Bauangeños celebrate town’s 74th Liberation Day anniversary
BAUANG, La Union – Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. de Guzman
III led the Bauangeños in celebrating the town’s 74th liberation day anniversary on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at the town plaza.
“I challenge our young milennials to look back to what we are as Bauangeños,” de Guzman said.
He said that this is the day where Bauangeños can answer the question of who they really are. He told them they should not forget where they came from.
“We see the monument of our dear veterans who remind us of the living and the dead, who fought to liberate our town from the bondage and clutches of the oppressors.
This is the real picture of who we are. Our parents, brothers, sisters and the ordinary folks joined the war and all of them said, “We remained to fight for our freedom,” he said.
De Guzman also asked the Sangguniang Bayan through an ordinance to give the veterans free burial at the new cemetery located at Brgy. Santiago, Bauang, La Union.
He also said that senior citizens in Bauang reaching the age of 90 on his birthday will receive Php5, 000 yearly effective January 1, 2019.
Former Philippine National Police chief Arturo C. Lomibao was the guest of honor and speaker.
“We all clap for ourselves. It is very gratifying to note that after 74 years, the people of Bauang are still celebrating and remembering our great veterans, the great sons and daughters of Bauang who spilled their blood to liberate Bauang,” he said
“We remember our heroes who dedicated their lives to liberate Bauang and the rest of La Union. The list of these fallen heroes of Bauang is long yet we honor them today,” he added.
Lomibao also said that under the government of President Duterte, there are ways and means to improve the lives of living veterans who fought during World War II.
Among the benefits that living veterans may avail include cash of Php20,000 monthly and other programs like hospitalization and medical benefits.
The Philippine Veterans Hospital in Manila provides for this purpose. In La Union, veterans may also avail services of ITRMC, LORMA and Bethany hospitals.
The “Libingan ng mga Bayani” will soon be made as a world class tourist destination, a testament of the liberation of the Philippines.
This will evoke a sense of pride that will remind us that we owe our freedom from our great heroes especially our veterans,” he said.
Lomibao is running for a congressional seat under the party list “One Philippines. He said that the country needs national unity for a better Philippines. His platform is to build a nation, to protect the people and to secure them, to build a moral recovery program that will bring back the forgotten values taught by our great parents and to protect the Philippines from internal and external threats.
PVAO Region 1 Field Service Extension Office officer-in-charge Grace de Villa Labarinto was also present in the celebration. “These veterans who joined the USAFFE NL of the 11th, 14th, 15th, 66th and 121st Infantry Regiment were ordinary citizens like us.
They were sons and daughters of the ordinary who left the comforts of their home. They did not hesitate to join. They fought until the end and they remained, redeeming their victory not only for Bauang, for La Union and for the entire Ilocandia.
They fought to their last breath, to install freedom and dignity. We honor them today,” she said. Caba Municipal Veterans post president and 2nd District of La Union district president Ceferino
de Villa was another guest.
“There were many great sons of Bauang in the past who suffered from the oppressors to liberate the town, Bauang. Today, we see Bauang as a very progressive town through our committed government leaders. It is development is so fast.
Now, it is a tourist destination because of its grape industry,” he said. “As veterans, we should think of how we can help our nation and not just wait for what our country can give us,” he added. “All soldiers don’t die, they just fade away,” he said.
Sangguniang Bayan Members of Bauang namely Alexander Romeo Obong; Warlito Daus, Jr.; Gabriel Sotto; Danilo Abuan; George Picardal; Edgardo Balagot; and ABC President Noel Gallardo; veterans of the 2nd Congressional District; Bauang LGU department heads; employees; barangay captains; principals and students of Bauang schools participated in the celebration.
The occasion started with a concelebrated Eucharistic celebration at St. Peter and St. Paul Church with Fr. Raymund Ronald Chan, Fr. Jaime Andres, and Fr. Samuel Samson as celebrants.
The event continued in the evening at the Bauang Farmers’ Civic Center. A cultural show was showcased by the following: Bauang Baggak Band;Bauang Baggak Choir; Sacred Heart School; Baccuit National High School; and Don Eulogio de Guzman Memorial National High School.
The highlight of the celebration was the concert of Ka Freddie “Anak” Aguilar, who is also running for a senatorial seat. He delivered his message together with Party List congressional aspirant Tom Lantion.
Bauang PIO-Tourism Office/ABN
