“What defines a modern-day Filipino-American hero?”
In a country rich in heroic stories, First Lieutenant/ Dr. Mercedes “Mommy Ched” Cuello Lazaro Musngi’s story stands out, not just for her heroism as a first aid combat medic during World War II, but also for the lifetime compassion she demonstrated as a matriarch, medical missionary doctor, humble servant of GOD until she passed at the age of 100 and 7 months. The legacy of her interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on April 2, 2024, still impacts our family deeply. I hope her story reaches the larger Filipino-American community today.
From my earliest memories of staying with her in Downtown L.A., California, I remember sitting with my grandma and reading newspapers like “The Asian Journal” that we gathered from Asian supermarkets. She would tell me stories about her life and wartime memories. In these warm conversations, I developed an appreciation and respect for our culture, our history, and our ancestors’ sacrifices.
Mommy Ched’s story of valor began at 18 when she volunteered as military support in schools. Her father served in the Philippine/American Navy as an aviation mechanic. Her mother was a Katipunera who smuggled weapons to Filipino guerillas in Bacoor Cavite.
At 19, she volunteered at hospitals during WWII. At 20, she joined the Philippine Army and United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) as a first aid combat medic, performing amputations with a bone saw and often without anesthesia. She would tell me how she collected severed arms and legs in a big bucket. She comforted and spoon-fed many Filipino and American soldiers with a pot of soup.
General Douglas MacArthur acknowledged her extraordinary courage and noted her name. She defied cultural expectations that limited women to the home or hospital, far from the front lines. Thus the U.S. military offered her a medical scholarship abroad but she chose to stay in the Philippines. She became a doctor specializing in infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and rabies. Despite having trauma (PTSD) after the war, being widowed at 40 with 7 children, losing her home to a fire twice, losing her farmlands, and enduring injustices from people around her, Mommy Ched remained unshakeable. She converted these traumatic experiences into resilience which strengthened her faith. And as a result, all her children graduated from universities even if she was a single mother. Despite poverty, she continued to give free medical missions to the community and Filipino veterans. Eventually, she became a Born Again Christian and accepted GOD in her heart spiritually not religiously. From there, she learned to heal from her trauma through the Love of the LORD. As a result, she became a Christian medical missionary at 65.
After her retirement, she traveled for decades across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, delivering free medical care to widows, indigenous tribes, orphans, soldiers, and veterans. Even in her 100th year, she continued to support and aid clergy, ministers, and pastors from diverse Christian churches and denominations. When her body started to fail, she gave her mind by providing mental health support and counseling in the last years of her life. She preached the Love of the LORD and encouraged and prayed for everyone she met. From 18 to 100 years old, she never retired and this challenges everyone who hears her story.
Her legacy extends beyond her medical and humanitarian services: she was a hero of our family. Mommy Ched instilled Filipino patriotism and valor in us. She taught me to always speak our mother tongue at home and love and serve GOD, our country, and our people. These values are becoming increasingly rare nowadays among Filipino-Americans living abroad. My grandmother never forgot her roots. Even in America, our house was decorated with the Philippine flag on top of our television for all to see. This was a proud emblem of our Filipino heritage and a reminder of where we came from.
First Lieutenant/Dr. Mercedes Cuello Lazaro Musngi is set to be one of the few guerilla women fighters to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. A touching revelation emerged during her funeral: Mommy Ched had been discreetly donating to crippled, disabled, and amputated veteran foundations in America for years. This silent altruism explains why she had so little money in her savings account; her heart never forgot the troops she amputated during the war. It was through giving that she still became a part of their lives even in old age. Her selfless commitment to the Filipino and American people knew no bounds. Her life’s missions captured the Filipino spirit of kindness, and generosity even to foreigners beyond our blood. During her wake, I set up a mini museum and memorial boards that tell her incredible story as an unsung Bayani, a hero almost forgotten, but now forever remembered. I spoke of the many silent veterans and unsung heroes, Mommy Ched’s comrades. They fought for both the Philippines’ and America’s freedom. They must not be forgotten and their stories must be told to our generation.
As I saw the flag draped over her casket in Libingan ng mga Bayani in her final burial, I heard the heart-wrenching firing of the bullets from that 21-gun salute, the solemn sound of the war trumpet, and the hundreds of teary-eyed people who saluted her, officers, soldiers and civilians who hailed her as the “bagong bayani” of this generation. I knew then that her life had set the highest standard for what it means to be a modern Filipino hero. Her life’s work and legacy as a healer for Filipinos and Americans exemplify what multi-faceted love and dedication for our country should look like physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.
I hope one day the stories of our brave veterans, soldiers, and Filipino heroes will be taught in our schools, colleges, and universities. The Mind Warriors Project: KASALAG, one of my grandmother’s legacies is advocating for trauma-informed mental health education in schools and the military. We believe that WWII and Filipino veteran heroes are subjects to be included in educational curriculums for the young generation. This is so we can honor, respect, and commemorate all their sacrifices for freedom we enjoy today.
I hope Mommy Ched’s story touches many people’s hearts, including yours as the reader. Her narrative is an excellent example of Filipino heroism as a Mandirigma (warrior), Filipina Mother, and Bayani. It touches out hearts to see how civilians, Army and Navy military personnel continue to salute and honor her in several recent events. As we remember Mommy Ched, let us not forget that the essence of being Filipino is defined by our devoted acts and love for one another, for our country, for people, and for GOD. I speak this especially to Filipino-American youths who often feel distant and estranged from their homeland and heritage. We must never forget that we all carry the bloodline of Filipino fighters from the Philippine Revolution to WWII. This is especially true at this time of tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the possibility of a looming WWIII on the horizon.
We are Filipinos. Wherever we are in the world, whether it is Europe, America, or some continent abroad, we must remember our roots proudly. We must pass down our cultural values, language, patriotism, and stories from generation to generation. Through Mommy Ched, I see that we all have potential heroism and bayanis in GOD’s perfect time. In times of war and in times of peace.
Makabayan. Makatao. Maka-Diyos. Tanging Ina ng pamilya at ng bayan na binigay ng Maykapal. Maraming salamat Mommy Ched.
(One for the nation. One for the people. One for GOD. Our only mother that the Creator has given not just to us, but to this nation. Thank you, Mommy Ched.)
Author: Ylaysha Musngi Gosiaco
