City of Angels & the Kamikaze Squadron

City of Angels

Few people know or remember, but history books still have it recorded: In the time of the Katipunan – circa 1896, two rival factions stood in the Philippines: one, the "Magdiwang" faction of Andres Bonifacio & the other, the "Magdalo" of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

General Aguinaldo held office in a town called “Kuliat”. For a time, it was here that he led the country, until he was later exiled to Hong Kong in 1898 by the Americans. Later on, this same city was renamed after its patron titular saints “The Holy Guardian Angels”. It was hence called “Angeles City”. The City’s name was made official in 1964.

From the remnant of Gen. Aguinaldo’s old office, a museum was made. The property was eventually purchased by PNB and is now a bank. While PNB management preserved the structure, entrance to the building is limited to the Bank’s reception area.

Angeles City was well-known for Clark Air Base, now turned into Clark Economic Zone. What was once a jetfighter runway was turned into Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. A proper tarmac is scheduled to be built soon. It is likewise the new home of the Philippine Air Force & the Blue Diamonds – the country’s premiere jet fighter squadron.

Every year, for the 11th time this 2007 - Angeles City plays host to the Hot Air Balloon Festival. What began as a pure Hot Air Balloon event, has now grown into a full blast aerial festival that includes sky diving, paragliding, kite-flying, blimps, ultralights, and of course - radio controlled aircraft.

Kamikaze Squadron

As far as the radio-controlled world goes, in Clark – specifically Omni Aviation, once was a flying field for modelers. After Omni Aviation, flyers then moved to Timog Park. After yet another migration, flyers finally settled at Kamikaze Airfield.

The airfield, was so named due to the fact that during World War II – it was the site where the first Japanese Kamikaze pilots took off for their last mission as human bombs in October 1944. "Kamikaze" is a Japanese word meaning "Divine Wind" which finds its origins related to a supernatural wind which deterred invaders during the days of ancient feudal Japan.

The current Kamikaze Squadron is comprised of :

Larry Quiazon, Bun Bituin, Mar Saldana, Mandis Naguit, Philip Dye, JJ Timbol, Dondi Laxa, Bryan Simeon, Fred Stampa, Werner Wilde, Jon-jon Maniti, Alvin Tayag, Raymond Felix, Dan Whitney, Willy Oppleger, Jed Dizon and Jon-jon Lazatin.

In 2006, Kamikaze Club hosted TOCINOWACK II. What was originally intended to be a pure electric gathering - started by the Fort Squadron, turned into the year’s largest gathering of RC flyers. Fixed wing pilots astride helicopter pilots. Glow, gassers & electrics all represented. Gliders too flew the skies.