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"Old soldiers never die,                   they just fade away"

Brig. General Mateo M. Capinpin

                                   by Mateo L. Capinpin III                             

On April 22, 1887, Brigadier General Mateo Capinpin, a war time commander of the Philippine Army's famed 21st Division, was born in the present day Morong Rizal.

Capinpin grew up and took his elementary and secondary education in Laguna High School. After graduating from High School in 1906, at the age of 19, he joined and was enlisted in the Philippine Scouts where he started as a Private and was honorably discharged as a Major. During his itinerary with the Philippine Scouts from 1906 to 1918, Capinpin was acclaimed to be the only one who knew his Company Roster by heart. Stories have it that at night, he could call from the roll even without lights. As the youngest First Sergeant, he was only 24 when he was given his strips. He was noted to be a strict disciplinarian and that he had the reputation of being the "meanest" non-commissioned officer.

From the Philippine Scouts, Capinpin joined the Philippine National Guards as First Lieutenant in 1918 with the corresponding rank of Major in the United States Army. The following year, he returned to the Philippine Scouts. Promoted in the Permanent rank of Captain in 1920, Gen. Capinpin was sent to the United States to attend the Officers Courses at Fort Benning Infantry School in Georgia. While a Captain in the 45th Infantry, PS, he commanded the same company for over 20 years. His Company "I" was famous as Exhibition and Demonstration Company for five years in carnivals and elsewhere and held championship for athletics for a longer period.

He was given command of the Philippine Army 21st Division with the rank of Colonel when the Philippines was under the Commonwealth regime in 1934. War caught up with him in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Forced to be in Bataan when the Japanese Forces invaded the country, Capinpin earned honors for the orderly retreat he conducted during his commands trip from Pangasinan to Bataan.

He was captured by the Japanese when Bataan fell. Undaunted, Capinpin forcibly joined the "Death March" which began at daylight of April 10, 1942. Together with the haggard and terrified troops, they herded into groups of 500 to 1,000. Thousands wept while others stood stiffly, with blank, rigid stares. About 12,000 American soldiers, 65,000 Filipino soldiers, 6,000 Filipino civilian employees, and 10,000 Filipino refugees forced to join the trek. More than 600 Americans and 8,000 Filipino soldiers died along the way. On the 65-mile trek from Marivelez, Bataan, Capinpin and others were bayoneted, beaten and hauled off to Camp O'Donnell, a concentration Camp in Capas, Tarlac where the prisoners of war were confined. Documented stories of their confinement described their ordeal as "grim" and "nightmarish." Released in the latter part of 1942, Capinpin briefly served in the puppet government upon the invitation of Jose P. Laurel, the occupation president.

During his service with the puppet government, Capinpin saw in his position a strong cover for his guerilla activities. He planned out to rejoin the underground when he and other officials were dispatched to Baguio. The end of the last war found him in Japan.

Among the commendations he received, topped by the distinguished Service Cross, were telegraphed praises from General Douglas Mac Arthur, then commander-in-chief of all U.S Armed Forces in the Far East, Colonel Clark and the late General Vicente Lim.

As a guerilla resistance leader, his records and accomplishments are printed in the annals of guerilla history all over the world. His strategies and organizational methodologies are part of the current counter-insurgency techniques and strategies.

Brigadier General Mateo Capinpin, patriot, soldier, war hero, a leader of resistance movement against the Japanese in World War II, who in war or in peace had unselfishly dedicated his life, love, wisdom, talent and courage to God, country and people.

Brigadier General Capinpin was the Armed Forces of the Philippines Adjutant General when he retired from the military service on April 30, 1948. He was then the Superintendent of the Far East Military Academy (FEMA) in Highway 54 (present day EDSA), Quezon City. His last public appearance was on December 16, 1958 during the convocation at the FEMA.

At the age of 71, on December 28, 1958, he died of heart attack while spending holidays at his residence in Biñan, Laguna. Brigadier General Capinpin was survived by his wife, Mrs. Trinidad F. Vda. de Capinpin, and sons Colonel Marcial Capinpin, Colonel Mateo Capinpin Jr., Manuel Capinpin, Ernesto Capinpin; daugthers Hisberga Abellana and Alita Almeda.

Camp Mateo Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, home of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, AKA the Jungle Fighter Division, was named after Brigadier General Mateo Capinpin's honor.

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