Eustacio Orobia

BRIG GEN EUSTACIO D OROBIA AFP was born in Pulilan, Bulacan on 29 March 1912.

After graduating from Manila North High School, he entered the College of Engineering of the University of the Philippines in 1930. In 1933, he was appointed cadet of the Philippine Constabulary Academy (became Philippine Military Academy in 1935), finishing the course on 27 April 1936 that belonged to the first class produced by PMA.

On 08 Jun 1936, he was transferred to the Air Corps and took military pilot training. While undergoing pilot training, he was tapped as flight instructor to Major Dwight Eisenhower, Major Richard Sutherland, Major General Basilio Valdez, Colonel Tom McMicking and fellow PAAC military pilot students. Before completing the course, he was sent to take up primary and basic pilot training in Randolph Field, Texas. Consequently, he proceeded to Kelly Field for advance pilot training. Before he returned to the Philippines, he served the 55th Pursuit Squadron, 20th Pursuit Group in Louisiana before he took a Communication Course in Chanute Field, Illinois and returned to the Philippines in 1939.

During the outbreak of hostilities in 1941, the General distinguished himself in the defense of Aglaloma Point in Bataan to a point where he was hit by a Cal.50 machine gun. He was also taken as prisoner of war during the fall of Bataan. Upon his release from the concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac, he joined the Guerillas under the 2nd Corps Area. He later transferred to COL PERALTA’S Guerillas in Panay where he was picked up by a Submarine USS “HAKE” in 1944 bound to Australia. On 20 January 1945, he was directed to go to various USAF Schools in the U.S. to attend military pilot refresher courses.

He is a well-decorated military officer and some of the awards and decorations he received were Gold Cross Medal, U.S. Silver Star Medal, Asiatic-Pacific War Theater Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Wounded Soldier’s Medal, Philippine Independence Ribbon, American Defense Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Campaign Medal, Distinguished Service Star Medal, and Purple Heart Medal, among others.

General Orobia was assigned to several important positions before he assumed the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force on 16 March 1951. After his stint as Commanding General, PAF, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff, AFP as Military Attaché in Bangkok, Thailand from 1953 to 1956; as Chief of War Plans; Commandant CGSC, PA; and Superintendent of PMA on 28 February 1962.

He is married to the former Agripina Buenviaje with whom he has six children namely Rosalina Naomi, Maria Editha, Eustacio B. Jr, Rebecca Flora, Milagros Ana and Ma. Cristina.