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<p><em>William Prado “Willy” Manlongat</em> joined us, his classmates in Company A-2, in June 1956 with a head start. He had been through a plebe year at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Class of 1959, finishing first in his plebe class. He rapidly earned our respect through his academic and athletic prowess, starring on the company cross-country team as it won the Brigade Championship. Since PMA was modeled after USMA, during plebe year Willy knew what was coming before most of us and was always ready with a heads-up. As the 1960 yearbook put it, “He took with him the admiration and respect of all his Academy friends.”</p>
<p>Upon graduation, Willy hooked up with his bunkmate from plebe year at PMA, Chuck Agustin, who had graduated with the Class of 1960 from the U.S. Naval Academy. We got to know Chuck when Willy hosted him during the exchange weekend with USNA. Together they embarked on a road trip that took them across the United States. Back home in the Philippines after graduation, Willy’s first tour of duty was with the Philippine Army as a mortar battery platoon leader in the 1st Infantry Division. This was followed by the Infantry Officer Basic Course, airborne, and Special Forces training. At that time the Communist insurgents were emerging in Central Luzon and, as he put it, “My unit took part in a task force dispatched to deal with the problem.”</p>
<p>He then served at the Philippine Military Academy, first in the Tactics Department and then teaching mechanics. Taking courses at night at St. Louis University, he received his civil engineering degree, garnering second place in the national board exams for civil engineering in 1968. He was particularly grateful to his alma mater, as many of the engineering courses taken at West Point were applied to this degree. Transferring to the Corps of Engineers, he served with the 51st Engineer Brigade, supervising road and bridge construction throughout the country. In 1972-74, he studied at the prestigious Asian Institute of Management, earning a master’s degree in business management and finishing second in his class. Soon after, martial law was declared and he was assigned to work with PHIVIDEC, a government-owned development corporation. He resigned his commission in 1977.</p>
<p>Willy then worked for several private sector companies doing real estate development and financial planning. In 1979 the demand for construction in the Middle East was exploding. He spent five years in Saudi Arabia as a construction engineer before returning home. </p>
<p>At this juncture Willy made the decision to immigrate to the United States: He came first, in 1986; and his family followed, in 1988. Willy met and married his wife, Mila, while on his first infantry assignment. They had five children and settled in Brookfield, CT. Mila, a Fulbright scholar and 1966 graduate of Smith College in social work, began her career as a renal social worker at the Danbury Hospital while Willy joined a construction company, retiring in 2005. Most importantly, Willy was a great father to his children. As Mila put it, “He joined me in strong partnership to guide the career development of our five children.”</p>
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<p>Willy loved West Point and kept his association with his former classmates. We thoroughly enjoyed his company at our mini reunion in San Antonio, TX. He wrote about his life for the 50th reunion yearbook but sadly died before he could attend. He also maintained his membership in the Philippine Military Academy, Class of 1959. In retirement, he likewise enjoyed the camaraderie of his friends at the Filipino American Association of Western Connecticut in Danbury, CT. He was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Brookfield, serving as a Eucharistic minister and an usher.</p>
<p>Willy died in Danbury on June 24, 2009. Several A-2 companymates were there to pay their respects to Willy’s family and remember a good friend. After his death, Willy’s wife Mila returned to the Philippines, rejoining many friends and relatives. A memorial service for Willy was held in Mila’s hometown, Ayala Alabang Village, on November 22, 2009, where Willy’s oldest brother, Brigadier General Thomas P. Manlongat, reflected on Willy’s life. Mila passed away in 2015. </p>
<p>From 1914 on, the government of the Philippines has sent a cadet to join the new class entering West Point. We were blessed to have one of the best join us. He did his country proud and played his part in maintaining the close relationship between PMA and USMA. In our day international travel was still a rarity; globalization was still far off. But a part of the globe came to us in the form of William P. Manlongat. He distinguished himself at the Philippine Military Academy, West Point and in every aspect of his life that followed. As Mila so bravely and beautifully sang at Willy’s funeral, “May it be said, ‘Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.’”</p>
<p><em>— Company A-2 classmates</em></p>
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