the flag in his father’s arms. The senior Advincula became a guerrilla fighter after the Japanese conquered the Philippines in May 1942. He was only 17 years old. It is estimated there were more than 200,000 active Filipino guerrillas at the height of their resistance. The Japanese occupied the Philippines for nearly two and a half years. During that time, more than one-million Filipinos were killed. On Oct. 20, 1944, the Americans landed in Leyte Gulf, and started the process of liberating the Philippines from Japanese occupation, which continued until June 1945. “During the day, my father would work for the Japanese – cleaning their areas, polishing their boots and other menial tasks,” said Captain Advincula. “Then at night they’d do guerrilla operations and steal food to feed families. That was kind of risky because if you got caught, the Japanese would kill you.” After the American landings in Leyte Gulf, his father’s guerilla unit joined up with American forces to expel the Japanese from the Philippines. Mister Advincula then enlisted in the American Army and continued to fight the Japanese in the Philippines and Guam. After the war, he got out of the Army.   During the next few years his father attended the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy. In 1950, he rejoined the American military by enlisting in the Navy. He served for 21 years, retiring in 1971. “This ceremony was so solemn. I got goose bumps on my arms,” said the former Navy Chief. “I am very proud of my son. The first time I heard he was going to be promoted, I spread the news to the whole town back home.” Mr. Advincula traveled here from his hometown of Palo in the Province of Leyte in the Philippines to witness his son’s promotion. He is 80 years old and one of the few surviving Filipino guerilla fighters from the World War II era, said Captain Advincula. The newly promoted captain believes people need to do more to recognize the men who helped keep the world free during World War II. As they get older, there will be fewer veterans who can be honored each year. The children today tend to forget history and this type of ceremony helps revisit those times. “It’s people like him and others like him who have helped shape our world,” said Captain Advincula. “I strongly believe we wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t for their courage and commitment, their dedication and their honor. We can’t forget that.” The flag exchange represents more than a promotion: it represents a bridge between battles of yesterday and today; generations then and now; the ever-present battle for freedom; and the passing of a torch between a father and a son. Some information about the war in the Philippines was derived from an article by Lt. Col. John D. Mills, U.S. Army, entitled “Liberation of the Philippines” that appeared in Asia-Pacific Defense Forum, winter 1994-95.