VALLEY COMMEMORATES 80TH LIBERATION DAY, PVAO AWARDS MAYOR SALDA

May 11, 2025 Provincial

LA TRININDA, Benguet

The municipality, through the leadership of Mayor Romeo Salda, spearheaded the 80th La Trinidad Liberation Day commemoration on May 5 at the Municipal Grounds, where living WW II veteran spouses were awarded with tokens and cash incentives as part of the annual support from the LGU. Alongside this, Mayor Salda was honored with a commendation from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office-Field Service Extension Office-CAR (PVAO FSEO CAR) for his unwavering support, exceptional leadership, and genuine commitment to the
welfare of the La Trinidad veterans and their families.

PVAO FSEO CAR head Cherrylyn C. Sabling noted that the administration’s initiatives through Municipal Ordinance No. 5-2003 provides funds for the Commemoration of the La Trinidad Liberation, and Municipal Ordinance No. 32- 2018 states the upgrade of benefits for the surviving spouses of WW II veterans of La Trinidad. Moreover, the provision of Php 10,000 for burial aid for the spouse of a deceased war veteran demonstrates the current administration’s deep respect and gratitude for our heroic veterans.

Post-war veteran 2nd Lt. Dennis Changli of Barangay Cruz was first assigned in Jolo, Sulu in 1977 after his six-month training. “Pagsangpet mi ijay Sulu han kami naka-awawid it 3 years, awan ti bakasyon mi puro operation. Naimula iti panunot mi nga matay kami metlang isunga amin nga sweldo awan ti i-savings mi taiutang mi amin kesa sabali ti makinabang. 1 week operation aginana kami manen 2-3 days, operation manen. Adu ti kalaban ijay Mindanao han lang nga tao, jay kuna ti guerilla nga pati bulong, Hapon. Nu apan ka agbawas, agala ka ti sanga ti kayo ta pang abog mo ti lamok. Pirmi ti lamok ijay bantay ti Sulu.”

He added that he is also a son of a WW II veteran, and he appreciated the program and support of the LGU. “Mayat daytoy nga event ta ni father ko maysa nga guerilla idi. Maremremind ak ti istorya ni father ko panggep ti WW II. Da tatang ko nagbati ditoy La Trinidad ta studyante suna ti MSAC idi binombaan da ti Hawaii ken Camp John Hay. Ti maysa nga nasakit ket idi peaceful en nagawid suna ijay Mt. Province. Han da nga ammu after 10 years, ada inbaon ti State of Missiouri, nagapo USA, nga umay mangala ti nagnagan ti guerilla nga
tinmulong ti Americano. Ngem ti mali hanggang siyudad da lang napnapan, narigat da met macontact daduma nga guerilla dita probprobinsya.

Dagijay daduma nga agisistambay dita Baguio dagijay barakada da aped na innaynayun nga guerilla uray nu haan nga agpayso. Isu kitdi ada nagan da ijay Missouri list. Diyay ti sakit ti nakkem ni tatang ko ta nakitultulong suna ngem awan nagan na. Napan metlang ni tatang ko ijay America, inlablaban da ijay Congress ken Senate ngem nabayag. Han na nga naanusan nagawid.” Ms. Elisea Leong, 84 years old, spouse of Fong Leong, a Chinese WW II veteran, recounted evacuating from her home and escaping the Japanese, “Idi agbakbakwit kami, maalalak jay inuna nga manang ko ginuyod dak ta ada kano umululi nga Hapon santo nagtaray kami.”

She also explained how her husband was injured, “Natamaan suna ditoy dibdib, nadaplisan ti puso na. Ngem idi ubbing suna kayang kaya na ngem narigatan di linmakay.” In closing, Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan pledged his service to continue the legacy of war veterans and their families, citing it as a motivation for the present and future endeavors in the municipality.

Story by Mayor’s Office-LT