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COLONEL FRANK B. QUESADA, USA, Ret.
It's with great honour to be part of this publication by way of this introduction of the author, more dearly known in the family as 'Paquito'. A well-decorated hero of WWII, Col. Francisco B. Quesada is the eldest son of my uncle Captain Roman Quesada and his wife Isabel Balquiedra Quesada. His siblings are Nestor, married to Nina in Manila; Orlando (Andy), deceased, survived by his wife Helen in Tatay, Laguna; Romulo, living in New York with his wife Lolly; and only sister, Sonia, living in Pasig City with husband Tirso Calaranan. Enjoying his retirement, the Colonel is now residing in San Francisco, California with his wife, former schoolteacher Lourdes Martinez, of Balian, Pangil, Laguna, who is presently with the University of San Francisco. Colonel Quesada was a participant in the daring rescue of the American and allied POWs (Prisoners of War), World War II in Los Banos, Laguna (Luzon) in February 23, 1945, when he was Captain. He studied in the University of the Philippines but dedicated most of his life and times in the pursuit of causes and benefits for the WW2 veterans and the writing of war memoirs as it occured in the province of Laguna, Philippines. Here is his story; a part of one of his books soon to be published. by Marie Cagahastian Castillo Pruden (Colonel Quesada's goddaughter) COL. (Ret.) FRANCISCO B. QUESADA, was the Hunters-ROTC Combat Intelligence Officer and a nuch-decorated soldier in WWII. As a guerrilla, he was tortured by the Japanese in the Paete "zona." With the Hunters, he participated in the liberation of Los Banos concentration camp. Fondly known in Paete as "Paquito," the colonel is a grandson of the great Mayor Pedro (Tandang Petri ) Quesada, the last revolutionary Paete mayor to surrender to the Americans in 19th century. Col. Quesada graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Masters degree in Business Administration. He worked as a flight navigator for Philippine Air Lines, as a syndicated columnist, an advertising executive, and vice president of a bank. A bon vivant, Quesada is the author of a book on Philippine Tourism. Col. Quesada is married to Lourdes Martinez of Balian. They live in San Francisco. E-Mail: fquesada@paete.org |
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