Brave Guerilla
(September 28, 1910 - July 15, 1942)
Wenceslao Q. Vinzons was born on September 28, 1910 in Indan, Camarines Norte to Gavino V. Vinzons and Engracia Quinito. He studied high school at the Camarines Norte High School, which He graduated valedictorian. He finished law at the University of the Philippines.
Vinzons was a multi-awarded orator. He became editor of the Philippine Collegian, the school organ of the University and was elected president of the Student Council. He placed third in the board exams of 1933. At the age of 23, he was elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1935. He was considered most eminent youth in politics. He founded the Young Philippines Party. He favored having a National Language based on Tagalog language.
During the election of 1953, he criticized Manuel L. Quezon, and supported the division of politician power to prevent corruption and abuse of power of those in government. For his acidic speech he was charged with sedition and libel. But the charges were proven baseless. He was elected Governor of Camarines Norte in 1940 and in 1941 he won as Congressman.
When the Second World War began, Vinzons founded the Vinzons Guerilla in Bicol . Thy fought the Japanese in battles in Lamitan and Tigbinan on December 17, 1941. But in July 8, 1942, he was captured by the Japanese with the help of Villaluz, a Filipino collaborator. Vinzons was with his father when captured. They were paraded around the plaza of Labo to intimidate and urge the people to collaborate with the Japanese. Vinzons never collaborated with them so they were imprisoned in Daet.
On July 15, 1942, the Japanese leader of the garrison again tried to persuade Vinzons to cooperate with the Japanese or face death. Vinzons refused to collaborate and reminded the Japanese of the provisions of the Geneva Convention which prohibits inhumane treatment of prisoners of war. He was executed that day with his father, sister, wife and two children. Their bodies were never found. For his martyrdom, the town of Indan was renamed after him. Wenceslao Q. Vinzons was married to Liwayway Gonzales.
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(Tagalog version)
Si Wenceslao Q. Vinzons ay isinilang noong Setyember 28, 1910 sa Indian, Camarines Norte kina Gavino V. Vinzons at Engracia Quinito. Nagtapos ng hayskul sa Camarines Norte High School, bilang valedictoria. Natapos niya ang Batas sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.
Primyadong orador si Vinzons. Naging patnugot ng Philippine Collegian, ang pahayagan ng Unibersidad at nahalal na pangulo ng Student Council. Pumangatlo siya sa bar exams ng 1933. Sa edad na 23, nahalal siyang kinatawan ng Kombensyong Konstitusyonal ng 1935. Nakilala siyang pinakamagaling na batang politiko. Itinatag niya ang Young Philippines Party. Isinulong niya ang pagkakaroon ng isang Wikang Pambansa na nakabase sa Wikang Tagalog.
Nang halalan ng 1935, tinuligsa niya si Manuel L. Quezon at sinusugan ang paghahati ng kapangyarihang politikal para maiwasan ang katiwalian at abuso ng mga nasa gobyerno. Dahil sa tindi ng mga salita siya'y inakusahan ng paninirang-puri, ngunit naabswelto. Nahalal siyang Gobernador ng Camarines Norte noong 1940 at noong 1941 ay nanalong Kongresman.
Nang sumiklab ang Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig ay binuo niya ang Vinzons Guerillas sa Bicol. Lumaban sila sa mga Hapon sa Lamitan at Tigbinan noong Disyembre 17, 1941. Ngunit noong Hulyo 8, 1942 ay nahuli siya ng mga Hapon sa tulong ni Villaluz , isang Filipinong kolaborador. Kasama ni Vinzon's ang ama ng mahuli . Inilibot sila ng sa plaza ng Labo upang takutin at hikayatin ang mga tao na makipagtulungan sa mga Hapon. Ngunit hindi nakipagtulungan si Vinzons kaya ikinulong sila sa Daet.
Noong Hulyo 15, 1942, hinimok ng mga Hapon na pinuno ng garrison na makipagtulungan si Vinzons o mabitay. Tumanggi si Vinzons at ipinaalala sa Hapon ang probisyon ng Geneva Convention laban sa hindi makataong pakitungo laban sa mga bilanggo ng giyera. Binitay siya nang araw ding iyon kasama ang kanyang ama, kapatid, asawa at dalawang anak. Hindi na nakita ang kanilang bangkay. Dahil sa kanyang kabayanihan , ang bayang Indan ay ipinangalan sa kanya . Si Wenceslao Q. Vinzons ay kasal kay Liwayway Gonzales.
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