Alejo Santos (July 11, 1911 — February 18, 1984) was a Filipino soldier and World War II hero who parlayed his fame into a political career. His prestige was somewhat marred in later life when he agreed to run as the only candidate against Ferdinand Marcos in the widely-suspect 1981 Philippine presidential elections. July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allies: Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France/Free France, United States, Canada, China, India, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Burma, Slovakia Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8... From the Greek cognate , in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) is an eminent character archetype that quintessentially embodies key traits valued by its originating culture. ... Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralín Marcos (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was the tenth president of the Philippines, serving from 1965 to 1986. ... Presidential elections and parliamentary elections were held on June 16, 1981 in the Philippines. ...

Santos was born in Bustos, Bulacan, the son of a farmer. At the outbreak of World War II, he was a captain of the USAFFE. He was among the USAFFE soldiers who retreated to Bataan to make the last stand against the invading Japanese Imperial Army. However, he evaded capture by the Japanese when Bataan fell, escaping instead to his hometown. Santos then agreed to join the fledgling anti-Japanese guerilla movement. He became one of the founders of the Bulacan Military Area, the main guerilla movement in Bulacan. The BMA attracted many patriotic Filipinos chafing under Japanese rule, and was soon organized into eight divisions. For his World War II activities, Santos received numerous citations and awards from the Philippine and American governments. He was also conferred the rank of brigadier general by the American government. Bustos is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. ... Farmer spreading grasshopper bait in his alfalfa field. ... USAFFE (United States Army Forces - Far East) included the Philippine Department, Philippine Army (2 regular and 10 reserve divisions), and the Far East Air Force (formerly, Philippine Army Air Corps). ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bataan Region: Central Luzon (Region III) Capital: Balanga City Founded: —1754 Population: 2000 census—557,659 (46th largest) Density—406 per km² (12th highest) Area: 1,373. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official ground based armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945 when it was Imperial Japan. ... Bulacan is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ...

After the liberation of Bulacan in 1945, Santos was named as its military governor. He was elected to Congress in 1946 under the banner of the leftist Democratic Alliance, but was almost immediately unseated together with several of his party-mates in a controversial maneuver believed to be related with the looming congressional vote on the approval of the Bell Trade Act with the United States. Nonetheless, Santos was elected as governor of Bulacan in 1951, and again to Congress in 1953. By then, Santos had affiliated with the Nacionalista Party. From 1959 to 1961, Santos served as Secretary of National Defense in the cabinet of President Carlos P. Garcia. 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ... The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since 1907. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... The Philippines Department of National Defense (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Pambansa), abbreviated as DND is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for guarding the country against external and internal threats to its national peace and security. ... Carlos Polestico Garcia (November 4, 1896–June 14, 1971) was the 8th president of the Philippines (1957-1961). ...

By 1981, Santos had mostly retired from political life, devoting his activity to veteran's affairs. It came as a surprise when he agreed to run for President against Ferdinand Marcos in the 1981 elections. The elections were called shortly after Marcos lifted the nine-year old declaration of martial law while retaining authoritarian powers at the same time, and were seen as a means of maintaining the veneer of democracy, especially in the international community. However, the anti-Marcos political opposition, which felt it was cheated out of victory in the 1978 parliamentary elections, refused to participate in the presidential elections and successfully called for a boycott. Santos' candidacy, ostensibly under the banner of the then-moribund Nacionalista party, provided Marcos with at least one other candidate he could run against. Santos, as the sole opponent of Marcos, did not offer a vigorous campaign, and he was trounced in the election, garnering only 8.6% of the vote as against Marcos's 91.4%. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Proclamation No. ...

A camp of the Philippine National Police in Bulacan is named after Santos. The Philippine National Police is the National police force of the Republic of the Philippines. ...

References

Filipinos in History: Volume IV, National Historical Institute (Manila, 1994)