Biography of Lt. Col. Valentin V. Grasparil

Biography of Lt. Col. Valentin V. Grasparil
by Major Agaton S. Grasparil
February 1966

Valentin V. Grasparil was born on July 1, 1907 at Humabol (now Esperanza II), Sibalom, Antique. His father was Angel Grasparil and his mother was Anastacia Vedeja. He was the fifth child in a family of seven children - 3 males and 4 females. The children were: 1. Rafael; 2. Rosario; 3. Marcelino; 4. Enriqueta; 5. Valentin; 6. Maria; and 7. Blas. Of these seven, only three are left alive. They are Rafael, Rosario and Blas.
Valentin was named after his grandfather. His grandfather had nine (9) brothers and 1 sister. My own grandfather, Octaviano, was the eldest of them all and the youngest was Simon.
Valentin acquired his primary education in Villar. Being poor, he had to bring his lunch to school in his pocket because it consisted of camote, corn or gabi. He completed his elementary education at Sibalom Elementary School and his secondary education at the Antique High School.
After high school graduation, he could not get employment here so he decided to go to Manila. While in Manila, he tried to look for work where he could study at night but failed. He finally decided to enlist in the Philippine Scouts at Fort Wilson McKinley.
It was as a Scout that he met his present wife, the former Miss Primitiva Espino. From the marriage came nine (9) children - 5 boys and 4 girls. They are all living and their names are: 1. Dante; 2. Rachel; 3. Erlinda; 4. Warlina; 5. Valentin Jr.; 6. Tagumpay; 7. Bayani; 8. Gilbert; and 9. Cecilia.
As a father and head of the family, he was devoted to his wife and children. Excepting the last three children, all the six have acquired the college education. He saw to it that their future is provided with something tangible. To this end he worked hard and devised ways and means of improving the financial standing of the family.
As a military man, his exploits are well known and recorded in the military history of our country. With the 66th Infantry Regiment, he liberated the provinces of Aklan and Capiz from the hands of the Japanese, and with some outfit, he drove the Japanese out of Jaro and Balantang. He also liberated Antique when the task force failed to dislodge the Japanese at San Jose. He was a commander who fought with his men in the advance echelon inspiring them in his round from unit to unit.
Now "Inting" had gone to to the great beyond. The Reception and Ball of the 1966 West Visayan Athletic Association Meet served to mark his exit from this world at dawn of February 21, 1966. Alfred Lord Tennyson considered death as "crossing the bar". General Douglas McArthur referred to death as "fading away" because according to him "soldiers never die".
Finally to us who are living and who are left behind, this quotation from a great general will be good food for thought; and I quote: " and now even as I hail you, I must say farewell. For I must admit with a sense of sadness, that the deepening shadows of life cast doubt upon my ability to pledge again 'I shall return'".