Jewell Parrilla

Kata Ragoso the son of South Sea Island headhunters receives the name, Kata Ragoso, because his father, Tatagu, no longer believes in the spirits and calls his boy, Kata Ragoso which means without devil strings. Kata Ragoso is a small boy when Christian missionaries establish a school in his village anbd he becomes a Christian.
Part II
Like a menacing storm, the threat of war hung over the sleepy Solomon Islands. The Japanese planned to control the Pacific Ocean and the Solomon Islands lay directly in their path.
There was no way to escape the deluge about to fall on these tiny islands. The British Commissioner in Tulagi, Solomon Islands gave order that all foreign residents should leave the Solomon Islands. Hoping that they would be able to weather the storm, a group of Seventh-day Adventist missionaries remained. They left only when it became obvious that they risked death if they lingered any longer. Kata Ragoso was left in charge of the Seventh-day Adventist work in the Solomon Islands.

Acting quickly he organized and trained first-aid rescue teams. Groups of people were selected and organized into spotting parties. As soon as some unlucky plane was observed falling from the sky, the message was relayed by drums and a rescue squad was sent to retrieve and care for the injured. At the end of the second world war many soldiers fighting this war owed their lives to quick action taking by these dedicated people.
One day, an Australian commander ordered Kata Ragoso to do something his conscience
would not allow him to do. Keenly aware of his position as a follower of Christ and a leader in the church, he said, "No," to the commander's order. The Australian ordered Kata Ragoso flogged.
A forty gallon gasoline drum was used as the whipping post. Kata Ragoso was forced to lay across the post and lashed with a supple cane until he bled. He was again asked whether he would obey the Australian officer and he answered a resounding, "No".
Enraged, the officer beat him over his head and face with a revolver until Kata Ragoso fell unconscious. He would have killed him had not a young girl pleaded for his life. When Kata Ragoso regained consciousness, the officer yelled his command and Kata Ragoso again said that he would not accede to the officer's evil command.

Fuming with rage the Australian ordered Kata Ragoso shot to death. A firing squad was selected. Kata Ragoso was placed in position. The firing squad was instructed to shoot when he counted the number three.
The silence was dramatic as Kata Ragoso awaited his fate and the soldiers awaited the fatal number.
"ONE, TWO," he shouted. He pursed his lips to say three but his mouth made no sound.
"ONE! TWO!" he screamed but the fatal word eluded his lips
"ONE! TWO!" and still he could not say three.