TRUE-BLUE BATANG WEST

                 He struggled to have a name for himself. He grew up and was raised in West Rembo. Born on June 27, 1960,at the height of "Bagyong Dading", P/Supt. Rene M. Maramo was fondly called "Tutch" by all those who knew him. The fourth in the brood of six by a soldier father and a plain housewife mother, he took his first education in our own school, the Fort William McKinley Elementary School. The school then, was a rundown barracks formerly used by the U.S. Army and was turned over to the Philippine Army. It had its own chapel and the main building was Victorian in style. Yet, the ambience was so refreshing and conducive to the best times in learning. He finished his secondary schooling at Pateros Catholic School and then went on to take up engineering at the University of Santo Tomas. It was as a third year student that the call of the military took hold of him when he learned that he qualified for a post in the prestigious Philippine Military Academy. The four years as a cadet flew quite fast and before we knew it, he graduated and was assigned to lead a small anti-insurgent detachment as a Philippine Constabulary field officer. When the Philippine Constabulary was reorganized into Philippine National Police, he was assigned at Camp Crame Narcotics division where he rose to become the Chief Operations Officer. At this point, he helped a lot of people and he conducted himself as a true gentleman and and officer. He was so young and full of promise.

         Sadly, he passed away last December 30, 2000 without much as a whimper and without warning. A true-blue batang west who had made our community proud. May he live in our hearts forever.

         I miss you dear brother.