Remaining 17 WWII vets delay in OPS award feted during Victory Day

September 5, 2020 Headlines

Amidst the coronavirus (Covid-19) global pandemic, 17 surviving World War II veterans are honored with commemorative medals, alongside the remembrance of the end of World War II, 75 years ago.
Pre-recorded congratulatory messages from HE US Ambassador Sung Kim, Ret. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, Congressman Marquez Go and Mayor Benjamin Magalong are delivered together with tokens and the medals to veterans in the comfort of their homes.
Among the living veterans honored are: Angelo Viloria Andrada, Epifanio Besuayan, Timoteo Boado, Filomeno Caburao, Francisco Bogalon Castillo, Romeo Marcelino de Guzman, Gregorio de la Paz Lopez, Ernesto Luis, Dominador Madarang, Carlito Millado, Diego Opena, William Pasiwen, Eduardo Peralta and Orlando Pimentel.
Lady veteran awardees are Sixta Favila, Florence Marasigan, and Cecilia Torres. All served fearlessly in the military, medical and auxiliary forces during critical years of war, with reminiscences recorded in diaries, notes and memoirs, now used as history materials.
Here in Baguio, simple wreath-laying ceremonies at the Veterans Park, Harrison road having hundreds of veterans’ names, was done in coordination with the City Tourism and Special Events Office (CTSEO) and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Sept. 3, Thursday.
It can be recalled that Camp John Hay was carpet-bombed on Dec. 8, 1941 by Japanese forces, which disrupted the lives of Filipinos, including the city and neighboring municipalities. In 1942, US Phil forces surrendered and joined the Bataan death march which claimed thousands of soldiers’ lives.
The Japanese Imperial Army was eventually defeated in 1945 as US and Filipino soldiers combined forces against them. For the liberation of Baguio, USAFIP-NL soldiers with members mostly from the Baguio-Benguet area worked in four strike forces: two from La Union, Pangasinan and Kapangan.
Battles were fought in Sablan; near the Baguio cemetery; Dominican-Mirador observatory; Camp Allen; Ansagan, Tuba; and other strategic areas which led to the liberation of Baguio on April 27, 1945. General Tomoyuki Yamashita then withdrew his forces and surrendered in Kiangan, Ifugao on Sept. 2 and formally surrendering in Camp John Hay on Sept. 3, 1945.
September 3 is institutionalized as Victory day, through City council resolution 229 in 2016. Meanwhile, US Ambassador the Philippines Sung Kim in a message read via zoom, said the relation between the two nation Philippines and USA remain strong despite the challenges posted by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In a message, Kim said: “Together, we are tackling the public health, economic, and education challenges created by the virus. And as we reflect on our shared history, I am deeply grateful to those who came before us to lay the unshakeable foundation for our deep friendship and partnership.
“He then cited the friendship of the two countries friendship with the vanquished foe, Japan, 75 years ago saying that it continues to evolve and have forged a strong cooperation in battling the new enemy – Covid-19. He added: “Time and time again, history has demonstrated that the United States, Philippines, and Japan are strongest when we work together as friends, partners, and allies.”
JFianza w/ PML