“This activity at the Libingan ng mga Bayani was meant to honor our veterans and their fallen comrades during the war, and to inspire the public to emulate their valor and sacrifice,” said retired general Restituto Aguilar, chief of the memorial and historical division of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).
“This year’s theme, Isabuhay ang Kagitingan, Kapayapaan ay Pagkaisahin, Kamtin ang Mithing Kaunalaran, aims to impart to every Filipino, especially the youth, that valor and the selfless sacrifices demonstrated by our veterans during the war must be mirrored in our day-to-day lives to achieve lasting peace and progress,” Aguilar added.
For his part, Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano, who led the Sunrise Ceremony, was also the first to offer a flower at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was erected in honor of unidentified heroes who died during the war.
In his speech, Ano lauded the war veterans for their unsung heroism in the face of overwhelming odds. “Totoong idol ko po ang mga beterano natin,” he said in Filipino. (I truly idolize our veterans.)
In the second part of the event, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, whose father is one of the survivors of the dreaded Bataan Death March, led the wreath laying rites to honor those who have offered their lives for the country’s freedom.
“We salute all of our veterans for their selfless devotion to the cause of freedom, so that this day we continue to live as proud people in the world of humanity,” Gazmin said in his speech.
“Today is a day of remembrance; an occasion for Filipinos to honor the memory of all veterans who laid down their lives in the defense of our country just so the present generation may live in freedom, peace and democracy,” he added.
War veteran leaders, officials of veterans’ support and servicing institutions, and organizations representing different resistance movements during World War II joined Gazmin in the event.
During the simple, but meaningful program, student Allan De Leon of Tenement Elementary School gave his youthful insights on what it means to enjoy the freedom attained through sacrifices made by Filipino patriots and martyrs.
For her part, Taguig City tourism officer Aida Ignacio, who represented Mayor Lani Cayetano, said their city has enacted an ordinance increasing the benefits being received by local war veterans.
Highlighting the wreath laying rites, to the delight of spectators, is a flower drop during which red rose petals were scattered by a droning Huey chopper.
Likewise, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also held a battalion-sized review in honor of the war veterans at the Army Grandstand in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. The review is a time-honored tradition of the military whereby men and women in the uniformed service show their respect to veterans.
Moreover, the veterans were paraded and accorded honors at par with ranking military officers and visiting dignitaries.
The program also included a ceremonial inspection of troops and a pass-in review, a practice wherein the veterans stand in front of the stage to recognize the parading troops.
Former Executive and Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita was the event’s special guest.
Ermita also led in awarding the veterans with plaques and medals in recognition of their services during World War II.
The living awardees were Col. Francisco T. San Miguel, Sgt. Jose Felix F. Caparas, Sgt. Manuel C. Carpio, Col. Francisco S. Tamondong, Pfc. Pilar Hipolito de Ocampo, Maj. Jesse M. Baltazar, Pvt. Manuel T. Cannu, Pfc. Valentin R. Ege, TSgt. Silvestre D. Sarmiento and Col. Catalino D. Ibañez.
Recognition was also given to the families of posthumous awardees Pvt. Francisco S. Cordoba Sr., lawyer Gamaliel A. Cordoba, Lt. Commander Vicente A. Perez, Sgt. Domingo G. Padiernos, MSgt. Jesus V. delos Santos, Lt. Gen. Jaime Delos Santos, Lt. Col. Saturnino R. Silva Sr., MGen. Calixto M. Duque, AFP and 3Lt. Leopoldo G. Bataoil.
“In keeping with this year’s theme, I call on each and every Filipino, especially the youth, and all other generations that live in peace and freedom today because of the heroism of those who came before, to define their lives with valor. It may not be the valor that would demand giving up life, but it is the valor that requires one to stand up for principles, to stand up for what one truly believes in despite the fact that the rest may be going the other way, and to stand up for that which is truly and morally right in the eyes of God,” Ermita said in his speech. (RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)
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