Dateline: Catanduanes

DEATH OF A  ‘TIGER’ IN THE BATTLEFIELD

By Pablo A. Tariman
Catanduanes
February 10, 2015



Tria’s PNP school classmate Freddie Caballero  described him thus: “He was a strong man physically, mentally and emotionally. Every pound of his body is all muscles. One day his life story and rare heroism will be told not just in print but hopefully on film as well.

To the slow cadence of the second movement (marcia funebre) of Beethoven’s Third Symphony played by the PNP Regional Marching Band, 27-year old Senior Police Inspector Max Jim Tria was laid to rest in a barrio cemetery in barrio  Palta in Virac Catanduanes  Saturday after the customary 21 gun salute.

The cries of the policeman’s mother, Mrs. Efigenia Tria, were the only heart-rending sound in the cemetery after the last blessing from the attending priest. Her eldest son, Ace, comforted her no end but there was no denying the unspeakable sorrow buried in her heart. The four brothers held back their tears but later during the last ceremony, a few couldn’t help sobbing.

The most hair-raising revelation that drew murmurs from the huge crowd was when months before the Mamasapano massacre, Tria told his best friend that he would like to die with grenades in both hands and defending his fellow soldiers.”

“Why what’s up?” Landig asked his best friend.

“Just watch the regular TV news for updates” came the reply.

True enough, Tria was reported in the papers as “the last man standing” and found with two hand grenades” in both his lifeless hands.

Tria’s high school teacher at the Catanduanes State University, Estrella Sarmiento Placides, said she has found fulfillment in her teaching career by being known as the teacher of a hero. “He was a bright pupil but he dislikes the idea of grandstanding. He was often the playful person and often played pranks on everyone but I would say that they are not the harmful kind.”

Their last conversation went something like this:

Tria: Hello Ma’am. I am happy to tell you I got my rank already.

Placides: Congratulations. I am happy for you. Are you home in the island?

Tria: No Ma’am. I am in Basilan.

Placides: (screams) What? Just take care of yourself. I will pray for you.

Concludes Placides: “Not all my pupils remember to call when they achieve something they have been dreaming of. Mac-Mac (as Tria is known to friends) is one of them.”

The crowd was close to tears as  the young policeman’s cousin, James Tria, sang a moving version of a Josh Groban favorite, “To Where You Are.”

With both town folks and officials from the 11 towns of Catanduanes in attendance, the funeral was easily one of the most well-attended it reminded the islanders of the thousands of well-wishers who attended the funeral of the late Catanduanes governor Juan Alberto who was felled by an assassin’s bullet many years ago.

The Tria family lives in an idyllic village with just a couple of streets and a population of less than a thousand. The house is hemmed in by rice fields with a view of the mountain and the sea.

“The Tria family lives a simple life and discipline is the hallmark of all the children’s upbringing,” said Cabihian Kagawad Rosalina Matienzo. They like the peace and quiet of this small barrio nobody bothered to move to the town proper. Max Jim’s father, Guillermo, is so respected when he says you should vote for this and that, everybody follows. The last time I saw Mac-Mac here in our place last September, he was doing his usual morning chore which is jogging.”

He is known as “the last man standing” during the bloody January 25 encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where 43 of his colleagues also met their untimely death.

The province’s officialdom in the funeral was led by Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento who delivered a short message in the necrological service.

Islander Freddie Boy Alcala who knows the musical Trias in the province suggested that the Virac Airport be renamed SPI Max Jim Tria Domestic Airport in memory of the fallen hero.

The huge crowd at the Palta cemetery wore difference faces of grief and the anger and resentment are not lost to  those left behind.

As they bereaved ones cope, they will probably live  every word of the Josh Gorban favorite --

Who can say for certain? Maybe you're still here I feel you all around me Your memories so clear

Deep in the stillness I can hear you speak You're still an inspiration Can it be

That you are my forever love And you are watching over me from up above?

Fly me up to where you are Beyond the distant star I wish upon tonight To see you smile

If only for awhile To know you're there A breath away's not far To where you are.